LIFE'S A BATH

Starting afresh...

2012-01-23T12:19:00.001Z

Can't believe I've owned a blog for nearly six years and my post publishing is as sporadic as my exercise habits!
Anyways I'm starting anew as you can see with the new dynamic design that I'm playing around with.
I've spent so long today messing about online that I don't have time to write anything of any substance really.
Will see if I can tune in again tomorrow to let you know what I've been up to in the last ten months...that is...if you're interested.
Later...

Polercise

2011-03-27T13:42:00.001+01:00

Yes, you heard me right. Polercise.

Went to a introductory class yesterday as part of a charity fund-raiser(Ulster Yompers) and was incredibly impressed.

Before I went to said exercise class I did a bit of background research via Youtube. I very quickly realised exactly what pole-dancing involved and it was not just a matter of dancing around a pole in a sexy manner (I was doomed to be a failure if it was just that, dancing and being sexy not my forte).

These girls have amazing strength and stamina and I could only gasp in awe as I watched one lady lift herself away from the pole and hold posture with one hand….surely that is impossible!

Therefore I approached the class with a little bit of respectful trepidation. Needless to say, my fears of being publicly shamed by my extreme lack of co-ordination and severe lack of body strength (despite apperances) were unfounded.

Our instructor was lovely, took us through some simple manoeuvres and was incredibly encouraging throughout. After an hour of attempting the Kate Moss, Fireman, windmill - to name a few – our instructor and our fellow charity fundraiser showed us some advanced poses. Much ooohhing and ahhhhing followed, they were amazing.

I left feeling I had achieved something and definitely feel that I would like to try it some more, if anything to improve my core strength and upper body strength.

I also left feeling that polercise and pole-dancers deserve recognition for what is a very intense and highly skill based sport that requires strength and endurance on top of which looking good whilst doing it is a necessity (not like you’re about to bust a gut – I’m glad I couldn’t see my face whilst attempting some of the manoeuvres.)

Check the Belfast studio out at Polercise ltd. They do introductory classes for groups at a reasonable price per head. That can follow on with 8 week courses for beginners, intermediate and advanced polercisers!

Don’t knock it till you try it.

So what keeps going wrong?

2010-06-18T20:35:00.001+01:00

One half-marathon later with new bilateral knee effusions. Yes, you heard me, bilateral means both knees.

So why do I keep getting injured when I step up my game? I have asked myself this constantly over the past four years but have never listened or even waited for an answer.

Today, whilst I sit with big boggy knees lamenting at my stupid idiocy at doing a half-marathon without proper training, I have forced myself to come up with an answer.

Age 7 – 23 I trained at competitive swimming consistently year in and year out (with a few blips in the later years) with proper coaching, periodisation and strength training. When I started working as a junior doctor I gave all that up and became a self-coached triathlete.

It took a while for the cracks to begin to show. In my first triathlon season I was consistent, I still had a very strong core and good base fitness from swimming. As the years passed and responsibilities in work grew my consistency fell to the wayside. I was training sporadically but to a high enough level.

Cardiovascularly speaking I remain very fit but biomechanically I’m a complete and utter mess.

So what do do?

Start at the beginning, be prepared for a very slow but progressive improvement and treat my body with respect.

I’m not old, I’m just tri-ing to find my feet again.

Three down…

2010-05-14T18:51:00.001+01:00

So I combined day 2 and 3 runs with a run to night shift and a run home from night shift. It was tough enough on the way home, didn’t get much sleep the past 48 hours but I did feel good afterwards. Nearly halfway through…

21 days…

2010-05-12T15:35:00.001+01:00

What can one do in 21 days?

I’m hoping a whole damn lot.

May 12th and where do I find myself?

1. 1 stone overweight - yeah it’s not that much and you can’t see it but I know it

2. Sporadically exercising – it does nothing for your mood let me tell you. I’m constantly beating myself up when I don’t get out for that promised half-hour jog or 1hr swim and my cycling habit is practically non-existent.

3. Eating like number 1&2 are only myths! – but you will never stop me loving my food, I’m just going to have to start making better choices.

4. Wanting, wishing, hoping to get out of this rut.

Ok, enough of the self-battery. It’s May 12th and where do I find myself?

1. I have in the past year and a bit successfully changed my medical career to a specialty I love and am happy to do for the rest of my life.

2. I have passed my first set of professional exams for said specialty.

3. I have secured a five year contract as a specialist registrar in this specialty.

4. I got a publicatioin in a subject related to the specialty.

5. Oh yeah, and I’ve bought and moved house and now have my own permanent address.

So, big year, very career orientated and I think I deserve to give myself a break for getting in a rut over my physical endeavours and accept that I had other missions to complete first.

So back to 21 days.,,

What am I going to do over the next 21 days? Well it’s simple really. And no… I will not be following anybody elses three week exercise plan to get me back in shape. I have constructed my own exercise plan and it’s going to be really tough, mentally and physcially (for someone in my shape). I probably do risk injury but it’s not as if I plan to run 21 marathons in 21 days… so I think I’ll be ok.

The simple plan is as follows;

Week 1: Run 3 miles every day for seven days (including any other routine exercise done during the week.)

Week 2: Swim 3000m every day for seven days (including routine exercise done during week plus at least 3 runs.)

Week 3: Cycle 30 miles every day for seven days (including routine exercise done during week plus at least 3 runs.)

Ahem. Logistically I think week 3 will be the toughest but we’ll see. Any problems, injuries, complaints, or minor victories will be posted online. Watch this space.

Oh…and I ran the first 3 miles today…was ok. ;-)

Body Falling Apart…

2010-01-22T17:00:00.001Z

So now I have like an aching right ankle. I haven’t done any running since my ‘back spasm’ in fact I’ve done as little weight bearing as possible. This is just taking the mick!

I’m 28, not 78! (No offence to anyone who is 78 – there’s plenty of lithe athletes in their seventies who would certainly put me to shame is what I’m saying.)

Plus I’m not taking anymore Ibuprofen…it does very bad things to your stomach and with me probably having an insidious duodenal ulcer from the last three months of stressing out from studying I’m not sure I want to be admitted to hospital with a perforated DU. No thank-you very much!

I did however go to the gym and swam for 2000m today, then jacuzzied and steam-roomed. (Satisfied sigh.)

I’ve got the sequence right now…you got to jacuzzi before steaming because if you steam before jacuzzi-ing then the jacuzzi is disappointingly cold. (Sorry for all the fake verbs in the last two paragraphs but freedom of speech stands here…you know what I’m saying?)

Anyways, that’s my rant over for today. Hopefully my body will start healing soon or it’ll be endless ranting from here on in. Later…

Week of recoop…

2010-01-20T21:54:00.001Z

So I guess my back putting itself out of joint was my body’s way of saying you need to recuperate before you go hey-ho with all the exercise malarkey you’re about to start again.

It’s getting better though. I didn’t listen to my body completely because…I really believe doing nothing is not the way to recovering quicker. Doing nothing is how I got into this mess in the first instance.

I’ve been for a swim both mornings after night shift to loosen up. That coupled with hotbath and steam room has gone some way to helping out the spasm. I’ll do nothing more than that this week but next week I hope to be back to full form. Fingers crossed.

Backache….

2010-01-19T18:44:00.000Z

So what do you know…

The week I want to get back in to a bit of fitness training my back decides to spasm. When did this happen? When I was cleaning out my room, goddamn it.

Regular Paracetamol and Ibuprofen over past 24 hours has done little really to remove it but I did go for a gentle swim this morning after a quiet night shift at work. Will likely try the same tomorrow. Isn’t life funny at times?

I’ve just finished one of the major exams I’ve got to do for our specialty and thankfully passed it. I think my backache is my body’s way of saying “Hey, three months of bad posture and stressing out…what do you expect? Did you want me to hit you during the exam? Crippling you now, after it’s all over, it’s the best I got!” – sorry have been watching Soprano reruns. “Cheers Back!”

First Sprint in 5 years.

2009-05-25T09:45:00.005+01:00

Wow, I did my first sprint tri since 2004 yesterday.
Loved every minute of it.

Finishing time was 1:15:27
Splits were

Swim: 11:25 - this included jumping out of pool, running through changing rooms, down a long corridor, down a flight of stairs, across a sportshall and into an all weather pitch (chip system was at the entrance of pitch) so my actual swim time was about 10:20, and I'm only saying this cos I'm proud of it!

T1: 56s - Yeah, yeah I know - Dire!

Cycle: 40:02 - hmmmmm. Not bad but not great either. There was a long drag out to begin with, I was the first out of the pool so I'm not sure I got my pace right. It's really hard to focus on spinning really fast in a sprint tri - isn't it? You can relax really easy and then lose precious time. That on top of me not getting much mileage on the bike this season adds up. I need to get a few minutes off this time is what I'm saying.

T2: 1.06 - even more Dire!

Run: 22:00 - not bad for me and a negative split - which suggests maybe I should have pushed it a wee bit harder. But this will do, this will do.

I now got a month to do a bit more to double this distance. I'm doing an olympic distance in the middle of July.

Welcome back to the world of Triathlon!

J

Week off - life plan in check.

2009-04-27T11:02:00.002+01:00

Wow - I've had a whole week off work to recuperate, rest up and generally just get my life in check.
It's been great!
I'm back to work tonight and am actually looking forward to it.

So what life plans have I concocted for the next six months?
Professional
1. I've got to pass my first set of Anaesthetic(anaesthesiology) exams coming up in October.

this is intense stuff, and will need at least five months work to cover the syllabus (eek!)

I'm not bookin any holidays away in this five months apart from perhaps a music festival and

I plan to go to New York pre-christmas no matter if I pass or fail this exam (tho failure is not an option!) If I pass I hope to go skiing in January too so something to look towards.

Personal
1. Well, you may have guessed this already but I plan to get back on the ole triathlon horse!

Yeah, on my week off I decided to book myself into no less than five triathlons this season!

I openly confess my training has not been structured this year towards this.

I have a base fitness achieved by swimming and jogging but the bike miles are few and I need to get on top of them.

I am merely doing these races to give me back my lust for them and nothing else. I'm doing them to complete them, to focus on goals for next season and for pure unadulterated fun.

So that said I gotta go get ready for a mad-capped next 3-6 months. I've made some major changes to my career path this year and I'm thoroughly happy with them and last week was the first chance for me to sit down and really soak it all up.
On the training front I didn't act like a 'silly billy' and try and get a years training in during a one week period. I did a 40 mile cycle, two runs of 7.3 miles (I'm running a leg in Belfast Marathon) and I did an hour swim set. I've started off this week with a short run (3.5miles) and I'll likely repeat that today before night shift. Cycle to work tomoro night and then home on Wednesday followed by a short brick run. Wed night swim drills, thursday long swim, and Fri/Sat/Sun I'll get some bike miles in by taking the long route into work in the mornings and cycling straight home. (I'm on long days all weekend.) So that's some kinda plan.

Later.
J

Daily plans

2009-04-13T13:08:00.003+01:00

So I'm thinking...
How about I try this for a while - make myself do some kind of daily activity every day no matter how small or excessive but do something every day.
I'll do it this week - see if I can do it for one week. If I can do it for one week - maybe I can make it habit. What do u reckon?

The 'oul'Two Bridges.

2009-04-12T16:47:00.003+01:00

Ran this old favourite yesterday and boy, am I suffering today? I used to run this route with no issues at all - obviously I'm older than I thought. I did of course have my Garmin Forerunner 305 with me, which measured the route as 7.31 miles.
Since I haven't run more than four miles in a single jog in years I think completing this route in a hour was some kind of achievement to be proud of.

As I was running I was thinking about all my new gadgets and all the things I use these days to help me tranining - things I never used nor needed when I was younger and much fitter. I like to think it's because now I'm earning a reasonable amount of money and can afford these luxuries -but am I being completely truthful with myself?

I can't help thinking of the older men I used to smirk inwardly at a few years ago. They would arrive for our saturday morning cycles with their grossly expensive road bikes and contrasting beer bellies to boot not disimilar to the guys that turn up for masters swimming galas with the full 'ian thorpe style' shark suits sporting bellies that even the strongest material could not compress.

I'm beginning to wonder if i'm starting to fit that category of an athlete wannabe with all my gadgets and gimmicks that promise to make me faster, fitter and make my goals more achievable whereas reality perhaps would suggest something very different.

Reality at the minute is working a full-time job, loving my home comforts and finding it much easier to accept the extra stone in weight that I've worked very hard at keeping over the last few years with my regular sunday morning fry, friday evening takeout and the occasional glass or two of red wine with my evening meals.

