Setting the Pace Monday

Today is a special day. It's the first day of the 12 week body transformation program AND the beginning of some massive changes coming my way. I am so determined to get this Ironman thing happening and to get it right.

I was up at a reasonable 8am this morning. Tomorrow is a 5.00am start so I allowed myself the extra ZZds and enjoyed the lay in. Up and straight into making the first breakfast of the new program. No dramas, and easy. After breakfast and a quick F.B update I pulled on the running gear, did my pre run warm up exercises. We love clams, 1/4 squats and a quick roll. And then it was out the door and a warm up power walk to the top of the hill behind my house and then start the timer on the Garmin and we're off.

An easy run planned with 9minute run/1minute walk. I enjoyed the winter sun on my back, cool breeze making sure I didn't sweat and work to hard and a course that saw me running through streets that I knew as a much younger woman. Another life, another time, other dreams and thoughts long forgotten, and new directions. It was nice to remember and nice to run through and out the other side of those places in my heart and ease back into the present and back to my home.

Once home it was morning tea time and with the hassle of thinking out the way, I reached for the pre-planned snack and then stretched and relaxed a little.

After lunch I had made arrangements to meet a friend for my first (pop that cherry Sammi) Mt Bike ride. I had so much fun, scary fun and arghhhhhh moments as we hurtled down grass slopes, oh nooo moments as we slid into muddy puddles and laughs as my legs, that I thought were strong, let me down on the steeper up hill slopes. It was a great day and great x-training.

Home again, a quick change and it was off to the gym for a strength workout. Loads of bucks in the gym. Bugger! I slipped in amongst them vowing to come earlier next time as the gym is all my own. But we make the best of any situation and before long I have the beat blasting in my ears and the steel in my hand and I love the burning feeling my muscles are experiencing. Its a good burn. Torture the muscle so it comes back stronger.

Dinner and a few chores and now finally with my feet up, I can do the stats:

Calories in: 1200

Calories out: 1087

Run done, X-train done, strength done. I'm very happy with a great start.

Look in the Mirror - 10 Steps Backwards

Out in the gym tonight. Bit disappointed in what I see. Like every gym we have a mirror set up.

Our gym is in the garage and we have spent time getting it sorted so that we have a pretty good set up now. Prior to this we used to be members of a gym. Each morning heading dutifully down to join the malay of guys doing their International Chest on Monday routines.... I got pretty strong. I was getting some muscle and definition, even some pecs. I could rock out 50 push ups without too much grief and I could do a decline sit up hugging 10kilos on my chest. I got to know some of the guys and earnt some respect as a lifter rather than just a chick playing with dumbells. Some of the guys helped spot me if I was on my own and helped with diet tips and form technique.

After a while we took up this crazy sport of triathlon and pretty soon with Ironman and the training required, the hours soon were gobbled up with running, swimming and time out on the roads on the bikes. Bit by bit we slipped away from the gym life and so we decided that we would set up the home gym. And little by little I drifted away more from the weights. I know strength, core and stretching are just as important as the rest of the 3 sports, but time in the gym was sacrificed for sleeping, eating and quality time with the family. I do still do my stretching pretty religiously to avoid injuries, but picking up and putting down steel is completely out of the program.

So we bought some TRX bands with a view of using these to strengthen core etc. And so here I find myself a year after Ironman. A year before I do my next Ironman and I'm not happy with the gal who is staring back at me. It's like all of the work a year or more ago has gone and I have gone ackwards in tim. Even though I can knock out a huge triathlon I can't see the muscle for the soft fat and muscle.

BUT!!!!! I have a year and 6 weeks to whip this lil ol bod back into some shape. So while I am disappointed that I have lost a load of fitness, muscle, core, balance and the like. I know I can do this again. I can work hard and if I stay consistent, then I can be the person I want to be, come race day in 2013.

So.....without taking a photo and posting it (as you'll all say "hey Sammi - aint sooo bad"). Let's just say. I got some work to do.

Aims/goals:

• Get strong, lean, toned and faster!
• Stay consistent, eat clean, stay focused and EAT CLEAN!!!!!
• Find some time weekly to start a strength and core routine and keep it incorporated in the holistic approach to this thing called Ironman.
• Be realistic, the flabby/loose skin could be age (and no amount of training can beat gravity...it's just the way it is)
• Be true to yourself, quit the B.S, and never lie to yourself.
• And for Crying Out Loud - Give up the SUGAR!!!!