Rule 70.3

Gulp. Just had a quick glance at the competitors briefing... My stomach is now in knots, goodbye sleep. There are enough rules and regulations to start an army barracks! 

Sporadic joy

Sporadic joy is so joyful because it is unexpected. I've decided these moments should be celebrated more often because it is far too easy to focus on the negatives (I'm thinking even potentially a blog dedicated to this concept?).

Sporadic joy is more than just a 'win', you know those delightful moments like filling up with petrol right as they are putting the price up, or getting a double yoker when you crack an egg. Sporadic joy can be a glancing moment between two strangers, waking up feeling like the world is just right or just a pure gust of happiness for no apparent reason (my cat Fonzie is prone to these, though equally as a Burmese/Siamese/somethingarother cross, he is equally prone to fits of whinging for no apparent reason).

I came up with this concept this morning on a light jog, which I really needed to dig into the depths of motivation to find the energy to commence. I'm normally a Michelle Bridges go get 'em person at the thought of a weekend lengthy exercise jaunt (ps If you didn't already know I met Michelle this year and squealed loudly in her ear, flapping my hands and requesting a photograph, definitely some sporadic joy there). Anyway, not this morning. Think it is a combination of extra sleep and a week out of routine. However as Dean Karnazes profoundly proclaimed in one of his books (well worth reading) he doesn't know of a person yet who went out for even ten minutes of running and didn't come back feeling better for it. So I soldiered on and low and behold I started to feel great. I will at this point actually give TP a little bit of credit here. I always like to give him shit about how much I have 'given' him, opening him up to the likes of outdoor swimming in the depths of Winter etc. Well, I will begrudge him the benefits of running to good tunes - however I will also argue that there is a time and place for just soaking up the delights of the environment, sans intrusion. Anyway for some reason I enjoyed several gusts of just sporadic joy whilst cruising along this morning, my legs felt strong, the path felt extremely runnable and I was just grateful for being able to start my day like that. 

It also made me think about some sporadic joy of the day before. I took my last day of holiday as a day of solace. Strangely this began at 5amish to head across town and take Monday out for a chilly cruise, a lazy seaside run, followed by my real reasons for crossing the river, a couple of hours R&R at the St Kilda Sea Baths (add that to the pool slut list please!). All washed down with breaky out and the paper. Step in several moments of sporadic joy:

High fiving the guy who was jogging in thongs, lots of silly laughter from both parties.

Then I'm pretty sure I gave some sporadic joy to commuters cycling past me as I stopped for a bite to eat enroute from run to baths (I have a fear of going hungry). Bunkering down I had an awesome view of the world, whilst devouring my new fetish for bircher muesli. Saw lots of people smile as they commuted past:

Post-exercise I ventured to a very south of the river suburby breakfast spot, lacking a bearded barista of the north but still delightful. Highlight was sharing my bench with the woman who openly declared she had just finished a full hour of personal training, without a hair or speck of makeup out of place, armed with Home Beautiful. I did pre-judge her but she was endeared to me when the fireys pulled for a coffee pit stop and she leant over to share a moment with me. Sporadic joy at the random exchange of banter between two strangers - oh and the fireys set up in front of us for their coffee, just in case the paper lost my interest!

OK this has been far too lengthy I feel but I think my drift of sporadic joy definitely explored. Must add some of the pearls from the Wizard too before I forget.

So back to the purpose of the blog again, clocked up an OK'ish week, think I fitted everything in, just felt a bit off being out of routine. Will call today as my last official 'long run' prior to race day - 15km and not a sore spot to mention.
  

All in a days work!

So even whilst on leave I feel like I need my 'two extra hour' superpower. Been enjoying some tinkering in the kitchen, cooking up some of those recipes collecting dust (if that's possible digitally) and stocking the freezer for easy snack access. This has also given me opportunity to stock my supply cupboard with ingredients I dare not put on the weekly shopping list. I decide long ago that Uncle Toby's and the like were a waste of calories and money. My repertoire of such delights has now widened and is getting increasingly 'powerful' as my maverick kitchen like behaviour continues. Anyway my bestie has just given me fuel for post-ironman blog thought, raving about my creations. So might just kick in here the fruits of today's kitchen work - baring in mind I wasn't overly careful with the photography.

1. Zucchini polenta bread - best served warm with lashings with avocado:

2. Raw soup! Care of Ange's Bali health retreat - not overly well received, but I'm still a fan:

3. Seared wasabi tuna, coated in sesame seeds with a self-devised Asian salad, omg is all I can say:

4. Power seed bar - still fridging it up, seemed a bit crumbly, fingers crossed and faith in the recipe, unlike me, but hoping the coconut oil makes a difference:

Final note before logging off for the night. Decided with two weeks (less now- ahh) of proper training to go that embracing chocolate is necessary, if now then when?!!!

Off to see the wizard!!

Off to get some wisdom from someone who has smashed several ironman events. Nerdily I have a list!!! Makes it seem very real.... 😳

Also meant to add this!

Been meaning to add a 'pool slut' list for ages too. Though I'm loyal to my self-indulgence time at the Fitzroy Pool, I do like to always ensure to grab a swim in a new or convenient location. So far this training I've managed to clock up some km in the following locations:

Fitzroy Pool - My one true swimming love. I swear I swim faster and stronger here. Plus I love the voyeuristic affordances and the likes of the locals such as 'Plopper' and her protective change room tendencies.

Doncaster Pool - Love the 5.30am convenient opening time, also the reluctance of other users to embrace the Winter outdoor swim = light lanes.

