Category: Keeping Busy

Unexpected joys

Annual leave – if only there was more of it. I genuinely think I could retire and not be bored. First day of annual leave has been filled, to be honest, with lots of odd jobs and getting caught up on some admin for my own business however, there was one unexpected joy.

I was in two minds about swimming this morning. My shoulder is a bit tender – think it is tightness but a message from a mate made me get up and go. It was the last Monday morning swim at my local lake so I went.

I had the whole lake to myself. Granted, it isn’t the most beautiful lake in Yorkshire however, a member’s swim is only £4 and there is lifeguard support. I’ve lost a bit of pace with my ow swimming in the last few years and 3 laps took longer than it should have but it’ll pan out eventually – I probably need to do some really focused strength work over winter. I did feel a bit guilty having essentially my own personal spotter this morning but what a joy! I am so glad I got up and went. Still think swimming is my favourite way to start a day in all honesty.

Coupled with changing my bedding, feeling productive and some lovely conversations – unexpected joys seem to come in many shapes and sizes.

Looks like I’m swimming OW tomorrow morning too – if only summer was longer. (Although my bank balance is looking forward to me going back to tutoring in the next few weeks!)

Unexpected peace

I am trying to get back into a writing habit – partly because I’ve been keeping a diary – this is usually a sign things aren’t right emotionally but I am writing in it less and less (good sign) and partly because I have a book in my head and getting into some form of writing practice might be good for me. Famous last words – September is not far away and that’s when work gets busy!

Onto the unexpected peace. It’s actually more contentment/feeling at peace. Yesterday I had the best park run time I’ve had in a long time. I felt strong. I AM feeling strong at the moment in general. Had a good afternoon with my Dad. Got some housework done last night (which I finished off today). This morning I went swimming and then out on the bike with one of my mates, who stayed for lunch. Pottered into town to by myself a tiramisu iced frappe latte thing. Had a bath and read.

The feeling of utter peace and just quiet that has been the result of not rushing around and doing nice things and not worrying – well. I am chilled. Not sure how long it will last. Think I might go do some yoga and have a very early night – by which I mean, go to bed and read until my eyes shut.

How long this feeling will last is anyones guess but I am just going to carry on embracing it as long as possible.

I love summer.

All Change

I am determined that I am going to keep up the blogging habit – even if it’s a bit old hat now and everyone has moved over to Tictok or whatever.

The origins of this blog came out of heartache and change- this year has had a portion of that and it’s been a reminder of what it can be like to be in a relationship (the utter calmness was next level). It also coincided with a bigger change in that I bought a house and was in process of moving in when I was dating.

Flying solo in my late 30s and I think I have managed to make this house a home. This doesn’t mean to say that I wish to stay forever singe – see previous comment!

With all the change, it’s been a bit of an odd year but I do feel more settled. Somethings are easier now I have my own space and coupled with the summer holidays and less tutoring, I have actually had time to do things I enjoy. It all kicks off again in September but we’ll worry about that when we get there.

I have found a routine, work is currently settled – though in the process of applying for another role (promotion would be nice). I have a swim routine and did Coniston End to End again but not as quickly as I know I am able to… Things are good and I am feeling grateful.

On the up coming to do list:

This week – back into swim/training routine. Last week went to pot as I was dog sitting. Work will be mixed as colleague is off all week and no idea who else will/won’t be in. Tutoring will be quiet. General life happenings. Lakes on Sunday for 1500m swim event in Windermere – should be a laugh but think I’m going to day trip it.

Longer term – few odds and sods to sort in the house, continue training, plan what September is going to look like (check diary!), try to blog and hopefully review some of the research I started during Covid on women’s time trialing and cycling. Before someone else writes the book! Oh and to stop buying bedding.

Trying to read more too. Ned Boulting’s recent book has been finished, managed to sneak in another book but I also have about 3 copies of Rouleur to catch up on. I think I could retire and still be busy!

Long time no blog

What’s been going on?! I’ve not blogged for a while – time to get back on it!

So it has been a LONG time since I wrote. Life has been busy. I was going to cancel my WordPress subscription and let the website go but then a couple of months ago the payment went out (misjudged that!). Thought I should maybe start blogging again? I’ve been keeping a diary again – that’s what heartbreak does to you! And it’s been a good reminder that I actually enjoy writing. Sixteen year old me would be having a field day at this….

