The yard is large and I've many garden plots all of which begged for raking to remove leafs that I had no time to deal with last fall (though Barry & Sealey did tackle some - bless). The gardens benefitted from my neglect as it was a harsh winter so the protection was helpful.
Managed to liberate "most" of my Spring garden beds and removed leafs, dead grass and Sealey (plus neighbourhood dogs') waste from the majority of the lawn. Already after rain and late snowfall, my efforts have been rewarded - air circulation, agitation and some pruning have meant it looks pretty decent. No idea when I have time to to the rest but won't go at it all in one go again!
Oh I should add that Sealey has us well trained. Since was young, whenever we do yard work she gets her ball tossed. Sounds fair but she is uber fast as retrieving so it means constantly bending over to pick up the ball she places at my feet or in thw wheelbarrow if she notices that I'm filling it, walking it to our woodlot for disposal. Sometimes I don't notice the ball at the bottom as I begin (over)loading it. Not joyful to search through yard waste heaps although she can often dig it out once it hasn't been found for 5 minutes and the impatient barking begins. All to say that yard work was exhausting when I wasn't doing triathlon training and racing - more so with me increasing the distance each year. Duh! I hadn't given it much thought until Tuesday morning when everything ached.
Good Friday I biked outdoors then went for my swim time trial test at Canada Games Centre and did 2 hrs of yardwiork. Saturday the whole family was up by 5am and on the road to Tatamagouche which is 2 hrs north of us. I had a run test scheduled so I decided to do it at a 10k race.
The course was a bit hilly but the weather was perfect! I was/am pleased with my time: 51 min 11 sec (5:08/km)
My personal best time for a 10k was 1 yrs ago at the Navy race on a flat course on the August long weekend. So for an April hillier race I am happy with it.
and jumpers...
Easter Sunday 2:40 on the bike followed immediately by a 15 min run and 2 hrs of yard work. Monday was supposed to be a day off but I did 5 hrs of yard work. No wonder I was toast starting the next week.
Somehow, I managed to get in all my workouts with the exception of an optional bike that the plan said to skip if fatigued. It was a massive volume and intensity training week too!
This week was possibly the hardest training-wise. I had all sorts of preparation to do for the Spring Training camp in Tucson - leaving at 6:30am on Saturday, May 3rd (more on that in next several posts). I had low energy and my body was tired from the last several weeks.
It's so hard for us devoted triathlon nuts to miss a workout. I can still count on one hand how many workouts I have not done since December - very few. The guilt of missing a workout is a huge factor. But this week of all weeks, I gave myself permission to skip as many as needed as I was getting too stressed out. I also have learned to listen to my body. My body felt tuckered out.
I have learned first-hand and via many experts that by doing long or highly intense workouts when fatigued only compounds the fatigued. Sounds like common sense to the non-endurance athlete.
Again, being on this journey of structured workouts and seeing the emails and calendar alerts about what workout is planned and viewing my training plan online with blanks for the first time does something to the morale. I fought it though as I know I could have become ill or injured had I pushed my body and deprived myself of a 1-1.5 hr more sleep in the mornings. I did manage to do a good core strength workout, my long swim of 3400m and a short run. Knowing I will have a full week devoted to training only and some R & R helped immensely.
A few typical signs of being distracted ... This week, I locked my keys in the car when I took it into the city. Poor Barry had to come from Mt Uniacke to rescue me with his set. I left my coffee mug and mittens on the bus. The mitts don't matter but the cup was personalized with photos of Sealey and I laughing and smiling after 70.3 Mt Tremblant - it's the 2nd time I've done that. This cup was a replacement for an identical one I left on the bus last year before a trip! I tripped our home alarm at 7:30am - I always disarm the garage first thing when I get up. It
As I was recalling with Barry, I went through the same thing last yr and I think just about every year when I end the long Base block and am about to begin the Build block which is that much more demanding. I feel overwhelmed thinking ahead too often vs letting things unfold and trusting that I am ready having trained well all winter. Fear also plays a part. And doubts sneak in. It is part of the process. Part of being a gal who is almost 50 challenging her limits. Facing demons of human friaility. Two voices competing - the positive and the negative... good & evil... ying & yang ... winner and loser.
The timing of Spring Training to rejuvenate, motivate, refocus and relaxation could not be better!
Bring it!
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