Highlights of a wheeze week!!

Well I didn't have the best start to this week.

Firstly It was drawn to my attention that my tent putting up skills left much to be desired. My fantastic friends (actually more her husband, Jason) in the lakes very kindly said I could leave the outer cover of the tent up, as it was wet and would be a nightmare for me to dry at home. So they would just pack it up when it had dried, I thought this a marvellous idea. So I merrily packed away the rest of the tent and drove home. After I left I am convinced a hurricane had obviously swept through the lakes as I received this very upsetting picture of our tent which was photographed on a road, certainly not where I left it, oops!

We could of been in that, how alarming is that!

My next bad moment was waking up with a summer cold. Unfortunately as an asthmatic it started to hit my chest, prompting a meeting with my doctor. I informed the doctor as I was 6 weeks from doing my first Ironman, I just couldn't be ill, let alone have a full blown asthma attack. I also had to draw her attention to the fact that it was in the realms of possibility that I could have Lymes disease! from those delightful tick bites we got, really starting to think camping isn't for me! This is what I left the doctors with;

However I haven't actually used any of my prescriptions yet. I was hoping I would recover without them. But I am now starting to think this is not likely and with my first endurance block starting this Thursday, time is fast starting to run out. I think I will have to admit defeat and accept I need the drugs if I am to carry on training to the level I need to be if I am to complete this Ironman.

So training this week has been hopeless. The only thing I really can manage has been swimming, hopefully I will see an improvement next week when the medication kicks in.

Despite this, my week has ended on massive high. This weekend in Newcastle there has been a huge cycling event, known as the Northern Rock Cyclone. It is a fantastic event for all riders from Novices to the Elite.
What can I say photo of Duncan Goodhew last weekend, then the fastest man on the planet on two wheels this weekend.

Mark Cavendish and I

So what I now need to complete the photo trio, is a runner, of the Elite variety, well known and famous please!!!

Once again, I am trying to raise as much money as possible for 'Tiny Lives'. This is a charity which helps support the enormous costs in caring and keeping alive babies born prematurely in the North East. All donations really are gratefully received no matter how big or small.

Just Giving Page: http://www.justgiving.com/Joanna-Reed0
 

Percictency pays off!!

IF AT FIRST YOU DON'T SUCCEED THEN TRY, TRY AGAIN!

What a way to end the weekend and no injuries this time, which is a relief as Ironman is now only 7 weeks away. Just look at that, we did it!

However yet again getting into that position proved to be hilariously entertaining!!

Friday night I took part in the 2mile Great North Swim, which was held just outside Windermere. Made two fatal errors for this race, the first being I ate some spicy chicken at lunch time, won't do that again. Trying to swim your fastest and have something repeating on you is quite an horrendous. The second error was that we were running late getting to the venue and I was so concerned about getting into the water before the race I didn't give the actual course much thought. Had a quick look at the diagram on the board and that was it.  So when the race began I really felt like I was swimming the first lap blind, my second lap was far more enjoyable, until about the last 500m when I seemed to be experience brain freeze (ice cream headache). In the end my 2 mile swim took me 58 minutes 44seconds. which placed me 2nd in my age group and gender category. I was 27th female overall in the 2 mile events. To be honest I am a little disappointed with my time as last weekend I swam a mile in 26 minutes, but I do feel like I learnt a lot from this race.

After the race finished we were about to head back to the car when I managed to see and then have my photo taken with a swimming legend. He had also swam in our 2 mile race, it was the one and only Duncan Goodhew.

So for the rest of the weekend not much training really happened as I have been absolutely exhausted from my first time camping with my kids. I decided to ease myself gently into this new experience and camp in my friends garden, the lovely Rebecca who I do my handstands with (as seen above).

How perfect is that. So our first night was obliviously very exciting, that was till about 4/5am when my 3year old decided as it was light so she was going to start the day, I never knew a morning could last so long. I gave up at 6.30 am and staggered up to the house for a strong coffee. The second night proved a little more successful as the youngest decided she wasn't going to sleep in the tent and was going to sleep with her friend in the house. I thought this was a marvellous idea (don't know if Rebecca and Jason were quite so enthusiastic) but I was dreading another night of very little sleep. To be on the safe side I was in bed by 9.30pm, couldn't believe it, we all slept till 7.50am and when I got up to the house they were all still in their beds too.
However I have discovered since arriving back home, we have managed to bring a few uninvited  guests back with us which I would of rather we had left behind........TICKS. They are horrible and between us all we to have quite a few, yuck!

