BIKE

Paul, Emma and I went out on our bikes last weekend. The first test for the sportive in April. We went out late afternoon, after Niamh's birthday party, so time and light were against us.

Up until Sunday, the furthest distance I had cycled in the last 15 months was the 8miles I did with my friend Jo in Wales last August.. I had no clue on my ability, stamina or mind set.. I was nervous!! 

From the few times I cycled the 2 miles to and from work during the autumn, I knew that I had lost a lot of confidence. I've never come off my bike, I've never had an accident and never been worried about it. But for some reason it now plays on my mind all the the time! I am a nervous nelly, constantly watching for pot holes and other magnets which will either jarr my back or make me fall off.. Paul says it makes me a better rider.. All I know is that it makes my thighs ache, constantly lifting my bum off the saddle!!

Emma very sadly had her beloved bike stolen a couple of weeks ago, so she borrowed another friends bike and after a few adjustments we were off!

Only we weren't, because Paul's road bike sprung a spontaneous puncture and to save time he took his time trial bike..!

Half way round I was feeling so good that we decided to up the 10miles to 15miles, adjust the route and race home before the light went.. But then I got a puncture! More time wasted.

But we did it!!! I LOVED IT! How I have missed my bike, how I have missed cycling with Paul. How I missed my cycling adventures with Emma! We added a further half again onto our route, and despite my fears I came home a conqueror! I've lost quite a bit of movement in my back (duh! It's called fusion for a reason!) which means Im going to have to relearn how to look over my shoulder when pulling out into traffic and I have other minor adjustments to figure out, but I'm not worried about it anymore!

The following day Emma, Vikki and I took all the kidlets to the park for fresh air and it was so nice to hear that Emma had enjoyed the ride as much as I did.

Apart from anything else, the ride proved how valuable and well spent my time in the gym is. 

I go to the gym, slog my heart out on the cross trainer, angry beyond reason that I'm not well enough to run yet, jealous of the people on the treadmill and wonder at the point of it all.. Then I'm able to spontaneously go out on my bike and take 15miles in my stride.. Well worth the effort!

Whoop whoop!!

Thanks for reading Clanettes xx

Fuse-iversary

The 25th March sees me at one year post fusion and I think we can all agree that I have been struggling mentally recently. I realise some would say I am mental and struggle generally, but even I would admit to some fusion related anger recently.

On Saturday I spent the afternoon with my amazing friend Emma, amongst other parts if our friendship, she is my long missed cycling partner.. We went to a vintage fayre at the weekend, hoping for chintz, tea pots, cake stands and tea pots.. Instead we got shell suits and a cream tea.. One out of three isn't bad!!

After a lovely afternoon, and some tears on my part (apologies once again Emma, I didn't intend to cry at you! Even though I do admit to being one of life's cryers!) I realised that whilst I have spent the last year healing, I have also spent the last year resenting everything about healing.

Clearly it's time to take action Sarah, muster some heave ho and crack on. 

So I've booked a sportive. It's nothing compared to what I have achieved in the past, but given then I have only ridden my bike 6 times in the last year.. It's a challenge and that's what I need.

It's a 38 mile trip around Winchester and looks like a lovely gentle route. Perfect for my first foray back into the world of sportive cycling. And best of all, I get to do it with Emma, with my Dad and with Paul. A whole team of supporters!

I miss this!! I miss my bike!!

A New Forest sportive with Paul in 2012

A sky ride with Emma and Chez in 2012

A woodcote sportive with my Dad in 2012.

I'm ready to get back on my bike and have a bit of fun!! Man I've got some work ahead of me if I want to cycle 38 miles in 9 weeks time..!

Bike ride

Emma and I went for our first bike ride of the year this morning! It was GLORIOUS! True to our cycling history, it was drizzling as we left and it soon turned into heavy rain, before easing off just as got home.

I was massively nervous. Emma has kept her cycling up this year, doing a big sportive in the summer and regularly cycling to work. This was my second leisure cycle of the year, and only my 6th road ride...Eeeek! 

As soon as we got out into the country I remembered what it is to fly on a bike and most if my nerves disappeared. My cardio fitness is great, and I didn't struggle with the hills as much as I thought I would. Having said that - I was  done at 15 miles!