There is no doubt in my mind that life would be completely unfulfilled without my swimming, cycling, running and whatever else activity keeps my generally high hyperactivity levels at bay. Although, I think it's time to accept that my gadgets are not going to make me the super-athlete I envisage every time I sit down to make another comprehensive training plan which is ultimately never kept.

This of course will not stop me using my Garmin Forerunner - hell no! It's brilliant, it draws a map on my computer and tells me how high I can get my heart rate and it even estimates my calorie expenditure - how else will I be able to justify eating chicken fried rice without it?

Gordo-isms

2009-04-10T22:39:00.002+01:00

Check out this site...
http://www.endurancecorner.com/

It's because of this guy right here - Gordo Byrn - that I got into endurance sports. He's a legend, has a great mind for business and is somewhat of a modern day philosopher. On top of all that he's my guru. He doesn't know this of course but I just thought I'd put that up there. Check him out.

J

Night shifts...

2008-07-29T09:54:00.003+01:00

Have been on night shifts over weekend so hence the tardiness of the blog writing.

So...
Tues 22nd - 50 mile cycle. Felt fine, conditions good. Did it in 2hrs 45 minutes, mid-afternoon.

Wed +Thursday - off.

Friday - Went for a swim. 400m warm-up. Free. Then thirty 100's free. (10 kick, 10 pull, 10 swim with fins off 2.00, 1.45, 1.30 respectively.) 200 swim-down. Nice.

Saturday - Cycled to work - 10miles
Sunday - Cycled home from work - 42 miles (took the scenic route)
Monday - Day off.

Night shifts were absolutely awful. Went out for dinner last night with two long friends and had a few glasses of white wine and now have to jog to my car ( bout 3 miles down the road). Not liking the white wine head though.

Before work + run.

2008-07-22T09:20:00.002+01:00

Got up on Sunday at 5.30am and cycled 25 miles before work. Again, easy pace with av pace 15.9miles/hr. So bout 90min riding time. Heart-rate behaved itself never going above 157, and quite regularly down in the 120's to 130's.
Cycled the 10 mile home jaunt as well (measured it accurately with Cat-eye) although misbehaved on a few occasions and got heart rate up to 177 at one point. So all in all 35 miles on bike on a work day. Not bad.

Yesterday continued my running trend and did an easy 3.5miles, with HR below 156 at all times. 8.25 pace. Finished in 29 minutes. Slow and easy wins the race.

working round work

2008-07-19T20:55:00.002+01:00

18/7/08
Cycle back and forth to work
Total 19 miles
No higher than 150bpm

Today
Jog after work.
Same route.
3.5 miles
8.20 min/mile average
29minutes
HRM 153 highest.

AeT

2008-07-17T10:47:00.002+01:00

Got out, did a 3.5mile run.
Didn't go over a heart-rate of 153.
Was really strict with myself. Felt slow and easy.
Basing my AeT on Mark Allen's adjustment.
Took me 30 minutes - ouch. 8.39 min/mile - double ouch

But i've got to persist. Going Long is key.

Stretched and worked on ab's for 10 minutes after.

One minor but nevertheless important victory- many more to go.

Swim Set 1

2008-06-29T19:15:00.002+01:00

From about 1515 to 1615, sun afternoon.

3100m.

5oo swim, 300 pull, 200 kick.
Rest 60s
10 x 200m off 3.15

100 swim down.

Kept it simple, no big expectations...felt really good. Hitting 2.50 at a nice steady pace. I'm going to do this right. Happy about that today.

Keeping it simple.

2008-06-29T14:13:00.003+01:00

Ok, I'm starting anew. For anyone who visits this page I'm sorry for my lack of input. Goodness knows how many times I've attempted to keep a regular blog but I guess I'm back for the timebeing. This time I'm keeping it simple - this is just going to be a training blog, a motivational tool for me that will hopefully encourage consistency in training. I've had a bad few years with pursuing my love of sport because of work, but now it's time for me to face facts;
1) I drink too much.
2) I work too much.
3) I eat too much crap.
4) I miss being in good physical condition.
5) I'm not happy.

There we go. Said and done, now lets go about fixing that.

December Already!

2007-12-01T17:15:00.001Z

Aggghhh! I can't believe it's here already...
Is it unethical to buy all your Christmas presents online? I can't face Christmas shopping and every year it's the same...ie buying at 'Last-minute R Us'.

Had a hefty enough week at the training such that I'm resting today and find myself pigging out. Not what I had in mind on the day sans exercise.
However, this week I have managed 13000m in the pool, two spins sessions and an upper limb weights workout thrown in for good measure. This is good for me, so I'm allowing myself to break some rules today regarding nutrition. (As she reaches for a packet of crisps)

Back to normal days at work next week ( I have been a month on night and on-call shifts) and I can't decide whether I'm happy about it or not. I had freedom in doing night shifts in that I could survive 4 hours sleep during the day and go training in the off-peak hours at the gym. Now I'll be working 53 hour weeks for a month and trying to fit training in at the same time. Eek.

I guess I've got Christmas to look forward too...well...the day after Christmas as I'm working a 13 hour shift on Christmas day - this will make it the third year in a row. But at least I get the five days after off to spend with the family in Donegal. That I am looking forward too. There has been plans to get the whole family into the icy cold waters of Donegal on boxing day as a way of raising money for Children in Crossfire....I'm all for it. Bring it on!

Anyways...I'm off to enjoy bad habits tonight, yes there will be wine involved so....Later!

4%

2007-11-23T14:42:00.000Z

Take a look over to the right there...4%! Not bad eh? I'm getting somewhere with my fundraising already.
Alright, alright it's a modest amount but I haven't released my full potential - I will, just wait. Many thanks to my donors, it really gives me a lift to know I'm being supported, ever keeping me motivated in my training and motivated I have been.
Have worked out 5 times this week and am thinking of ways to get training in between my 13 hour shifts over the weekend. Probably will cycle back and forth to work...only about 12 miles in total but it's still something.
Did a second spin class on Wednesday. It was a little more taxing and lasted an hour instead of the 45 minutes. Legs felt like lead later on in the evening. I did go for a recovery swim after, 1500m or so.
Then I hit the pool yesterday evening for an hour session with the Masters team. It was a good work-out. Bit of threshold thrown in for good measure and we totalled 3000yds in an hour. Coming in on 1.10 for my 100 Free, and about 1.20 for 100 I.M's, done off 1.35 and 1.45 respectively in blocks of three.

I love this feeling. You know the one where you're finally shaking off all that weight that has been pushing you down for just a wee bit too long.
No, not actual weight in kilograms, I mean the weight on your shoulders.
You know the chip that is constantly there, the burden you always feel you're carrying when you're not exercising regularly?
It's funny...cos you don't even consciously know that's the reason you feel 'heavy.' It all begins to make sense when your load becomes lighter all of sudden - well it does to me. Am I making any sense or am I just being a twat?

I'm working this weekend and I don't even care! When has that happened before?

Chilling to the Max

2007-11-20T22:25:00.001Z

So, I'm off work for two days following night shifts at the weekend. It's so nice to chill out for a few days. Was meant to travel to London on Monday to see Arcade Fire at Alexandra Palace but that arrangement fell through , so I decided it was time to take the plunge and go to a spinning class for the first time in two years.
It wasn't as 'ouch' as I remember. I guess I have an underlying fitness level that hasn't disappeared. Either that or I just wasn't pushing enough, but hey...I got there didn't I?
Did some arm work with some light weights after and managed to do 1000 crunches, another feat I haven't managed in years. Welcome back to the world of training for fitness Jenny.
Thought I might try go for a swim later in the evening but fell asleep in front of the TV for a whole hour - I really did lose an hour of my life but I guess if I hadn't fallen asleep I would have watched a documentary about genetics that Gregory was raving about and would have wasted an hour of my life anyway.
Today I did sleep late, but I think I needed it after the weekend. I got up watched a few episodes of Heroes (fantastically addictive and not life-time wasting at all) and then I managed to get to the pool and clock in 4700m. Did an easy 1000m warm-up (500 swim, 300 pull, 200 kick) and then 9 (400m Freestyle) off 6.15. Was hitting the wall at 5.45 so technically might have managed to go off 6.00 but I don't think I would have lasted the whole nine. I finished off with 100m easy. Long hot shower later plus a good feed of Northern Irish Spuds and chicken I headed to cinema with a mate to see Beowulf. Enjoyable but we both conceded it was a film for DVD rather than cinema.

Now I'm chilled to the max as the title goes and enjoying a single glass of Shiraz in front of the computer. Ain't life grand.

Planning South Africa

2007-11-18T21:13:00.000Z

Ah-hah! I'm back.

Sorry folks for yet another long and delayed post about what I've been up to.

I've been up to loads in last six months.

Huge career overhaul such that I'm workin in anaesthetics or anaesthesiology as you would say in USA. Hours long but satisfying but despite this I'm doing a lot more exercise than I've done in months - Mostly swimming and gymming it with occasional cycling. I haven't got back to the jogging yet as I'm still rehab-ing my knee with non-weight bearing sports.

So I have a challenge to aim for.

Cycle South Africa

400km over five days on a mountain bike with 30 other people through the Cederberg Mountain Range for at least 170km of it.

I'm going out at the end of March so I need to get going on the fundraising. £3250 is my bid for Children in Crossfire.

I need help folks.

Give me novel ideas for fundraising or if you feel so inclined, click on my widget and donate a small amount yourself.

My promise to you guys is to be more consistent about blogging my misadventures. Tune in to see how my training is going and help keep my motivated.

Jenny C. x

Coming to a grinding halt.

2007-07-12T11:13:00.000+01:00

Argghhh!
I have a real problem writing on this page. April is a long time ago.
Have been browsing through friends of old web pages and realising how much I've missed, how far behind I am and how I'm probably a little forgotten about as well.

My exercise regime came to a grinding halt about a month ago when I got a knee effusion out of nowhere. I'm not sure how I got it. Had only run about 12.5 miles in total that week and had one swim session but two days after no training a whole lot of fluid just appeared in my right knee. It wasn't painful at first just very awkward and I was strongly advised to stay off it for several weeks.

So five days of RICE (rest, ice, compression, elevation) I thought I was a little better and went swimming - yes I know...but I only used my arms!!
Did 7000m in 2 days and... there it was...the knee blew up bigger than ever before. So after much sulking, crying and gnashing of teeth I had to resolve myself to staying off the exercise completely. Still had to work though, the guilt that comes with taking time off sick as a doctor is unreal.

Over the last four days my knee is much improved...think the fluid is gone and I'm no longer afraid to bear my full weight on it but I'm doing my best not to rush back....tho it's killing me.
I'm giving my leg another four days or so then I think I'll try swimming first then hopefully cycling...as far as running goes (this will kill me) but I think I should stay off from that for a few months. Woe is me.

!eldi enoB

2007-04-10T14:07:00.000+01:00

You guessed it.
I did not drag my sorry ass out of bed yesterday morning for a jog.
I went in to work, did my shift, ate a lot of leftover easter eggs and food (nurses stations are a curse for distributing this stuff 365 days a year) and then came home and ate more 'skeggy mash.'

FYI skeggy mash is a term used to describe foodstuff that is incredibly tasty and pleasing to the palate, but not only that, it can also be described as waist/bum/thigh enhancing (and not in a good way), artery blocking, colon breaking crap that has been found to be capable of inducing insulin resistance in many individuals as well as forcing said individual who is indulging in such delicacies to find beer to aid in digesting the stuff.

Hmmmm.

So the marathon then.
In all seriousness I don't know if I'm capable of doing this at all. I did enter at least 3-4 months ago but this was in the midst of studying for my final post-graduate exam and then I just happened to skid in some black ice and crash my car into a big stone wall...that took me out of the game for just a while.
Well until last week that is, when I decided I had to get off my sorry ass and start doing the things that in the past have made me quite a happy-go-lucky individual who enjoys life etc etc.

Alright, alright...I'm not looking for happy-go-lucky all the time. You can never cure the cynicism that come with working and growing up within hospital walls, plus someone who is happy all the time is just pure annoying.
But I need focus, so this is the start of it.

Whether I do the marathon or not is besides the point I will train hard for a month and see where I'm at. I'm sorry if I offend any of you real athletes who have put a whole lot of hard work and effort in to their marathon preparation.
I do not wish to take away from anyone who has spent most of their season training for the same and I have a lot of respect for all of you - that's the proper way to do it and it's the motivation and dedication to put proper mileage in for at least 4-6 months that takes you to the race line on the day knowing that whatever you do you've got to where you want to be right now.

