Nibbs XXV (Page 67)

D001 - 2008-10-12 7:32 PM  So.... 1) You got some unanticipated exercise in. 2) You traumatized a poor little kitty-cat. 3) Your own cat is now convinced that you spent 5 minutes playing with "another cat" while ignoring her. I think you should concentrate on item #1, and try to forget the rest.

I guess that's a good way to look at it.

I don't think my cat is mad, she just looked at me like "why do you keep calling me?  i've been in the house the whole time, dummy". 

D001 - 2008-10-12 7:48 PM

lastcall2003 - 2008-10-12 7:42 PM

Do my eyes deceive me? is Dee online?

 

Yep. Along with my burning pumpkin avatar. Hi Beth!

How're doing?  besides werking too much!

15,000^th post

The timing of this post seems kind of strange to me, next week I would have had a lot more to say!

This weekend I’m racing, you’d think there is nothing unusual about that on a triathlon site but I haven’t trained for it, and signed up only a week prior to the event… nothing like scaring yourself right? For me it’s a mental leap of what feels like epic proportions AND a way of perhaps moving on from all the mental baggage I’ve built up in the last couple of years.

Most people know my story but here is a quick summary of the last 2 years…

In early 2006 I raced a sprint triathlon and had a lot of issues, severe dehydration and heat stroke which left me feeling, well, awful for several days.

A couple of months later while trying to train for my first half marathon I was diagnosed with a chronic condition, ulcerative colitis which was (among other things) affecting my ability to stay hydrated. (the other symptoms are just plain icky!)

To get it under control I was put on a range of medication including prednisone (with lots of side effects including a personality transplant, water retention, acne and serious weight gain) and immune suppressants (I was on and off antibiotics a lot in the following 12-18 months until I realised that perhaps I didn’t HAVE to be on them so I would see how I could cope without).

It took awhile to get that under control but I stuck with it and after moving in with my (then) boyfriend, changing jobs and a lot of perseverance I eventually got off the steroids late in the year with over 40 pounds of weight gained and a lot of fitness lost.

Signing up to a new gym I started with a trainer in late 2006 and on the second session doing running step ups I badly sprained my ankle leaving me stranded at home for 2 weeks and on crutches for close to 4 weeks!  Frustration!!!

But I persevered and got back into keeping fit off and on through into early 2007, while not loosing much weight I made it to the gym a few times a week with times often off due to tummy troubles or work demands.

In 2007 I then started my run of being on and off antibiotics, thankfully I had a good boss as about every 6 weeks I was off work with a awful respiratory infection…. My trainer headed overseas and I fell back into issues so a little swimming or gym visits but the consistency was gone.

With the Tour De France looming I started spending a bit of time on my bike and competed in a work event with clients doing a TT on stationary trainers… I was the fastest girl and equal second overall…it was great motivation and set me up for my love affair with BT challenges.

Being a Tour De France nut I ran my first BT challenge in July 2007 and that was a lot of fun and despite getting struck down with another respiratory infection and antibiotics I managed to get myself moving again.

Until a few weeks later where I followed up that run of antibiotics with another one for a kidney infection – joy! At that point I decided enough was enough and came off the immune suppressants… constantly getting sick is no way to live!

In October 2007 I finally got myself up and training again… even got in some 2 a day workouts, gym, running, bike, swimming – it was like I was on my way until late in the month when I was forced to visit the physio where I was diagnosed with runners knee and plantar fascitis. I moved indoors to the elliptical at the gym but it just wasn’t the same...

Joined weight watchers for a couple of months and managed to lose a bit of weight which helped with the confidence but I was having trouble with severe headaches  – a problem I still face whenever I reduce my calorie intake today.

Right through to Christmas I was still not able to run – had to pull out of the 3 races I’d hoped to make through that season and worked on rehabbing my knee…  swam a lot into December until I stupidly got myself seriously sunburnt (picture in my album) and that put me off the pool for a bit.

Into 2008 and once again I was unmotivated, had a big Christmas and gained back some of the weight I lost. Then a few months into the year the work gym started running a lunchtime spin class and I thought ‘I can do that’!

It was a good start to get me back to a gym and one of my colleagues was going so it was one day a week when I knew I would get a workout and as I’ve always enjoyed the bike and shown some aptitude at it – it was also FUN!

From there I found some spin classes that if I rushed out of the office and drove towards home I could make a couple of times a week and sporadically tried some other classes like hip hop, combat etc. Unfortunately my calf muscle didn’t like that and I kept straining it in the dance classes so gave those up, then work demands just made it unrealistic to run out the door at 5pm just to make a class -  but I stuck with the work  spin classes.

I started going more to the work gym as there were a few others who were going and so my fitness improved a little in spite of my inconsistency! Knowing my frustrations the spin class instructor suggested I join a 4 week challenge she was running with a nutritionist based around weightloss over July.

So in between running the BT Tour De France challenge for a second year and not sleeping much as I was up watching bikes I still managed to stick to the challenge and while my weight didn’t budge I lost a decent amount of centimetres off my waist…

Since then I’ve managed to keep up the exercise, signed up with a new trainer and apart from the occasional week out with my stomach condition or work demands I now feel like I’m back working towards being a fit person – especially since I just LOVE working out most of the time!

My injuries (especially the knees) still give me trouble and I’m only just back trying to walk/run a little and hoping for the best. My weight still hasn’t budged but my fitness and strength have both improved.

And  last Friday, just a few days after deciding it was time to stop putting my life on hold while I waited to lose weight, I signed up for a race that’s happening this weekend. I’ve never raced so unprepared, it’s one of the shorter races I’ve done but with the mental baggage of the past 2 years behind me its definitely the scariest.