I hope this was the first of many autumn/winter rides Emma. I have missed cycling with you and your comradery - rain or shine xxx

Squeeeee!!

Clanettes!!! I went out on my bike this evening - on the road!! My first bike ride of 2013!!! I can't describe the feeling of accomplishment!! I LOVE MY BIKE!

Paul has rigged up some top brakes for me, so I don't have to lean on the drops to slow down.

I was petrified. The thought of coming off and ruining all of the last few months of patience and healing, had me rigid with fear. The kind of fear that builds and builds and I knew that if I didn't go out and just do it, then I would get to a point where I wouldn't be able to mentally do it. So I nailed it.

 

I have a loooong old road ahead of me. I probably didn't do more than a mile this evening. My back niggled oddly on the bumps, and I wobbled from lack of confidence, but it was a start. I have tasted my freedom and it was good!

Back on my bike

5 weeks tomorrow, post spinal fusion.

As I went into physio yesterday, a lady was coming out from her appointment with my therapist, and my therapist remarked that we ladies were similar. We had both had similar surgery, although she was further post surgery than I was.
I don't know her story, I don't know how bad her pain is, so really, I shouldn't judge her, but talking to her was hard work. It made me realise that despite feeling a bit low last weekend, I see my fusion as the beginning of a new and eventual pain free chapter in my life and I can't wait to heal, get strong and start doing everything I love (and even things I don't love!) again.
The lady I met was not on my page, everything was very gloomy from her perspective, even though she admitted she was in less pain than she had been.

Is pain a perspective? Am I in pain? Do I recognise it? How is it 'easier' for me than someone else? Is it actually easier? Yes, sure, things ache, stuff hurts, yada yada yada, but everyone has pain - mine is getting better.

I don't have any of the answers, but I do know that my heart soared when the physio cleared me for light exercise bike action (this includes my beloved turbo -if I can get my leg over..!) and gentle treadmill usage. She has even cleared me for swimming, however she isn't sure if I will be able to maintain posture this early on. Breaststroke is over-extending my spine the wrong way, as I keep my head out of the water, and front crawl is twisting. Neither are impossible, but swimming may be a case of deep pool walking to start off with, who cares! I am so eager to try!

The physio has cautioned me about road cycling in the long term.. She talked to me about cycling posture and that try as I might, my spine is actually fused.. That did deflate me slightly. Of all of my 'sports', cycling is my absolute fave and I adore 'Amy' my road bike. To swap from my road bike and go to something more upright is difficult to consider. I liken it to giving up my porsche in favour of a more comfortable car. Pfffft!

Surely, If I (and by 'I', I really mean Paul!) get some upright handles, adjust it all accordingly, and just gingerly get back on Amy, taking it steady steady steady, it will become the norm. My body will adapt.

If I don't even try, how can I go forward on a 'lesser' bike, knowing what it was to cycle in total freedom beforehand?!

This is one of the many articles we have been reading - this doesn't sound to hard to achieve! How-to-cycle-with-lumbar-fusion 

So. Anyway.

This morning I made my own porridge (yet another first!), and managed to explode it everywhere, before Lucy picked me up and we went to the gym. I was so excited. It was all so familiar and normal.

I was embarrassed to have my stick in the gym, but Lucy insisted and actually it did come in handy at the end. It also mades me think about the people you judge in the gym - I didn't really break a sweat this morning, but was I working any less hard than anyone else in there?

I sat on the exercise bike for 15 mins and without effort cycled 3.75km, then walked on the treadmill for 15 mins, before getting back on the bike for another 15 mins and a further 3.75km. There was no pain. A GREAT START!

My playlist was sorted by my personal DJ, Vikki. She writes the sound track to my life and I hope she will continue to do so. I love the playlists more than I think she knows. The thought and care generally make me cry. But then everything does!

Can you see the theme!

My goal three goals for this week:
1) Ditch my stick in the house. I do not want it, I do not want to need it. If I can go round the house without it, I can start to think about walking outside without it.
2) Put my own socks on!
3) School run. I can walk the distance now, I just need to be brave enough to be in charge of an unruly 2 year old who I can't carry.

