On the road to Ironman

Wow, it has been a while.

The plan is to race Ironman Louisville on 9 October 2016.

Care to follow along?

Oh, my aching back!

Okay, not so much now but it was earlier this week.  It got to the point that I couldn't manage to sit at my desk at work for the whole day a couple of times last week.

I ended up going to the doctor (I can't take regular NSAIDs due to stomach issues), to get some meds and ended up on 30 days worth of restrictions (yeah for being military).  The doctor that was on duty really does not seem to like athletes (he called me a jock - bullied as a child?).

I have been doing some light spinning and yoga.  I am feeling much better and I have an appointment in just over a week to get my restrictions lifted (with the Physicians Assistant, NOT the same doctor who slapped the restrictions on me).

I really hate being restricted from activity in this way (the doctor was VERY specific about my restrictions - no triathlon training/activity, no running, only walking and stretching) and since I am in the military, I have to mostly behave.

The good news is that we have finally emerged from "minus stupid" weather (seriously, the wind chills were below -40°C) and it is quite pleasant outside.  Hopefully the nice temperatures stick around for a long while!

A new year

Another year has begun.  Hard to believe that this time last year, I was about as far north as you can get.

This year, no travel, for now.

I have a son in university (how did that happen so fast?), who is learning to become an independently functioning adult.

Training is going well.  I have made some real improvements in the pool, thanks to my coach's weekly group swims - some serious laps in the pool and the coach there to pick apart our stroke.

Here is to a fantastic 2013 with hopes, goals and desires met :)

I'm home!

Okay, sorry for not posting earlier.  The past three weeks since I got home have flown by.

The things that I have noticed since coming home:

- I need to get used to the heat outside for running, ugh it is hot.
- I miss the quiet of the north
- I love wifi and high speed internet and I didn't realized quite how much I missed it
- traffic sucks
- it being night when you go to bed and having the sun wake you up in the morning is awesome

Overall, I am very happy to be home.  At times I find my self feeling 'homesick' for Alert -the people, the scenery, the wolves - even the sun being up 24 hours a day.

Training is getting back in to the groove, work is work - my position changed, so they are not entirely sure what my job is yet.

Just trying to fit back in to the routine of being home :)

Saturday's walk

I went for a walk after brunch today (so about 1230 hrs). It was beautiful out, no wind and surprisingly bright out.


Here is what I got to see when I turned the corner around the main Station building.





This was behind the Station, looking out to the hills.

Some signs around the Station. Who knows how long they have been there?

A great walk, some fresh air and some neat pictures - a pretty decent start to the day! Now, to get on the bike trainer and get today's scheduled training done ;)

Colleen

Time is flying!

Wow, I have been here for almost two and a half months and time is going by really quickly.

Only about 43 more days until I depart the Station for my mid tour leave trip home. I can't wait to get back and see everyone - that is about the only bad part about being here, the people that I miss (okay and the no sun yet part).



We are getting twilight and the horizon is brightening up for a few hours each day - the first sun rise is February 27th, everyone is getting excited to see our long lost friend.

I've managed to get out ice fishing after New Years - tiny little Arctic Char, catch and release of course! It was fun to get out of the Station for a few hours and do something different - some days feel like the movie "Groundhog Day", you get up, shower, eat, got to work, eat, go back to work, eat again, go to sleep and then do it all over again.

We try to mix things up and there are bunch of social activities on the Station to keep us busy. Then again, some days you just need a bit of piece and quiet and you hide in your room and watch a movie, lol.

We have had more exciting times - the C17 Globemaster came for a visit. That plane is huge, before it left the Station it was loaded with three pieces of heavy machinery and still had a ton of space for passengers and cargo! I managed to get out to the airfield to take a peak at it before it left, since I didn't have any inbound passengers to look after that day (I have to look after the baggage inspection when people come off the planes).

That is it for now, more to come once we can see more outside!

Colleen

Plane Day!