I have no  real run training behind me so 100% expect to walk – have been in the pool about 3 times since last summer, and most of my cycling has been in a gym and not outdoors. But – this is about proving to myself I’m still capable, I’m still that person I used to be (I liked her) and that it will all come together this time around.

All my inconsistency has come from the mental impact of a chronic health condition, on going injuries when I return to training and the weight gain taking away my ability to feel comfortable in my own skin.

It takes a strong person just to take all of these things over the past two years and keep on going – I’m not that person a lot of the time, but all you can do is fight the downside and try to keep on going. I’ve always been a big fan of finding the positives and ‘faking it’ until you feel it – whether its happiness or confidence you can fake it and eventually believe it!

So many times in the last two years it’s been tempting to just hide away from it all, focus on my career and just let it take over my life – there have been so many mornings when I have struggled to face even the simple act of getting out of bed.

But… today… I am taking a risk for the first time in a LONG time and putting myself out there to face my fears. This race on Saturday is not about winning, beating a PB or even finishing (although that would be good for me). For me this is about turning up, putting my hand up and starting… to prove to myself it’s time to really start LIVING again.. (and the fact it’s also a fundraiser for the National Breast Cancer Foundation makes me feel strongly about taking past)

Racing, as with life, is more about the journey than the end result… and I feel like this Saturday I’m starting a brand new story for myself.  

Without the support of so many people on BT I would not be taking this chance, I would not be getting out of bed every day and I would not believe in so many things being possible. Thank you to everyone who shares their own stories and experiences on this site and will take time out of their day to offer support, advice and experiences to someone who they have never met.

Now Im working on tomorrow – because that’s the only thing we have the power to change.

Cat

Love ya, Cat.  Thanks for being on BT and helping all of us.

x2!

great post Cat!

Hi Bill!

20,000 can be the party post  

woo hoo!

we're all a bit away from 20k, so lots of time to plan 

You should get there first... 10K-15K didnt take all that long... but two challenges and the TDF did help... 

Im sure we will all be there sooner than we think

Hello, ladies.

Gonna have to say so long... just for a little bit, though.  Just realized I've got the day off tomorrow since it's Columbus Day.  Think I'll need a bottle of wine or something

Aaaw thanks Pam... I wrote so much I had to break it up with pictures!!!! I figure while you can never change your past it is why you are the way you are today - for better or worse... 

I cant wait for 20K - Im hoping I can say something like... 'Im now racing again and its fun'!

What on earth is Columbus Day?

barqhead - 2008-10-13 11:51 AM Ok, Nibbs. Hold on to your hats. The splits are up from my race on Saturday. I PR'D THE 10K!!!!!!!!! If I knew how to make that glittery and flashing, I would. I can't believe it! I had so much fun racing that I forgot to be nervous or down on myself and everything just fell into place. I had the 8th fastest swim, NUMBER 1 BIKE SPLIT!!!!, and 21st fastest run. My time for the 10K was 51:04. My previous PB for that distance was a stand-alone 10K in 51:26 (or somewhere around there). I'm so stoked! Just had to share my happiness with y'all

Pam!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!! 

With all the hard work, focus and dedication you have shown towards your training it is AWESOME that it is all paying off for you!!! 

CONGRATULATIONS on the No.1 Bike Split

CONGRATULATIONS on the 10k PR

Now how about some of this to celebrate....

barqhead - 2008-10-12 8:51 PM Ok, Nibbs. Hold on to your hats. The splits are up from my race on Saturday. I PR'D THE 10K!!!!!!!!! If I knew how to make that glittery and flashing, I would. I can't believe it! I had so much fun racing that I forgot to be nervous or down on myself and everything just fell into place. I had the 8th fastest swim, NUMBER 1 BIKE SPLIT!!!!, and 21st fastest run. My time for the 10K was 51:04. My previous PB for that distance was a stand-alone 10K in 51:26 (or somewhere around there). I'm so stoked! Just had to share my happiness with y'all

how's this Pam?

ask and you shall receive

at least when it comes to glitter!

I dont know how to do glitter... unless its already done!

but of course, I mean, who doesn't celebrate Columbus day?  do you work for the government, or perhaps a bank?  I know I should know this............ugh - darn old age!

barqhead - 2008-10-12 8:51 PM Ok, Nibbs. Hold on to your hats. The splits are up from my race on Saturday. I PR'D THE 10K!!!!!!!!! If I knew how to make that glittery and flashing, I would. I can't believe it! I had so much fun racing that I forgot to be nervous or down on myself and everything just fell into place. I had the 8th fastest swim, NUMBER 1 BIKE SPLIT!!!!, and 21st fastest run. My time for the 10K was 51:04. My previous PB for that distance was a stand-alone 10K in 51:26 (or somewhere around there). I'm so stoked! Just had to share my happiness with y'all

Looks like the glittery and flashy are covered, so I'm just going to say:

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

barqhead - 2008-10-12 7:51 PM Ok, Nibbs. Hold on to your hats. The splits are up from my race on Saturday. I PR'D THE 10K!!!!!!!!! If I knew how to make that glittery and flashing, I would. I can't believe it! I had so much fun racing that I forgot to be nervous or down on myself and everything just fell into place. I had the 8th fastest swim, NUMBER 1 BIKE SPLIT!!!!, and 21st fastest run. My time for the 10K was 51:04. My previous PB for that distance was a stand-alone 10K in 51:26 (or somewhere around there). I'm so stoked! Just had to share my happiness with y'all

CONGRATULATIONS, PAM!!!  AWESOME RACE!