Come on Sarah, you can do this. You rule your own world.

Sum it up on Sunday - January round up

This has been a week of emotional highs and lows for me. On Monday I had the first of 2 interviews this week and I didn't get offered that job. On Tuesday I baby relayed with Vikki and Elle, and shared lunch. Wednesday I spent some time with Lucy and she was witness to a hideous telephone interview that went appallingly and I fretted over it, but on Thursday my parents, my sister and my nephew visited and Niamh and I were taken out for lunch, and I was simultaneously offered a second interview on the back of the telephone interview (and was somewhat dumb-founded).

After 5 days of deliberate rest from exercise, I came to the difficult decision on Friday, that my Back is not physically strong enough to start training for an 86 mile sportive in April. The Back sage continues to grumble on and I have ummed and ahhed and decided that the best thing I can do for myself physically right now, is pull out. It has messed with my a head a bit, I'll be honest. I feel like I have quit, you know? I feel like I haven't even given the training a chance and that come April I will regret the decision. But on the other hand, I am relieved because I can't actually do it right now. How can I simultaneously be disappointed and relieved over training that I can't actually, physically do..?! The mind is a weird thing.

So having decided to withdraw from Aprils race on Friday, I was a rather frustrated on Saturday morning. What else could I do, but push myself to my limit and complete a killer turbo session with the help of The Sufferfest and a specific turbo training video called 'Hell Hath No Fury'. It was hard! I have lost a lot of bike fitness (and was sad to realise that I haven't run in over a month now. ARRGGGHHHHHHH!) as my cadence monitor shows, but I hope to keep improving on the turbo so that when I am well and healed, I can go out on my bike and enjoy it for what it is.

Paul is of the opinion that a concentrated hour and 15mins on the turbo is the equivalent to double that on the road, because when you are on the road you aren't constantly putting effort in - there are downhill stretches etc. And I have to admit that I worked much harder on the turbo yesterday then I would have done had I gone out and done my 15 mile loop, which would have probably taken me a similar amount time.

On Saturday night Lucy and I went to see Holly, and I briefly saw Rachel too. We did a Mandala (see previous Mandala's here). I will do a specific Mandala post over the next couple of days.

(Can you gues which portion of the Mandala is mine!?!)

Sunday, of course, was an early morning gym session with Lucy - 10k on the bike, 30mins on the elliptical trainer and 10mins uphill walking. Tonight I have my second swimming lesson (last weeks was cancelled because of the snow).

Exercise Summary:
W/E 27/01/13
Cycle: 20 miles
Run: 0
Elliptical trainer: 1 x 30min session
Swim: 2nd swimming lesson

Exercise Summary for January:
Cycle: 90 miles/144km
Run: 0
Elliptical trainer: 7 sessions
Swim: 1.97 miles/2.5km

The short term plan

Two things to note as this week comes to an end (under a blanket of snow!) - my training for my first big ride of the year starts now that I am BACK in the game... and I have two interviews for separate jobs next week!! YIKES!!

I have been applying for jobs in earnest since mid December. No easy feat really, as I want part time, ideally term time only and I want to be paid LOADS. Joke. Anyway, I have had several disappointing 'no thank you's' and then out of the blue, a formal letter arrived in the post yesterday inviting me to an interview on Monday, and another via email telling me of a telephone interview next week... I won't say more than that right now, because I believe in the power of jinx. But I also believe in the power of positivity, and actually, universe, just so you know 'I WOULD LIKE EITHER OF THESE JOBS PLEASE' although I am grateful for the interview practise if that is all this is. It goes without saying that I also believe in the power of grayskull.

Moving swiftly on.. My training plan! (Ironically, we only joked last night that I might not have time to find a job for the foreseeable future at least and all these polite no thank yous might not be such a bad thing..) Yes, I plan to cycle an 86 mile sportive in April, and given that my last real cycling was last October.. I have some work to do. Paul has written me a comprehensive training plan that involves me beating the turbo into submission and going out for a longer rides at the weekend.