Training for the rest of the week has been ok, probably not enough training really. Monday I managed a 70 mile bike ride with Lisa, it was great being back out with my cycling partner again. Wednesday I survived my first 2 1/4 hour run with Laura, however we managed to get so thirsty that we had to detour our run via  my mums house to slurp out of the garden tap (she wasn't in), I will definitely be taking water with me on our next long run. I made yoga on Thursday which was awesome as normal. It was here a friend who read my blog from last week and who also shares my pain with his IT band, very kindly brought me the next step up from the foam roller. Its the plastic pipe, rolling has now just taking on a whole new level of  excruciating pain. So a massive thank you for that one!!

Once again please can I remind everyone I am trying to raise as much money as possible for Tiny Lives. This is a charity which helps support the enormous costs in caring and keeping alive babies born prematurely in the North East. All donations really are gratefully received.
Just Giving Page: http://www.justgiving.com/Joanna-Reed0

Radio Jo goes live on the air waves!!

Well what a week I have had. The start of the week took a very unexpected but fabulous twist. Our local radio station BBC Newcastle got in touch with me via some one I know who works there and asked if I would come in and do a live interview at 5.15pm........ummmm ........yeah!!!!!

So it was to talk about Ironman the training and tiny lives. I don't think I have been that nervous in a long time, but after the first minute I totally got in to it. So BBC Newcastle, if you are ever wanting a new Radio presenter, look no further I am your girl. For thoses of you who haven't heard it, here we go. Just click on the link below: (massive thanks to Matt aka @yaagTRI for sorting this out for me)

http://soundcloud.com/mskey/ironman-jo

This week my IT band on the left hand side really started playing up. I was also getting pain in my knee, because of it. Despite all my best efforts in stretching, I just don't think I have the time at the moment to stretch enough. I have spent most evenings on my foam roller (which is never a pleasant experience), and with my first Olympic distance triathlon race taking place on Sunday I decided I had to do something about it. In such dire circumstances there is only one person I would call and that is the fabulous Jambo Truong. (I really need to pack him in my suitcase for Germany). He managed to squeeze me in (Saturday teatime) and one very painful hour or so later later I left with some rather attractive bruising from him using the cupping technique on my IT band followed by some intense massage. The pain level could only be described as excruciating.


But on the up side my leg was feeling a lot better, despite the bruising.

So my first Olympic distance triathlon race was held down in Cleveland which is an hour south of Newcastle. So I was up and on the road by 6.30 which to be honest is a lie in, in the world of triathlons. The weather was amazing it really couldn't of been any better.

Ellerton Park Lake- This is what I swam in

 So for an Olympic distance triathlon these are the distances: 1 mile open water swim, 25 miles on the bike and a 10km Run.

The lake was at a tropical 16 degrees and I came out from my mile swim on 26 minutes dead (3rd female out of the water). Experienced a couple of slaps across the head but on the whole pretty uneventful.

My T1 time was 1min10secs (this is the time it took me to get my wetsuit off and biking gear on and vacate the area).

My cycle time was 1hr 11mins and 32 seconds. I really did push this section. With that time my average speed was 20.6mph, which put as the 3rd quickest female, the 1st female Averaged 20.8mph. So I was close. Nearly had a major mishap, one of the straps of my saddle bag fell off and very nearly caught in my wheel and chain, luckily it came free and fell away. So with the  saddle bag now hanging down the side of my bike I made the decision, if it comes off, it's good bye, so long and farewell. How pleased am I that it never came off, it only had the van keys in it. I would probably still be cycling around trying to find it now if it had.

T2 41 seconds (rack bike again remove cycling gear and put on the running shoes)

The run, this took me 46 minutes and 53 seconds and it was pure pain. I never felt comfortable the whole way through, it was grim. My thighs kept feeling like they were going to cramp and my body felt tense. My IT band actually felt ok which was a relief but I just couldn't find my flow. I entered this run in 3rd place but finished in 6th. However considering the treatment I had done the previous night and also knowing this is were I am weakest I am quite happy with my performance.

In the end overall I was 6th and in my category I was 4th, all I am going to say, 'there is room for improvement!!'

After the race and struggling to bend the legs!!

Finally I got a photo of some of the guys I am going to Germany with. We are all doing the Ironman and 4 of us in this picture are complete novices to this experience. If you can spot the father and son, those two are the experienced ones!!

So next weekend I am swimming the 2 mile swim in Windermere for the great North Swim and will also be camping with my children for the first time, could be a very eventful weekend!!

Once again, I am trying to raise as much money as possible for 'Tiny Lives'. This is a charity which helps support the enormous costs in caring and keeping alive babies born prematurely in the North East. All donations really are gratefully received.

