Well I think I'm a kinder and nicer person the Slim to be fair but like the song says - I'm back.. back again...
WHAT'S UP!
Getting back into tri?
Where do I start? Ok for anyone who is new or likes to read waffle... let's summarise previous journey/ timeline.
Unfit at the age of 36 I wanted a new start - whilst watching the London Marathon I was blown away by the quantity and variety of people running and couldn't imagine myself running that far. Some how these two things combined to be setting myself a 4 year BHAG to enter and complete and Ironman triathlon for my 40th birthday. At the time I didn't own a bike, could barely swim 25m (I did at least think I knew how to do front crawl, I was wrong) and was confident I could run 5k.
My journey started and on the way I somehow managed to represent team GB at olympic distance at the European champs (note I'm definitely not that good - there weren't many people racing and qualifying back then).. I did a few half ironman, a marathon and got to do my IM in 2010. Through that race I managed to qualify for team GB once again for the ITU long course worlds in 2011... that one was fun in Las Vegas! 2012 was set to be an epic year but I ended up having abdominal surgery that pretty much ruined my peak fitness but that was ok because I had the happiest of times getting hitched in late 2012. We had a wonderful 6 month honeymoon adventure in the southern hemisphere. Once home I got myself a job and started to vaguely self-train again and went into a half ironman very underprepared in 2014..... it was a horrible experience and taught me a lot..... so I got myself a coach at the end of that season and started training proper... In 2015 I a did a good half ironman but then had to reduce training with another surgery hanging over me... my medical issue resolved itself so I trained in earnest for IM Vichy in 2016. It was hardest of training but the best of races ... I really enjoyed it (despite the feeling like I may drown in the swim which was by now my strongest leg - suffice to say the swim didn't go well)... we had awesome weather, a brilliant (flat!) bike course and an excellent run course around the town. The only thing about the entire trip which was sub-optimal was the accommodation!
Since then I have stop start fitness due lack of motivation, minor illnesses, occasionally injury and a bit of stress inducing self flagellating workaholism .....
But now ... The come back is officially ON (something I've been wanting to say since Jan 2021 post my surgery).. now I'll confess... the comeback is nothing more then feeling fit and healthy enough to train consistently and hopefully, probably, enter(*) and complete a race or two... I don't have any ambition for racing other than sheer enjoyment ... train to enjoy races is the mantra... so the days I don't feel like training I am just going to get on and do it because I want to race and want to enjoy them (that's my why)... I get a thrill (well used to) from getting on the lycra and prepared at the start line. Time will tell.
So here we are... I'm not on a plan yet .. I'm still enjoying doing pretty much unstructured training.. just getting out swim, bike and running with a deep knowledge that strength training and flexibility are my new foundations for success (unlike years of past where I literally ignored the need for both as I was fine with getting stronger just by swimming, biking or running).
Here is my footnote of injury/ illness since I was last serious about triathlon...not that I'm making excuses (ok ok I am)
Injuries: torn ankle ligaments (right 2018, 4months out), injured rotator cuff (left 2018 2months out), probable meniscus tear (left knee 2023 4 months completely off)
Illnesses: post IM labyrinthitis (2016), unknown virus that gave itchy blotches (2017), whopping cough (2017), most likely something covidish (2020 and 2023)
Major surgery: complete hysterectomy so no more hormones for me in late 2020.... nothing like over sharing but it provides some context as that really walloped me for 6
So here I am mid-50s very menopausal... getting myself back into shape and hoping to tri again sometime next year... (*) indeed I got a bit carried away and tempted by an early bird offering I've actually entered a race ... holy shit
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