Hitting the Gym

I hit the gym today. I forgot how much I enjoyed it. Lifting weights, going heavy, watching my muscles work in the mirror. I love the shaking afterwards when I’ve worked just a little bit too hard. 

I forgot for a while what it was to train just for the satisfaction. 

A friend at work today asked what I’m training for now and I didn’t have an answer. Yes, I’ve a half marathon coming up but that wasn’t the reason behind my gym visit. 

Once upon a time I used to go to the gym on a daily basis, for an hour sometimes too. My life revolved around it. It did help that the gym was next door to my work and I didn’t commute three hours a day. 

I loved working out for the sake of working out. 

There were no marathons to run or triathlons to do. No new races to build my speed or endurance. It was just training for the pure enjoyment of it. 

Lately, I haven’t been sleeping well. I wake up tired regardless of the hours I sleep. My back hurts. My posture is suffering. I feel the roundness of my tummy expanding. And my confidence is plummeting. I’m not enjoying much of anything and all the goals I’ve set for myself are disintegrating. 

A lack of regular training is to blame. I’m not me without a good workout. 

Since I’m paying for a gym membership I need to use plus it’s winter and heading outdoors during the weekdays when it’s cold and dark is not very enticing. So, the plan is Monday and Wednesday afternoons at the gym. 

Two days a week. No excuses. 

Jet Lag

Jet lag. Oh what a feeling.

I can't stand it.

I love flying, traveling and moving through time zones. I really do.

Then I have to return home.

I've found that it's the journey home that gets me. It takes days to recover. Nights to get my body in sync with the right time zone. I want to sleep through the day and function during the night. Not a good way to be when you have to work 8:30 to 5.

I do recall what does help. Unfortunately, this time around I didn't think about it much.

Flying in at 1am and not getting to bed till after 3am is bound to end in disaster. Especially if you don't set an alarm clock to wake at a decent hour. I forgot the alarm and slept till 3pm.

Sunday night I couldn't sleep at all. With Monday off I spent the morning at the dentist's then had a three hour nap which meant little sleep Monday night.

This morning I was up before 4am. I was fine in the morning but by lunchtime I was falling apart. With heavy bags under my eyes that even make up didn't cover and a blurry mind I persevered till 5pm. After getting home, eating dinner and showering, I'm off to bed. It's just before 8pm. Fingers crossed I'm back to normal tomorrow.

* Next time I'll be taking three full days before going back to work.
* Setting an alarm clock is a must to get the body back to the right time zone.
* Eating light and drinking plenty of water on the plane to stay hydrated helps.
* Getting in a light workout or just going for a run can reenergise (but get some sleep first)
* Relax and don't plan too much (we had dinner plans the past two nights which only amplified the exhaustion) 

I’d like to go for a run. It’s raining outside. I’m not going to go for a run. 

It’s 5am and I can’t sleep except that it feels like 3am because it’s dark outside and I only just got to bed four hours ago. 

I’d like to run but I’m funny like that - if it’s raining or dark then it probably isn’t going to happen. That’s probably why a treadmill at home would be a great idea. Unfortunately, space wise it’s impossible at the moment.

Excuses I know. I’ll get better. Eight weeks till the half marathon. The next eight weeks are going to be good. I’m going to focus on form and time rather than speed. Build strength and better endurance. 

XXIII Bieg Konstytucji (Constitution Day Run)

Taking cover from the rain

All ready to race

Another 5km run behind us. The weather didn’t look inviting this morning, grey skies, rain padded down the window pane and the puddles on the streets just kept expanding with the incoming rain. We ran anyway. Thankfully our friends had picked up our race packs the day before so we had no excuse not to run but believe me the majority of me was saying ‘Stay home, don’t run today.’

We ran anyway. 

It was hard. I won’t lie. It was a tough run today. Only 5km but it hurt. Each kilometre hurt. My lungs felt as if they were on fire. My legs heavier than usual. Ok, so it didn’t help that I hadn’t run for two weeks, since the Orlen 10km run two Sundays ago. I did do a couple local aerobics classes but unfortunately didn’t make up for not running. 

The good news, I feel I’m getting my motivation back. I want to start running regularly. I want to race regularly. I want to get back to the gym and lift heavy. I want to try new activities. Get back to swimming. Give crossfit a go. Start spinning classes again and do some yoga. I want to do it all and start feeling good again.

I love the medals they give out in Poland!

Time: 26:30

Bizarrely an Aussie travelling to Warsaw for a couple of days
stopped to offer to take this picture, they were from
the same town as us too! It really is a small world

Even the Premier of Poland, Donald Tusk ran today
a good way to set an example

The Big 3-0

Wow. I made it. 

30. 

Honestly, I had my doubts. I remember a good fifteen years ago that my 30s were so far away. But they crept up quicker than I could have imagined. I recall my high school graduation like it was yesterday, going to uni lectures, dropping out, working places, travelling, falling in and out of love and in love again, and then boom, I’m 30. 

I had big dreams in my twenties. I was a little ignorant and naive to the facts of life. I made mistakes. But that’s all a part of growing up. 

The 20s rounded me into the person I am today. There were good times - buying and selling my unit near the beach, Europe, living in Poland, teaching English in Warsaw, drinking too much, meeting Jarek, finish a bachelors and masters degree, making new friends, doing a 70.3 Ironman, re-igniting my passion for running, being introduced to triathlon, realising what is important in my life and so much more. 

There were not so good times too but no point in dwelling on the negative. That's just life, without the good and bad we'd be a bit two dimensional.

Thanks for a great decade of learning and growing. Thank you to all the wonderful people in my life, my family and friends, my darling dog Kola. I wouldn’t be who I am today without you in my life.

Bring on the dirty 30s, to the new experiences, more running and tri-ing, more quality time with Jarek, a growing family, spending more time with family and friends, good health, prosperity, travel and great times. 

Cheers *clink* 

Wordless Wednesday - Orlen Warsaw Marathon 10km

First race this year

Happy Tuesday

So, Easter is over. I don't know about you but I overindulged the past few days. I'm not talking chocolate either. Just food in general.

Breakfast that stretched to lunch. Snacks in the afternoon. Followed by dinner that probably wasn't necessary. Several bowls of soup. Is it weird that I binge on soup? Whenever we have Zurek (white borscht) or Beetroot Soup (red borscht), which is generally only at Easter and Christmas, I end up helping myself to three or four servings in one sitting.

I was supposed to run yesterday but instead I was stuck in bed most of the day with a head cold. After all day in air-conditioned office today I'm back to feeling congested, and frustrated I couldn't do my planned run. Instead I've pushed it to tomorrow or Thursday. If I rest, I'll recover quicker and hopefully fit in two runs around the weekend.

I have noticed something though. Each time I have a bad week when it comes to nutrition or I restart training my body starts fighting back and I get a cold. Thanks a lot. Maybe that's a hint to stop taking breaks and depriving my body of much needed nutrients for lengthy periods. Definitely something to take into consideration.

On another topic, I signed Jarek and I up for the Orlen Marathon 10km Fun Run in Warsaw. I'm very excited. It's 19 days away. We'll be arriving in Warsaw in two weeks for a quick holiday. I'm really looking forward to catching up with family and friends. And running with some of them too!