No turning back now...

Where are the weeks going to? Just done some calculations and in 36 weekends time I will be in Germany preparing to race.The Hotel is booked, the flight is booked and hopefully by then my body will be like a finely tuned engine just ready to go....... Yeah right, I just think as long as it goes that is the main thing.

So this week I went back to see the fabulous Jambo Truong, for a lesson in stretching. We went through a routine of stretches that I need to be doing and he showed be how to breathe correctly. It was very relaxing and  tranquil and I really felt the benefit of it when I left his.
So the plan is to do this every day, before and especially after I have trained.
The problem I seem to be facing is its not quite as relaxing at home. The other night I took myself upstairs to perform the stretches and was instantly invaded by the girls. So whilst I am trying to concentrate on my breathing the youngest is on then off then back on the potty, then I am having to reward the youngest for being successful on the potty, and Polly just didn't seem to stop talking, then they decide to join in. I think you get the picture, it was just chaotic not relaxing at all.
So the next attempt was done with no kids around. However this time the dog  thought it was some sort of game, not the best game really with a dog when you keep needing to get on all fours. I really think it is something I will have to do out of the house.

The Lovely Jambo Truong

This week we were hit by the snow big time. So its official now my decent road bike is now off the road and as I really don't fancy running outside in the snow, I have faced the fact most of my training will  now be indoors, for the foreseeable future.
So to date this week I have managed the mammoth swim (approx 3.5miles), had a tri session with the club, done a weight session, and have another turbo session/swim to do at the weekend, must say I am feeling good. However next week might not be so productive on the training side, as it is the start of the Christmas nights out. Never one to say no to a few drinks out with the girls I have managed to book myself out on two nights next week, maybe like the ironman I should try and pace myself!!!! Who am I kidding I reckon if I could pace myself and say no, I currently wouldn't be in the situation of being entered in an ironman. 

Finally, I think I have a coach. A guy called Woody (Alun Woodward). He lives in Hungary and is a full time coach & pro triathlete. He's the European Head Coach for 'ironguides'. So by all accounts I am in the best possible hands. This is the man who is going to be responsible for setting me my programmes and helping me with my diet and any other issues physically and mentally that I may encounter along the way. Just wondering if he has ever worked with a manic mother of three?...... there might be a lot of issues!!

More dates for the diary.

Well another week has flown by. Yikes!

This week I have entered 2 more triathlons, with one more definite to go. They are seen as a must regarding the training for the Ironman.  That word now just sends me into a frenzy; ooh ahhh!!

Next year so far the grand total of events entered is four (with one Olympic distance still to go), but the dates are as follows:

June 12th - Cleveland short course - 1500m swim, cycle 40km, run 10km (multi - terrain)
July 2nd  - Cleveland Steelman -      2000m swim, cycle 90km, run 21km
July 31st - London Triathlon -          1500m swim, cycle 40km, run 10km
Aug 7th - Regensburg Ironman  -     3800m swim, cycle180km, run 42.2km

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! What am I doing???????? Breathe, breathe and breathe again.

OK its possible, I think!! Well we will see. I am hoping that I am going to turn either into super girl or wonder woman in the coming months. Maybe I should get a tri suit made up to match my role models outfits, it might help me with my transformation, on the other hand I might just look like a complete nutter!! Probably the latter.

So regarding training this week, all has gone well. Got house bound for a couple of nights, so the turbo trainer got pulled out for the first time in a while. Seemed to go well, but I really don't think watching desperate housewives at the same time helped me produce the most focused session. However I did enjoy it!

Calum who took me for my swimming lesson last week very kindly forwarded me a training plan. OMG the word 'TORTURE' springs to mind. For those of you not into swimming it basically meant swimming 206 lengths of a 25m pool (not including warm up/cool down) at varying speeds and 128 of those were just with my arms; insane!!

1hour 55mins later and 5,150m later I am out the pool feeling elated but knackered, headed home thinking, 'I am going to sleep well'. But why oh why is it these nights you have your worse night sleep, just when you need it the most?