Work Pool - Free, enough said!

Prahran Pool - Brought back hideous memories of school sports and having to wear bathers as a very plump 15 year old for the first time in front of boys. There were merits to an all girls' school. However the one swim was quite pleasant, especially the steam and spa component.

Byron Bay - Struck my PBD here of 3km (since beaten), beautiful location but brrrrrrrrr.

Harold Holt - Unfair to judge when I only graced its presence briefly on one of the first nice Saturdays since Summer, at 11am, however a distinct south of the river vibe. Willing to retry.

Northote Pool - A close second to Fitzroy. Can always justify a hipster post-swim coffee.

Waverley Pool - Ho hum, nothing to really write home about other than its convenient geography to work. A skinnyish pool without a true athletic feel.

Not a bad list to have covered in just 12 weeks, might add a couple more to round it out to an even ten. If only it was last year I could add the delightful Vancouver Kits pool. At 137m it would make the counting a hell of a lot easier, the stunning location also a bonus. OK this is purely housework and uni avoidance...

I object!

I object ...

I started this post in my head last Wednesday morning clocking my 3km swim at Doncaster. I do this all the time with text messages, compose great ones in my head and then never actually send them, leaving the non-receiver hanging (I'm sure) and me thinking I'm on top of my game. Anyway, back to my killer post that was written last week.

It started because I object to a few things swimming... I object to the fact that I don't seem to ever get any better, that I'm destined to be the slow medium lane swimmer forever. That is unless you count the people that swim in the medium lane, who should really be in the slow lane - why do people do that?

I object to the price of a swim at Doncaster going up, I would object less if I had time to make full use of my $7 something to jump in the spa but I had to get to work (I again object!). I also really object to the plethora of retired people who clog up the swimming lanes when they could be quite clearly sleeping in and going later in the day! 

I object to my bathers losing their elastic and wearing thin so quickly. I used to always blame my nana for ironing the bathers in primary school, but maybe it really was just the washing...saying that I'm not sure I have actually ever washed my current togs!

I object to TP getting a cold at one of the most inconvenient weeks of training.

Most of all this week I object to the crappy weather that has coincided with my week of leave which was purely intended for exercise goodness and general life admin tasks. Enough said, I OBJECT!

And that's how the day should start...

And that's how the day should start...

Saturday and Sunday were both dream mornings for extended exercise...leads me to my next post...

Ridicurunjealouseous

I have a self-diagnosed disease ridcurunjealouseous. As it's name would indicate it is a ridiculous condition whereby I get jealous of watching others run. The ridiculous part is often seriously ridiculous. You see it can strike while riding a bike, having done a run, hearing others talk about running or while having a much needed rest day.

Accentuated this weekend by the Melbourne Marathon. Positively itching to have gotten out and done a half PB or my third and hopefully final marathon. Oh well. Just five weeks now until my race day.

On a training note I managed an 80km ride and 4 laps of the tan on Saturday - mentally tough but physically pretty ok, barely sore Sunday!

OK sleep time for a race pace run in the morn, thank god TP is back from holiday!

Shattered

Shattered both physically and mentally, mostly due to a lack of sleep, those great expectations keeping me awake. Feel like there is a 60% chance they will falter. 😔

Ps I've decided that if you actually really love someone, I mean really, then you have a right to some pretty great expectations.

Great expectations

I’ve never read this classic piece of literature but I’m going to have a stab in the dark... given that it is set in the late 1800s...I’m guessing there is some class struggle to rise above and that there of course has to be a great love (to maintain reader interest) which has great expectations for the one willing to be loved, only to fall somewhere short, though I’m sure a fairytale ending occurs making the reader somewhat happy to walk away and go back to their own humdrum life...

Anyway Great Expectations, it is to be theme of the week.

Some musings from me in this area... Better start with the exercise first, as after all that is supposed to be the point of the blog. I feel like this whole journey has been one Great big Expectation. Last week I felt like I hit the bottom pit of impossibility when I finished my Sunday effort, realising just how much more the race will still take. But today I’m back to raising expectations, shaving more time off and finishing up feeling better than last week.

So this week brings a variety of Great Expectations...

With only four weeks really left to make a difference, I’m going to aim for an 80-90km run with a 16km run follow up. And that is just the finishing point of the week.

The alcohol ban continues... Week 2. OK I have one slight confession... I had a cheeky sip on Saturday night, but it would have been very rude not to – a friend’s bar opening. 

Last uni assignment for the year looms, ahh damn those self-expectations. 

Most nerve rackingly great expectations to make amends for previously mentioned failures that recently tested my resilience. 

The great thing about great exercise expectations is that you, as in me in this scenario, can actually do something about it. Where the expectation is self-appointed it also means the failure to meet that expectation can provide for some healthy self-berating – where ultimately you are the one you are accountable to anyway. 

The area that is probably harder and much more difficult to navigate are the great expectation of others. I made a concerted effort over the last year to expect less of others, to appreciate what they can ‘bring’. I think I’ve let this slip lately and it only ends up in self-hurt ultimately. 

So to finish off this was an unexpected delight when I returned to my car today.  See no expectations and I was easily lifted to the heights of delight through the simple action of a thoughtful Powerade!

A week at a clothing glance!

Supposed to be studying, last assignment for the year, so procrastination at a minimum. Just hung out a load of washing, my exercise clothes for the week in summary. Now that's even with my unsightly habit of doubling up on exercise gear from time to time, partly to blame is the fickle Melbourne spring weather. Right some study now...