itscelialice

[itscelialice]

Been quiet on here for a while. Really, I’ve been ramping up the training well... cycling and home work outs.

But, once again, the universe has decided for me.

Ironman 70.3 will be held May 2022.

My new plan: keep up the training but not so strictly. I’ll ease the pressure on myself but I know have enough time to change my goal.

Original goal: to finish

New goal: finish with a good time!

Let’s go!

[itscelialice]

14/05/2021

3 positive things for Friday

- It was the first day in two weeks where I felt good again running. I didn’t feel like I was dragging deadweight along. I felt good!

- It was a beautiful clear morning on the lake.

- I was out early enough so I had enough time to enjoy coffee and breakfast on the balcony before starting work.

Here’s to the weekend and more masked running!

[itscelialice]

12/05/2021

It’s been a while since I posted on here. Once again, I had a stomach bug, this time I didn’t put of the doctors (well, my friend thankfully rang up and booked my appointment for me) and I got some medicines.

So, I’ve had a very chilled week on the training front. And much to everyone’s surprise, I’ve hated it.

Yesterday I started to feel better and I trained again. I did a slow lake cycle followed by a very slow and sluggish 2km run. I didn’t feel great running, more like a turtle swimming through mud...

I then joined my gyms 6pm online zoom work out and felt pretty good during it - mainly because I had missed training CrossFit so much and it was nice to be back! My snail paced 2km from earlier was out of my mind...

So with that, alarm was set for 5:30am and I ran 8km this morning. My pace wasn’t great, it was hot, humid, mask on face and police were out stopping groups. But, the KMs got on the legs and I’m hoping that this kick starts my training schedule again! Let’s find out...

I had a plan to complete the distance of the Ironman this Saturday along with some very supportive friends. However, due to being off sick this week a new proposed date is Sunday 23rd.

Fingers crossed swimming pools stay open and the stomach bug is gone for good.

[itscelialice]

07/05/2021

Hurdles & Obstacles continued ted:

So, it’s been a while since I posted. After hearing the news that the Ironman 70.3 has been yet again postponed due to new cases of covid in Việt Nam, I took a few days off training.

This was actually due to the fact that I was sick again with a stomach bug and forced to rest.

I started training again yesterday with a home work out due to gyms being closed.

Honestly, I’ve lost quite a lot of motivation. I went for a 10km run today and it was the first 10km since the marathon. My body felt slow, tired and like I was dragging myself along. I think because I’ve not been eating a lot and I’ve lost a lot of hydration the past week, I need to focus on coming back slowly to build up my strength again. I do find this frustrating as I feel weak, I feel like I’m back to square one but I need to remember rest is always best!!

Hopefully, I’ll be back to myself in the coming days!

For now, stay present, stay grateful 😍 and keep on running! Even if it’s turtle pace!

[itscelialice]

02/05/2021

After recently receiving the information that the iron man 70.3 Việt Nam, has once again been postpone due to suspected cases of COVID-19, I have spent the last two days to rest, re cooperate and eat. This is lẩu ếch, 🐸.

Monday tomorrow - back to work and back to training. I still have the plan to go to Da Nang next weekend and with my friends, we will still complete the distances for the race however, maybe we will add in a few coconut stops and lazy transitions!

That’s if all is still safe ✌🏼.

These are times, where, we can stay grateful for still being able to train and still having hope for races to resume at a later date.

[itscelialice]

The smile of someone who is feeling recovered, bug free and ready to train for the last week!

[itscelialice]

29.04.2021

Obstacles come in different shapes and sizes.

I was feeling strong Sunday/Monday after the marathon.  Then Tuesday came and hit me with a nasty 24 hour stomach bug. I was mid pull-up practice in the gym when the hot/cold sweats started and I had to make a dash for it home.

This totally messed up my training plans for Wednesday as I was aiming to get a long run in but instead, I spent the day in bed. But, maybe, this was a sign that my body needed rest from the marathon as I hadn’t actually given myself a full rest day.  If you don’t know by now, I do not like when my plans have to change but this is something that I am trying to work on, being more flexible and open to sudden, unexpected adjustments.

I woke up on Thursday and felt back to myself.  I went to the gym to train, this work out included a lot of cardio, so, I then decided to cut my run short and just ran 5km then went for a steady cycle around the lake/streets of Hanoi. 

I’m not sure my training plan for the next few days as it is a holiday in Vietnam, so I might take this time to focus on working out in the gym and taking it a little bit easier before going into my version of taper mode next week. 

[itscelialice]

27.04.2021

Tuesday, I am off work this week for April holidays.

This morning, I went back to the gym and it felt so good to be back! My legs were still a little bit tired from the marathon but it was just nice to be moving again. I love mixing up all the cardio I do with gym sessions as it keeps me entertained and I always feel great afterwards.

Yesterday, I attempted some triathlon training however, the rain/thunder/lightening caught me and I had to abandon my cycle 15km in and turn around.  Once I got home the rain had stopped and I went for a 8km run to practice running on tired legs. In hindsight, I probably should have rested as for the rest of the day, I was a broken person. Still considering all of this, my pace wasn’t as bad as I was expecting when I checked my Strava at the end.

I went to get my nails done in the afternoon, which, was slightly embarrassing given the state my toes were in. But, using the rest of the day to rest was what I needed and I felt fresh this morning after a long sleep.

I am thinking about getting out for a 50km cycle this afternoon.  My original plan was 70km but I think that is a little ambitious.