I fell asleep pretty much straight away, however I was rudely awoken 2/3 hours later by the worse snoring I have heard in a while. An hour into that musical, the dog joined in with some wining but trying to ignore her resulted in Molly sticking her nose in my face. So up I got and let her out but she just seemed to study the stars, ahhhh! Back to bed, the snoring continued, the dogs wining continued and then she started licking god knows what part of her body outside the bedroom door which really was not a pleasant noise. So up I got again this time dressed to go on the lane with the beast. Mission successful (she had a very upset stomach, sooo rank at 4am) I finally get back to sleep. The kids only went and woke up at 6:30am, they never get up that early, I could have throttled them... and so the day began.

What I can't figure out is, was it just a disturbed night sleep? I normally sleep through everything or can too much exercise late at night effect your sleep pattern? If so that is so harsh!

Molly enjoying her days up at Bamburgh Castle.
Located in the North East of England,
Northumberland.











However, sleep or no sleep, I have managed to do a quick windy 30 mile bike ride today with my friend Lisa. It was hell outbound (due to the wind) but heaven coming back in, I think we averaged about 25mph on the return journey, awesome!

The rest of the week as normal has entered the realms of manic mayhem. Work, Finger Print Management is busy at the moment with everyone wanting print done prior to Christmas. I also managed to make a start on the Christmas shopping; yuck!

Finally my organisational skills are back in use again. Every January I help organise a big charity night celebrating Burns night (a night in which the life and poetry of Robbie Burns is celebrated). It is in aid of the 'Clubs for Young People' which is a charity that helps to raise money to support the local clubs in the North East. Previous years I have run this event with my father John Shallcross, however this year I have a new partner in crime, local Business man Nick Manson, so the pressure is really on to continue the great work done by my father.

I am getting Stronger

I feel different this week in a fantastic way.

Last weekend on a strong recommendation I went to see a man called Jambo Truong, as I was worrying about my hips and the pain I was getting and this was from running only 6 miles. Jambo is a 'Multi-disciplinary practitioner that specialises in musculo-skeletal alignment and preventative medicine'. All I can say is WOW! My first consultation was 90mins, in which I spent most of my time lying on his medical bed, raising an arm and then a leg and then an arm and leg together etc, and seeing how much force I could apply. Then where needed he corrected my alignment, please don't ask me how he does this. He also did a couple of acupuncture points. Honestly, straight afterwards I really didn't feel any different regarding my body. But this week I have felt so much stronger, like there is more power getting through my body. He sent me away with some stretches to do, normally not very good at doing these, but I am now making the time as well as continuing my door hanging regime. I am really looking forward to my next appointment.


Also this week I have had a swimming lesson with Calum who is the head coach of Aquajets. Its another WOW. What a difference a lesson can make, its unbelivable. To get all technical, I now feel like I am actually catching the water and pulling myself through it, I really don't know what I was doing before but I feel so much smoother in the water now. 2.4 miles, easy, bring it on!

The rest of my week has just been MANIC!!!

Work has been busy, but it has been the youngest member of the family that I think has turned into the Tasmanian Devil, she is exhausting. As well as being her usual busy self, she has taken to getting changed up to 5 times a day. Every time she disappears she appears in something else, it's driving me up the wall.  She truly excelled herself Wednesday night. The telly was banned so off she went upstairs, to appear again in some strange assembly of clothes, however upon my arrival to her bedroom I was greeted with this.

When I ask her why? Her response is; 'I wanted to'.

My only worry is, if this is what she is like now, what is she going to be like when she's 16?  The term Wild springs to mind!

Finally I did a long run this weekend, well 10 miles, so long by my standards. It felt great, got up early and just took off. I am still not the quickest of runners, but I actually enjoyed it this time, which is a first. Will I enjoy it after cycling 112 miles and swimming 2.4 miles? Probably not!!!