Life has been full of lots of highs and lows this last couple of weeks. Training has been great and have only missed one swim workout. Saturdays have been spent in the saddle (bike saddle!!) and am feeling pretty good about my cycling. Last Saturday was the first time I took my cycling group out and it was quite interesting. At the beginning of each ride we (the coaches) tell our group how fast we will be going for this ride. I told mine that it would be between 23 & 26 kph. Quite a few hesitated at going at such a "slow" pace and opted for a faster group. I had six stay with me and we had a great ride averaging 26 kph. Quite a few of the riders that went with the other group ended up going faster than they wanted to and were pretty burned out by the end. Hopefully, they will realize that speed does not make them a faster cyclist. It just tires them out. It's like always running fast - so for any of you who would like to get faster on the bike, do your fast intensity rides during the week and long slow (steady) distance rides on the weekend. You will feel great after the ride and you will get faster!!!
Running has also been going well. Long runs on Sunday through the trails of Stanley Park - and the weather has been great!! Recovery runs on Monday and hill training on Wednesday along with a 20 minute run after my Tuesday and Thursday early morning spin sessions (that's called a "brick"). It gets your body used to transitioning from the bike to the run. I have tried running with some of the groups but because of my tendency to fall lately, I need to be able to see around me and focus on my body movement - one more Parkinson's issue. Lately, I've been seeing a Parkinson's infomercial on TV. It's very graphic and the thought of my body regressing to the state of the person in the infomercial who was diagnosed just six years ago is very scary. Please God help me to understand. But I have decided to dedicate this Ironman to Parkinson awareness. I have a proposal that I am going to put before my triathlon club and if they think it is a worthwhile endeavour I will go forward with it.
This week has been pretty tough but not for me. My wonderful daughter had some "news" for me on Monday morning. I had just gone for my recovery run and had a message waiting for me when I returned. By the sound of her voice I thought she had an interview with a company in Vancouver. Not so. "Mom, I'm pregnant". Not the words I had expected!!! With the situation in her marriage and the impending move to BC to start a new life this was a real shock. My words to her were "no matter what, I will be there for you". She was my "love child" and always will be. My prayer is that she will still come and settle out here and give Gerry and I the opportunity to be the grandparents that we so want to be.
My Ironman training will continue and I will be the best I can be but I now have an added focus. What an awesome year I have ahead of me. Lots of training, Ironman Canada, new grand baby in September, maybe Ironman Hawaii in October (if I qualify) and my other daughter's wedding in November.
My other daughter who is getting married is also doing the Ironman with me but she is training in Toronto - not a good thing especially this year. With all the snow and cold weather she hasn't had much of a chance to run or ride. Thank goodness she can swim - she is a great swimmer!! She has also been sick with constant colds and sinus infections. I keep telling her to focus on her upcoming marriage and not to worry about this Ironman but she is determined. The problem is that I live in a great place where you can literally train all year round so my base is great. She on the other hand will only be able to start in April/May.
Wednesday, I met with one of the Pastors at the church I attend. I talked about the impending birth of this baby as well as how Gerry was reacting and then we prayed. I felt such a release of anxiety. I had spoken to her about this whole Ironman thing and was this really where God wanted me. She asked me how I feel when I'm on my bike or running. I said "free". She responded with "who do you think gives you that feeling?" She then read a scripture which talks about an ostridge. It goes something like "when an ostridge runs it smiles". She then said "God gave the ostridge that smile and He's given you the same. Remember that when you are out there." We also talked about the fact that I don't have any close friends. When she got back to the church she sent me the following scripture "Prov 18:24 A man (or woman) with many friends may be harmed, but there is a friend that stays closer than a brother." I ran after work and had a great hill training session. Had a wonderful conversation with Gerry and we both committed ourselves to being there for my daughter and the baby in whatever way will be necessary.
Today is Thursday and had a great start to the day. It was 2 degrees celcius and Gerry and I got on our bikes at 7 a.m. and did a couple of loops of Stanley Park and then off to work. Energized and ready to face the world. I had a great talk with a lady at the Parkinson's Society here in British Columbia and she thinks my fund raising idea is great. I hope the triathlon club executive has the same enthusiasm. Tonight I swim - I'm getting better at it and actually look forward to going to the pool. We have a great coach who really focuses on our technique (which is really what swimming is all about).
Well, just about ready to bike home. <><
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