Anyway, I got over the fact that I didn't get up yesterday before work and got up this morning and ran a 10 miler. I didn't time myself, I spent the whole time telling myself "relax, keep the form, feel like you can do this two more times," and I finished happy enough but tired.
I'll tell you now though, there's not a chance in hell I could have done that two more times despite my attempt at a positive attitude throughout the session.

Long way to go in very short time.

Day 1

2007-04-08T21:36:00.000+01:00

So...
Managed 27 miles on the bike today and about 40 minutes skipping 'Rocky' style this evening.
Nothing like a bit of type-specific training for the marathon...eh?
Bah!
There's always a critic.
I'm going out for a gentle jog before my 13 hour shift tomorrow...now I've written it I have to do it. There'll be no turning over in bed when the alarm goes...right? Right.

Back from the dead.

2007-04-07T19:41:00.000+01:00

So I'm back guys. After nearly a year.
That has to be some kind of blogger record. I'm not going to write a big post on my first go. Just sayin hello.

My last post as you see was 11 months ago when I ran three legs of the Belfast marathon with little or no training.

Going to beat that this year.
Going to try and run the whole thing with little or no training.
Why not?
I have thirty days to get serious, let's see how we go.

Will try and post a very small post most days to let you know my ups and downs.
I've googled training for a marathon in 30 days/month/4 weeks etc but have come up with nothing so pretty much ad libbing here. If anybody comes up with a plan get in touch I'd much appreciate it.

Still doctoring...or trying too. Have now passed all my post-graduate exams but as you have it the NHS has decided to completely change it's recruitment policies so I may be jobless come August. Not going to go into it...has caused me way too much stress, gnashing of teeth already...suffice to say...being able to run 26 miles in a month is my way of conquering the world. If I can do this I can do anything.

Bring it on!

Marathon

2006-05-02T18:38:00.000+01:00

No not the whole thing but I did a realy leg in the Belfast Marathon yesterday.
It was great craic.
I was doing the longest leg in our team cos I was the only one who had some kind of background training done and it was 6.5 miles, up a hill and then down a sharp incline.
The weather was perfect, sunny and breezy and I did it in 43 minutes then i decided to keep on going. I finished the remaining 10.3 miles left in the marathon and came in as the clock was ticking 3.32. So I think I did the 16.8 miles in about 2 hours and 10.
I've got the bug, I got the bug.
Legs are a little stiff this morning and I'm tired (I was in the pub for a substantial portion of last night and had to get up to work this morning so that might owe to some of the tiredness.)

Anyways, it'll be the whole marathon next year.

Ouch!?!

2006-04-21T21:04:00.000+01:00

God, finally finished the three late shifts and didn't manage one day of exercise and even though it was only a 9-5 shift today -I still couldn't bring myself to get off my ass and train!
It's my fault isn't it? I've a splitting headache, am absolutely shattered and it's because I haven't looked after myself the last four days.
No fluids on board, no hot meals until this evening and I've just lived on coffee, sweets from relatives and sandwiches for lunch and supper. How do I expect to train when my blood urea is probably through the roof and I've pe-ed less than most guys on renal dialysis. Sorry, translation - I'm dehydrated as hell and a little pissed.
Well I'll cut my losses, I'm gonna turn up at a group cycle session for a local triathlon club tomorrow morning. First time so a little nervous, and haven't officially joined these guys so hope they're alright. Should be grand and the weather in Northern Ireland is starting to pick up - we had beautiful blue skies all day today. Long may it last.

Going Long

2006-04-18T08:16:00.000+01:00

No, not distance - hours.
I've got three long shifts in a row starting today and i'm suitably depressed. I'll handle it though.
Woke up this morning at 3am with the intention of getting up out of bed at 6am for a gentle run however on mobilising to the toilet I realised that my body was going to completely disallow this. My legs are shattered and feel a million years old. I guess the last three days I've had a little to much 'catharsis.' Managed two long runs and a forty mile cycle over my cathartic period so today I'll call it quits and just focus on getting through work alive.
There's always tomorrow.

Home

2006-04-16T16:31:00.000+01:00

So I came home.
Home home I mean, back to the house I grew up in - back for the Easter break.

I went for a jog around the regular route (the two bridges, 6-8 miles depending on how you do it) and was reflecting a little. How easy it is to forget about regular life when I'm at home - work, medicine, worries, the future all just dissipate into nothingness or at least feel a million miles away. I regress a little, to the 18 year old me that used to be before I left and began to build my present self. Naive, hopeful and completely unprepared, just how it should've been.

When do you stop calling the place you grew up home? When do you begin to think of your parents house just as that and not your own?
I guess it's when you belong to somewhere or someone else.

Where am I now then? Floating and I'll just have to get used to it for a while. I do feel a catharsis though and I'm grateful for it. It's easy to lose control but I'm still here and driving on.

Burnt Out

2006-04-15T12:22:00.000+01:00

That's how I feel...
Things have finally come to a stop and all I want to do is sleep.
Exercise hasn't been at the forefront of life and somehow I think that's where the problem is...or maybe it's the cure I need.
I'm still fit, I always do enough to keep my resting heart rate at least in the low 50's but I'm letting work kill me mentally.
It's the constant thinking, the constant going, worrying, fretting, internally screaming, past weeping. God what has happened?
I needed a break and on Good FridayI called in sick - I've never done this in my life. I slept till 2.30pm - I've never done this in my life.
I've got to pick up my ideas.
1. No more staying late in work and no more going in early.
2. No more taking the worries home and festering on them - let them stay in that big old useless institution till the next day.
3. Build exercise back slowly and surely- making it routine not a half grabbed momentary break in schedule.
4. Don't worry about competitions this season - do what you can and enjoy it.
5. Never forget why you're living, what you love and whom you love.
6. Smile.

I can feel the brain cells regenerating already.
Sorry as ever for being a stranger.

New shiny thing

2006-01-04T11:56:00.000Z

My beautiful new shiny toy arrived yesterday (laptop) and I've been neglecting both the hard graft of study and exercise playing with it.
It's a modest machine with 1.73Ghx processor, 80GB hard-drive, 1024MB RAM, with DVD-RW and 4USB's and a beautiful widescreen. I love it and hereby name it Jen's baby.
This along with my beautiful bike 'Lady' and my fantabulous jeep 'Sonny' have now made my life complete...
All I need now is that new Ipod I was thinking about buying, oh and maybe the most up to date Polar HRM package. Actually I'm due a new entertainment system as well- the old one is way too old.
Anybody rate the X-box 360 yet??

Sabbatical...

2006-01-02T10:04:00.000Z

So I'm on a 2 week sabbatical from work and I can't get over it. I haven't been away from that place more than 72 hours since August and now I'm off for a whole fortnight...hell I even worked right through Christmas.
Guess what I gotta to do though (my life is sad)...I've gotta cram like a trooper for my membership exam coming up on the 24th of January. Aggghhh!!!!!
Well at least I'm not at work.
Despite the fact I've gotta fill my head with useless medical facts and figures 24-7 for the next two weeks I'm gonna up my run mileage while I'm at it. Managed an easy 6.5miler this morning, the old reliable route around the two bridges of my home town (Derry- I've moved home for two weeks as well). I'm hoping to do this at least every other day. I've also brought my skipping ropes home. What? I haven't told you about how fun skipping ropes are? My god I used to work skipping for 45 minutes into my weekly routine regularly before I started triathlon and was just keeping fit. I can skip better than Rocky can.
Anyway enough bragging and talking nonsense. Got go learn some medicine.
Later.

If I were a millionaire...

2005-12-30T17:24:00.000Z

So, you win the lottery right?
Nice wee cashfall of say...5 million dollars will do nicely...what do you do?
We were talking about this today in work. The predominant issues were about whether we would keep working or give it all up and live in the lap of luxury.
But what about routine?
Some said they'd do voluntary work others said they'd give it all up.

I said...wait for it (this kinda surprised me)
I'd move to New Zealand and train full-time keeping an open mind about continuing my medical career in some shape or form.

What would youse guy's do if you won the lottery? Any takers?

Time flies...

2005-12-27T18:06:00.000Z

So it really has been that long since I posted on these pages, can hardly believe it.

Perhaps I can though, in fact...if I'm brutally honest with myself I haven't had the words in me to write anything over the past few months. They just wouldn't happen, nothing of substance would ever materialise.
Who am I kidding?
Maybe nothing ever could anyway...so I'm back to write a little more something about nothing.

Work is ever at the forefront of my life. A lot of the time nothing else ever prevails and if I think hard enough about (if I let myself think) this ain't a good thing. Well it's probably not healthy anyway.
I do like it...work that is. It's just, mentally I'm split into two people, the me at 17 years old - naive, incompetent at commitment, competitive and insecure.
Then there's the me who has seen things not even a 60yr old should have experienced - death, despair and the knowing that there's nothing left to pull out of the hat - it's all over.

So the exercise thing is just flitting about in the background, just enough to keep my serotonin levels in balance but not enough to make me a contender in blogland.
I still have a resting pulse in the low 50's, I can still knock out 8.0-8.5 miles an hour on a treadmill for 60 minutes and swim for 90minutes, and if the back wheel of my beautiful bike hadn't bust (haven't got round to fixing it) I'm sure I could still cycle the beautiful roads of Donegal even though it's 2 degrees celsius out there.

So you see, although this is not an overwhelmingly 'deep' and glorified re-entrance to these pages I've had a lot of things to deal with over the past few months and I don't feel the need to write them down just yet.
But I'm back for a while... and the purchase of a spanking new lap top, wifi enabled will most definitely make me write a little more regularly...although I can't promise it will be about my tri-ing endeavours anymore...
Ce sera

Sunset of season

2005-09-06T18:12:00.000+01:00

It feels likes it time to wind down. Have worked all weekend and am slightly frustrated that not much training was done, despite the weather being absolutely gorgeous.(I suppose due to the fact that I was working three 13 hour shifts that I might never have been able to appreciate it anyways.) In fact, let's be honest here...no training was done.

I have had to tell myself that this is ok now. That I've not done too badly this season and that in my first year of work I did much more training than I'd ever anticipated with the results to go with it.
I have a sprint tri this weekend and happen to be off work this week and am slightly resenting this competition. It's on Sunday and because of it I can't go all out in a fantastic training extravaganza week. I'll miss a long ride with the roadies on Saturday, I'll not be able to don the running shoes and up the mileage and I'm afraid of doing 2 a day sessions.

Jenny chill, it's getting into 'wind down' season, not 'work yourself into a frenzy' season. If you keep going like this you'll burn out before the end of November.
I don't want to wind down, I don't want to do the last race of the season and I want to keep pushing it...I feel like I've got a lot more to give.

How have I (mind and body) totally skipped the want to do the wind down portion of the year? It seems i've completely skipped it out and gone into base training. My cycling milage as upped by about 50% the last three weekends and I'm now averaging 2-3 hour rides(steady) instead of quick, sharp 20-25 milers. Yes the mileage in the run needs to go up but I never run less than 7 miles when I do hit the road. A sprint tri doesn't even seem worth it if it means I'm missing my three hour ride. What's wrong with me!!!!

I have to accept the sunset of the season and roll with the punches. Lets do the sprint tri and use it as a training session. Who knows how you'll get on? The last landmark of a good year. Who knows where the off-season will bring you come this time next year. Perhaps you're not as far off ironwoman preparation as you think.

Time flies...

2005-08-27T16:06:00.000+01:00

When you're having fun.
I don't know where the last month has gone, it's crazy.
Important thing is...I'm extremely happy. I'm flying high and loving my job, my life and all that comes with it at the moment. The team I'm working with rock, the added responsibility I've now got works for me and although I'm busy, busy, busy I wouldn't want it to be any other way. Yes sportsfans, it's true life is good.