Just Giving Page: http://www.justgiving.com/Joanna-Reed0

JUGGLING!!!!

Half term week and training is never the easiest to juggle but when you have thrown into the equation a case of chicken pox (not me), the twins birthday and a Take That concert the difficulty factor in finding time to train goes to a whole new level.

For the birthday celebrations we headed up the coast to Beadnell for a night in my brother and sister in laws caravan and to spend the day on the beach. We arrived all excited and approx 3 hours later and just enough time for my youngest to slaver all over her 7 month old cousin we discovered she had chicken pox. Not really the best start but what can you do. However not to let it ruin the fun I took my remaining healthy children and their cousin down to the beach for a quick dip in the tropical north sea and took this opportunity to practice my beach starts against my very competitive rivals.

The following day was amazing we really couldn't of got a better weather day for the beach.

This was taken at 8am

2pm just look at that sky.......its the North East of England!!

We had a fantastic day. My amazing sister in-law stopped in with my youngest so I could get the twins and myself onto the beach. They had me pushing them in a kayak up and down the coast line....exhausting. Then we also had a go on a jet bike, awesome. I had a quick water ski, with one of the twins in the boat which we both loved and I also managed about a 1/2 to 3/4 mile sea swim. So a massive thank you to the Beadnell crowd for giving the twins and myself a truly fantastic day.

We then headed back into town for teatime. I was slightly concerned that I hadn't done any serious training so far this week,  so I went out and did a 2hr run. I've decided this wasn't one of my best ideas really whether it was the water skiing or pushing that kayak my legs felt like lead but then again that is probably how they are going to feel for the ironman run!!!!

Tri club at the beginning of the week had to take the back seat as it was my night to see Take That, one word for this concert.....AMAZING.

It was definitely the best concert of this year with any doubt. Mr Williams rocked, what a performer.

Saturday was the day for my much needed long ride, but with my biking partner away it was to be a solo mission. I woke to hear the wind, I hate that noise when I am going biking, Grrrrrr!!!! But with ironman now only 9 weeks away I had no choice but to go. I had decided and arranged to cycle up to Beadnell have a cup of tea (I can't seem to drop my tea habit, do they serve a cuppa on the ironman?) and then head back. The wind was in my face the whole way up, it was relentless, however the return journey was fantastic. I covered approx 100 miles in 5hrs 45minuites, so happy with that.

Next Sunday I have my second race of the season. The Cleveland short course, which I am looking forward, it is an open water swim, can't wait, however it is being followed up with a swimming party for the twins. I can imagine I will really be in the mood to make 30 rounds of sandwiches!!!

Once again, I am trying to raise as much money as possible for 'Tiny Lives'. This is a charity which helps support the enormous costs in caring and keeping alive babies born prematurely in the North East. All donations really are gratefully received.

Just Giving Page: http://www.justgiving.com/Joanna-Reed0

Netball does yoga!!

10 weeks and counting now till the Ironman. In 5 weeks time I will have my first endurance block of training given to me by coach Woody. Just a little concerned as this endurance weekend happens to fall on my first half Ironman race. So I will only of trained hard for 2 days and then will have to race on day 3, oh my poor legs!!!

Training this week has been good, managed a couple of pool swims. I really need to be getting some open water practice now, but where this is happening presently is in a lake called the QE2, which from numerous reports is covered in  geese, swan you name it poo. So I am really struggling to find the will power to submerge myself in their faeces. Going up the coast next week, think I might just settle for the cold North Sea!!

Thursday this week I was back on the netball court, I just can't say no to the sport. It was yet another victorious win 27 -17. After the game I persuaded some of the girls to come and try out one of Jambo's yoga classes. It is definitely a great way to stretch and chill out after an aggressive game.

I don't think this is quite what they were expecting though, when they agreed to come!!!

Managed to squeeze in two bike rides this week, 40miles and approx a 60 mile one. The longer one I did was pretty hairy as it was so windy. The whole ride I seemed to spend battling the wind, which isn't much fun. But as the day progressed the sun decided to come out and what a difference it can make to a ride.

Really it was windy!

Finally I have managed a couple of decent runs this week, all seems to be going well on that front. I am no where near my marathon distance yet but I don't think I do run anywhere near that distance before the race. (ummm, note to self... must check this with the coach, as only 10 weeks left). I think I am going with the saying, 'ignorance is bliss', well until it is a must and that would be on RACE DAY!!!!

WE CAN DO IT!!!

JUST LOOK AT THIS

WE CAN DO IT,YEEHA. IT WAS AWESOME AND DON'T WE LOOK GRACEFUL!

