not so great really

The last two weeks have been recovering from a cold: still snotty and still coughing.

Its amazing how, just four weeks ago I was feeling amazing. The training was going well and the race in January was great. One bug and the whole thing seems so tough now.

Last weeks training was difficult. Two runs and my legs felt like lead - just didn't have the mind for it, or the puff. It makes you feel like you've taken a huge step backwards, and the while thing about racing is just a waste of time.....give up, you're way to old now & will never make the grade:(

BUT I raced again today, without much desire, or will to go hard. It was in fact a beautiful morning at Dorney Lake (again), just a little warmer this time - by 15degrees!

It was OK - I came 5th in my age group.
The ladies at 1, 2 and 3 were way faster than me this time so I have a long way to go and a lot to learn.
My first 5k and second 5k were identical times...ideally I would have gone faster in the second one. Thats the stuff I have to learn.

Luckily I now have a coach who can tailor my training to fix my weaknesses.
My main one is that I race 'within myself' and am ever totally trashed at the end...I have a feeling I'm going to be working on that one in the near future!

I'm excited about the future though and look forward to racing hard and well. I know I have improved over the years (running a 24min 5k has always been elusive until now), so I know I have more to give.

So I picked up my trophy from last time and headed home to eat some scrambled eggs on homemade bread and smoked salmon and now have 2.5 weeks in Thailand on a cycling holiday.

Maybe I'll build some bike legs during that time:)

Temporary on hold

Today I am sitting under the duvet, with a cup of lemsip and a box of tissues watching films on the iPad and snoozing. I've just had a lovely hot bath and could stay here for the next two days.....

The chesty cough I developed three days ago has developed into a streaming cold and I hate it!!

My nose & head feel as though they have been chemically injected and stuffed with tissue, and the lovely bright day outside is calling which I can't enjoy. Its a real bummer.

I've put my training on hold - being very sensible and doing what I would tell others. My chest feels tight and the coughing brings up stuff that shouldn't be there, so it's better to rest now, let my body recover and then pick up again when its strong. From past experience I know it will only prolong the illness if I try too much too soon.

It's only a week or so, and then I can return even stronger!

Yet I am looking outside and seeing the blue sky, looking at whats on the training plan - a 60 minute run, and wishing I felt strong enough to get out there and make the most of it. I really hate missing out on my training and irrationally think it will hinder my progress if I miss something out.


The reality is, that it will hinder progress if I don't rest.

So the duvet, and the box set of 'Apple Tree Yard' will have to do for now....