A sad, tiring couple of days

I didn't feel like going to work on Monday, but I did....had a crap, hard day, wished I hadn't gone.....felt exhausted....cleaned the house, got dinner for everyone, bathed the boys, Chris came home, we watched a bit of TV, and went to bed.

Today was a bit better. But way too physically and emotionally tired to do any training. I missed it...felt like going...but it just didn't happen.

Paddling, chatting, swimming, paddling

I was still feeling pretty down this morning. Still didn't really feel like paddling, but was hoping for a repeat of yesterday afternoon - that I would feel better for doing it.

It was a pleasant surprise to be joined by Mark and Graham as well as Anton (who I had arranged the paddle with). It was nice to paddle as a group. We headed off to the bridge, and I felt really good in the K1. Then up to the lake, around the second marker and back again, and I was feeling great in the K1. I was relaxed and felt the most balanced in it that I have ever felt. We were doing a decent pace, chatting and I was really enjoying myself. I was mostly paddling with Mark, with Anton and Graham just behind us. We got back to the boat ramp and Mark convinced us to go to the bridge again.


Because I had stopped for a drink (with Anton kindly retrieving it from the car so I didn't have to stuff around getting my skirt off and on again), Mark and Graham were a few minutes ahead of us (just within view), and I was paddling with Anton. We were just going around the last bend before the bridge, I was still feeling really good in the K1 and before I knew it...there was a wobble....a few attempted braces....and the point of no return...with a shout from me to Anton of "I'm in"...then splash.

Damn that water is cold. Unfortunately I was a little way from shore and it took a couple of minutes to swim there. I was commenting on the coldness of it, and how it was hard to swim with the skirt on, to which Anton replied "You might want to get a move on...You've got about 6 minutes before you get hypothermia". I found this funny and had a bit of a laugh.

Well, a quick empty out, re-entry, and paddle back to the boat ramp again. I have no idea why I fell in. The others came up with several explanations ranging from the odd current around the bend, wind gusts etc. But I would take none of these. My explanation was that I'm still crap at it. I was tired, and that's probably why I fell in.

I had a quick rest whilst Anton and Mark did a 50 metre sprint. I was keen to do another sprint with them...as I had already fallen in, what was it going to matter if I fell in again. So I headed up the river to the start. I honestly couldn't have cared less if I fell in again. I was 10 metres from shore, and already wet....so maybe that's why I didn't! I called the start, had a great start, Mark got ahead pretty quickly, but I paddled great and just held off Anton. When I was paddling, I didn't feel anything like falling in. I felt so good. This was great for my confidence.

So after washing down the kayaks, getting dry and dressed, my summary of the morning was that it was a great paddle. I thoroughly enjoyed it...swim and all. Funny how that can be.

Rest in Peace Nanna

Just over 10 months ago, (24th August o8), I went for a jog at the lake on a Saturday morning and took the children to the park afterwards. It was there that I got THE phone call. My father had passed away - tragically, suddenly and very unexpectedly.

This morning, on a much sunnier Saturday morning I had gone for a jog at the lake, let the children play in the park and was driving home when I got THE phone call. The message was to call my sister when I got home...which I did a couple of minutes later....my Nanna had passed away. I am so sad for the loss of such a dear grandmother who we were all so close to. Rest in Peace Nanna - so many wonderful memories.

I had planned to go for a paddle this afternoon with Anton. I just didn't feel like doing anything anymore. Chris said I should go as it would make me feel better. I was doubtful. However, I reluctantly put the K1 on the roof and drove to the river. I still didn't want to be there. I just didn't feel like paddling.

However, once on the river and chatting to Anton I started to feel a little better. It was a nice, cruisy paddle and on the way back to the boat ramp I was feeling much better. It was getting dark, but we did the extra half lap to make it 11km. And Chris was right. It was the right decision and I'm glad I went.

Food Poisoning (aka: where's the bucket?)

Well, after a great paddle on Sunday morning, I have only just fully resurfaced now. The severe stomach cramps started Sunday morning at 11:30 am and by 12:30pm Chris was having to pull the car over whilst the boys called out "What's mummy doing? Why did she get out of the car? Oooooohhhh she's doing Ickies" etc. A quick trip home and it just went downhill from there. I lay in the same position in the bed for almost 6 hours (other than getting up to chuck) because I was too scared to move, and the pain was too bad if I did. And after that 6 hours of intense pain and regular chucking, it finally started to ease off slightly. I went to sleep and woke up the next morning around 9am. I think I got out of bed by around 4pm (other than loo trips), briefly had a drink and went back to bed for the rest of the night again. Tuesday was better and I got up a bit more and by Tuesday night I started eating again. Wendesday, back to work (bad decision - felt yuk), but now on Thursday I'm feeling pretty normal again. Even went for a 10 minute slow shuffle this morning.

