MI5

It Can't Get Much Worse.

I had imagined my first day at rowing camp this year to be a triumph - my progress would stun the coaches. It ain't what happened. I got into a single and I was very unsteady. I felt very ill at ease but I managed to (sort of) move the boat when a rower passing my by told me the problem. It was a simple matter of moving the feet slide from one end to the other but it had rocked my confidence and I couldn't get it back. I was angry that I didn't think to check the gear and I was embarrassed at my poor performance. Though I did learn how to change the slide while I was in the boat and I did learn to check that any boat that I use is properly rigged for me. I guess I'll do better tomorrow because it will be hard to be worse than today.

My Daughter Sade and Her Friends are Supporters

and so are all of you seeing this pic. Together we will outsmart brain cancer!

Back in the Gym with Gundy

Each morning on our ride last summer I would serenade Gundy as we set off with "we're back in the saddle again". I felt that way today because we hadn't seen each other for a few weeks and we were back in action. Of course we did rowing and also weight training and it felt at times like we did impossible acts of daring do like jumping and squats and and and.... Thanks Gundy!

Raining Ants

When I went down to swim today there were hundreds of flying ants in the pool. I decided to brave it (they don't bite )and started my laps. It creeped my out once in a while that so many creatures were beside me. I thought maybe to them I am like a barge on the channel will be for me. On the sixth or seventh lap there were hundreds more. And then a gentle warm rain began and I continued. On the next lap I saw a massive swarm flying above and then it began raining ants. Alright I said but I am going to do my laps anyway. 30 laps done!

Swimming Laps

I shouldn't use the word laps because it's a small pool but how else can I keep track. The first day I did about 10 because I lost count. The next morning I collected 15 pebbles and at every lap I shifted a stone to a new pile. I did 15 laps. Today I threw away 5 pebbles and shifted the stones into one pile and then back. So I did 20. Tomorrow I will try for 30. I not sure you can qualify what I am doing as swimming. I lie on my back and relax and kick and either flutter my hands by my sides or do a big sweeping stroke. These mornings I surrender to floating - the water holding me - and the sky - with the overhanging trees and clouds. Sometimes life is good!

My Pilates Epiphany

I had a pilates epiphany yesterday. I realized that all the strengthening of the core is only the beginning. The truth is pilates is about fluidity. I can't do the movements correctly yet but I had brief glimmer of the ideal during one excerise. Being relaxed and focused and having the whole body move in synch seems to be the goal. I suppose thats why many wonderful pilates teachers began as dancers. They are not bulky but lean and strong and graceful. So that was my training day - pilates.

Training August 23

Gu and I are fit as fiddles so training today was rewarding.

Here's what we did:
10 minutes of egr excerises, 10 minutes of rowing 1 minute on and 1 minute off - this doesn't sound too bad but the one minute is an all out push at increasing speed. Then the weights: deadlifts, several squat tortures including one legged squats, squats with weights, squats with kettleball, and squat walking like crabs with bands on our calves.

An Old Friend

Last night my daughter Sade and I met up with Huw. He is an angel. Huw trained me for a half marathan and did it with me while I was taking chemo. To our surprise it was an extreme event-mostly on mountain paths and thru little rivers and very very warm. My dismay turned, as the day wore on, to determination and then happiness. I just had to do the damn thing. It released me from being embarressed about what would have been a rotten time anyway. I stink at running. Always have and always will.

Huw has moved away from training(was it me?) and is just finishing his advanced business degree. I wish him oodles of success and happiness.

Hard Work in Progress

This is a picture of Toby and I training together yesterday. After having been on the water for 90 minutes Toby taught me a starting technique for indoor rowing. It's a lovely picture that should be titled: Hard Work in Progress!