Invercargill
Fiona Morton
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| Read Fiona's lastest blog here | |
| Back in December 2010 I saw a photo of myself (one of those photos that you never want to see!) that made me realise it was time I made some drastic changes to get fit and to lose weight. I was overweight, unfit and unhealthy, but by registering for the Contact TriWoman it gave me something to aim for and made me get up out of bed in the morning to train. I did my first Tri this year in Invercargill, a couple of days before my 31st birthday. The feeling of achievement when I crossed the finish line was overwhelming and made me realise that I can do pretty much anything when I set my mind to it. Since then I have completed three duathlons with the Southland Tri Club and have managed to shave nearly 7 minutes off my original time. My husband Scott has helped me so much by doing these events with me, although the reverse physiology has not always been so helpful! Yes I still struggle to get up early in the mornings to exercise and will find every excuse under the sun, but I find having an event to focus on really helps. I want to show that all girls and women no matter of their age, weight, shape or fitness can give the Contact TriWoman a go. I am excited about the 2012 Contract TriWoman in Invercargill as it is on my 32nd birthday. I want to smash my time from last year and show everyone that all you need is to have belief in yourself and you can do anything! |
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| Update 16/09/2012 | |
| Well its 191 days to go to the Invercargill triathlon and my training has begun! So with week one of training I have started as I mean to go on and have been to the gym three times this week. I have in listed some help in the form of a personal trainer to help me get on track as I am useless by myself. I must admit that when it is cold and hailing outside at 6am getting out of bed is the last thing I want to do, but knowing that you have an appointment to keep it makes it a little bit easier!! Next week it’s time to get stuck in to the swimming – I need to learn how to do freestyle, it’s gunna be a tough one!! | |
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Hmmmm well training isn’t exactly going to plan so far! I seem to have done something to my calf so am currently being used as a pin cushion a couple of times a week by my lovely physio. So I thought as I can’t focus on running and not really the bike until I get the all clear for my calf I would start swimming. When I did the Contact Tri at the beginning of the year I had a bit of a meltdown in the pool, I am a really strong swimmer but in breast stroke not freestyle. I don’t know what happened but with everyone over taking I guess I just panicked. So my mission is to learn to do freestyle for the Invercargill Tri. I got in touch with the local pool for some one on one lessons, but they don’t do them – can you believe a swimming pool that doesn’t offer one on one swimming lessons?? So back to the drawing board, but I will make sure that I get to the pool this week to make a start! I’ll keep you posted. |
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Well there are only 10 weeks to go until the Invercargill Triathlon and my training hasn't exactly been going to plan! I have been traveling overseas for the last month so my training schedule went completely out the window, but I did manage to squeeze a bit of training in. I did a very small bit of running but I walked for miles and miles shopping, I'm regretting not taking a pedometer with us just to see how far we actually walked. I am fairly sure that we covered the whole of Hong Kong in two days on foot, but a great way to see the city. We had Christmas in the UK with my family so we ate and drank to much and the sofa became my new best friend! I made it to the pool once to take my nephew swimming. I was pleasantly surprised to be joined in the pool by the Exeter Chefs rugby team (think the hotness of the Crusaders and your there) so as you can imagine I wasn't completely focused on my anaerobic heart rate!! I shopped my way down 'the strip' in Las Vegas, so much so that I had to buy a new pair of trainers as I wore mine out. The final stop was San Francisco where I cycled over the Golde Gate Bridge, well actually I had a little help from my husband. We hired a tandem bike, NEVER EVER AGAIN, let's just say being on the back of a tandem is not as much fun as you would think! So now back to reality..... I have been pretty good for the last week with swimming and walking but need to crank it up a notch. I think I will be sticking with breast stroke as I just can't get my breathing right with freestyle and I end up panicking, so I'll be the slow one in the pool again with a nice new swim suit! My bit of advice is to get out there and do something everyday and push yourself a little bit further each time. If you haven't done so already download the training program and stick to it. Believe in yourself and might just surprise yourself with the results |
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Last weeks training went pretty well and I seem to be getting back into the swing of things. I was on a mission with my swimming and managed to get to the pool three times. My times are starting to improve and I am feeling happier now with sticking to breaststroke rather than having to learn freestyle. I have booked a session with a swimming instructor for tomorrow before work to see how I can improve my technique, a bit nervous but fingers cross it will be beneficial. I am hanging out for Geoff my personal trainer to come back from his holidays so I can really start to focus on my overall fitness. I find it so much easier to get up in the morning when I know I have an appointment to go to and Geoff doesn’t take any excuses!! I am really no good exercising by myself but having the Tri to train for is really helping me get off my butt and exercise and I am trying to twist my next door neighbour’s arm to sign up so I have someone to train with. The weather hasn’t exactly been kind to us in Invercargill this week with all the wind rain and hail so I have been enjoying using my treadmill in front of the TV!! I find it really easy to plod away when watching Shorty or Coro the time just seems to fly by. However I really have to be careful though as I can run really well on the treadmill, but once I get outside I struggle for some reason and am huffing and puffing in a mater of meters down the road. Hopefully we still have some more summer left to come so I can get out and pound the pavement!! |
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| Update 16/02/12 With the Invercargill Contact Tri looming scarily on the horizon I have been getting a bit worried and stressed that I’m not improving with my swimming. The thing is that this series is about getting out there and giving it a go and most of all having some FUN. So, in a bid to regain my fun streak I threw caution to the wind and headed back to the pool for some AQUA ZUMBA!!! Armed with my faithful next door neighbour Cath (and yes Cath you still haven’t signed up for the Tri!) we decided to give it a go. OMG I have never laughed so much or drank so much pool water, we had an absolute blast. The great part is that because you’re underwater no one can see how badly you are trying to dance and the resistance of the water gives you a great work out. The next day I really felt like I had been hit by bus and my stomach muscles were killing me. Although I’m not too sure if that was from the exercise or from the laughing! It is so much fun I have been back twice. I go to the pool half an hour before the class now and fit in a swim before the class so I do the boring lengths first and then get to have some fun and shake some booty at Aqua Zumba!! I am going to try and focus on my running over the next couple of weeks as I have really been struggling with getting back into it since I have been back from my holiday. I started doing the couch to 5k before Christmas which seemed to be going well, so I guess I will take it back a few weeks and start again. One of the goals I have set myself is to run the whole 3km and do it in a good time. So as we all know practise, practise and more practise…. The Tri is now only 6 weeks away and I now feel that I am making some progress and am really looking forward to it. |
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