Today was plane day.

We had a Herc land, drop off passengers/cargo (more about the cargo in a minute) and take outgoing passengers and cargo.

The planes our our lifeline up here. They bring us everything that we need to survive - food (that they feed us way too much of!), supplies, equipment and of course the mail.

The mail always brings an added boast for morale - even with the internet and email, it is always nice to get something sent to you. A letter, card, parcel - you name it. You kind of feel like a little kid again when it is your turn to get something.

Since we only have one flight left until Christmas, today's mail filled three dollies! There were tons of parcels and lots of cards. It was pretty neat to see.

I was pleasantly surprised when I received a package. There was only a return address (no name) and I didn't recognise the address. It turns out that it was from my Aunt Pat and Uncle Omar in Burlington!

It was filled with goodies and treats - it absolutely made my day!
















(Some of the Turtles may or may have not been eaten already when this picture was taken...)

I also received a couple of cards from friends as well - I need to start a string to hang my cards on in my room. I will see how many more I get next week.

I had almost forgotten how nice mail and parcels are when you are away from home for a long time - it has been almost twenty years since I was last at cadet camp and had parcels sent by Mom to look forward to.

Colleen

Alert!

Well, I made it safe and sound to Alert on Wednesday.

I had to spend an extra day in Trenton, since my flight out was delayed a day and no one bothered to tell me.

I am settling in, learning my new job and exploring the station. Today was a tour around the station area by truck.

The station is pretty big - bigger than I expected and everyone is very nice.

There are normally a lot of social activities happening, but a stomach bug has been going around (about 1/3 of the station has been sick so far) and limiting group activities is one of the ways that they are fighting the spread of the illness. Luckily, it is just a 24/48 hour bug - so no long lasting effects for those that have had it.

I even met a new friend today.
















More to come!

Colleen

Ho, Ho, Ho

I found out on Friday that I will be deploying to CFS Alert for six moths - in two to three weeks from now. This is a very short notice deployment, but that is sometimes how life goes in the military!

I will be able to run, spin, strength train and yoga up there (thank goodness they have two well equipped gyms there) but alas, no pool.

I am thinking that this blog will switch over more to a 'my life in Alert' while I am gone, with some training updates thrown in. I think that life in the high Arctic (approx 800 km from the geographical North Pole) will be pretty interesting and I want to be able to share what I experience.

For the next two weeks, life is going to be pretty crazy - getting everything ready to go. Have to make sure that I have a UV lamp - no sunlight in Alert until the end of February, eek!

If you want to read up on Alert: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CFS_Alert

I'm baaaaack!

Sorry for dropping off of the face of the planet (just in case anyone is still reading this).

We had a beyond crazy summer. Our son was in Steinbach getting his Private Pilot's license, so what better to do then decide to move? Over the course of the summer, we bought, sold and moved houses.

Then one week after getting possession of the new house I had surgery to remove my gallbladder. It turns out a pesky stone had been making me so sick.

I am happy to report that we are (mostly) settled in the new house and I am completely recovered from my surgery (laparoscopic, thank goodness). I am back to training and loving being back, except after almost three months off it is hard work!

This week is week three back at it and thankfully a recovery week - I am feeling downright lazy with just hot yoga today :)

I am really looking forward to training with a healthy body - the past three years have kind of sucked being sick/diet restrictions. I am really excited to see what I can do now that I can eat without worrying about a 3 am emergency room visit!

More to follow, I promise.

Back at'er

Well, I got home a week ago from being in Quebec for three weeks and all I can say is that life has been crazy. It was a good course and I have come to the conclusion that I really need to learn more French - the course wasn't an issue but it bothered me not being able to fully communicate when I was off the base (the cab ride from the Montreal airport to the base being one example).

Training wise, I got some decent runs in (after I was finished having a cold) and one swim in (the pool was way too hot to train in). No cycling, as my bike could not come with me and I really do not like spin bikes at the gym.