I don't know if this is big enough for you to see, but this is THE PLAN. We have found a great turbo website 'The Sufferfest', and believe that a killer turbo session for 1hr is the equivalent to 2.5 on the road.. So if I work really hard at it, I should be fine. (Another positive, how many do you want? But another positive is that it doesn't involve any running)

Good news really, because I want my cake and I want to eat it. I really want to get a job AND cycle/Tri my hardest, in between and without detriment to all my Mummying and life stuff.

Thanks to http://www.swimbikemom.com/ for this image

Sum it Up on Sunday - for the whole year too!

Last summary of 2012 Clanettes, so naturally I had to go B I G!! Lets start with this week...

Monday
Christmas eve - 'rest' day

Tuesday

Christmas day - I may have been tucked up inside drinking alcofrol, but Paul was in the game!

Weds

Turbo!

Thursday
Turbo!

I won't keep taking pics of my turbo sessions, don't worry, but I thought these were good for interest. This is me taking a pic of me, looking at my reflection as I see it, in the shed window! (Yes, I am wearing my sweat band!)Then there is the bike towel, known as the 'bike thong' (no really, that is the brand!) to catch the sweat and save the bikes paint work from corrosion.

Friday 

Gym and swim with Lucy. Cept I didn't gym, just swam 20 lengths and then went to Lucys for a much needed Thai Massage (description here). 

Oh Clanettes, I will admit to you that I am suffering with my back again. Its been iffy for two weeks now and I am miserable about it - but full of plans. More on that in another post because I have much more exciting things to share below!

Saturday
'Rest' day - its been a busy week...!

Sunday
Gym and swim with Lucy. We got to the gym super early this morning, because Lucy has written me a new yoga set specifically to build, support and maintain my back. I felt great after 40 mins of this, so I tentatively did did 5k on a bike, and then sweated my Christmas exploits out on the cross trainer for 20mins. Followed by 30 lengths in the pool.


Summary:
W/E 30.12.12
Cycle: 16.5 miles (2 x turbo sessions and 1 x gym session)
Run: None - back not up to running right now
Swim:  50 lengths in 2 sessions


(NOW FOR THE BIT THAT BLEW MY BRAIN AWAY!)
Given that this is the last summary of the year, and given that you know how much I love to record everything.. I thought I would try and tally up this years distances.. this proved to be a mammoth task, but I think the following stats are pretty accurate..

Drum roll please....

In 2012, I have: 

Cycled 1571 miles / 2528.5km 

Run (Starting from absolute zero with the C25K in January) 157 miles / 254km

Swam 1642 lengths of my local pool. 1642 x its 25m length = 41050metres.. 25miles / 41.5km

In total, if every distance for each discipline were added together, I have trained my way through 1753 miles / 2821.5 km.. The equivalent of me going to Bulgaria!!! I AM SO BLOODY PROUD OF MYSELF!!!!!!!!!

I DID THAT! I flogged myself, killed myself, bled, sweat, cried and swore my way to those figures and in hindsight, I have loved every single minute of it. The lows and the highs - there have been many.

My summarising prompted Paul to do the same. No surprise really, but his bike miles are amazing at 5562 miles - the equivalent of cycling LEJOG again and then going straight to Turkey! Only 388hrs in the saddle! His running total is 105 miles.

The main thing I have learnt this is year, is that you may as well do it. Whatever it is, just get on and do it (unless its housework!). The time will pass anyway, the miles will clock up, the little ones count as much as the big ones (sometimes more so!) and looking back at accomplishments, is way better than any regrets.

Whatever you aspire to do, or achieve, or be in 2013, is absolutely within your remit.

Get to it x x 

Looking forward - sport

Paul and I have been looking to next year and setting ourselves some goals. After 3 weeks out of the game (aka gym!) I am feeling pretty de-motivated and so I really enjoyed our planning session last night - in front of a warm roaring fire, with bacon sandwiches, amazing apple cake courtesy of a visit from my family, in the coziness of our lounge. Win win. (See Vikki, I can own up to the less than virtuous food :-)

Swimming:
I had thought to enter an open water swim triathlon next year, but I have decided that this is perhaps bigger than I want for next year, when my primary goal is still cycling based. My swimming is good, although I maintain breaststroke, and I improve and improve, but it still isn't open water swimming worthy.
To this end I have decided to find a local lesson or two for adults who want to improve their stroke and technique.
I have promised myself that next summer I will endeavour to do some beach swimming.