Training not so good this week due to nights but what the heck...it's a month out of a year and i'm using it as my wind-down time. In the next month and a half the long, slow steady off-season training is going to start and boy am I looking forward to that. I've one more sprint-tri to finish off the season(2 weeks) and then I'm looking at off-season preparation. This will include several things that I've got to list here so I can remember them come winter:

Nice long slow rides on the bike at weekends with my new roadie friends in Newry. I'm looking into getting a cheaper training bike for the off-season because Lady deserves a nice rest, she's done me proud over the past few races. I met the roadies last weekend and went for a 3hr ride Saturday and a 3 hour ride Sunday. Was shattered come Sunday evening but it was worth it, the scenery was breathtaking.
Growing running legs. I have got to get out there and build up those miles and make them fast ones. I know this has to be a gradual thing because injury is not on my schedule. The trails in Newry are fantastic for growing strong calves and legs so I'm planning on using these to my advantage.
Keeping the swimming maitained. This will always be my strong point so it's important to keep the fitness maitained during the winter but really up the tempo come February (when I move yet again to Belfast and can train with my old swim team) so that I'm flying by May. I plan to coach my new tri friends during the winter. They're all really strong on the cycle and run but need help on technique in the swim. That's where I come in, and in return the guys are going to help me with no.2 - see above.
Diet - no, not a weight loss diet a nutritional diet. I can't afford to get sick in training or in work. I'm really going to focus on a nutritional diet this winter. Cutting out as much junk, processing and cholesterol laden foods as I can. Obviously I'm not going cold turkey, pizza night will still happen on occasion as well as the odd over indulgence while socialising but I'm going to be quite strict on the whole. Look after the nutrition and body composition will take care of itself.
New activities - I might try hill climbing and yoga on the off season. Yes, the two couldn't be further apart in the spectrum of sports actvities but hey, a little cross training never hurt anyone.
Study- yes, the reluctant no. 6. I've got to hit the books. I have to sit my MRCP part 1 exam in January. It's a tough exam and is part 1 of 3 exams I have to do in the coming years if I have any hope of getting to consultant level in medicine. It stands for Membership to the Royal College of Physicians. I'll see how I go anyway, I'm still unsure in what direction I want my career to go yet.
Keep my blog up to date. Can't believe I've nearly been three months at it now. I love the blogs I read and the inspiration I get from all you guys. It's nice to know that I'm part of a certain breed of people and that although we're thousands of miles apart, all striving for a similar thing that we all lead really different lives with a whole different set of priorities. Bit of a ramble there but I think you get it.

Right that's all I can think of to say for now. Good stuff.

Got to go wash my car.

Out.

It's been a while.

2005-08-23T03:44:00.000+01:00

God it's been a while.
I've knackered myself in the last month. Two triathlons, two weddings a move across the country and a new job to boot. No it's not a weird british movie title.
I'd like to give a detailed synopsis of the triathlon 10 days a go but it's gone now. I was second place right up to the run when the girl in front dropped out due to an injury. Moi, leading female for a glorious 2 minutes....
Then the eventual victor flew past me, followed by 5 others throughout the course of the run.
I suck at running.
No that's not true. I don't suck at running I just sometimes wish it was at the beginning.
My fitness has suffered in the last month due to the disorganisation of life in general. When I got to the run section it was all about survival for me. Chasing anyone down was out of the question...leave that to the swim and the bike...doh!!! They're already over!!

Anyways, I know what I've got to work on next season.

The entries are getting few and far between at the minute. I have no internet access at home but am working in some ways to combating this. Will prob save my entries on a disk and then post when I get a chance. I'll see how it goes anyway.

Meanwhile I'm on nights again...it's about 3.50am here and I'm having a quiet time at the minute. I've got to go and check on a guy who just went into new-onset atrial fibrillation (an irregularly irregular very fast heart beat...big risk factor for stroke) prob due to a pneumonia. I've given him a dose of IV amiodarone to see if I can chemically cardioconvert him, if he's still fast I might have to put up some more over 24 hours.

Oh, just got bleeped. He's still in AF.
Gotta go guys.
I'll try to keep up to date with everyone.
Wil, you're ever inspirational even to those madcat Skiers in the world. Cool huh?
See ya.

Lough Neagh Tri

2005-08-13T21:02:00.000+01:00

Lots of fun and first in my age group, fifth in the ladies open I think.
Don't know my splits yet but my time for this Olympic distance (my first) was 2.27.
Happy enough although I have huge blisters from my running shoes on my instep. Need to look at getting different shoes I guess.
All in all a productive fortnight.

Busy busy busy!

2005-08-07T04:13:00.000+01:00

Aghhhh!
I've not updated in ages.
It's 4am here and I got landed doing nights on my first weekend as a senior in a new and strange hospital. Typical of me...could call me an adrenaline addict, others would call me just a sucker.
Things have been mad. Moved on Tuesday, started on Wednesday and nights on Friday. Suffice to say training has suffered but I managed an hour swim and two cycles this week so I'm not so bad.
I have a triathlon next Saturday and I'll approach with exactly same attitude as I did the last one.
Going to start building up the training distances now coming into end of season. I plan to try for a semi-long distance triathlon my uncle is organising for the hospice. I'm not sure of the distances but I don't think it's as much as a half-iron man.
Liking being a senior so far...I'm busy but nice busy. I get to do the important stuff and am not bleeped to all the crap of the day.
I've no computer set up in my apartment as yet so the entries are going to be at longer intervals for a while folks. I'm really missing keeping up with all you guys. Got to sort it out.
Right got to go have a cup of tea and try to keep awake.
Later.

Race Report

2005-08-02T09:20:00.000+01:00

Wow have I been busy. One of my work colleagues got married yesterday and I got a day out. The day after the race I spent moving out of my apartment into my parents house and rushing up to the city centre to buy a wedding outfit. Hectic!!!
I've not stopped yet, I'm to pack what I need into the back of the car today and leave for Newry this evening to start my new job tomorrow....EEEEEEK!
Anyways...
I've been meaning to write this race report for a wee while so here it goes.

My brother kindly came up with me on Saturday morning to Castlewellan. It took us a good 2 & 1/2 hours to get there. The weather was overcast and the clouds were ever threatening to spit all day. Temperature - I can't quote a temperature but judging by the reluctant way everyone stripped to get their wetsuits on - it was cold. Brrrrrr.

There was approximately 250 competitors entered and the proposal was to start in waves of 50 so to reduce congestion and reduce the possibility of drafting on the race course. The females were in the first wave with a few males. It was an 'in the water' start and we were all instructed to wade out to the buoys that marked the official start of the race. The idea was to swim 1000m in Castlewellan Lake and the course was marked out in a huge triangle with yellow buoys. We were to start at the point of the triangle swim to the buoy on the right first then across to the buoy on the left and then back to the finish.
I felt pretty confident in the water, I knew my swim was strong and I was someone to be contended with (well this was how I was feeling, I'm good at psyching myself up.)
"FIRST WAVE READY!!!!! 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.......BLAST!!!"
And we were off...
I felt good albeit a little cold....I just concentrated on strong and long strokes and focused on only one thing, the first yellow buoy. There were marshals on Kayaks out there guiding us and I kept my eye on one for about 300m then realised it was following me and took a sneaky peak to my left to see what the rest of the pack was doing. It was me and one lone swimmer heading to the yellow buoy, neck in neck. I still felt pretty comfortable and could see that this dude's stroke seemed to be trying harder as the stroke rate was quicker. My competition took the inside of the buoy so I was forced to go on the outside...as we headed towards the second buoy I just kept an inch a head...it was a game plan. Second buoy...I had to take the outside again and dropped back 2 inches behind but kept with it. About 200m to the finish I just inched ahead again and kept there. I had no idea where the rest of the pack was but focused on getting out of the water quick. As soon as I could stand I did a few porpoise dives and was out in a flash. The atmosphere was electric, I could here the commentator on the speakers saying "and it's a female out first, they sure are showing those males a thing or two today!" I looked behind me and it was one of the guys who I had raced the whole way back to shore. The rest of the pack were a few hundred metres behind.

Quickly into transition I threw the wetsuit off (something in theory I was panicking about but it went smoothly) , helmet on and number band on. Grabbed my bike and ran to the start of the bike course. I had lost my tough competitor he was still in the depths of the transition area. A local motoring company were sponsoring the event and a ferarri was to lead the leading bike out onto the closed roads for the bike course. I got to follow the ferarri!!! By this stage the commentator had grasped a hold of who I was and was shouting my name all over the place...I jumped on the bike and tried to clip in...."CLIP IN"....struggle, struggle click, click and we're off!!

To say the bike course was undulating would be an understatement of the highest degree. There were mountains out there!!! I felt sorry for the guy driving the ferarri at times because that car is not built to go at 11 miles an hour up a hill. But as they say 'what goes up, must come down' and I used every down-hill to the maximum. I managed to stay ahead of the pack for approximately 13 miles but then the guys started overtaking....about four had passed and I was still the first female but had seen the defending champion coming in the opposite direction about a mile after the turn-around. She was on a mission, and I was expecting her any minute. As expected she did pass me about 2 miles to the end of the course but I kept her in my sight and we both entered transition 2 roughly the same time.

Transition 2 much easier, helmet off, shoes on and away we go!
And here comes Jenny C, will she be able to chase down our defending champion.
Now, I'm going to admit a moment of frank negativity here but I am a realist when I need to be. Chasing down this individual would have meant running the race of my life and that would not have been possible after already having done 34k of strenuous effort. I am not a 30 minute 8k'er, I know that...everyone knows that...so NO, I would not be able to chase down the champ. But so what? I am running my own race and was in a great position so let's get a good time here girl!
I found the run tough and I think this stems from my relaxing a little too much on the run training. The course consisted of 2 laps of the lake and on the first lap I just had to grit my teeth and let my legs go into autopilot. The spectators were great! They really encouraged me and kept me going. By the time I got to the second lap I felt extremely strong. This lasted all of 2k and then I got tired again and was fighting just to stay in the game. I was still in second position and held on to the hope that it would remain this way...but that's not the way to fight. Hope should not have a place in competition- that's a lesson I got to learn.
200m from the finish line another female competitor flew past me. Conviction not hope would have got me a silver medal overall but I was ecstatic when I crossed the finish line - I'm just a baby triathlete and I'm learning with every race I do.
I looked at my watch and it read 1:52:10 (official time 1:52:06)!!!! Holy cow!!!
Elated, exhausted and extremely thirsty I had finished!
I'm really glad I did the Mourne Triathlon and you know what - it was great craic!

*PHOTOS TO FOLLOW*

Mourne Olympian Triathlon

2005-07-30T21:06:00.000+01:00

Ulster Championships at Mourne Olympian Triathlon.

1000m swim, 32k Cycle, 8k Run
Total time = 1.52.10

Open ladies - Bronze
Ulster Female - Silver
Age group 20-24 - Gold.

Ecstatic and tired at the same time. Going to get some grub and watch a DVD.

Going for the craic!

2005-07-29T22:13:00.000+01:00

Right, I'm going tomorrow to have fun.
It will be a 1000m lake swim, a 32k cycle and a 8k run. I will go, do my best and have a bit of craic at the same time. For those of you who don't what craic is it's an irish term for 'good fun.'
My little bro is coming up for moral support as my parents are over in the states at the minute on holiday (they're doing the west coast.)
So here it goes, early to bed...

Bad.

2005-07-26T21:55:00.000+01:00

I've been bad.
I've been so wound up with the thought of moving to a new hospital, a new town and new county and a much more senior job that my training has totally suffered despite having a triathlon this Saturday...EEEK! I'm not going to publish what I've done or how I've trained because I'm too embarassed to admit my complete lack of commitment to all you high performing, dedicated triathletes and athletes. Oh woah is me.
So crunch time, what can I do in the next three days that will make me feel slightly more at ease with competing on Saturday without completely killing myself at the same time.
How about a 20 mile ride tomorrow morning with some injections of speed at intervals, then a very short run after work with some hill sprints. My usual pool session on Thursday night and rest day on Friday (even though I've had enough of those already!) I still have the problem of inevitably falling flat on my face at T1 when trying to get out of my wetsuit...any tips on how to make this easier for me? Perhaps a practice on Fri morning wouldn't go amiss.

Note to self...
There's a reason you get all stressed out....you do it to yourself!!!!!!!

Seaside Fun.

2005-07-25T19:19:00.000+01:00

Yesterday was a beautiful day and my brother and I decided to head to one of our favourite childhood beaches - Kinago Bay.
I planned to do a wetsuit swim to prepare for the upcoming triathlon in Castlewellan this weekend. I need to work on getting out of the suit fast, efficiently and to learn how to avoid falling on my face and choking on sand whilst doing this.
Cruising in the new jeep with Christy Moore singing about the hills of Donegal while we drive through the hills of Donegal was great, life could not be better - then...Doh! Twenty miles later I remembered I forgot the wetsuit. Ach well, we 're half way there so we keep going.

Now there's one thing about my brother and I you should know, in fact this applies to the extended family - we're hyperactive. Put two of us together and we're hyper-heads and if we're not careful can very easily become two hyperheads wired to the moon. I brought my camera with me and I make no apologies for publishing these on the site...this really is how goofy we can get.

Out of practice Mick tentatively attempts a short dip in natures own toddlers pool.

The water was actually no where near as cold as it can get in Kinago. I had a short 20 minute swim by myself and headed back to where we were sitting. I blame you Wil, but as I got further out I could feel mind trying to conjure up images of sea monsters to scare me. It nearly worked too. Anyways more goofy pictures of goofy people.