So much has happened in the last year – can’t even remember the last time I put out a blog post? Definitely not the year!

I’ve bought a house! Admittedly with the help of Bank of Mum and Dad.

I’ve done the End to End Swim at Coniston again – honestly really should have blogged that whole experience after 4/5 years away from marathon swimming.

I’ve had a whirlwind romance – and well, still licking wounds and explains the dairy keeping. I appear to only write/keep a diary when I’m heartbroken or life is Not Good. Right bloke + wrong time = wrong relationship. Might write about it and my reflections. Might not.

So, it has been a long time since I wrote. Life is slowing settling into a routine, although summer holidays disrupt this in a good way, and hopefully I can find some time to share my ramblings with the world.

Next on the list – Epic Swim Windermere – 1500m thought- nothing mad!

Right – back to it

It’s been a while, and since a payment to WordPress has recently gone out of my account, I really should get back into writing a bit!

It’s been an odd 18 months really. I think i had over done the swimming and have barely swam in the last couple of years. Running has been a bit hit and miss. I’ve been cycling around the Netherlands too (I need to write a blog on this!).

Things are generally on the up though, in the general scheme of things. Work has settled into a routine and one of my Y11s has finished, finding some kind of balance is getting there and starting ‘Operation Buy a House’ has given me a new focus.

Fitness wise – I’m just trying to get plates spinning again but yesterday one of my mates and I did parkrun and considering i havent run for 4 weeks – I hadnt lost too much fitness but my calves are feeling it! I managed to swim twice last week and my sister has bought a bike. I’ll take these as wins.

Roll on summer (when it does actually arrive – maybe this week?!).

2023 and all that jazz

Well, 2023 was a bit of a wash out. It ended very much as it started – with the only real changes being I’m less fit, I currently only owe £31.32 on my credit card (supermarket shop) and I changed my job.

Hopefully 2024 will be a bit more productive.

I might even start blogging again! Pahahah

First things first, back to work, a velodrome trip and a trip north.

After a long respite….

About a week ago I got a notification that my hosting and web domain needed renewing – which has, it part, prompted me to write again. I have been reflecting.

I’ve wanted to write but equally not wanted to write as well but life has a funny way of getting in the way of things.

I’ve already mentioned it to a few friends, but in all honest, I suspect I have spent the last 18 months with a mild, low level kind of depression. Just going through the motions, knowing I should be looking forward to something and being excited while at the same time not actually feeling anything, almost flatlining emotionally through life. It’s taken me a long time to actually realise and properly notice it too and it’s only looking back, and the fact that I am feeling more excited about things that I know something was amiss.

I’m not going to compare it to the level of depression that I know some people have to deal with. It’s been a low lying, sitting in the background for me, that i suspect has been brought on partly from longer last impact of covid and shift of routine as a result and but from also working too hard and trying to do too much.

Anyway, coupled with a new job, and a determination NOT to over work myself – I have purposely not booked in lots of races, cut back on training for a bit and generally cut down on trying to write ‘to do’ lists I feel like I might be coming out the otherside. I’ve also done things I fancy, and not done things I don’t want to and refused point blank to feel guilty about it. I suspect I have been demanding too much of myself and trying to fit too much in.

I have spent the last two weekends away and this weekend just gone I actually felt a bit excited for – and I am actually genuinely starting to feel excite again about things. This bodes well.

I’m looking at races again – and with my Y11s going, and starting to find a routine with the new job -well. Things are looking much more rosy than they have for a while.

May normal(ish) service commence.

Lost Mojo

It’s January since I last wrote anything. Simply because I have/had lost complete mojo for most things. It’s been a bit of an odd eight months really – and not in a good way. General lack of energy or enthusiasm for anything really and I am sure there are numerous factors, some symptoms of mild depression in there too I think but that’s by the by. Things feel marginally better than they did and I want to actually train and do stuff. I feel more like me than I have for a while. Somethings still aren’t right but it’s going in the right direction. I took the decision to try not to be too hard on myself and just ride it out but it has been frustrating.

Trying to train consistently or even wanting to train has been lacking. I managed to lighten some of my workload (partly) and lighter nights are definitely helping. The fact I am writing this now is a positive sign that things are possibly getting better. Hopefully… we will see.

I just have to stop procrastinating.