Cycling:
100 miles in one go, during one sportif is my over whelming urge and goal next year. I love my bike and all the miles I do on her, she is my steed! I have decided to enter the New Forest Spring Sportive, doing the 'epic' route of 86 miles... Eeeeeeeeeeeeek. Let me reiterate. EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEKKK. Emma and I booked the 50 mile 'standard' route this time last year and that was frightening. This feels on a par with that. I am further on than I was, I recognise that, but this is 20 miles further than I have done so far and its winter.. Dreaded cycling weather. BUT! Paul and I are gifting ourselves a turbo trainer for Christmas. The shed is fully kitted out and a perfect space for making the best use of a turbo trainer, and this one is our current favorite - although we will wait for the after Christmas sales before committing.
The autumn will see me enter my 100 mile race.. But dates haven't been released yet.

Running:
I continue to aim for 5k in 30 mins. My PB still stands at 5k in 33mins. I know that once I get back out there it won't be long before I can achieve it. I plan to maintain my running and vary my distance. 7k is a standard run for me right now, so extending that will be part of my plan. Continuing with my endurance will pay dividends once I get back into brick training come the spring.

Triathlon:
Initially Paul and I were very excited about the Festival of Sport, held in September in Cornwall. But the event has been cancelled (plus any triathlon there would have been open water swimming) so I have chosen two other initial triathlons for next year - a local one in Fareham (this years details can be found here, next year hasn't been confirmed yet) and I am going to go back to Henley (see here), now I know what to expect, to see what I can do about improving my time.

Paul's goals include a half distance iron man in August. The event is called 'The Eirias' and he plans to compete with our friend Dylan. A great challenge! My parents have kindly agreed to have the kidlets for two nights, so Paul and I are going to Wales for three days with Dylan and Jo - Jo is his wife, a friend I made when Bebe was born. I have mentioned her blog before, but you should go and check out her amazing feats here. They have four children, so it shall be slightly crazy that we will be without all seven kidlets for two nights! Bring on the wine. Ahem. I mean, bring on the training! Bring on the cheering!

Then in September Paul has entered 'Challenge Henley' which is a full distance Iron Man. C-r-a-z-y distances, not for the faint hearted.

I'm really excited by the initial plans we have made, and I am looking forward to getting back to training this weekend! On Sunday I shall make my come-back. A 5k run followed by a swim. Hasta la vista baby!

What are your plans for next year?

Last cycling Sportive of the year..

And it was a big un!! Hilly and hard - at 'only' (!!) 45 miles I was quietly confident, but actually it was quite tough! But man I LOVED it! I love cycling, the camaraderie, the prep, the doing it, the country side, the food stops, the route that comes with arrows pointing you in the right direction and the smug feeling of achievement afterwards! I love cycling with Paul, and I love that I am fit enough to do it.

There was no sun last Sunday, it was a grey day, but nice and mild. We headed out from Chichester and cycled to East Meon, up Butser Hill (Hey Papa, Butser is a hill worthy of our other nemesis, Whitchurch Hill!) and then back to lovely flat Chichester.

I was particularly muddy at the finish, but I was the proud owner of a new speed PB and a worn pair of break pads. I've only had Amy since May, so those break pads are testament to my busy summer!

Top left: Me as we arrived. Top right: Chowing down at the food stop, half way round. Bottom left: finishers medal. Bottom right: Me and Paul complete with helmet hair!

This would be me, walking up a hill..!

I have completed 5 sportives this year and I have loved every single one of them. The nice thing about a Sportive is that the format is always the same and you know what to expect, but the route is obviously different so the cycling is always exciting.

As we head into winter, I'm looking forward to a little less bike intensity and a slow route through to spring - where I hope I'll start as I mean to go on with an 80 miler to open the season.. Watch this space!

Hope you're feeling much better Rach, I missed you on Sunday. Here's to more riding x