Life and Death

~ Whatever comes out of these gates, we've got a better chance of survival if we work together. Do you understand? If we stay together, we survive.~

Anyone who doesn't believe in life after death hasn't trained for a Triathlon, I mean I died on my feet numerous times today and I think I'm still alive. As I'd promised earlier in the week I was looking to go long this weekend.....So I set out on my bike early doors. I was well prepared food wise having scoffed a large bowl of Museli and two bananas. A 750CL bottle of Sports Drink and I'm off with a pocketful of nuts/dried fruit, energy gel and another Energy Drink.

I head out and the first 5K I'm huffing and puffing. After 10K I settle down and start to click off the miles. Out past Waterloo, La Hulpe, Rixensart then down to Court St Ettienne. Right along to Genappe and then head back towards Maransart. Then up towards Rixensart again and back into Lasne. I'm hitting Hedgehog hill at the 50K mark...unbelieveable....Twice today I was forced out of the saddle due to running out of gears on big hills. The first was a 14% job after leaving La Hulpe and it was tough as hell. Really my whole body hurt, you go up a gear then get out of the saddle. Then the arms ache, then your back, then the legs get sore and then they start to turn to jelly. I honestly did contemplate stopping but I just put my head down and watched the front wheel. Its what the books say and it appears to work.

Hedgehog hill I took and was only out of the saddle for 5-10 seconds. However the following hill into and through Ohain past the school and Communale really wore me down. I kept going though and was round the sprint circuit and back home for a very very tidy 66KM in 2hrs 48. Thats not so fast but its as long as I've been and as any Port Glasgow girl will tell you, length is everything.

Normally I'd have rolled in and accepted a good session like that and be happy....but hey Triathon needs something a bit more. So I do a transition into my running gear, quick drink and MP3 setup and I'm on my way in 8 minutes. Now I needed to raid the wardrobe and the fridge and so I expect my transition times to be shorter on the day.

I head out with a 10K minimum target but thats really just what I'm telling my legs. My head is saying go long and we're dreaming of a 17K long circuit. First 2-3k were OK apart from some idiot in a minivan too big for her to handle who as I went behind her at the junction she pulled out and cut the corner hitting me with the back of he van. I'm sure she didn't understand what I shouted but the hand signals were internationally recognised.

I get to Lasne an the Hedgehog awaits, well I'm a greedy bugger for punishment. Up we go and its tough and sore on the legs but no danger of a submission. I'm very glad to be at the top and turn left onto the flat section. I head downhill missing Bois Paris and so am committed to at least 14K now. I get the 7K mark and I'm starting to fade...then like a miracle the former Spice Girl Mel C comes on the MP3 player and I get a real boost. I'm off with a better pace and smiling again. There is very special degree of smugness when you've clicked off 66K on a bike the on stuck on your trainers and went out for a run....The world looks a little smaller and a good deal less dangerous.

I get up to La Ferme Papellote and I'm feeling the pace again, so I get Mel C onto repeat. Here we go its Madame Pave up the never ending hill past the Nunnery towards the Butte Du Lion.

Its now thundering with rain like someone has turned on a big shower. I literally shout at the sky, is that all you've got...come on come on...Little do the gods know I've got an ex-Spice Girl on my side....

I click off 10K in 55 mins....Then the hailstones start....Down the N5(how I hate that road) Wind howling in from the South West across my front from right to left and as requested bringing all the gods have got. I'm now literally running up a river as the cycle path has vanished and been replaced by all the runoff from the road and its cascading down the hill and I'm running right through the middle, ankle deep. All thats missing is migrating Salmon to complete the surreal picture...The hail is still lashing down and my thighs are bright red. I'm running at times with my hands out, crucifixion style and shouting at the sky. The passing motorists must think I've lost it. Its keeping me going though as all this is a diversion from the pain I'm in and all the while my legs are screaming at me to stop.

I keep going. At the top of the hill I have the choice left for flat finish 14k or straight on down the N5 to clock off the big course 17k...Its just as well my hips are well made, legs go left top of body goes straight on...I promise the legs I'll take the shortcut through Plancenoit so I don't need to take on the last hill 1KM from my house..So many lies in one day....

I'm running down the cycle path into the oncoming traffic, the road is flooded in sections and they don't slow down for runners. I'm getting sprayed every couple of seconds and then when my timing is perfect with a big lorry and a large puddle I get a full bath over me....superb..

I'm as high as a kite, having conversations with myself , shouting, singing out loud and all the time laughing. The motorists must have wondered what I was on. This is the point when I was happiest. The pain, the cold, the wind, the hail and the cars. All this and my legs are STILL going.

Corny as it sounds I felt like I'd just won a Gladitoral battle with the world. Its as good as I've felt on a run ever. Totally overwhelming sensation of just being able to keep going and nothing can stop me, except me. I turn left at 14K mark so 3K to go and one big hill and I've done it. I somehow manage to pick up the pace and my legs just keep turning over. I should stop I know but I really can't as I don't want to . I've realised that I've mastered the mental over the physical. When you first start training its all about the cardio side, then as you get fitter you rarely get out of breath except on hills and you recover quickly without needing to stop or slow down. Then as you go longer it starts to become a physical challenge as its painful and naturally your body tries to slow you down to stop you getting hurt and all the time you are trying to run faster times. My realisation today was that to overcome this you need to use your mental capacity. Its not just a matter of battering out the miles and you can finish. You need to train your mind to be stronger....Up the last hill and its so painful but I don't care I've done it and I feel that anything is possible....

So 17K in 1:34:35....right after I'd done 66K on the bike. Almost 4 and a half hours of solid non stop training....to put this into perspective I'd need to do all this plus an additional 2 hours on race day to scoop up the 2km swim and the additional 24KM on the bike .....