One extreme to another

So, the time before last, I blogged about walking in the rain. Pouring rain. Which resulted in me getting a) very very wet and b) falling over and hurting my knee.

Well, today the weather is more reflective of a true Australian Summer. We were told to expect 40 degrees today. Yuck. I dislike Summer. But, in true Dewy fashion, I didn't let it stop me from my normal Sunday workout.

I've been really enjoying my walks in the park and decided several days ago that I would still walk there today. Sure the weather would be disgustingly hot and there is little practical shade on the walking track... but I'd be prepared! I'd wait until after 3 so as to reduce my risk of being burnt. I'd actually wear sunscreen and a hat this time! (remember I got burnt not long ago!). I'd put water in the freezer for my walk so it would be cold when I needed it (and it was icy when I started!). I'd take an extra cold bottle of water for when I got back to the car to cool down with a wet cloth. I'd take a very cold bottle of sport drink to rehydrate quickly. I'd hydrate before I left (which I did!).

I did all of those things.

I started out on my walk around 1530 hrs. I started off at a good speed. I could feel myself huffing and puffing and figured it was just the weather. When I got to the half way mark (which, by the way, is all uphill!) I checked my watch. I was a whole minute and a half ahead of my time! Awesome!

A quick about turn and I headed back down the hill. I kept up the pace. But around 300m down the hill I began to feel a little light headed. Ick. I knew it was the heat and kept up my fluids. By this time (around 20 min into the walk) my water was no longer icy. It was barely cold!

I kept pushing on and another 200m down the path I felt sick. I wanted to throw up. I knew what was happening. I was overheating. A quick glance at my HRM showed that my HR was fine. It was elevated but well within the norms of exercise. In fact, it's been way way higher before! It was sitting around 160 bpm where on the treadmill it would have been over 170 bpm. Knowing exactly what was happening, I began to look around for a seat in the shade to have a quick rest - there was no way I was sitting on the long grass where snakes might be hiding!!!

Around another 300m I found a bench in the shade. I had a quick sit and felt a wee better. But not quickly enough. I worried that if I didn't keep moving, I wasn't going to make it back to the car. And today, unlike most days, the track was desserted - clearly the rest of the North Eastern Suburbs had brains and were not risking the extreme heat! I was starting to worry, if I'm honest, about passing out on the path and not being found for hours... which would obviously result in bad things including extreme sunburn and so forth. So I slowed myself down. I made myself back off.

A little further down the track, I had another break in the shade. Head between my knees to get the blood back to my head. I kept drinking water. When I felt steady, I took off again. I made myself slow my pace down. My music began irritating me - making me feel more light headed. I knew things were getting bad. I contemplated calling home but knew I could get back to the car before DH could get to me. And I'd still have to walk to the car because you can't get vehicles on the track. I HAD to make myself slow down. I told myself that my time didn't matter today - I just had to get home safely.

I began to worry how I was going to drive home. I saw another spot down the path and took my last break. This was the longest break I took. I felt much better after that break. But I still didn't know how I was going to get to the car. The heat was killing me. The sun was killing me! I could feel myself burning despite my 3 inch thick sunscreen!!!

Finally, I got to the car. FINALLY! I hit stop on the HRM as I unlocked the car. Before I got in the car, I turned the ignition on and turned the A/C to full throttle. I put all the windows down. I fumbled with the insulation bag I'd brought with my sport drink and ice bricks but eventually got the bricks out. I put them on two of the spots we use in nursing to cool someone down quickly. It made me feel more dizzy as my temp rapidly dropped. I got rid of the hat. When I felt steady, I moved my car to the disabled spot in the shade. The only shade. There was a car next to me with people in it. I fumbled to undo my sport drink and have a sip. I moved the bricks to another spot to cool me down. I was fighting the urge to vomit. I poured my spare bottle onto a towel and wiped myself down. I used that on the back of my neck to aid the cooling process. I laid the drivers seat back to give myself a chance to recover quicker.

I knew I looked crap. I was worried. And I wondered why the people in the next car didn't ask if I was ok. I was surprised that they didn't.

I spent 10 min moving the ice bricks and re-wetting my towel. Slowly, the fog lifted from my brain. I felt better. I didn't feel as hot. The nausea left. I sat up properly again and let everything settle.

I tentatively drove home. The whole way I felt better. I did, however, question my sanity at having trained in such heat! I decided today was not the day to start my leg work (which had been approved by my physio!) and vowed to recover as soon as I got home.

Once home, I downed more water. I stretched my muscles. I hit the shower. Oh how good did that cool water feel!!! But it did nothing for my headache! Several hours later, I still have a bad headache. I've had countless glasses of water but nothing seems to be helping. I'm hoping it will be gone in the morning!

Since being home, I have discovered that I actually ended up training in the hottest part of the day. Our maximum temp was *only* 39 today. When I got in the car after my walk, the temp was actually 37 degrees - it had been 30 when I left home. OUCH!

I have lernt that next time I should (and will) either train in air conditioning such as the gym or home, OR wait for the cooler part of the day.