Work has been nuts, new boss, end of fiscal year headaches and a command structure re-organization - ingredients for a stressful week. On top of that, we have had two family events since I got back - one was basically just after I got off of the plane (with a quick stop to drop off my bags at home).

I did manage to get some good training this week, so not a write-off just not quite how I wanted to jump back in to things.

I dearly missed my regular pool (the one in Quebec was as warm as a bathtub, ugh) and I even missed my bike trainer (yes, I am nuts).

February already, this winter is flying - only four months until the first duathlon of the season!

Still here!

Okay, I am a slacker on the blogging front but I am still here.

Training is going well, with the exception of the usual Christmas/New Year's craziness.

I am heading out of town next weekend on a course for work for three weeks - yippee. I should be able to get some swimming and running in, but I can't take my bike and trainer. I'll attempt to keep up with the training plan the coach sends me, but I really have no idea out busy this course will be...

Happy New Year everyone!

So far so good!

Well, one month of back to training done and things are going well.

The body is feeling good. It is nice to have that 'strong' feeling back that I get when I am training. Recovery is really good, I am crediting all of the yoga (hot and regular) that I am doing - my body feels almost too good for the level of training that I am doing.

The coach has definitely upped the game so to speak - more intense training this round, I know that it will be tough but I can do it (but I will admit to giggling with fear at a few of the workouts on my latest training block).

Zero stomach issues as well - life is good :)

And so it begins again...

Okay, break time is over. Back to training and base building.

That also means back to heart rate training - aerobic threshold, how I have missed you (not).

Seriously, things are going well. It feels good to be back on a schedule. I have even added hot yoga (sweaty, stretchy goodness) to my routine.

My chiro was very happy with the results of yoga, since I normally have very tight hip flexors from being on the bike and sitting in an office chair all day.

The shoulder has held up well in the pool, mostly I think thanks to my awesome massage therapist - she is wicked with shoulders!

Yes, it appears that I have a whole 'health care team' to keep me functional - thank goodness for health insurance!

Now, off to go do another workout!

Long time, no posts

Okay, I am way behind.

Most likely because I didn't want to admit defeat.

Calgary 70.3 sucked.

My shoulder had not fully recovered from the tendinitis and I had lost almost two weeks training from being sick at the beginning of July. Being that sick and the shoulder issues I was having just through my training for a complete loop.

I just barely managed to make the swim cut-off in Calgary but just could not make up enough time and missed the bike cut-off by five minutes - five freaking minutes.

I am going back next year. I love the course (it would have been nicer on the bike if it wasn't overcast and rainy). It is challenging, tough and I don't like being told no.

My husband was fantastic the whole weekend and was my rock when I had to deal with admitting that I failed. A few tears of frustration were shed on my part (I have I mentioned that I am stubborn?).

So, what now?

I have started strength training in order to fix up my shoulders. I always seem to let strength training be the first thing to go when I run out of time - I can't do that anymore or my body will stop me dead in my tracks.

Also, I have had to address some serious stomach issues (acid reflux from hell). I ended up in the emergency room on Canada Day morning for about 7 or 8 hours - not exactly fun. I have been on heavy duty meds to control the reflux, but they come with their own 'fun' side-effects.

In an effort to combat my stomach issues, I have at least for now switched to a vegan diet. The latest specialist that I was referred to told me that it could help (and thus let me reduce the dosage of my meds). I still may end up having surgery to fix my stomach but in the past couple of weeks, by eliminating meat and animal products I have been able to cut the dosage of my meds in half with no ill effects. Actually, my stomach is feeling better than it has since, well, I can't remember how long.

So that is it for now, rehab, get healthy and keep in shape until training begins again next month.

That and I'll try to keep up to date here!

Almost there

Only 40 days to go until race day, eek!

I think that I am over being sick, I had a really good 120 km ride a week ago. I took last week off as a bit of an impromptu 'mental break' week. I am not sure if the coach will be thrilled but the brain needed.