Now I'm cold!!!! Brrrrrr......"

Think the rock pool was enough exercise for me today.

Well, I had a good time anyway. Just what the doctor ordered. Here's some scenery as always plugging our Irish countryside.

See Ya!

Favourite Things

2005-07-24T14:17:00.000+01:00

Does anyone want to play tag?
I was watching '50 First Dates' the other night and there was this scene in it that made me double over laughing. I laughed so hard that it hurt, my sides were splitting and there were tears running down my eyes. It was great!!!!
It got me thinking - to feel like that is really brill - one of my favourite things. I thought I'd share, list a few other favourite things and offer this up as a tag post if anyone else wants to join in?
So here it goes...
1. Laughing so hard that I feel like I've actually had a core work out after I've calmed down.

2. Really long conversations with someone you haven't caught up with in a while.

3. The way the warm water envelops you in a shower after a work-out in the wind and rain.

4. Sunsets, sunrises and fabulous skylines.

5. The smell of the morning air at the break of dawn when you feel like you're the first person in the world to take it all in.

6. That undefinable feeling of peace and contentment I feel after I've done a really hard workout and my body is just winding down.

7. Meeting and clicking with someone for the first time and walking away knowing that this person has the potential to be a really good friend.

8. Good food, good music, good wine and good conversation - perfect evening.

9. Sitting on the sofa in a silent house with a cup of tea and a good book.

10. Achieving an occasional moment of clarity in my life and being able to step back, put things in perspective and realise 'things ain't so bad.'

Teach me tech and specs talk!

2005-07-21T22:22:00.000+01:00

Right guys, I need help pretty swiftly.
I need to learn how to talk about how gorgeous Lances TTX is and his Madone before 11AM GMT tomorrow.
This need to sound sophisticated and not include the words 'gorgeous' or 'yummy.'
Also can anyone explain to me simply why the TTX does not climb and the Madone does. Is it the geometry, the specs, the frame stiffness? HELP!!!
It's for my presentation tomorrow. It's the last two slides and I'm aiming it at the surgeons who are boys who like toys if you know what I mean.
By the way Bold and Com I've got the angle we wanted. I'm selling triathlon to the health profession.

Road Trip

2005-07-21T17:12:00.000+01:00

Went on a road trip today to visit my new place of work, Newry.
These are some photos of the new scenery and routes I'll be introducing to myself next week.
Scared and thrilled.

Stronger

2005-07-19T09:47:00.000+01:00

I don't know what happened yesterday evening but I went out for the usual 7.5 mile run and felt almighty powerful!! I couldn't stop, I felt like I was flying. I did it in 55 minutes which is about 3 minutes off my fastest time for that run. Folks, it felt great. I love days when things work out like that. It had me on a high all evening.

Things looking up.

Companion

2005-07-17T17:25:00.000+01:00

Didn't get up in time to make the roadies cycle trip this morning so headed out for a shorter, quality ride by myself. I decided on a 20 mile time-trial of sorts.
It was a scorcher of a day by this end of the earths standards and by the half way mark I was wringing but making great time. As I was turning there was a lone roadie out cycling at not too fast a pace in the direction I was turning in to. I flew past him determined to continue my blistering pace. Several minutes later I hear gears a-changing that were not my own. Subtly looking down at the road and slightly behind me I seen a shadow chasing my wheels. The "shadow" took this lapse of concentration as an opportunity and passed me. I hung on to his back wheel for about 60 seconds and then took over again. This back and forth rigaramole carried on for about 5 miles but each time I was passed I was grateful to hang on and get shelter from the wind. What initially had been a test of wills was now two compatriots aiding each other in battle. Towards the end of our brief interlude the shadow pulled up beside me and thanked me for the injection of speed. He politely made his goodbyes and apologised for not being able to play for a little longer but he still had quite a few miles to go before he got home.
"Sure...thanks a million, enjoyed that."
I plowed on for the last stretch, and made the 20 miles in 52 minutes. Not without a little help from a friend.

Around the World

2005-07-12T21:08:00.000+01:00

Wow, I've been places but there's a whole lot more places I could go. Thanks Nancy for the interesting Tag.

Powerpoint

2005-07-12T16:37:00.000+01:00

Set a task by the taskmaster Mr Dace, a consultant at the hospital. Us junior docs have to present to the surgical team a non-clinical presentation. My date is this Friday and of course I have not begun yet.
The topic seems obvious however, triathlon.
Any ideas folks? Going to get the head down now, todays a national holiday so gonna take advantage.

Weekly schedule

2005-07-10T19:16:00.000+01:00

Right here it goes, 75% attendance to pass.

Monday AM: 40 mile cycle - yes you heard me right.
Monday PM: Loosen up swim.

Tues AM: 7 mile run
Tues PM: Sea swim - 40 minutes

Wednesday AM: Brick - Bike/Run
Wednesday PM: Gym

Thursday AM: 5 mile run
Thursday PM: 1 hour swim

Friday AM: 20 mile cycle

Sat AM: 7 mile run

Sun AM: Massive cycle with roadies.

Motivate.

2005-07-10T18:40:00.000+01:00

Arrggghhhhh!!!! Right that's it, no more missus nice guy!
Yes, I was lazy this weekend - the worst training weekend I've had in ages! However I needed it.
Two massive 10 hour sleeps and one measly training session that consisted of 55 minutes of skipping with a jump rope, and that's it. No training Friday, none Sunday and jump-rope Saturday. There I've confessed.
I'm moving on.

Now I need to do less whining, less talking and more action. I'm going nowhere unless I turn it around right here and right now.
Let's be honest here, why am I doing this? Why am I tri-ing triathlons, buying fun toys and writing a blog about it? Why do I log in every day and see what other people are doing, look for inspiration among the alliance and hope that someday I too will inspire?
The answer is - it's all part of the process.
One day, I'm going to be an ironwoman - one day. I'm not pushing it now - for now I'm working around a schedule, learning something new every day and fighting the lazy bug every now and then...like this weekend.
What way will I fight this?
I'm making a schedule for this week and I'm going to complete it. At the end of this week I will make another schedule and will complete that.
This will take me up to my final week of my current hospital contract and I will then move on to a new place, with new people, new scenery and new responsibilities. There will be a sprint triathlon the Saturday before I move to my new job, this is what I shall focus on for now.

As I reflect on what I have just purged from my mind during this entry I think I may have found the source of my getting tangled up in blue so to speak this weekend.
I'm a little frightened of what's going to be going down in the next few weeks. I not only move location, I move higher up in the ranks of the great machine that is the national health service and I have just realized that I only have a hazy view of what the future holds past the next few weeks. Scary.
I made the decision and this is the way forward, it's time to remotivate and stop 'being a little bitch.'
Alright world, here I come.

I Need a Name.

2005-07-09T21:32:00.000+01:00

No stickers yet but it was dying to get it's photo on the web. You like?

Give me a name.

Fragile - handle with care.

2005-07-08T10:15:00.000+01:00

A very surreal last night of work.
I'm just posting to let you guys who were concerned know I'm grand. I live a fair distance from London, in fact I'm in Northern Ireland so I'm across the water from England. We're all feeling the reverberations over here and what family I have in London are safe and sound.

I went to work last night, not only with the London bombings in my head but with thoughts of a nearby RTA whose repercussions I would probably face when I entered the wards. It involved an overturned lorry and a car with a granny, mum and two young kids. The granny was confirmed dead immediately at the roadside and the rest involved were left practically physically unscathed but will definitely carry wounds with them for the rest of their lives - albeit of the mental sort.
A young mother who has lost her own mother and an extremely young lorry driver who has to carry with him the rest of his life the knowlege that he was responsible for a death that may have been avoidable not to mention a possible jail sentence to boot.

50 innocent lives, 700 citizens with needless injuries...for what reason?

And, as things seem to pass - I received a cardiac arrest call for a 78yr old lady on the ward who we have been treating for the past 2 weeks. She was an unwell lady but resuscitation brought back a heartbeat first and then eventually spontaneous respirations such that she lived for 2 hours longer than fated. Alive long enough for family make it to her bedside as she slipped away - 56 years married and holding the hand of her husband.

Dazed and confused and feeling a little subordinate as I left the hospital this morning.
Life is so fragile, in whatever circumstance.
We can be so easily broken.
The diseases self-inflicted by lifestyle or diseases inflicted by nature despite having the healthiest clean-living life of all.
The disease of tragedy wether it be mother natures will or those caused by our own inventions, the disease of speeding, dangerous driving, drink driving.
Finally, the worst of all types, the diseased minds of those who are capable of inflicting damage with the purpose of murder on innocent and fragile lives. Those minds who have no awareness of the sanctity of life nor have any respect for this belief despite the perverted reasons they try to justify their actions with.

I can't speak with enough venom as to how angry these minds make me feel. I have made a decision to spend the rest of my life fighting death and comforting the dying and yet there are actually living beings out there whose way of life dictates that they make the decision to flick the switch on thousands of lives. WHY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I need to go sleep now.

This Tagging Game

2005-07-06T17:47:00.000+01:00

Ok, let's do this. My top favourite tunes of all time.
This will be tough...

'Where the Streets Have No Name' - U2

'Through the Barricades' - Spandau Ballet

'Half the World Away' - Oasis

'Spies' - Coldplay

'1812 Overture' - Tchaikovsky

'Cannonball' - Damien Rice

'Smile like you mean it' - The Killers

'Penguin cafe' - Penguin Cafe Orchestra

'Oxygen' - Willy Mason

Ok, there's so much more but that will fulfil the tag for now.

Out.

Running late

2005-07-06T08:19:00.000+01:00

Ok,
Didn't make it out straight after work so got up and ran before my second night shift. I was groggy, tired and I have to say not up to speed but it was ok.
53.55min for 6.75 miles, not my fastest by any means but I got through it. It rained most of the way so I was glad of a raincoat and was refreshed by the ominous clouds and grey skies for miles and miles. ;)
I think I'm going to head to bed after I finish work today and do the same route again. It's going against the grain and logic of training but I don't feel logical after two nights on. All I can think is I need more run miles in and I can do it this evening.
Roll on weekend folks.

Happy 25th Anniversary.

2005-07-04T18:42:00.000+01:00

I know July 4th makes the rest of the world think of Independence day but I think of my wee parental unit Brege and Gerry.
Happy 25th anniversary mum and dad!! They tell me it's the first 25 that are most difficult after that it's a breeze (I blame the kids ;p ). Love you both loads and I've had the privelege of being present for 24 years of that marriage - you both are as solid as rocks. XXXXX

Starting Next Monday. ;)

2005-07-04T14:17:00.000+01:00

Sorry TBC, needed to use this title today.
Woke up this morning and the brick was so not happening, no excuses but I'll start next monday on the bricks.
I've an olympic tri coming up on the 30th of July so that's what I'm working towards. Instead of a cycle/run brick this morning I just did a 25 mile cycle. Out-and-back course to Buncrana Co.Donegal. It's absolutely beautiful weather today and as usual I forgot the camera.
Mental note to oneself - Need to start posting more pictures on my site of the beautiful places I encounter on my travels.
Managed the course in about 1hr 18minutes. I still haven't fitted the cyclo-computer up to my new bike yet...I need to get those wee cable stabiliser thingy majiggers. I'm not sure what paces I was hitting througout the ride but I guess that time averages ~19.25mph. Not bad. Now I have to wind down and go to bed for a few hours again as I'm hitting the wards at 8.30pm. Am going to try and do 7.5mile run after work tomorrow morning...no excuses!

On the Road again.

2005-07-03T18:52:00.000+01:00

I'm on the road again...
Well the theoretical road that's taking me in the right direction towards my goals if you know what I mean.
Phase 1 of the clean-out is over and I'll continue with phase 2 tomorrow since I'm not starting work till 8.30pm. I'm already feeling good about it.

I did a late training session today for a Sunday (4pm). I headed to the gym because the weather is doing that crazy Northern Irish thing of being really confused and shining one minute and then lashing with rain the next. It's tough choosing gear to run in when it's like this...a raincoat is too heavy for the glorious sun-beating moments and a tee-shirt alone can make you look like you're entering a WTS competition following the bouts of heavy horizontal rain. So the gym it was.
I did a 15minute warm-up on the cross trainer and heart rate never rose above 130. Then I hit the treadmill and decided on an interval set of sorts. I opted for 5 sets of 5 minute runs at 14km/hr followed by 3 minutes recovery at 8.0km/hr. It felt good and was tough at times, HR climbed or did that cardiac drift thing it can sometimes do so that by set 5 there were times I was hitting 183, but averaging 175. The recovery sets by HR would drop to about 145.
I did a nice five minute wind-down then on the treadmill and opted for some sit-ups and a good stretch for 20 minutes after this. All in all a good work out I think.
I'm planning on a brick early tomorrow morning to try and tire me out so I can sleep around 2ish that afternoon in prep for my first night of four at work.
Glad to be back on the road.