Now, I've had so many bouts of gastro and food poisoning...that I know it was definately food poisoning. Without risking defaming certain companies (and acompanying law suits) I'll just say that we put it down to a spinich and fetta muffin. It tasted funny at the time, but then they usually do don't they? Anyway, in retrospect (which is always a wonderful thing) I think the fetta was off.

Ok, well hopefully I can finally get back on track now. Fast way to lose weight though. LOL!

I can fall in all on my own!

Nooooo, I don't need powerboats, wind, chop, or even Anton's wash to fall in....I can do it all on my own.

Everyone one else was doing something else this morning and I just felt like doing a nice easy paddle on my own anyway. After a week of feeling like crap, I just wanted a cruisy, no pressure, no timing, just enjoy paddling along session today.

The weather was magic. It was cold, but not terrible, mildly sunny, no wind, and not a ripple on the water in sight. It looked like glass. I wanted to do 1.5 laps today. I haven't done more than 1 lap (8km) in any 1 stretch in the new K1, so I thought I'd just try it today (since I was going easy).

I started off heading to the bridge, just cruising, feeling good. No worries. No sign of "my mate" (the guy in the yellow boat who seems magnetically to make me fall in). I continued up towards the lake, all good, feeling relaxed and trying a few technique things out. When I reached the lake it was flawless. Not a ripple in sight, it was glass. I've only ever seen it like that a couple of times. I headed out around the second marker and headed back towards the boat ramp. Still feeling good and playing around with steering and technique. Came across a couple of other paddlers, simply a nod of the head. All good still.

Only 1 km to go until the boat ramp...hmmm..I wonder what time I'll do it in, since it feels so easy....lets look down and check my watch, 45:30...split second later...$hit that water's cold, wow my skirt came off without a problem, damn it's hard swimming with it still on.

No-one to blame but me and my beginners balance, (and stupidity for looking down and twisting my arm to see my watch). Well a quick empty out, and relaunch and I was on my way. It was a useful lesson though...
1. My spray skirt comes off easily, without any dramas. This was something I was curious about and had hoped would happen (to avoid unpleasant upside-down time trying to get one off)
2. My thermals were really quite warm when wet - once paddling again, my legs actually felt warmer than when they were dry, and my upper body was fine until the wind picked up.
3. Don't try anything fancy like looking at my watch until my balance it better.

I continued past the ramp, down to the bridge and back without any further dramas, and was very happy to have done the extra distance. I wasn't upset with falling in, and overall it was a great paddle.

It also occured to me that since no-one saw me fall in, then I didn't have to tell anyone. But I'm not like that. I figure that the more people that hear about this stuff, the better they will feel about themselves and their learning curve. I hope there is a paddler out there somewhere who reads this and thinks..."Cool, I'm doing alright afterall". The more people I hear about that fall in , the less worried it makes me.

Watching the State series and getting re-inspired.

Since Chris didn't have to work afterall this morning, he had the lovely idea of travelling down to Windsor to watch the State Marathon Series race. I had originally said I wanted to go down their to race, but with being sick all week this was not an option. I also wanted to talk to a coach down their and put some ideas to them about some long-distance coaching (ie coaching me from afar). It also gave us the opportunity to watch my nephew play soccer (and you were awesome Rowan), and go out to dinner for his birthday afterwards.

Watching the race was great. I saw Jen and chatted to her, whilst Mick and Jack were racing. There were other club members there but I had a hard time working out who was who. Anyway, I got talking to a few spectators and kayakers who have now convinced me to maybe turn up to one of the sprint series races. One girl I talked to is just learning K's as well and she's going to give race:2 a go, so I think I might to. Apparently there will be all kinds of paddlers there, of all different abilities, so maybe I wouldn't make a huge fool of myself.

Anyway, it started to rain, and the boys were getting restless so we headed off before the finish. But it was a great day, finishing with a great dinner out with family. Oh yeh!

Catch-up post

Well, life and sickness have gotten the better of me over the last 2 weeks and instead of doing individual posts I'm taking the short cut (easy way out) and just doing a catch-up post.

Running
Was going fantastic. I really feel good running now and on Thursday (last week, not yesterday) I booked the boys into the kids creche at a local gym (due to the weather) and ran 40 minutes on the treadmill. I felt soooo good. And of course...then got sick. So the next run I did was today and was a 10 minute shuffle pushing the double pram. Hopefully I'll get back to the level I was at fairly quickly. How frustrating!

Kayaking
Has been going ok, but am still not improving much in the balance department. It's a bit disappointing really as I improved much quicker in the Van Dusen. But I guess that's the difference between being on the water 4 times a week instead of my 2 which is the most I can do at the moment. I just need more time on the water I guess, which is basically impossible at the moment due to short daylight hours and Chris's work and Soccer. That's just the way it is.

