Triathlon from hell...

‘That was a tough go’ sigh Moll, ‘You survived the cycle on 10 to 12 percent hills, then a very hilly 5 km run. There is nothing wrong with walking the hills during the run. You could have quit midway but you didn’t- that says a lot of about survival techniques’.

‘It still wasn’t a good finish, but there are a few lessons from the exercise’, Athena looked at the mound of laundry she was folding, ‘It could have been worse, I mean quitting instead of finishing. I’m still so terribly discouraged and with all the personal crap going on, the motivation to train is minimal’.

It’s been a long season of cycle and tri events for Athena, in total there were 3 sprint triathlons and one century cycle. Two events remain - a Sprint Triathlon and a week later the Whistler MedioFondo. The Medio fondo was Coach Stepahnie suggestion...work on muscular endurance for the climbing. Athena you proved last year that you can sit on a bicycle seat for 7 hours and 52 minutes - no need to prove that accomplishment again

Austraila 2011 - Rave Runs

The Australia trip was a spur-of-the-moment decision. Australia had been a dream and by the end of December I had allowed myself to take 3 to 4 months off work. With the help of the Flight Center I managed to max out my credit cards for air fare, camper van rental, accommodation in Fiji and a few dive trips.

Coach Stephanie provided an every other day run workout schedule, and I had some fantastic trail and city runs. It was really hot and humid (36 degrees C and 85% humidity). I managed to get sunburnt at 9:00 a.m. and within a week bought the SPF shirts/shorts that the surfer’s wear.

I took Moll (the rocker babe persona with me) and I had blast…did a lot of things that I never thought I would have the opportunity to do; surfing, running in the tropical heat, diving at the Great Barrier Reef and enjoying every moment. I left Alice (the persona who thinks I should be working 24/7) at home.

The slide show/movie clip is approx 7 minutes long with music from Bryan Adams…enjoy…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjxQUGRNLBg

The times they are a changing...

“Well, well Missy, lots of changes during the last 3 months, what the hell is going on? Aren’t you past the mid-life crisis conundrum?” mumbled Moll as she was packing another box. “It’s easier if you would just buy a red Ferrari and get on with life.”

Athena’s life changes have been dramatic:
Change #1. Changed coaches in September.
Change #2. Quit the job on December 17th.
Change #3. Moved from Vancouver (I’ll be back).
Change #4. Going to Australia for the month of February.
Change #5. Training harder than last year (swim bike run approx 12 to 14 hours/week). Coach Stephanie is a master slave driver
Change #6. Changing the running gait. Much more difficult than anticipated.

Coach Stephanie set out a race/event schedule for 2011. The workout schedule alone will keep Athena out of the shopping mall:

Sun Run (April 17th)
North Shore Sprint Tri (May)
Vancouver Subaru Tri (July 3 –Sprint)
Axel Merckx Medio 100 km GranFondo (July 11)
Kelowna Apple Tri (August)
Vancouver/Whistler Medio 60 km GranFondo – Squamish to Whistler

“Whine, whine, whine, the event load is an optional and conscious choice,” professed Moll in a holier-than-thou tone. “You chose to burlesque your way though Santa Baby on the stage of the Penthouse with a live, raunchy, drunk audience and didn’t even miss a dance step.”

“Yeah…Suck it up Princess, it’s going to be a busy year,” Athena muttered as she taped down the lid of another box.