Friday night at yoga we cracked it. The lovely Jambo (our amazing yoga teacher) helped us to get the pose I so wanted to create in the lake, a couple of weeks ago. Well now we know we can do it, there will be no stopping us. I will get that photo of us doing this in the lake. The next available chance will be the weekend of the great north swim where Becci and I are competing in the 2 mile swim on the Friday, I can't wait. The only downside of us being able to this, is the fact that we probably aren't safe to be let out together at night now. There is nothing like a good party trick!!

Training this week has been good. Managed 2 runs, approx 1hr 20m each, the second run of the week I really upped my pace. However I need to get myself out running for 1hr 45 now so that will be this weeks aim.

Managed a couple of intense turbo sessions, ouch they hurt. I actually haven't been out on my bike this week, the wind kept putting me off, hopefully next week will be a bit calmer.

I have had an ace week swimming. I did 2 sessions in my usual pool, of various drills. But on Wednesday Lisa and I took ourselves over to Sunderland to try out the aquatic Centre. This pool 2 days of the week change the lane ropes around and it becomes a 50m pool. I managed to swim 4000m which is over what I need to do in the ironman. Afterwards I felt really good, so pleased about that, I definitely had plenty of energy left.

Finally, the next couple of weeks I want to concentrate on my transitions.  I have to make them quicker. I need to learn to be able to just jump on to my bike with my shoes already clipped in and also jump off leaving my shoes in the same place they started. I have a feeling this is going to take a bit of practise,  it is definitely one for the old bike as I reckon I may have a few mishaps! My next race is June 12th its another sprint, so I want to be able to do it perfectly for then.

Its Beginning!!

For those that are new to my blog, welcome.

The of 16th September last year, I entered an Ironman.  For those who do not know what this is, I shall explain.

It is just a little endurance race, where I will start by swimming 2.4 miles, most likely in a freezing cold lake (I do wear a wetsuit) this however will not protect my poor fingers and toes from the cold. On Completion of this I will move as quickly as I can (could be hard with frozen feet) to my bike, in the process peeling my wetsuit off. Upon arrival at my bike I will quickly (again could be hard with frozen hands) put on my helmet, bike shoes etc and then I am off for a little bike ride. Just a mere 112miles later I will complete the ride, where upon I ditch the bike and biking accessories and put on my running shoes.(This is the part I am really dreading). I then have to preferably run, however I feel walking, staggering, crawling and possibly even rolling, might come into play in this part of the race, as I need to cover 26 miles, in other words a MARATHON. WAS I INSANE WHEN I ENTERED  THIS!!!!!

So 8 months down the line and some training later, I am feeling somewhat more optimistic that I haven't sentence myself to death, but maybe more of a brutal torture session that will last for quite some time. Also I am not ruling out that is quite likely I will be having vivid flashbacks and horrendous nightmare for the rest of my life.

So why am I doing it? That is a good question. I would love to raise over £3,000 for 'Tiny Lives' which is a charity very close to my heart. I know this seems like a vast amount of money, but really compared to the enormous amount of pain I am about to put myself through I think it is worth it. Nearly 8 years ago I gave birth to very premature twins. It was touch and go with both of them a few times but they are both here today, fighting fit and larger than life in personality. If you take a look at my blog entry, dated the 21st November, titled 'What motivates you' I think It  really says it all but here is the slide show taken from it. Please turn up the volume on you computer and watch what it is that motivates me

If this video is not working, please click on the link below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Hl2njDgM-4

Since the start of this blog I have have been on a roller-coaster ride of emotions, with many high's and  some extremely low moments, babies have been born and loved ones have been lost. But one thing that has remained constant through out it all is that on August the 7th 2011, I will be lining up currently with 2,194 other people from all over the world to take part in my first ever Ironman. (Think maybe I should also be worrying about that mass start, boxing gloves might be advisable at least for the first 500m), Oh what have I done!!!

Finally, today I took part in my first race of the season. It was a sprint held at Alnwick (Northumberland), where I completed a 500m (20 lengths)  pool swim, followed by 18km on the bike and then a 5km run. It was a tropical 8 degrees at 6am and the thought of being wet cycling around Northumberland, really wasn't pleasant.

However 1 hour 16 minutes and 10 seconds later I finished my first race of the season, in 3rd place for my age category. I am so chuffed, my times are as follows:

Swim including transition 9.08 mins 08secs
A windy bike ride:            44mins 18secs
Run and transition 2:        22mins 44secs

Haha, showing my muscles

Kay who I train with at tri club. She came 3rd in her cat and will also be competing in the Ironman along side me.

The medal

Just Giving Page: http://www.justgiving.com/Joanna-Reed0