Anyway, I had a few really good paddles and I haven't fallen out since the last time I blogged it. I did a lap time-trial in 48:30 which I was a bit disappointed in because I thought I would go a fair bit faster than that (I had been hoping for 47 min), but again lack of time on the water is probably at fault there too.
I also had an interesting session with Mark and Anton last Saturday. I felt wheezy as soon as I woke up and just had that feeling that I was coming down with something. I felt wheezy and short of breath the whole session and the boys even commented that I wasn't talking. When I feel this way, I just can't talk or I end up having a full-blown asthma attack. Normally I'm alright as long as I don't talk or get my heart rate up too high. Anyway, I really struggled and at the end the boys had a mini-race and of course the wash that Anton's TK1 put up resulted in me shouting some rude words their way. When we got back I had a huge whinge and "took the piss outta him". Really fellas I WAS only joking...you'll know when I'm REALLY mad!!! :)
And...no surprises throughout the day I felt worse and worse, and by the time I woke up Sunday morning I knew that I shouldn't go training. I was soooo pi$$ed off. I really wanted to train, but knew that it would have been a very bad call.
The rest of the week I was sick and miserable, and totally unable to train. Not training makes me mad now. It was sooo frustrating. Anyway...I'll ease back into it this weekend and will hopefully be back on track.

Treetops Adventure Park
Well the photos below are from our time at Treetops adventure park. We went there to check it out and Connor loved it and wanted to give it a try, so we booked him in for the following weekend. I can't believe they have a high ropes course for 3-10years. It was fantastic. He looked so cute all harnessed up, and after a hesitant start, he was doing the course with ease. It was sooo high up for a 4 year old, but he was amazing. The reason I've included it in this blog, is because it represents part of my philosophy on parenthood and raising children. I think it is unreal to be able to provide such a wonderful opportunity to children. To get them outdoors, doing physical activity, and gaining a love for challenges. It was so good for his self-esteem and at one point he cried out in joy..."I'm doing it!!!! I'm doing it!!!!". Maybe I need to learn a lesson from him. Next time I'm scared of falling out of the K1, I just have to do my best and so what if I fail. Sometimes, just giving things a go, is the hardest part.

Beautiful boys in the pram

This morning I attempted to go for another run with the boys in the double pram. After some stern words on Thursday and this morning I think I frightened them into good behaviour. They have missed out on going to the park afterwards for a couple of times in a row now (due to their behaviour), so I thought I'd give them another go.
They were beautiful. They were such good boys. If Clayton started doing the wrong thing, Connor would tell him to stop it because he was being naughty and wouldn't get to go to the park etc. They sang, and talked, and played games and kept their hand off each other. They said hello to people we passed. I was sooooo proud of them.
I ran the usual bridge to end of path and back, felt good and thoroughly enjoyed it. And the boys got to go to the park again.

Naughty boys in the pram

Well most of my run this morning was spent refereeing the 2 boys. They were yelling at each other, hitting each other, pulling heads, throwing items and anything else you can imagine. That's the only problem with the double pram...that they sit right next to each other within easy reach. I was fuming and boy did they know they were in trouble.
I somehow managed to do the usual bridge to end of path and back run, but did not enjoy it at all. In fact I hated it.

Wednesday Sprints

My wonderful husband Chris worked right through today (without any breaks) so he could get home in time for me to go to Wednesday night sprints. I was feeling good. I got there a little bit late and everyone was already off doing a warm-up, so Anton and I headed off to do a shortened warm up on our own.
We missed the first sprint, but got there for the rest. I went in the first group with the others a few seconds behind. Overall I was really happy with how I went. I managed to put in a bit of effort without losing my balance, and was generally coping well...other than at the start calling out "I can't stop, don't make me wait too long, lets go...etc". Anyway, it was getting dark quick, and it was starting to affect my balance a bit. By the time we did the group start for 500m I was feeling pretty nervous. I managed ok until everyone came past me and I had their wash. I did ok at first, but had to slow down and hang back becuase I was just going to fall in otherwise.
By the last sprint which was another group start at 250m I lasted about 50m, then called out "I'm out", and headed across the river until most of the wash was gone. I can only just cope with it in good light, but at dusk there was no hope. Pretty disappointing really.
It's really only at dusk that I have the problem. Years ago I had laser vision correction which has been wonderful. One of the best decisions I've made. The only problem I have is with my night vision at dusk. It's still heaps better than it was before the surgery and driving and everything else at dusk is great, but paddling is difficult. I did notice it last year when training for the Hawkesbury Classic. I even found it difficult paddling the Mirage at dusk and in the dark. But with practice I got more confident. I guess I'll just have to practice in the Stealth at dusk and in the dark too. Hopefully I'll get more confident in this too.

The boys are getting heavy!

I did my run this afternoon with mum - from the bridge to the end of the path and back. I pushed the boys in the double pram and wow are they getting heavy. It's quite hard now pushing them and I feel every incline. Mum was also running quicker than she has been over the last few weeks, so I think I was feeling it more because of that. I really can't run fast pushing them because of only having 1 hand on the pram, having to keep swapping hands, and basically not being able to run normally. The system I've got worked out works well, but I think I'm at the top of my speed limit now.
Anyway, at the end of it we'd done a pretty fast run, and I was happy with the effort I put in.