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Slightly spooked

Hi lovely people,



I have the first tri of the season this coming weekend - Sussex Triathlon, on Sunday. My life has been complicated since April, including a planned operation that became a bit more of a big deal than it should have been, been away for a week, and now my poor husband has been very seriously ill with bilateral pulmonary embolism......



My point is that I feel a bit short on training. I've been trying to cram it in , but it's been hard, and also it's been hard to get back into the right mental attitude - it's almost as if my motivation has been hammered harder than my physical ability.



Anyone else been in a similar situation with some encouraging words? I'm definitely up for it, but am more nervous than I was when I did the same event for the first time last year.



Thanks for listening to what is essentially a moan...



blurredgirl

Comments

  • diddsdidds Posts: 655
    1) what are your race goals in these circumstances?

    2) are they realistic?



    That's all you have to worry about.



    So if the answer to 1) is sub 60 minutes... can you do sub 60 minutes... if not what is a feasible time/ Then maybe add 10%.



    If teh answer to 1) is "just finish" then that's all you have to do. You are allowed to stop at the end of every swim length if you want. You can stop any time on the bike that the highway code considers safe. You can do the entire ride in inner ring, cog #3 at 6 mph if you want. You can run/walk as much as you want on the run... hey - you can walk it if you prefer.



    All you have to do is finish.



    You'll be fine.



    didds

  • willieverfinishwillieverfinish Posts: 1,381
    He's right.



    You have everything to gain and absolutely nothing to lose.



    So what if your game plan doesn't go well - turning up and getting going after the stresses you have been through with your husband makes you a winner in my book.



    Do it. Have fun and cross that line with your head held high.



    Best wishes to Mr Blurredgirl. Let us all know how you get on. ( forget the time - more about how it felt)

  • Ron99Ron99 Posts: 237
    Take it as it comes, and see how you feel on the day. As long as you're up for actually taking part (which it sounds like you are), just remember - you don't have anything to prove. Sounds a bit of a cliche, but just try to enjoy it!
  • BlurredgirlBlurredgirl Posts: 292
    Cool advice. Particularly the 'you don't have anything to prove'. I'm way too competitive - and often with myself - and it's this aspect that is generating the demons.



    Thanks people - I'm going to try to have fun, relax and do my best. It's a sprint, so I'm realistically looking for a 1.15, hopefully a 1.10 if I can pull out the stops on the run.



    I feel better already.



    blurredgirl

  • Ron99Ron99 Posts: 237
    You WILL be fine.
  • joolzdjoolzd Posts: 245
    I ain't no expert but I'd say, go out there and enjoy the moment and try not to worry too much about beating any previous times - little steps to start the season off...(easier said than done I know) however, relax....and have fun and can't wait to hear how you get on! xx
  • Jack HughesJack Hughes Posts: 1,262
    You've had a hard time. All so unfair. But you can't focus solely on the bad stuff. You _need_ to do something that takes you away from that place, both hard, yet indulgent, to enable you get a bit of balance, and to show your body who's the boss. It doesn't matter about performances - comparisons with the past, or with your piers. It's about the contrast between what you've been through, and what you can still do.



    Anything that you do will be a win. Anything you do will be better than any of the other performances - as it's not about the absolute, but all about the relative - the journey, a horrible one, that you've been through.



    And your Newton's deserve a spin out!



    Good luck, and so impressed! Rooting for you.
  • Blurred,



    I'll be there on Sunday. When is your start time?



    In response to your post though, I did my first Tri of the season on Sunday, and had not done any run training in four weeks due to a back injury. Had also only just started back on bike. I figured that I have got several other races this season and would use last Sunday and this Sunday as testers to see how my fitness is doing. Turns out that I wasn't that bad. I think you'll find when you hit the water, the adrenaline will kick in and you'll just go for it. Hope it all goes well for you and maybe see you there.
  • BlinkybazBlinkybaz Posts: 1,144
    Blurredgirl - You may feel you are down on training and that you are not a physical peak, Look deep into yourself and you will find that you have it in you to finish the Sussex Tri. I am sure it will go a long way towards both you and your hubby getting back to full match fitness seeing you nail the tri! You have some experience of racing to draw on and your newtons are ready and waiting to carry you.

    You dont have to win the race just get out there and enjoy it. Its the taking part that counts! The other thing to think about is we are all behind you and willing you on. Thats got to be worth 5 mins off your bike time!



    Good luck girl
  • jacjac Posts: 452
    Best of luck Blurredgirl.

    I reckon you'll surprise yourself.

    Just don't cram too much training in this week. Leave yourself as fresh as possible for Sunday.

  • BlurredgirlBlurredgirl Posts: 292
    *Sniff*. You're all amazing. Thanks guys.



    Start time is 11.00am - would be great to hook up with anyone also doing it. Mr. Blurred is feeling better and hoping to be there to help stop me from bottling.



    I'll stop whinging now and will get on with it. JH - you are so right about changing focus. Thanks for the kind words.



    blurredgirl

  • FlavadaveFlavadave Posts: 749
    Hey blurredgirl



    You've been through a helluva lot, so no wonder your motivation has taken a knock, but I reckon what you need is an event so Sunday is perfect timing.



    You're probably going to surprise yourself as although you would have lost a certain amount of fitness, I reckon your base level is more than enough to see you through.



    I was feeling the fear terribly before Eton and wondered what I was doing there. Messed up the swim as well with panic, but settled down into the cycle and actually started to enjoy myself. Every person that passed I'd give them a "GO ON LAD/GIRL!" and I didn't care at that point where I was going to finish, I just knew that I WAS going to finish.



    I reckon this is exactly what you need. So go out there, don't give a damn about the time, just enjoy it and come back stronger!
  • I'm starting at 11.30 so hopefully see you there. Haven't got a forum t-shirt but I'll be wearing something bright!!!!
  • julesojuleso Posts: 279
    Ooh, so how did it go?
  • BlurredgirlBlurredgirl Posts: 292
    And finally.....specialist this morning told me that the outcome of my little op back in April is.....a much, much bigger op to reorder my insides once and for all. He wanted to get me in ASAP but I begged him to hold off until after August so that I could finish my triathlon season......he said was I mad? but agreed eventually.



    Mr. Blurred is doing better and is responding well to treatment.



    All of which means that I'm clearly a proper nutter again and so must (albeit subconsciously) want to pull out the stops. So I've done my list for Sunday and am now alternately nervous and excited - which is all good.



    At the risk of sounding mawkish - your support on here has meant a huge amount - please don't underestimate how much you've helped.



    I'm raring to go again.



    blurredgirl
  • willieverfinishwillieverfinish Posts: 1,381
    Great news on all fronts.



    Go get em

  • julesojuleso Posts: 279
    OK, so Sunday is still in the future. Doh!



    Blurredgirl, it's good to hear that you're feeling more positive, although it must be hard knowing that you've got to go back in in August. Thinking positively about it.......what an incentive to make yourself and your Mr Blurred proud this season.
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