Oh, and if you're curious what my time for the 4Km walk was (in 37 degrees Celcius and with a grand total of 5 min break) - it was 40 min and 32 sec!!! Soooo if I hadn't taken any breaks, I would have shaved at least a couple of minutes off of my time!

Still training

So, my knee's been playing up a bit since my fall. Not so nice. My back finally gets better (thank goodness it wasn't aggrevated by the fall!) and my knee goes. So, right when physio decides I can return to leg work (squats, lunges etc) - my knee decides otherwise! I MISS that stuff! I NEED to do that stuff to get ready for the Eureka Climb later in the year!

I'm trying my best to be patient... but my patience is running out with my body! I had physio on Saturday and he wants me to strap my knee for the next week when I'm training. No biggie, I can handle that. I haven't tested it since my appointment because now my back is hurting. So not happy! But, considering he found some decent knots in my hips, I'm assuming it's just because we've dealt with the knots. And I'm bruised. I have so many bruises from physio!!!!

BUT, last week I needed to train. For my sanity, I needed to train. But the idea of the gym just did not appeal to me. So I went to Westerfold's park. They have some really nice walking tracks. So I chose my old fav and headed off. I struggled because I felt like I wasn't really working. I didn't feel like I was walking fast enough. I couldn't feel my heart rate increase (although my newly repaired HRM tells me it was climbing - maybe not as much as normal but it was climbing!). I just didn't feel like I was working. So I pushed myself. Soon enough I got to the hill I used to dread on my bike. Off I climbed. It didn't seem as steep when walking...

By the time I got back to my car, my thighs were beginning to burn. I felt a little tired. I stopped my HRM and unlocked the car. Then I noticed the sign. I had just walked 4Km. Hmmmm I normally only do 3 on my treadmill and since my Nov (when I did my back again) that takes me around 35 min. I looked at the stats on my watch and saw I'd done it (4Km) in 39.25 min! And that was with two stops (one to adjust music and the other to take a quick call from DH). WOOT!

Spurred on, I returned after work the next day. The weather was great - not as warm as I'd thought it would be. I trotted off along the same route. Hat on, sunscreen on (got badly burnt the other weekend!), water bottle in hand, music on - off I went!

This time I tried not to push myself to hard but was secretly hoping to knock 5 min off my time. Silly, I know! But I still didn't feel like I was walking as fast as on the treadmill (FYI, this is because when you're on a treadmill, the belt pulls your leg back for you which makes you have to move it forward quicker). I kept going and when I got to the top of the hill, I did a quick time check to see if I was at least on track to do the same time as the day before. I was a little ahead! WOOT! I hightailed it back to the car, resisting the urge for a jog. When I got back to the car, a time check revealed that I had done it in 37.09 min! Not 5 min but I'll take any reduction thanks! I did a few stretches and got in my car to go home.

The next day, I was sore. Very sore. Wanting to go home from work sore. I don't really know WHY I was sore but I think I needed to do more back stretches - a bit hard in the park. But that's ok. I'm feeling better today . I haven't trained since Fri but am hoping to get a (gentle) walk in later today. PT has been canceled for tomorrow (Dale's made a boo boo in his diary) and so I'll prob do some training at home tomorrow as well. But all in all, things are looking good!

It's raining, it's pouring!

So, it's raining in Melbourne. Not as much as in QLD but they say we'll get 50mm in 24 hours. After dinner it was raining. I didn't think it was that bad. I felt I needed to go for a walk but didn't want to use the treadmill... and what's a bit of water...right?

WELL! by the time I walked 5 min, I was DRENCHED! Lucky I was wearing my waterproof jacket and baseball cap...or so I thought! Going up the hill hurt like hell and it was slippery. And wet (DER!). I was dodging puddles left right and centre.

At the 1.3Km mark I discover my HRM isn't working. Stupid thing. Second time in less than 12 months. Must get a new battery. If it doesn't resolve I'll throw the bloody thing out!

At around 2Km, I slip. Yup - SLIPPED! My wonderful local Govt has put these bumpy things in the sidewalk to warn visually impaired people that there is a bus stop. At selected intersections, they have also placed them - I guess to warn it's an intersection... but why only SOME intersections?!

I digress. I slipped. I was distracted trying to remove my iPhone from my pocket to check my work. I slid forward with right hand out. That broke my fall as I slid to my right knee. I had instinctively gone to protect my bad side. I didn't go straight down, I kind of did the splits (YAY for being flexible!), slipped forward, and then rolled on my left hip (OUCH!). My phone is now dented but not water logged (YAY!).

I pulled myself up quickly to escape the water flowing down the path, and kept moving. For a split second, I contemplated calling DH to collect me... but he had already told me to be careful and hadn't wanted me to go! So I pushed on. With my ego in the way, I kept going on my designated path afraid that people were watching and how pathetic I'd look if I turned around!

SO, I go a little further before back tracking. I was limping a little. The trek back up that hill was murder! I was so water logged it was foul! My pants were drenched! My SOCKS were drenched! I was paranoid about those slippery warning signs and was doing my best to avoid them!