Chasing a Shadow

2005-07-02T18:48:00.000+01:00

I've noticed a recent interest in beginning anew amongst some of us in blogland, and I'm at the top of the pile.
This weekend is a going to be a time of renewal, rejuvenation and fresh starts. I will begin by clearing out the pit that I know as my bedroom, organising my files upon files of medical texts and sending all clothes I've grown out of (or have grown out of me) to a second hand shop.
I will then clean the numerous bikes I have on loan from various relatives and return them. I now have my very own speed machine. I NEED A NAME GUYS!! What will I call the love of my life?

I joined the roadies this morning for a 45 miler on the dream machine and was sure that as the cables lengthened the gears would be all over the place. Apart from a little difficulty getting on the big ring on a few occasions it was perfect, I can't fault it. I'm feeling a lot stronger than I did four weeks a go although my heads been up in the clouds I can't really remember what training I've done to achieve this newfound strength.
Strength or peace?
There were times on today's ride that the rolling hills, lakes and lush scenery faded to a blur and all I could see was the road and the shadow of a biker I was chasing. I found great peace on todays ride.

Change is happening, it's in the air everywhere has anyone noticed it? I'm sitting watching the Live8 concert and know there's a whole lot of reason to change for the better. Let's do it.

Stars

2005-07-02T18:46:00.000+01:00

"They say, 'A change is as good as a rest.' What, though, if what you really want is a rest from change? Recent changes have left you feeling anything but relaxed. Forthcoming challenges look similarly set to put you on edge. You are understandably apprehensive about a situation that seems to be spiralling out of control. You would far prefer a return to the comfort and familiarity of some old arrangement. You can't go back, but nor need you fear the future. Though change is not occurring in quite the way you would like it to, it is the right kind of change. And, despite your concern, it will yet bring you the right kind of a result. "

These are my stars for the week ahead according to the great Jon Cainer astrologist extraordinaire. Mad!!

CONGRATS BRO!

2005-07-01T16:22:00.000+01:00

Congratulations and celebrations to my wee bro who just passed his degree and is now a fully fledged primary school teacher. Woohoo!
Be prepared very prepared Mickey...it's tough but it will be worth it. Think of the summer breaks! Think of the thousands of little minds ready to be moulded and sculptured into magnificent little people. (Don't think of the paperwork, moaning parents or exam results.)
Welcome to the world of responsibility boyo but never lose your childish charm and your honest to goodness warmth and caring personality. I miss you loads so hurry home from the land of the Royal Family and join us soon in the Emerald Isle. Where you belong.

Love is a many splendid thing.

2005-06-30T15:23:00.000+01:00

I'm in love...
with a bike.
Hmmmm...and I was wondering what reasons could possibly make people think twice about my sanity these days.
My new bike has touched down and has had it's baptismal tour of one of many of my cycling routes this morning at 5am!! I'm getting there folks. It is a dream, it's light, aerodynamic and it fits.
I am writing with great caution here because some of the things I could be saying could be taken entirely the wrong way.
I actually did a training route that usually takes me at least over an hour in just under 55 minutes today and I wasn't even trying...that's how good it is. I'm just over the moon.
I will post a picture as soon as I can. Am working today till 9.30pm so it will prob be added at a later date.
Oh the joy.

Under P

2005-06-29T21:05:00.000+01:00

Goodness, it's been a while since I've had something to say. I'm not saying that by posting now I have anything to get off my chest, but the blog has been empty for two days and it has been impinging on my consciousness. So I'll write, even if it is for the sake of just writing.
I'm under P at the moment. It just doesn't feel like things are going well for me, professionally and in my private life. To pin-point where and when this began to happen is dificult because technically things are not really that different. Work is fine, life outside work is fine in fact there is no real difference in life at all, it's just that I don't feel like I'm ok.
There is one difference however...
I've fallen out of a certain way of living that I think has distanced me from some people. Let's cut to the chase here, friends or work colleagues.
These people are colleagues with whom I hold with high regard but somehow I'm unsure whether they were really ever friends in the first instance. Training has led me away from the 'inner circle', as well as my apparent abstinence from alcohol (a big cultural thing over here) and I don't really feel like I'm missed. But should I be?
I've made a decision and there has been a clean break and at the moment things are a little raw. There has been no choice but to force myself to start from the very beginning. That scares me immensely.
It's the only way if I'm to be the real me and be happy.
I only hope that this weird post does not distance any of you.

Latin

2005-06-26T19:45:00.000+01:00

'Noli nothis permittere te terere'

'Non est ad astra mollis e terris via' --Seneca

Weekend fine, party good...
something which occurred Friday night has broke something inside of me, shook me up, made me realise a few things about others qualities that for some time I've denied have existed. I was disappointed, angry, depressed and then disappointed at myself for feeling this way.
Suffice to say, I'm stronger for it and I've moved on because I handled everything the right way. I didn't react, allowed it to slide off like water over a duck's back and let the mental turmoil show only to myself (and part of it to mum) behind closed doors.
I don't have time for pettiness, or jealousy or rudeness. These qualities in people just downright suck and I can't and won't let them get me down in fact I will use them to make me fly higher.
Just wanted to get that out.

Party Night!!

2005-06-24T09:27:00.000+01:00

Last day of work before the weekend!
We're having a party tonight at the accomodation in the hospital to mark the last 11months of our baptism to medicine. Woohoo!
So my promise to myself about three drinks only is going to have to be slightly more flexible.
Hopefully I will survive to tell the tale and be able to get a long run in tomorrow.
Keep you posted.
;)

Weather conditions

2005-06-22T22:40:00.000+01:00

It feels like it's been a while since I last blogged. My last entry was during night duty at at time when a stillness and calmness had enveloped the hospital - this is a time I long for on the wards.
It normally comes around 4am, when the hustle bustle of the usual hospital day (lasting approx 16-20hours) have finally come to some kind of close. The peace can be quite dramatic and almost eery as the hospital sleeps to the hypnotic sounds of various monitors singing their own proof of life. To be awake and alert at this time feels almost like a privelege, to be part of unique feeling and way of being - to be in the lull of the storm.

I had a training swim yesterday evening in the sea with a couple of guys from the tri club. We've been down a few times now over the last couple of weeks as summer allows, Tuesday at 7pm is the time, Ned's Point the place.
It's been hot here the last couple of days. Remember how I said we didn't have humidity guys...well now we got it. The thing is it's been really overcast and dull with the ever increasing risk of rain threatening to open the heavens at any time...guess tuesday 7pm at Ned's point seemed like a good time.
It was light at first, that annoying drizzle that seems pretty harmless but really drenches you in a bout 10seconds, then it got a little harder and showed a little authority, then it stopped playing games and the heavens just burst open.
Yeah we still went for it.
So we normally swim out to our landmark of a little white cottage about 800m-1000m from our starting point. It was fine, we took it in our stride with fresh arms and legs it wasn't a bother. I began to pull away at the halfway mark because, well I do this due to the fact I was probably a duck/fish/some other maritime creature in a past life.
We eventually reached our point but we had all drifted somewhat further from land than we anticipated and swiftly made an executive decision to get our asses back closer to the coastline. After we reached the realms of safety we then decided to head back from whence we came.

This is when the real fun started. Rain got heavier, Wind not to be left out picked up and Sea, being the host, served up some pretty colossal waves of neptunian proportions. For every two strokes forward I was pushed one back. It was hard to tell where the water hitting/slapping your face, getting into your nose and ears and force feeding you to drink the bloody stuff, was coming from. Was it the sea or were the heavens to blame? I have a strong feeling they were both having a go.

What to do? Get stuck in is the answer. I get my head down, grit my teeth and force myself to find some bloody rhythm with this great uncooperative machine. I dip with the waves, breath every three and head up every now and then to find the horizon and my landmark home.
Dip, breath, look and see...dip, breath, look and see and it's working!
I feel strong, arms begin to protest a little but I'm like an automaton at this stage, no time to listen or obey any dissenters...we're going for broke here and nothing is stopping me.
I lose all track of time and the relative situations of my colleagues whom I assume are not to far away. My target comes into view and I've only 10 strokes(20) to go and then, as I approach the object of my goal, a lone figure standing on the pier comes into view. I just about make him out -watching me closely is a young boy. I reach him and stop, goggles off and look up to see what he's got to offer me at the conclusion of my battle...
"You swim strong missus...are you out there alone?"
"Wha?"
I look behind and see no sign of anyone...oh-oh.
But then my human lighthouse spots them and points out seven pairs of flapping independent upper limbs in the distant. They are struggling against the waves but are swimming in a definite forward progression.
"That's alright missus, there they are...I was beginning to think you were a bit mad."
Convinced the lads are indeed ok and so as not to demonstrate any further acts of insanity to this rather impressionable young fella I make my way to dry land and hop out. Wetsuit off, with some difficulty and jump into the back of the car and get warm clothes on....aaaaaahhhhhh! Stillness, calm, warmth, satisfaction at facing the beast head on and enveloping peace. Driving home in the safety of my car I thought...

"What better way to end the day than to be in the lull of the storm."

Just waking up.

2005-06-20T13:52:00.000+01:00

I've just woken up and am still fighting the 'drowsies' and trying to concentrate. Finished my three-night stint of night shifts and will be back in normal pattern tomorrow. I'm not writing too much on this post, will write perhaps a longer one later but I'm making this entry because I just read an awesome post by Wil. I'm just publicly saying thanks Wil because I can't believe how close our attitudes/philosophies lie and your post really strengthened me at a time I may be feeling a little weak. I could never in a million years capture what you were saying in the way you did but let it be known that you've probably voiced, in your own unique style, an undercurrent of beliefs that lies within many of us. How about another Ella Wheeler Wilcox?

"Two Kinds of People.
There are two kinds of people on earth to-day;
Just two kinds of people, no more I say.

Not the sinner and saint, for it's well understood
The good are half bad and the bad are half good.

Not the rich and the poor, for to rate a man's wealth,
You must first know the state of his conscience and health.

Not the humble and proud, for in life's little span,
Who puts on vain airs, is not counted a man.

Not the happy and sad, for the swift flying years
Bring each man his laughter end each man his tears.

No; the two kinds of people on earth I mean
Are the people who lift and the people who lean.

Wherever you go you will find the earth's masses
Are always divided in just these two classes.

And oddly enough, you will find, too, I ween,
There's only one lifter to twenty who lean.

In which class are you? Are you easing the load
Of overtaxed lifters who toil down the road?

Or are you a leaner who lets others bear
Your portion of labor and worry and care?”

--Ella Wheeler Wilcox.

I'm gonna try and ease the load.
:)

One down, two to go...well, nearly.

2005-06-18T06:41:00.000+01:00

Nearly over my first night of three...thank God. I've felt like such a dogsbody tonight, just running round following orders. Bloods on this person, antibiotics in another yada, yada, yada.
But I've only got 6 more weeks of being described and treated as a junior and then I get to do some ordering about...woohoo! I won't though...I'm not bossy by nature really.
I thereby solemnly swear that I'll remember what it was like to be at the bottom of the ladder in this great machine we know as the NHS (this is national health service in UK but you can call any hospital within it a national historic site if you so wish.)
No anecdotes to share as yet, the first night is usually a weird one...haphazard things to do, a few admissions to see etc and you just about get your bearings and it's over. Tomorrow(or tonight...that's always confusing) will be different, I know most of the patients now on the eight wards I'm covering, I know who the sickies are and I've an idea of what to expect.
So I just have to get through the next two and a half hours and then it's home, on the bike and a short run (the more I reinforce this, the more likely I'll do it.)
Right folks, that's me.

NIGHTS!!

2005-06-17T19:13:00.000+01:00

Donning my scrubs for the weekend.
On Nights this weekend which means three shifts, Fri, Sat and Sun night from 8.30pm to 9.30am.
I may use the blog to ventilate if things are going pretty shitty so be prepared.
Training and nutrition tend to go a little haywire on weekends like these so I'm gonna have to use all my willpower to break the habit of surviving the 13 hours by eating ward supply of chocolates. I've got grapes and pitta bread prepared in my trusty lunch cooler (sorry TBC!)and I'm taking a book with me because I'm gonna force myself to go for a half hour break... no matter if all hell is breaking loose.

