falling through the week

Gosh that went by quickly. Since last we spoke I packed for Melbourne, lunched with a friend and roared off to the big smoke with the family, all whist feeling like death warmed up but only very slightly, found a kind and helpful walk-in doctor with a charming and helpful receptionist ah, I remember helpful doctors and charming receptionists, those were the days..., shopped for new boots in Acland Street becuase I ACCIDENTALLY no really left mine at home and I'm all about problem-solving, dozed the afternoon away while the Very Strong Antibiotics I was prescribed becuase I was Really Very Sick (see this raised middle digit, mean stupid doctor I saw on Thursday? It's for YOU) started to work their magic, dined at a restaurant with a magic tree in the middle of the dining table

see?

brunched with The Mighty Emma who was by some miracle in the same city at the same time, attended the thea-tah (totes hilair, darls), zoomed back home, saw my clients for the week and sketched out the barest semblance of looking after Noddie and the Spousal Unit whilst spending every possible moment as rugged-up and close to horizontal as could be managed. Ask me how I know that the Bad Mother Police don't come if you give your kid re-heated spinach rolls for tea two nights in a row.
I was going to cancel my physio appointment  becuase I've done bugger all - it is hard to do core work when your head nearly falls off when you move it, and cardio is tricky when you're coughing up stuff the consistency of blu-tac (too much information? Sorry) blah blah blah excuses excuses - but then I thought I could use the session to get back onto the right track - as a re-set button, if you will. Luckily my physio combines sternness, no-more-excuses-please and kindness in the nicest possible way so I didn't cry.
Now LBTEPA is vertical again, thanks to the miracles of modern doctors who actually give a shit enough to listen medicine, and The Plan is This: another streak! If I keep it up for four weeks, I reckon I'll be a Person Who Exercises again, as opposed to my current identity as a bleating, carb-powered couch cushion. I'll be riding that endorphin train, my friends, and my resting heart rate and lung capacity will be back on that road to righteousness. It'll be great. It's going to happen. You watch.
In the spirit of Yoda

exercise Every Single Day for the next month I will.
....mind you

.....I'm so confused....
but in the meantime, tally ho!!! Charge!!!!!!!!!!
What are your bold plans for the next season?

More anon, metaphor-manglers!

well

DR: if your job exposes you to the public you can get a cold every two weeks, and if your colds are susceptible to developing into painful viral sinusitis, that's just the luck of the draw. A referral to an immune specialist or your sinus surgeon won't change that. There's nothing we can do until there's green or yellow mucus. Except maybe panadol.
LBTEPA: Oh. Thanks (I'm polite).

I can imagine

So: yesterday, a very brisk walk (by my current standards) in a well-lit, even-surfaced area sans Noddie, hoons and the stupid dog. All good although sadly puffed by the end.
Today I Went To The Gym! My body image issues, shame and sadness and I may have had a little sniffle in the car before I went in but I was soon BOUNDING AWAY ON THE ELLIPTICAL WITH MY HEART RATE AT 145 OMG HOW GOOD DOES THAT FEEL? so I forgot about it all, to the point where, when the whippersnapper gym attendant asked me how I was coping(!)* I replied, fine thank you, and how about you?**
Then I played this song at full blast all the way home while I had a big happy sook. Note to self: either stop being so emotional or keep tissues in the car

After my last post, I was reminded of something very important by  the lovely K, one of my five faithful readers. I am getting stronger. I will run again. My athletic life is not over. My head sort of knew that, but I just haven't been able to imagine it.
Now I can.
And I have. It's 454 days until next year's Melbourne Marathon. I'm going to do it.
More anon, dreamers!
* I explained to Noddie that some people see a fat middle-aged woman dripping with sweat and assume that she is struggling, but this is basing a conclusion on insufficient data. She hates that bwahahahaha
** given that it was his first offence I have spared his life

a minor setback

I was all set to be all happy and excited about Day 1 of Marathon training, aka being allowed to go for a walk, until I tripped over our stupid dog because it was dark and Noddie and I and the stupid dog were walking beside an unmade road and some stupid hoon was bearing down on us and I'm not as nimble as Steven Bradbury.

Now the ankle is a bit bruised and swollen and it's a bit painful to drive. I didn't twist it though so I Am Not Worried Or Upset At All nononononooooo. I just have to be very patient and careful for a bit longer.
More anon, last men standing!

Want want want

Soon, my darlings, soon there will be a post that doesn't start with my foot hurts and my chest and sinuses are horribly infected and I feel like a limp dishrag but I'm being patient and I'm sure things will get better. I swear there will.
But all is not a vale of tears in the existence of LBTEPA. Ice and antibiotics are working their magic, and Day 1 of Marathon Training surely cannot be far off. And *squeals and girly handflaps* GUESS WHAT ??? I WENT FOR A RIDE ON MY BIKE ON SUNDAY!!!!! I was going to ride to the pool to do my superfun(not) workout but then Noddie wanted to come and then she wanted to keep on riding and then when we went home 20 minutes later (twenty whole minutes oh how the mighty have fallen eh?) the infected-chest headspins decided to kick in so I had a rest instead. But you have to start somewhere, no? And OHMYWORDHOWFUNISRIDINGYOURBIKE??????? It's pretty scary to feel so weak and have so very far to go to get back into any sort of shape, but I'm starting to feel as though I might be up for it.
You know what I want? There's a rail path that crosses the highway about 10km from our house. I want to be able to run there and back most weeks.I want to be able to swim 2km without feeling it the next day and be able to ride my bike for a couple of hours without thinking about it. I want to feel cheerful and strong and not get sick so often. And I want some of this.

Not the beer - I'm Dry this July, as you know (It's going very well, thanks for asking! Could you spare a fiver for a good cause?  Just click here) - the bling! How nice is that Gold Coast bling?
I said to the Spousal Unit the other day that I probably won't do the Gold Coast Marathon again becuase it's in July and I get sick a lot in the winter which messes with my training and my head - but then I saw this year's medal and the WANT really kicked in...oh my....soooo cool.....none of that outrageous same-sized medal with different paint and ribbon BS that Melbourne pulls.
But I digress.
I know what I want. There's a very long way to go - I haven't walked more than 2km for months, 400m is my limit in the pool and I mentioned my epic first bike outing...le sigh.... As my five faithful readers know, tThe LBTEPA method for getting what you want is keep working and keep smiling. It's worked for me a lot of the time, so I'm going to stick with it. All I have to do it get the foot and the sinuses and chest to co-operate and we're good as gold!
What do you want? And how do you plan to get it?
More anon, froth-heads!

ABCI

This weekend Noddie and the Spousal Unit and I had our long-awaited and super-fab trip to the big smoke during which we went to the zoo, Sandown racetrack for J to do his stunt driving course, and to the Museum to see the Afghanistan Treasures, which were absolutely stunning and very moving and should be seen by everyone. We ate yummy Chinese, Greek, Vietnamese and Italian food in buzzy, delicious-smelling restaurants, and went shopping in Smith St, and generally had a happy and satisfying time.

I'd love to be posting all about how I've been diligently adhering to the LETTER of my rehab and I do feel very very bad that I haven't, but I have been cruelly struck down with yet Another Chest Infection (So Over It- this post's title should be AFCI). Keeping the New Job and the family going whilst remaining upright and smiling (for, as you know, that is the LBTEPA Way) has taken almost everything I've had. I've not missed more than two days in a row blah blah blah excuses excuses so I'm hoping the physio gives the all-clear to cycling and maybe the elliptical, even some walking...how nice will it be to be Allowed Out....?

Hope you are all well - what have you been up to?
cheers (with ginger beer)