Then, the rest of the week my plan will be working out in the gym and some more brick training.  Also, I am training to find the right balance of fuel for cycling and running. Today, I will try 2 scoops of tailwind for a 2 hour cycle as I plan to eat something while cycling in the race to give time to digest before going into the run.  

I don’t like running while eating, and one or two gels is all my body can handle on race days.  I also don’t want the mistake of choking on half a protein bar while running which happened in Moc Chau.  It was followed by being very low on water, and mentally I was not in a good place, thinking I would pass out if I drank anymore electrolytes, so I proceeded to run while coughing trying not to stop as my moto my completing trail runs is: do not stop moving, ever.  Looking back on the mental struggles of the marathon always make me realise how strong our minds and bodies really are.

Not being at work this week means that I won’t swim until next week, but, in my mind, I just want to complete the swim.  Even if, I train my speed I don’t think I would be able to knock that much time off so for me, the swim is more getting over the waves and finishing it. And not being shit scared when seaweed wraps around my leg. 

[itscelialice]

24.04.2021

Happy birthday Mother Goose!

Today, I did it, I ran Mọc Cháu marathon!

It was hot. It was long. It was tough.

But, the ankle held up and surprisingly feels ok. And I knocked 28 minutes off from last years time (which was held in January) coming in at 7 hours 10 minutes. I came 11th in females, 3rd in my ages group and 37th overall! Not too bad...

Now, time to enjoy some wine! Before the training kick starts again on Monday!

[itscelialice]

23.04.2021

Moc Chau trail run preparation.

I have spent the last few days off my feet. Arrived in Moc Chau this morning, the excitement of being here, getting the kit ready, drinking pre race pocari sweat has confirmed my decision that I will run.

My game plan is to try run, if the ankles hurts, I’ll stop... so, I say.

Going to enjoy - pre race dinner of chicken and salmon with my friends, Holly and Natalia then hope that all good things come to us tomorrow!

With the Montepulcino waiting for us after!

Có lên!

[itscelialice]

22.04.2021

Still resting.

Two days to go before Moc Chau Trail Marathon. Praying that these 3 days off my feet will reduce the swelling so I’ll be ready for Saturday.

Still having a mental battle in my head that rest is best. Slowly believing it. I am trying to enjoy and make the most of the recovery time. As, I know, after my ankle is recovered it’ll be all teams go, again...

I read an interesting instagram post about injuries which resonated with me lot:

First, be sad.

Second, plan and focus on recovery. Enjoy this time.

Third, get better and let the excitement to train again kick in.

I spent a day in phase one. I think I’m doing alright in phase two and definitely excited to get myself on the trails on Saturday!!

Plan for today: rest and ice and stretch.

[itscelialice]

21.04.2021

Let’s talk about rest.

The one word/thing, I know I should do more of, but, I really struggle with it.

I don’t know why, maybe a mental block, but, I feel that it will set me back even though I’ve read the science, I know that I should, I know I must but it isn’t until times of injury or exhaustion that I actually listen.

This is what has happened, it is 3 days before Moc Chau Trail Marathon.   My left ankle had a niggle, I proceeded to run yesterday and finally last night, I cancelled the gym session after seeing the high amount of burpee box jumps, and focused on stretching instead.

So, my day off plan to cycle 70km and run 16km has been cancelled.  This took a lot for me, I have spent the morning having treatment on my ankle, it is now bandaged up, rested and iced.  

My mind does not cope well with the sudden change in training plan, so to make myself feel better, I have planned in a stretching session later this evening and I will focus on yoga on the build up to Saturday’s marathon.

Forced tapering has happened.

[itscelialice]

The power of believing.

Grateful for this!

[itscelialice]

20.04.2021

Obstacles.

Yesterday, I was presented with a few obstacles.

Firstly, my left ankle began to swell last night, me being be, continued to train last night and ran this morning.  It felt fine while running and it feels more like a niggle than anything serious.  Currently in a mental battle of should I rest, or should I keep training? I had a plan to do some serious training tomorrow as it is King Hung’s birthday and I have the day off work. I wanted to train a long cycle straight into a run but depending on how the ankle is later today, I may very very very reluctantly re adjust.  

Obstacle số hai, the organisers of Vietnam 70.3 Iron Man have told me that I can no longer change from a team to a solo.

Hmmmm, official Iron Man website says that I can. 

I think I can. 

I can. 

But, they gave me a deadline of 23:59 on the 19th April to sign up a runner to my team or I can no longer participate. 

Praying at registration on race day, they will allow me to be a solo when I announce that my runner is either ‘sick’ or ‘stuck in Hanoi’.

Wish me luck!

[itscelialice]

19.04.2021

5:05am alarm went off. Then, I went straight back to sleep. I’ve changed my routine a little and decided to start running in the mornings and training at the gym in the evenings.

I find I have a lot more motivation to run before work than after. Also, having to book the gym makes it a lot easier to go straight from work.

However, this Monday, my legs, my body did not want to wake up for the fast 5km I had originally planned.

Looking back on my training notes, mentally I wasn’t invested in this Monday morning session, already adding a question mark next to it.

I’m also enjoying having slower mornings at home, drinking coffee, writing my journal before hopping on the bicycle for the morning commute.

[itscelialice]

18.04.2021

It’s Sunday morning. We’ve been asked to work. So, when my friend suggested we run there, obviously I said yes!

It was my first run training with tailwind endurance fuel and I liked it. Felt it kept me going and didn’t sit sickly in my stomach. I will continue using it, yey.

Next weekend, I will be running a trail marathon in Moc Chau. I plan to use this next week and weekend as mind and distance training for the Ironman 70.3.

Có lên!