Apparently I am running tomorrow. Might even swim too.

Famous. Last. Words.

Life getting in the way!

Not that I am complaining at all!

Twitter reminded me it was my 3 year anniversary for my Twitter account linked to this blog. I’ve been meaning to write for ages and I have really missed it.

The 3 years thing coincides with how this blog originated – dealing with a break up and concentrating on me. The problem now isn’t the heartbreak or even the issue of dating. It has almost gone to another extreme. I am so busy doing ‘stuff’ and working that things I enjoy have, to an extent, fallen by the wayside. With changes in lockdown rules and other bits and pieces, life has really kicked off at full pelt again meaning I am busier than ever and not all of it is fun!

Hopefully the summer holidays will see a temporary pause in the workload and a return to fun! Starting with a trip to Norfolk and the small matter of a 70.3 in relay! (and no – I am not doing the swim leg!).

#RaphaFestive500

In the run up to Christmas, news and updates about this year’s Rapha Festive 500 started to appear, with the change that this year, virtual miles would be included. My ears pricked up and a thought started to go in my head. I’d pondered it in previous years but actually getting the distance in on the road just seemed unlikely – weather, riding solo, the absolute FAFF that comes with riding outside in winter etc. The inclusion, this year, of virtual miles though, made me wonder if I could actually give it a go.

Que several discussions with friends as I toyed with the idea.

I was working Christmas Eve, but despite early start and a busy morning, somehow managed to get on the turbo and get some miles in. Christmas Day came round and had some time, thought ‘sod it’ – did some more miles. Same thing Boxing Day… well, no I did two turbo sessions – by this time mates had joined in so there were a couple of us putting in some turbo mileage. Next day, I actually went outside on the bike, as well as doing some turbo mileage. Shock to the system to an extent and the company bailed on me. The rest of the week turned into a blur of long turbo sessions, with a bit of swimming and yoga thrown in for good measure but as of this morning, 500km ticked off!

What have I learnt though? Time to be reflective….

  • Group Zwfit rides, with Discord chat app running makes a huge difference to motivation and passing the time. Huge kudos to mates there for that. The ‘bunge’ also helped.
  • Zwift, my online platform of choice for this mission, is just plain strange – how the hell I was managing 45kph on 1.4w/kg is beyond me.
  • Sweat central – not unusual but still – had to make sure I replaced them.
  • Hydration/fluids/fuel – not to be underestimated.
  • 500km of riding in 8 days = increased quad definition – I have some definition that has been missing for the last 18 months.
  • The tiredness is real – but it would have been harder out on the road.
  • With little else to really do (I have made myself chill this week), I have lived the life of a pro – why stand when you can sit? Why sit when you can lie down? I have done some reading this week too.
  • Multiple pairs of bib shorts are incredibly useful – in general anyway – but I have found out quickly, which pairs are the best. Altura – is ain’t yours!
  • Two hour turbo sessions hurt your undercarriage MORE than two hours on the road – less changing of position isnt great.
  • My core strength must be good at the moment – I’ve a mirror positioned in such a way I can see my position – back and hips didn’t rock or move – no so sore shoulders either.
  • Low power/pace on the pedals kept me going without hurting myself.
  • I’ve managed not to over eat as a result….
  • I unlocked a few Zwift badges – always nice.
  • Turbo miles are dull.
  • The Mandalorian on Disney+ is awesome.
  • Decent headphones are worth the money.
  • Women are MORE SUPPORTIVE ON SOCIAL MEDIA GROUPS THAN men*

*I’m on several cycling Facebook pages – all the female only ones – everyone has been so supportive of each others achievements and there has been no judging on virtual/in real life achievements. LOTS of positivity. On the mixed sex groups – a bloke made the mistake of saying it was no longer a proper challenge now it included virtual miles. He has been very quickly called out on this by a lot of people. I’ve seen other scathing comments in the past on the mixed sex pages but do have to say – there are a lot of supportive blokes on those pages – but there is a distinctively different feel about them.

It has been an interesting challenge in that it has given me something to focus on and I’m glad I’ve finally done it but it pales into insignificance when one of my best friends Everested, on foot, for charity. Now that is a challenge and a half! After the crappy year events wise that has been 2020, it has been a nice way to finish of the year, and something I just did on a bit of a whim. Just need to aim to get out more next year!