I had been so busy with work/Air Force Run stuff, then sick, then had a very full training week - mentally I was bagged and just needed to be a slug for a bit. I am feeling 1000% better this week and I am keen again to train and race again.

Coming up for this weekend is the St.Malo race weekend. http://stmalotri.blogspot.com/ I am only doing the Sprint, just a good warm up to the race season, practice transition, etc. It should be fun, as some friends are racing as well!

The past couple of weeks, meh

Things kind of fell off the rails for the past couple of weeks.

I was on the event committee for the 2010 Air Force Run (May 30th) and it ended up consuming way too much time in my life for the week around race day.

Immediately after the race, I got sick - ended up missing two days of work.

Feeling much better now and will test out the body with a run today.

Two hard build weeks coming up!

In the groove

Training has been going really well - too well to remember to blog.

Did my first outdoor ride of the season last night. I could have done it early (the weather has been that good) but my bike was in the shop for a tune up, so I had to wait. The ride felt strong, my heart rate was higher than I wanted it to be but I put that down to the first ride in traffic in over six months and a head wind.

It felt so nice not to be on the trainer!

The Winnipeg Police Service Half Marathon is just over a week away and the coach has said "no limits – good pacing early and just keep getting stronger throughout the run", so I will see what all of this heart rate training has done for me. I am starting to get twitchy to race, so I am looking forward to this one.

It is kind of strange, today was a rest day and I am really tired (and it is only 8:25 pm) - maybe it is because the office was a sauna today. I don't think that they have switched from heat to AC yet - then again, this is Winnipeg in April and no one expected 25°C.

Ride and a run tomorrow, whee! I am enjoying the ride ;)

29 March to 4 Apr 2010:

Monday

Swim: 500m free warm up, 5 x 200m free with 1minute recovery between, 200m easy swim - good swim, passed a guy in the lane next to me. He didn't seem to like that and started churning up the water more - but it was fun to 'chick' a guy in the pool :)

Tuesday

Spin Class on Base - made them sweat. Some interval work, some standing - 60 minutes total

Wednesday

Run: 60 minutes: 15 minutes @ AET, 30 minutes @ 5 x 5 minutes @ AET + 10 BPM with 1 minute recovery, 15 minutes at AET - legs were a little tire from yesterday's spin to start but loosened up in the warm up. Intervals were good, had a little bit of trouble keeping the HR in check on the last interval. Felt good to go faster!

Thursday

Run: 45 minutes at AET - had a Mess Dinner at the Base Wednesday night, it went really late and the red wine tasted really good. Made Thursday my rest day.


Friday

Day Off - Run 45 minutes at AET - 3.21 miles, good run

Saturday

Run: 30 minutes at AET include 4 x 20 second strides - 2.18 miles, good run

Bike: 60 minutes @ 20 minutes at AET, 20 minutes at AET + 5 BPM, 10 minutes at AET + 10 BPM, 10 minutes warm down (cadence 90 to 100) - got a wicked sinus headache in the afternoon, couldn't shake it so the ride didn't happen until Sunday. Did the ride Sunday morning, felt good - nice and sweaty and the HR was good.

Sunday

Run: 3 hrs at AET - started at around 5pm, decent long run, forgot to stop my watch at red lights 11.33 miles (my last 3 hr run was done on the treadmill).

Overall, another good week. Legs were a little tired today but I was expecting that.

March totals:

Swim - 9.92 km 4 hrs 11 mins 50 secs

Bike (all trainer) - 10 hrs 45 mins

Run - 97.12 km 14 hrs 27 mins 04 secs

It didn't feel like I was doing a whole lot (guess that I am getting used to higher training volumes).

For April, I am finally getting to do some higher heart rate stuff on the run - yippee!

Left leg straightened itself on it's own, so just the normal chiro tune up at the end of the week :)

Editted to add today's run - oops.