Sarah 0 Germs 1

Like most active people I do not do being unwell. I try to push through hoping my immune system will get one over on the germs invading my body. I hate been unable to train, I’ll even admit to hate being off work.

How is it that these tiny germs have overcome my immune defences, made home in my respiratory system. I’m fit and healthy. I Exercise. Eat healthily (most of the time) and go to bed early. Somehow these germs have managed to start a mass war on my body. The linings of my airways reacting by producing copious amounts of snot and phlegm, drinking hot lemon and honey continuously to replenish fuilds. I am actually in awe at the amount of fluid that can be produce. (Simon’s explanation was that my brain’s melting, but then retracted that since it’s still coming out). My head’s throbbing and my abdominals hurt from coughing like they do two days after a massive core session in the gym. I’m wrapped up at home, drugged up with flu remedy and sucking strepsils like they’re going out of fashion, feeling completely miserable. To make things worse this invasion his been timed perfectly, today is the first dry and sunny day for what feels like months. But getting a grip, this will pass and I’ll be back on track shortly.

On the bright side it’s given me a bit of time to think about the coming year and refine my goals. Although my main goal for 2010 is too have a great race at Ironman Nice, qualify for Ironman Hawaii and in turn have another great race there, anything can happen on race day and you never know who else is going to racing. So it’s important to have performance orientated goals. My training last year was hampered by my recovery from a stress fracture and my confidence in my running ability has been affected, especially my ability to run well off the bike. So one of my goals to have the confidence to push harder on the bike, knowing I’m going to run well still. I’m definitely not a slinky slim triathlete, and am not going to be (with a medium build and years of hockey and gym training) but improving my power to weight ratio (ie losing some weight!) is going to help my climbing on the bike, and running but also my ability to maintain by body temperature, racing in hotter climates. Improving my swim has to be a key priority for me, getting out the water a bit further up the field, being closer to the front of the race earlier on, will be key in having a great race. Every day, working as a Physiotherapist I set goals with my patients which are SMART – Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Time bound, and review these regularly, reassessing and changing treatment plans. Now it’s about time I applied those principles to my own training!