I moved to the Gold Coast yesterday to stay here over Semester Break with the intention to train with the Gold Coast Tri Crew's (which is now on hold). So already this morning, I missed Spinning class, bc I could not move properly outside. It will be a morning of waiting till the vertigo is better and then I am planning an easy walk on the beach, going from Burleigh Heads towards Surfer's Praradise. Which, in fact is not a bad alternative. It will be my first attempted walked jog in 2 weeks. I never really get what I am supposed to do at Spinning class anyways. So far, all I understood that woman in front was yelling was "Sick Race!!" - whatever that is... If I ever had to teach spinning class I would draw a graph on a chalk board of what the riding profile would look like and write the workout down like you have it during swim practice.

Adjusting

First of all, thank you so much for all your words, Face-bookers!! Today, I started to do some "movement exercises". It would all be no problem if I had not this severe vertigo going on and this sharp pain in my thoracic vertebra when there is compression on the spine. But I guess it was as good as it gets: So here is the lowdown: Swim: I can swim and put my ear in water, because there is no imflammation. The virus seems to have affected the vestibular aparatus. Swimming is the most challanging. I can't swim straight or at least it seems like I have to swim far right to go straight. Moving my head for breathing is killer; suddenly I don't know where up and down and left and right is- quite frightening experience in fact. So I do a lot of "hypoxytraining", meaning breathing every 7-8 strokes. I also need to take a 10" break to re-orientate myself after 50m. Basically: Slow-Mo -- But well. I can kick though. And I scull. And do single arm drills. It's all good! Bike: I can't ride on the road, because seeing things moving and moving my head throws me totally off balance. A friend of mine put it right saying, "don't call me because you were hit by car tyring to ride your bike." Good advice. So I went for spinning class to just move my legs a little and it was all good!! I need to get a trainer. They had some techno- not Tiesto, but decent stuff. I am still very weak; have not eaten much the last days either. Run: No can run. The pain in my spine when pounding is not acceptable and since i can't even walk without looking like a toddler, running is a no-go. BUT there is DWR. What would I be without my DWR. It is the best ever ever ever ever. EVER. My spine is not hurting, i move slowly enough not to get dizzy and nauseas. I love it.

Reminded how precious health is

I was diagnosed with a nasty viral infection and GBS. I started feeling like getting a cold starting last Wednesday, but kept on training; which I should not have. By Saturday I was flat. I noticed pain in my spine when riding my bike and later I was down with severe headache, dizziness and nausea. When gargling with Listerin that night, I noticed that my face was slightly paralyzed. My eyes did not close properly and i could not smile nor keep the Listerin in. Like having received a shot at the dentist. So off to the hospital. I have been hot and cold and shaking and freezing and feeling miserable for 4 days now and the paralyzing thing is getting worse. I can't speak right- all that comes out is a buff-buff-buff, I can't drink nor eat properly, but drooping it all over. Can't walk right. It is embarrassing. I am so dizzy that i can't even sit straight. I have one more final exams to take - Sports Psychology. I was really looking forward in hitting the library and books for that one, but now I have to stick to the basics. All in all I was reminded to not take health for granted and how lucky I am to have a body that usually functions 100% and beyond. Although the paralyzing thing can get worse and usually sticks around for 3-6 months, I know I will be fine.

Noosa training

Recently I went to Noosa for a long weekend, which was a nice treat. I intended to do an ocean swim race but (as sooo often) it was sold out. So then on Sunday, I took joined thousands of cyclists in the Century Ride. It was the best riding in a very long time. Not many cars, No stop lights, lots of Nature and lots of fit cyclists and fun in bunch riding. And they had Gummi Bears at the halfway point station! You even got a new water bottle filled up with energy drink. My brick run led me onto a trail that goes off Main Beach along the cliffs past Tea Tree Bay towards Alexander Bay. Looked like Maui or Kauai's Na Pali in small format.

The beaches near Noosa are amazing and empty. The photo shows Marcus beach. I ran there for an hour the next Monday and I loved it. It reminded me a lot of Kailuana / Kailua Beach. I also joined the Noosa Tri Team for their morning swim. In the summer, about 20-25 elite athletes come here to prepare for several months. Noosa is great for training for sure- just the pool alone is impressive. I have never seen such clean pool showers. But all pools I have seen here in the area are amazing. Usually there are two olympic size pools to fit all the squads in in the mornings.

10k swim

I did 10,000 m of swimming on Monday. A 7,000 m in the AM as an interval session and a 3,000m easier one in PM. My coach was like: "How are you feeling after swimming more in a day than most people ever swim in a week?"
Considering that I hit the interval times for the 100s the next morning I guess I feel pretty good. But it is amazing how the body adapts and even leaves me impressed. I am shooting for 17 hour swim week.
And- I am carrying a chlorine tattoo under my skin instead of an IM logo, setting a new trend of being recognized as a dedicated athlete.
The pic was taken in Incline Village/ Lake Tahoe during a training session for the Xterra Nationals.

Beautiful Girls

Recently my teacher of "Sport & Physical Activity in Society", showed calendar pictures and advertisement posters with "lightly" dressed female athletes on it and blabbered an entire 2 hours about the "rude" media that exploit female athletes by portraying them as "sex objects". His argument was that those athletes should not be portrait in this way, but in their sports clothes and be credited for their athletic ability not for their curves. I don't know why he has not considered the fact that maybe we don't even mind??
Here is my point of view: We are sexy women; and our curves are worth while showing! We are proud of our bodies and we are not shy to show them! We love to dress into our training gear, get our munition ready to hit the trails, get dirty and sweaty while pushing limits. BUT that's not all we've got -- Nope! We love to throw those dirty "athletic" cloths behind, get the heels out and the jewels on and show how beautiful we are - and we love it!

Flyday

Today was not an Aloha Friday at the pool but Aloha Flyday. My question when glancing at the main set was, "does this workout come with a massage therapist?" I had not done any butterfly since I left the UH swim masters in 2004. It went surprisingly smoothly and it was fun to do. The more I butter-flied the more I liked it. Although I kept "hydrated" along the way; and realized the water got a touch saltier, since I started swimming at Somerville last year. Killing germs with a shot (or 2) with Jaegermeister never hurt. Prost!