Training? To be honest I've been bad this week. Not enough sessions and I'm a little annoyed at myself so I'd rather not delve into it blog-wise. The plan for the weekend is to head out on short bike rides after work with a 25minute run (tops) following this. Then I will hit the sack and wake up happy that I've already done my training session for the day. Next week, I am going to get my ass in gear and fulfil my potential as a tri-blogger (i.e have proper tri-related stuff to write about) and get out there and capture those moments!

My bike is still, at present, being born into this world. It needs one wee part that we're waiting for and hopefully should be ready by the middle of next week. Had a great conversation with my cousin today about training regimes and time trials etc etc. Check out his website, very specialised gear here but he knows his stuff and ships all over.
Rightyo, will prob post several more times over the weekend so I'll not be a stranger.
Happy tri-ing!
J

Double Trouble

2005-06-16T11:35:00.000+01:00

So excited, may be buying double trouble this weekend. My new car, pictured as above and hopefully my new bike (it's being made up in the factory as we speak!!) Will of course post pictures of them both when I've got them, I will however not be supplying a picture of my now dwindled bank account.

Tired.

2005-06-14T22:09:00.000+01:00

Work kinda sucked today folks. Had my 13 hour shift and didn't really stop long enough for tea so obviously I gorged on chocolates that seem to be in endless supply on every ward I go to.
Well I didn't exactly gorge but I ate enough to keep going till 9.30pm and felt bad and fat and worthless etc etc when I finally got my expanding ass out the door.
Wil, I think I'm gonna try for getting a bit leaner too over the next few weeks. I have exactly 7 weeks to the day until I up sticks and take up my new medical post at Daisy Hill hospital in Newry (bout two hours from here.) I think I'll aim for a little weight loss between now and then. So I'll post stats really quickly and hope nobody notices them.
Weight:145lbs, Height: 5'10", Waist:30", Hip: 35.5", Thigh:21", Bicep:11" Resting HR 49
Right I have no idea about body fat percentage cos I don't have calipers and any online caculator I use give me a different result (19%-30% range?!) I guess the goal would be to get down to under 140lbs, bring the waist size down a notch and perhaps the thigh slightly. Ideally I'd like to get the body fat percentage down to 15% minimum. (prob good idea to get it measured properly, will check it out at the gym.)
Plan to do this by trying the low GI food thing...which means...no chocolates!!! I could prob lose this weight very quickly if I stopped eating this energy dense food. It's a matter of winning these internal negotiations with myself.
Oh, and FYI, I lost the 5AM battle again this morning.
Personally I blame the rain and the depressing thought of having to do a 13 hour shift. Aggghhhhh!!!!!!! No one to blame but myself. Got it. Tomorrow's another day.

Lazy Days

2005-06-13T19:03:00.000+01:00

Alarm clock set for 5am this morning the plan was for a cycle...couldn't...no let me rephrase that...wouldn't get up.

Why is it that I'm full of good intentions the night before but when morning comes I have these ingenious arguments in my head convincing me that I don't really need to get up now, that time can always be made up by training this evening or tomorrow or next Monday?

Seriously, you should hear the internal conversations I have with myself in the morning. I'm this master negotiator, able to shelf the strongest of arguments aside at the drop of a hat. No one else could compare...I just don't stand a chance.

How I do it I don't know...y'see...it makes much more sense to get up at 5am and it can be done. I could use the time for the obvious - training. If I wasn't training or happened to do a shorter session than usual I could do some studying/reading. If I didn't feel like either of the above I could catch up on e-mail/correspondance/my blog etc etc. 5am blatantly makes all the sense in the world...apart from at 5am.

It's not like this is all a new thing to me either. Jaysus, I spent most of my childhood (not to mention most of my uni days) getting up at 5.15am to go swim in a pool.

What's changed? Well, maybe it's work...I've a full-time job now. To be honest that's irrelevant, in uni I was in college/hospital all day and also had a part-time job in a bar, not to mention a social life. Coach and the rest of the swimming team were there waiting during my swimming days...I guess it's much easier to get up when someone expects you to be there. Don't try that one...I wanted to be there. I never swam because other people wanted me to, I did it because I loved it, in fact most people thought I was a mentalist. Two extra hours in bed...what more can I say. Nothing, because that's not good enough. I might be able to convince myself with these arguments at 5am when my brain is malleable and hazy but not now, not today, not ever again.

Statement to oneself for future internal battles at 5AM

From now on, no more negotiating in the morning. Make a decision to get up and do it. If you don't want to get up then don't but let it be for the real reason... that you simply don't want to get up. Always remember, anything you make a habit will be hard to break. (See how this works both ways?)

Right, that's that then....bring on 5AM.

The Pits

2005-06-12T16:42:00.000+01:00

Above is an illustration of various sorts of evil in bottles. Note the inviting smiles, the friendly disposition of each cartoon and the the general warmth and sense of belonging this little sketch aims to portray.
Now, give yourself a slap and a wee check in with reality. Alcohol is evil!

No, I've not gone mad and no I'm not gonna start preaching about how the demon drink is the evil of mankind...I'm just hungover. Suffering at the hands of my own stupidity really. Was at a wedding last night and had a little too many gins I guess.

I have no idea what is wrong with me. I wasn't drunk last night, I didn't really drink that much but I am dying a death today. I feel like I've done ten rounds with Mike Tyson or completed a half IM, or conquered the Gap and all I've done is had a few gin and tonics! I feel so bad I may just forget about training today and that majorly pisses me off.

I used to drink a lot more as a student, hell I used to drink a lot more 4 months ago and it didn't take a beat out of me. This is different, this is what training does.

It makes you feel so good, so healthy, so pure and clean etc etc that the smallest unhealthy thing can push you right over the edge. I feel sluggish, tired and my brain is so foggy I'm having major difficulties composing this post (if you haven't noticed already.)

So...what to do? I don't want to feel like this again so do I...

"No drugs, but alcohol?

I'll have to be realistic...I'm never gonna be a complete T-totaller but I've made a pact as of today. No more than 3 acoholic beverages at any social gathering...there is absolutely no reason to drink any more than that.

Put that in your pipe and smoke it. (NB: Actually, please don't, smoking is bad for you.)

Mamore Gap

2005-06-11T12:46:00.000+01:00

The Gap

So today I head out on a training run by myself. Decided on going solo as the roadies are doing the Wicklow 200 tomorrow and I have no idea what their plan was today as regards training.
Went out with no real aim but to try and stay out for at least two hours. Legs were stiff, but the day was gorgeous and I soon came round, even though it took about 40 minutes.
So...pedaling away, enjoying the sun when the idea takes hold of me that I should get some kind of benefit out of this session. Why not make this a hill training session and head up into the back of beyond.
Great idea...so I make a quick mental note of my new route and head away from the main road into the real Donegal countryside.
Now the thing about the real Donegal countryside is, that every couple of miles or so you come a T-junction where whatever way you choose to go, you will ultimately arrive at the same destination. Now don't ask me how this works, it's all too complicated to explain in theory, it's better just to accept.
Accept the fact that Donegal aka "the back of beyond" is an alternate universe that sucks cyclists into it's unique way of functioning.
Anyways, the point here is, at these T-junctions there's always a hard way...and an easy way. Today I decided to be a hard nut and chose the path least travelled.

"Onwards to the legendary MAMORE GAP."

Nice windy road, just to add on those extra miles of torture.

"Puff, pant, puff, pant...nearly there, nearly there. OMG, I'm gonna go backwards."

Three quarters of the way up, my HR must be in the 200's (forgot my HRM, bad girl!) and I do indeed begin to go backwards. I've pulled out all the stops here, I'm on the wee ring, the smallest gear and I'm standing up and I'm still about to go backwards to my death.
My only company out here is sheep and they are, to say the least, a little bewildered at this solitary red-faced puffer, talking to herself about going backwards. Inevitably, I fall over, and my mission to conquer the Gap is abolished in one fell swoop.

"Damn!"
Ah well, I disconnect myself and turn around and look at the beautiful view. I only wish I had my own camera to take a picture... but believe you me...it's breathtaking. Photo's do not capture it at all, but these samples are ones I've borrowed from tourist pictures online.
So mission not accomplished but as I stand there taking in the view I shout at the top of my voice,

"I'LL BE BACK!!!!!"
Funnily enough, the resounding echo I expected didn't come back at me, but I still felt as if I'd made a mark on the surrounding hills (if not them...definitely the sheep).

Down the other side...Wheeeee!!

As I flew down the other side of the Gap all I could think to myself was,

" NEXT time I'm gonna be the King/Queen of the castle, not the dirty wee rascal I ended up being today. "

And, with that off I flew for another hour of hill cycling...every hill thereafter a breeze after my heroic attempts to get to the top of the world.

"Next time."

Weekly workout summary.

2005-06-10T10:44:00.000+01:00

View of River Foyle on a recent jogging expedition.

Right, I figure I've got to get my ass on the line and give at least some idea of what I've done this week since I've gone into no detail whatsoever in my last few posts.
'Focus J!'

Right begin with Sat AM (first day of hols)
Woke up this morning and decided I'd bite the bullet and go out with some roadies. Have been meaning to do it for weeks but...I'm shy! Plus I won our local triathlon 2 weeks ago on virtually no bike training... so it's time to get out there and see what I can really do! Turned up at 9am and they promptly told me that we were going to do 50 miles...ermmm...ok.
Head out at 9.15am and we're in Buncrana before I know it (this is a normal out and back point for me) ...how'd that happen. Continue on down the road and I'm cruising, albeit at the back of the pack but CRUISING!
20 miles on, some tough hills but I'm itching to move up the pack restrained only by my fear of crashing and burning and my damn forsaken eternal shyness.
Heck, competitive streak overrules and I edge up on the outside, make a bit of convo and then am urged to lead out. LEAD OUT!!! and I do... and it's exhilarating with 10 roadies behind me. We come up over the crest of the hill and the air is electric, I can feel the tension and I know where we want to go...there's only one way to go....down.
35mph and above we fly down this hill into a flatter (but still lumpy) course but the pace doesn't let up. Five miles later and it's me and another three in a pack of four...still flying.
A huge wolf whistle calls us back to sanity and we're scolded by an older member of the crew who highlights how Sat morning is a club ride and pace needs to come back to normal. Oops. We come back to earth and I relent my place at the start of the pack to somewhere in the middle but was glad of the opportunity to be up there.
I was called up to the front a few more times on that 50miler and enjoyed learning all about the tactics, changing rules and general politics of team cycling. It made for a far more interesting ride than my go solo sessions. By mile 45 my legs were pretty shot though and I was punishing them for forgetting to bring out sustenance in the shape of a banana. Moved into autopilot for the last five miles and we made it home in three hours. Not bad for a club ride...eh.

SUN AM
No cycling for me this morning, Body pump class instead. Haven't done this in a wee while so thought I'd check it out. Suffice to say hammies and quads aren't speaking to me this evening. Sorry guys.

MON AM.
To make up with my limbs I decided to take them out on a 7.5mile loosen up run. Kept the heart rate below 150 and just enjoyed the scenery. It was a gorgeous day in Derry today and the views running along the river of the city were great. Finished up in just over an hour and got a good 20 minute stretch in afterwards.

MON PM
Masters swim session. Yes, yes I know I'm not a master but I got friends in all different places.
The session was 30×100m all off 1.45. First ten with pullbuoy, second 10 kick with fins and final ten swim. Was fine but I think our lane was a little bored by the time we got to the third set. We decided to do these 10 at a pace of 1.20 or better and ended up doing them on 1.15s which was quite good me thinks.

TUES AM
Hit the gym today again. Trying to take advantage of recent(and expensive) membership. On the cross trainer for about 60 minutes. Real problem with dripping of sweat on these things. Anyone else have problems? Does my head in...there's plenty of girls in there who look perfect after being on these things yet I look like I've just gone for a swim. Anyways it's for a greater purpose. Did a 20 minute core workout following and then hit the showers.

TUES PM
First sea swim of the season. Swam at a fairly hard pace towards our landmark of a white cottage (approx 750m) and then did a few surges in and out of the water with the guys. Fast into the shore (approx 50m) and then run out onto the beach and then back in and swim a further 50m out again. We then headed back to the harbour against the tide this time. Me and another guy showed some real authority swimming back. Well, I wasn't gonna let him beat me!
Me and the same guy then headed out for a easy 25 minute run following the sea swim. Felt very chilled out on the drive home. (+hungry)

WED AM
Gym session again. 10 minutes on the cross trainer and then 40 minutes on the treadmill at 12km/hr pace. Going to try and bring this pace up gradually over next few weeks. Finished with another core session.

