Week One... almost done.

I've received my program from Atlas Multisport Coaching and this week was pretty much as I'd predicted with just a few minor changes.  Wednesday's yoga session became an ocean swim and my rest day on Sunday will now be a long run.

Its been an interesting week.

Tuesday was my first time back in the pool with a squad in, shit, I don't know... 10 months maybe??  Lets just say its been a long time.  My shoulder is still giving me grief, however I'm learning to manage it better and I've recommenced my rehab exercises (yes, I know, I should have been doing them consistently, but I haven't... tsk tsk tsk)

So, the swim session went well.  It was good to be back in the pool.  Tuesday afternoon was a run session.  Fitness levels are of course an interesting thing.  Whether you are considered 'fit' or 'athletic' is relevant to who you are training with.  I have groups of people who I've trained with where I was the one being chased, I've trained with groups where I've done the chasing.  Its all relative.  I have to say that in the two years that I've been doing triathlon, I've worked out that in a general field of triathletes at any given event I generally finish just below the middle of the field.  I like to think of it as being the fastest of the slowest.

The plan is to move up to the middle of the pack.

It's Friday afternoon and I still have a ride/run tomorrow and a long run on Sunday.  So far I've successfully integrated training into Motherhood.  Lucky for me, coach and the rest of the squad don't mind that I bring the kids to the track sessions.  Mum and Dad of course deserve a round of applause for their willingness to support me in this ridiculous thing called triathlon despite the fact that they don't understand it.  I've been dropping the kids off at 5:30 in the morning to allow for me to join the AM sessions.  Although, the kids are tired too and I found myself sitting on the end of the bed in my tri suit this morning willing them to wake up so I could get to Ins and Outs training on the beach.  The first sign of an open eye and I was getting them up and out the door.  I managed to get to training, running down the beach pulling my cap on just as the squad was entering the water for the first set.

Wednesday afternoon's ocean swim proved to be a comical (in hindsight) event.  It was quite choppy and the sea lice were out in force, but neither were an issue.  Over time I've become very comfortable in the ocean.  A far cry from the sook that cried on her first attempt at ocean swim in 2009.  It was the cramp that I got in my left foot that began to dampen the event.  After stopping and flexing my foot whilst treading water in the middle of the bay I recommenced the swim only to have my right foot cramp.  Damn it.  Again, we stopped.  And I stretched.  And we began to swim again.  It wasn't long before my left calf was cramping and we decided it was best to head into shore.

As I placed my feet down to find sand underneath me I was hit with the most severe cramping I'd ever experienced.  My inner thigh, my abductors, all the way down to my knee cramped and spasmed.  Ouch is an understatement.  It was beginning to get quite concerning by this point as I paddled my way in further and attempted again to stand.  Bang!  My left calf cramped and spasmed so badly, I didn't know what hit me.  It was agony and nothing was going to stop it.  So there I was on my arse in the shallows with waves crashing over my head, unable to stand up.  My swim partner, Tracey was madly trying to flex, stretch, manipulate my leg to stop the muscle from contorting.  Finally it eased and I was able to stand and limp back along the beach.  The next day I felt like I'd run a marathon.  Two days later and my calf is still sore and tight.

I suspect its just my body screaming "what the FUCK are you doing?"  As I haven't done consistent training like this for quite some time.  I've accepted now that I need to actually do the running off the bike training and I suspect that my body doesn't particularly enjoy it.  Needless to say I trotted off to Alez Sport the very next day to purchase some "stop cramp" spray.  And I'm researching cramping and the possible causes as it is something that seems to be getting worse.  It started to become a problem in Mooloolaba tri last year and a cramp in my left calf was the cause of my delayed exit from the water at Noosa in October.

I've concluded that I need to be mindful of magnesium, hydration, electrolytes and recovery.  If anyone has any further suggestions or ideas about cramping, I'd be happy to hear them.

That's about it for week one.  Nutrition has been pretty good.  No weight has been lost on the scales as yet, although I am feeling a little leaner and stronger, so that's a positive sign.

With 2 more sessions left before the week is over, I'll be heading to bed early again tonight.  Any 'spare' time I have this weekend will be spent doing housework and cooking as many meals as I can to place in the freezer in an attempt to ease the demands of training, working, motherhood.

Despite my exhaustion, I feel focused and pumped and I'm ready for the next 11 weeks.... I think.