I FINALLY got home, realising along the way that I was DRENCHED! I was cursing my stupidity and reached the conclusion that

a) I'm not meant to train
b). Training in the rain is best left to people with NO choice...or those missing a brain
c). I am unfairly accident prone!!!

And then I saw the local cricket club out walking and looking miserable... I at least had a water proof jacket on! Fat lot of good that did though!!!! When I got home, DH took a photo (to be posted at a later date!) and then I went to strip for a shower.

The first sign of how water logged I was, was that when I removed my shoes, my socks looked like they'd been just taken out of the washing machine... except I could actually wring water out of them!!!! (oh, and DH was worried about my shoes being ruined by the rain! ROFL)

THEN, I removed my jacket. It was literally dripping! As was my hat!

THEN, I notice my shirt is actually WET! As in, straight out of the machine wet! I think to myself, lucky I wore a singlet... but that too was wet through! My SKIN  was wet!!!!! My UNDIES were wet! EVERYTHING was wet! I hate to think what I'd be like had I not worn my water proof jacket! HAHAHAHA

After my shower, I had a good stretch and sent DH to the pharmacy to renew my pain script - hopefully I don't need those tomorrow!

This is going to be my year!

Again, I've been lax with my posting. It isn't reflective of my efforts for training though! Between work, family, training, and organising the January Jelly Busters, my time is pretty limited!

Despite my efforts, I feel like I'm sliding backwards. I'm not able to do half the things I was before the latest injury. I know, it's bad of me to be comparing. But I can't help it!!! My cardio capacity has decreased, my speed has decreased, my toning has decreased. The good thing is that m weight is stable - but my body shape has changed for the worse! It's so depressing!!!

I am so tempted to go full pelt at the gym - but I know that would be detrimental. It's far too risky. I can't go backwards - I can't! At the moment I am struggling big time. My range of movement has decreased in the last three weeks. Severely. Every night, I am dreading going to sleep. I wake throughout the night with pain down the outer side of my glutes - even with my strongest meds on board. Every morning I wake with difficulty moving, even just rolling to the side to get out of bed. My lower back is so tight it is ridiculous. The problem is that NONE of my stretches are working. None! Logan (physio) is back tomorrow and I've moved my appointment forward. I am so looking forward to it!!! I'm hopeful that he can release some of it and maybe give me some new stretches to help out between visits. THEN I will feel more comfortable pressing harder in training - and returning to the gym on my own... which I still haven't done for fear of over doing it. All my sessions are restricted to home at the moment.

I'm putting a lot of pressure on myself. Not only do I want to look good for my new job in April (but who am I kidding, I'm not going to lose 30Kg before the end of April!), I want to be as fit and healthy as I can. This year I turn 30. And THIS is going to be MY year. New job. I AM going to lose this weight and be at my peak for health and fitness. We ARE going to find a new place to move to.Towards the end of the year, we ARE going to get pregnant. This is going to be my year!

Heeding the warning

I've been a little lax in my blogging... apologies for that! But I do assure you that I haven't been lax with my training!

Whilst I haven't been as active as I'd like, I certainly have been training! I've had a couple of really good sessions along side some mediocre ones. I have even returned to boxing at home! Oh how I love to box!

I subscribe to the thinking that regardless of what's going on, I need to train at least every 2 to 3 days otherwise I my muscles freeze up, I get sore, and I get grumpy! Even if it's a light session, I NEED to do something!

I've been noticing improvements each session, like being able to hold the plank for longer on my toes, not feeling as fatigued as early, not feeling as tight in my back at the end of a session, being able to increase my speed on the treadmill. All little things that build into big things!

My downfall though, is that without Dale to keep me in check, I've been getting a little too adventurous. I've been pushing a little TOO hard... and I'm feeling it. The last few nights have been hell in bed. The pain in my glutes is feril. Waking in the morning is not fun. Yesterday was an iffy day despite stretching. I've been stretching like a mad woman! I vowed not to train yesterday but, after dinner, I found myself pulling on my gym clothes and heading for the treadmill. I did manage to restrain myself to only doing treadmill and stretching - none of the other stuff I normally do!

Despite everything I'm doing, I feel like my fitness is going backward; that the weight is creeping back on; that it is all pointless. And I feel like my back isn't coping. I'm doing so many strengthening exercises but none of it feels like it is working at the moment. It's very disheartening. I'm looking forward to having Logan back to iron out the creases and Dale being back to put me through my paces safely!

In desperation of pain yesterday, I played around with my stretches a little. I have my fail safe ones and I have my "for when it's bad" ones. Nothing has been helping with my glutes this week. So I tried a few different things and found the most (gloriously) painful stretch! It turns out that a lot of my pain in my glutes has been coming from my ITB (the muscles down the side of the leg). MY GOD IT HURT! But I immediately felt better! I was still tight in the back this morning but not AS tight. And the pain I had getting up was purely DOM's. I'm thrilled! So off I went to the pool with DH and DD to losen things some more. HEAVEN!

Now, several hours later, I feel much better. I'm heeding to the warning my body has sent and will back off a little until Logan is back (next week) and then get back into things again. Instead of the treadmill, I'll go for walks around my area. In fact, I'm taking DD for a ride on her bike after dinner! Can't wait!