THUR PM
Triathlon club swimming session. 1750m warm up and then 8×100m all out sprint off 3 minutes.
The pool was unbelievably choppy this evening. Felt like I was swimming in the sea. Things calmed down after the warm-up for the 8×100's.
WU - 600m (200m drill, 200m kick, 200 swim)
4×50m (25m drill, 25m swim) off 1.00min
4×50m (25m kick, 25m swim) off 1.00min
2×(3×100m) descending 1-3 off 1.30min
6×50m build off 1.00min (I only did three cos my cap ripped in the middle of this)
MAIN SET 8×100m freestyle FLAT OUT (oooohhhhhh!)
My times were as follows (1) 1.10 (2) 1.11 (3) 1.12 (4) 1.13....you seeing a trend here?
(5) 1.13 (6) 1.13 (7) 1.14 (8) 1.11
Tough, I always get a little knock on these sets because my training is so different from what it was when I was competively swimming. I was knocking out 1.04-1.06's in sets like these during my swimming days. I've got to put things in perspective though. I'm training for triathlons now, not 100m sprints.
Finished off with a 30 minute jog following the session.

FRI
That's today...haven't done anything yet...
it's my birthday today. Going shopping and then prob hit the gym for a spinning class with some core work. Then am going out to dinner with the folks since I'm home for once on my birthday.

Little Bro

2005-06-09T12:49:00.000+01:00

So, it's my birthday tomorrow...tender age of 24 'an all and I get this e-mail from my brother. It's a birthday card of sorts I suppose animated with his own weird sense of humour. Thought I'd just share.

"Jenny I found this and decided that it would be perfect to send you on your approaching 24th birthday. Its just some life advice which I’ve edited with my own contributions to advice originally written by somebody who has obviously overdosed on happy pills. Anyway hope you enjoy it and have a great birthday.

Think about this... You may not realize it, but it's 100% true.
'Percentages obviously were not a strong point for this eejit at school.'

1. At least 2 people in this world love you so much they would die for you. 'Which is kind of scary cause if they'd die for you what else would they do? Probably something quite scary and stalker like.'

2. At least 15 people in this world love you in some way. 'They're probably just as many that hate you in some way too.'

3. The only reason anyone would ever hate you is because they want to be just like you. 'Or because you're an annoying eejit who generally gets on their nerves'

4. A smile from you can bring happiness to anyone, even if they don't like you. 'Yeah once they see your dental hygiene they'll feel more secure about your life prospects being null and void. Dental hygiene can mean everything.'

5. Every night, SOMEONE thinks about you before they go to sleep. 'Don't even try to think in what context they are thinking about you, might be nasty and perverse.'

6. You mean the world to someone. 'Yeah and what’s wrong with meaning the solar system or galaxy to someone instead of the poxy world. This means they think of you as corrupt and over populated with more than three wars occurring at any one time and poverty and death on the increase due over exploitation of the poor South by the rich North.'

7. If not for you, someone may not be living. 'Life is a drag and then you die a great philosopher once said prior to attempting suicide, so maybe you didn’t do them a favour. How morbid can you get.'

8. You are special and unique. 'That's something that you tell yourself before realising that you're not.'

9. Someone that you don't even know exists, loves you. 'How?'

10. When you make the biggest mistake ever, something good comes from it. 'Poncey BS.'

11. When you think the world has turned its back on you, take a look: you most likely turned your back on the world. 'I've tried that, the world's just too big to do it. You'd have to go into outer space and turn your back on the world properly otherwise you'd only be turning your back on a small portion of it.'

12. When you think you have no chance of getting what you want, you probably won't get it, but if you believe in yourself, probably, sooner or later, you will get it. 'That's just a flipping tongue twister... that contradicts itself twice'

13. Always remember the compliments you received. Forget about the rude remarks. 'With the excessive use of sarcasm in modern society that can get quite difficult to do-good luck.'

14. Always tell someone how you feel about them; you will feel much better when they know. 'oh no... bad idea - you're bound to tell someone how much you detest them and, believe you me, reactions can vary from the violent to a seething under current of hatred.'

15. If you have a great friend, take the time to let them know that they are great. 'Rightyo, most of my friends think they're great any way, who am I to inflate their already over extended ego's.'

Now send this to 200 people within the next 2.1 seconds or you'll be eaten alive by a mob of angry goats. If you do manage to send this to 200 people in the next 2.1 seconds- which to be fair is pretty impossible- nothing good will happen as its a load of shite. You'll probably develop high blood pressure and be messed up for the rest of your life as only a really gullible person would believe that an angry mob of goats would be around in the first place to eat you alive.
Goats aren’t even carnivorous, in fact the saying that 'goats would eat almost anything' is just a myth. Goats tend to eat weeds and grasses and are the main reason for soil erosion in many eastern countries where the goat is the main driving force behind the economy. The only thing you'll get is a lot of angry replies from 200 friends (if you have that many - which again is unlikely.)
Come to think of it if you did manage to send this to lots of people within 2.1 seconds you wouldn’t have even read this part yet until now, so I guess you'd be pretty pissed with the person that sent it to you.
To finish, the person that sent this to you would be pretty smug and would most probably have a very low opinion of you due to your very low intelligence.
Have a nice Day,
Yours (smuggly) Michael "

Hmmmmm..... I'm sorry that e-mail has just completely wiped my brain clean. I'm unable to post anything of any substance today at all. Thanks for that Mike. :-p

Holiday blues

2005-06-08T18:21:00.000+01:00

I'm half way through my week off work and I am already dreading going back. That can't be healthy.
I guess it's just really nice not having to go into the hospital for more than 3 days and have the time to do normal stuff. Shopping, make a hair appointment, exercise, catch up in reading.
Oh the world of putting up drips, resiting cannulas, taking blood, clerking in patients, ordering investigations, answering that damn pager...surely there's more to life.
I hate feeling like this but this always happens me at this time of year. I get caught up in training and two ambitions clash head to head. My ambition of becoming a physician and that of being an athlete. I know I can do each of these things well, but can I do both of these things well. I guess it's very early days yet and only time will tell what direction I'm best suited to gravitate towards. Perhaps there's a bright future with both prospects involved.
I'm only a junior doctor and yes...there is more to life.

Way too much time

2005-06-07T15:39:00.000+01:00

"Me on my new bike...hopefully"
I'm off work this week, so obviously I've got way too much time on my hands. (Magpies?!)
I'm actually using it as a high volume training week while the time is available. So far so good- have managed a three hour cycle, 2 gym sessions, one pool swim and a sea swim as well as an hour-long run and it's only Tuesday. This is good for me. While I should have perhaps got up a little earlier than nine am this morning I still have another five days to work with and propose to myself from now on that I get up at 5.45am as arranged. There we are, it's in writing now so I can't go back on it.

Let me clarify further why I devoted a whole post to my beliefs on magpies. I originally did not intend to do this, however admittedly I went off on a tangent and this folks is something you will have to get used to.

I received three pieces of good news yesterday. Firstly, I found out that come August 3rd when I have to up ship and leave for Newry to work for six months I will be working with at least two people I get on very well with and am delighted to be doing so.

The thing about working as a doctor is that although there is good job security, in that you're guaranteed a job, there's not really good 'settle down' security for the first few years. In medicine our rotations change usually six monthly so you can be 'up-shipping' to new abodes and places at least twice a year. Newry is a little daunting for me because I've never been there and it's greater than 2 hours travel away from 'home home' where I was lucky enough to secure a job throughout my first year of work.
However chin up, it will definitely be an adventure and I know that there's great countryside out there so there's bound to be some great cycle/jogging routes.

Second piece of good news. My little bro, who is at this minute in Carlisle learning the tricks and trades of being a teacher is doing incredibly well and is definitely on the way to graduating. We've all got our fingers crossed for him over here and he has just two more hurdles before he gains the title of 'Mister' Cossy.

Third piece of news and probably by far the best. I have been waiting since February for a new bike. Now this isn't any old bike, this is the bike of my dreams and it touched down in Derry yesterday. As we speak it is being custom built with tlc for moi. Or it better be.
My cousin has a very reputable bike store and has recently decided to manufacture his own brand. He of course persuaded me to wait for one of these bikes because in doing so I wouldn't be disappointed. The delay in getting it has been agony but due to problems shipping the frames from Italy and spray-painting and other complications it didn't get to Eire until yesterday. But it will be worth the wait...I just know it.

So there we have it, these are the reasons for my feeling lucky yesterday.

Lucky

2005-06-07T10:20:00.000+01:00

'Lucky' captured by Moi.

Ever hear the childrens nursery rhyme
"One for sorrow, two for joy, three for a girl, four for a boy...five for silver, six for gold and seven for a secret never to be told."

Since my own childhood I have almost always associated this rhyme with the number of magpies I might come across, or rather the number of magpies who might come across me.
If one solitary magpie swooped down to visit and just happened to be in my line of vision there were quite a number of gimmicks used to try and avert the subsequent bad luck that was bound to ensue.

DO NOT BLINK. Stare out the beggar until it flies away, but whatever you do don't blink. Then the 'curse' is lifted.
Greet the majestic bird in the most welcoming voice you can muster (don't show fear). "Morning Mr Magpie, where's your friend today" at this point hopefully another magpie will swoop down and join 'Mr Magpie' and again you'll be saved.
Quickly tell your friend or, if you're bold enough, the nearest available person "Look there's a magpie". Once they too see the magpie the threat of it burdening you with it's bad luck is lifted, or at least reduced.

This sound familiar to anyone, or not?

At this point you're probably asking yourself why I'm blabbering on about Magpies and will this post ever come to some kind of point.

I do have a point, worry not.

Somewhere along the way the nursery rhyme, the playground myth, just evapourated and 'Mr Magpie' was no longer a harbinger of bad luck but in a turnaround of events became a symbol of good things. Why?

I'm not exactly sure, but a few things spring to mind. Firstly, I spent the best part of my later childhood years in a swimming pool. Competitions were nearly every other weekend and were usually in Belfast, 90 minutes from where we lived. Towards the end of this swimming career my Mum started driving me to these competitions. We would hit the road at all hours of the morning to get there in time and as we made the drive my mum would count the number of magpies we'd encounter on the way.

"We've seen six magpies on the way up today Jenny, that's great luck...maybe it means six medals."

It didn't matter to her that we had seen six solitary magpies, by themselves on six different occasions. If I'd thought hard enough about the implications of seeing six single birds on the way to Belfast before a competition I might have completely psyched myself out. "Six times the trouble." But, I didn't. It was my mums rule, and I believed her...and of course I went up to Belfast more times than I can remember and kicked butt.

Secondly, these gorgeous black and white creatures have always intrigued me. They're confident without being too cocky, they're rebellious without being too irritating and they are beautiful, unique birds.

I think the defining point came when I discovered that the only bad omen brought forth in finding one of these birds was that in finding one dead. I was in my final year of school and a friend and I came across a beautiful magpie on a path by the river near the school. It lay there, one wing outstretched and the other folded over it's body, unscathed and perfect but, one thing was sure, it had definitely left the land of the living. I was a little spooked, and I get the impression my companion felt the same way so we walked on, but I couldn't shake the feeling seeing that bird had evoked in me. "One for sorrow..."

What follows is more than likely a coincidental set of events but unfortunately it's not easy to make the mind isolate them as if they were never in some way connected.

Our friend, a friend of my walking companion and myself, died tragically a few days following the vision of the magpie. Suffice to say I never thought of a magpie alone, alive and kicking as bad luck again. In fact, sometimes I think of this friend when one appears. Its her way of saying she's still watching out for us, struggling away down here on earth.

So there you go. My story about magpies.

I captured Lucky on camera yesterday, a frequent visitor to my parents back garden. He sometimes brings a friend, sometimes several but most of the times he's alone. He swoops in and has a seat by the edge of our pond, I greet him and he acknowledges but won't stay, he's too suave for that. He flies to his place on the fence and with a cheeky glint in his eyes takes off into the next garden...what's luck got to do with it?

Got to Begin Somewhere.

2005-06-05T19:33:00.000+01:00

Well, this is it. My first real posting. I've had the web page for about a week but was messing about with templates for ages trying to make this page my own. As you see I haven't really had much success. This picture, which I've edited, was to be my title but no matter how hard I tried to understand CSS and html or whatever you call it, I couldn't get it in the position I wanted to at all. So I'm just posting it as one of my blogs. Hopefully as time goes on I will begin understanding all this melarkey but for now I'm glad just to be up and started.

The quote above originates from Seneca 1AD, philosopher, playwright and orator. That's all I really know about that. I have a bit of a thing for quotes and motivational passages as you're sure to find out. Part of the reason for me even considering keeping a blog is to motivate myself to focus on my own life goals...yada, yada, yada.

I'll not go into too much detail at the moment, better to let things unfold as we go along.