What a game!

Finally some photo's, yeeha. That's me in the middle on the top photo and the rather sweaty looking one top left in the bottom Photo.  What a game, in our new very smart kit we were victorious 40 goals to 16. Well played ladies nothing like setting a high standard to maintain at the start of the season.

On the down side I wore some trainers that maybe weren't the best. I now have a rather large and painful blister on the sole of my foot; boo hoo. Decided I really couldn't complain as I need to be tough if I am going to be successful in my quest to do an Ironman.

The house situation hasn't really changed apart from I am back down to three children, the school run is going to be a breeze tomorrow. Also I lose the blind dog tomorrow. Not literally of course, that would be illegal, he is going back home to his mum. After that just a tropical kitchen and a fridge/freezer to sort out!

Another typical week

Eventually I can get on my computer.

Five children in the house, four of them with club penguin and moshi monster accounts, dosen't leave much time for me to get on hence the lack of entries on Blogger recently.

Tonight I have just got back from Tri Club based at David Lloyd Newcastle. This is run by Total Racing International whom I recently joined and I must say I'm loving it. These are the guys (main man Phil Gray) who have taken on the challenge of getting me and about twelve others Ironman fit for August next year; good luck is what I say.

Going to have a night off training tomorrow due a hectic next few days. I have my first netball match Thursday, so hopefully will get some pictures for my blog. Training Friday and then on Sunday I am off to the lake district to swim one mile in each of four or five of the lakes. This is training for another challenge which will hopefully take place next year but I'll fill you in at a later date.

A quick house update - Still have a tropical Kitchen,

                                     Fridge/ freezer still knackered (thanks Samsung)

                                     Five kids in the house, currently sleeping

                                     Finally, still have a yappy blind dog, who is now insisting on sleeping on our bed.

Then when I thought nothing else could test me at the mo I found out late last night that my granny had fallen and has broken her hip. At 98 years old she still has managed to refuse the bedpan. Go Granny!

We all have days like these!

Finally feel like I have recovered from the weekend activities, no thanks to the torture I put my legs through yesterday. A free morning and lovely weather beckoned a bike ride, so a good chat later (with my cycling partner Lisa) and 30 miles covered, I was feeling pretty good. That was 'til the evening, when a supposed friendly netball match turned into a full sprinting, aggressive battle; have to say the legs were feeling pretty pooped again, I keep telling myself it is all good training.

Training tonight is consisting of drinking lots of wine. Currently doing this while I type so excuse the errors! Had a hard day juggling the house. First we have had a leak under the floor, so today the heaters came in to dry it out; my kitchen is currently the temperature of the tropics. If that is not bad enough I have been having fridge issues. So a very unhelpful, completely negative Samsung fridge man arrived today, only to leave 15 mins later, leaving me with no fridge/freezer until they see if it is still under warrenty, and if it is, it needs to be turned off for 48 hours 'til they come back. So then I had to make a mad dash to grandpa's to store my freezer and half my fridge contents before I lost the lot whilst our two year old was having a wobbler about being on tippy toes (EH!) and refused to put any shoes on. Finally, last but by no means least, tonight I have my two nieces moving in for nine days.

So quick recap; tropical kitcken, no fridge/freezer, five children (ten and under, one with tippy toe issues) and hardly any food in the house. Oopps, nearly forgot, I also have my mothers blind dog staying for the week.

I am so pleased I can enjoy the finer things in life like wine at times like these, really not looking forward to the day they say I need to stop drinking due to the training schedule, but I suppose it might make some school runs easier.

Just had a worrying thought; hangover, five kids, school run... ahhhh!!

OW OW OWWWWW

Well I have survived my longest run to date, 13.1 miles; yeah!  But I am now paying the price, I can hardly walk, especially if it has to do with bending my legs like going up stairs. Also going to the toilet is proving a real challenge. It is a matter of gritting my teeth and dealing with the pain. On the up side I have raised over £700 for Tiny Lives so it is totally worth it.

However I am now really worried about the Ironman, the thought of running another 13 miles after the way I felt yesterday at the end of the race, seems like an impossible challenge, and to think I have to cycle and swim before that. Seriously thinking I need to check out some life insurance policies!

Run Run Run

Tomorrow I will run the furthest I have ever run. I will be doing the Great North Run, 13.1 miles and in the process  raising nearly £700 for 'Tiny Lives'. This charity is very close to my heart, as seven years ago I gave birth to very premature twins, weighing a mere 2lbs8oz and 2lbs9oz. Tiny Lives helps towards the cost of caring for premature and sick babies born in the North East.

My main aim for running was to raise money for the Charity, but now this distance will give me some feeling of what is in store for me in August next year (well half the feeling). However I feel I can't really complain about  it as it is a fraction of what I have to do over all. Maybe I should be considering running/walking back from the finish so I at least get the feel of one of the disciplines, but if I know me the pull of the beer tent then the Metro home will win me over on this occasion. What can I say, I still have 10 months to go, or to be more exact 46 weeks; AGES!!

Oh what have I done

Breathe; its done. I have entered. All I need to worry about now is the training, ahhhhhh!

Question: Is it really possible to train for an Ironman whilst also trying to hold down a job (part time), look after a family that consists of 3 young children, a rabbit and an old sometimes grumpy huge black dog?

I can honestly say life is hectic already. Like all mothers and some fathers, the day starts early with the school rush, followed by walking the dog, sorting child no. 3 out if I am off to work then collecting them from school, attending any after school activities, homework, feeding the tribe (normally 2 sittings in this household), bath time and finally the bedtime routine, which consists of 2 lots of spellings and 3 lots of stories. Then a quick tidy up of the house before my time can commence.

Of Course on top of all this you still have all the other things you have to do, i.e. food shopping, cleaning the house, washing the beds, floor, etc.

So what do I do? I enter an Ironman. For those of you who do not know what that is, it is a triathlon but a really long one. In one race I will swim 2.4 miles then hop onto my bike to cycle 112 miles and finally go for a little jog covering ahhhhhh! 26 massive miles. How long this will take me who knows; depends how I get on with the training and when I can find time to do it.

I have decided to log this epic journey of me trying to get myself race fit for August 7th 2011 when I will compete in the IRONMAN Regensburg.

Oh what have I done??