So trying to keep up with my promise of not leaving it so long between my blogs I thought it was time for another update of what has been my busy life these last 4 weeks!
Work has been pretty flat out lately and I have been spending a lot of time in the lab, both helping with testing and getting involved with some testing myself. Most of the testing I've been helping out with have involved me running bloods for lactate threshold tests, glucose tolerance tests and insulin clamps. I have also had a chance, when I've been free, to go over to exercise rehab to observe cardio club like I did towards the end of last year, which I quite enjoy, especially as it is related to what I am looking to do in the future and it involves working with a different clientele. As for getting involved with some testing myself, in the last 4 weeks I have completed two 30 km bike time trials, a VO2 max, had my brain activity monitored using EEG and finally overcome my yearly goal at ISEAL of having not just one but 3 muscle biopsies. This study involving the muscle biopsies is for one of the PhD student's studies who is looking at metabolism and the protocol involved me having a resting biopsy, exercising at 80% of my VO2 max until I had expended 400 calories, having another biopsy 10 minutes post exercise and a third and final biopsy 90 minutes post exercise. For those of you that don't know what a muscle biopsy is, it's having a big needle stuck into my leg/muscle, which has another tool inside which allows bits of my muscle to be snipped and sucked out so it can be analysed. Now it sounds painful and after watching a large number of biopsies I always thought that, but it actually isn't too bad, it's just uncomfortable and sounds and looks worse than it is (it's really hard to describe what it actually feels like). I have to have another 3 in the second part of the trial, so for the non-squeamish I will take some pictures and a video!
My life hasn't only been about work these last 4 weeks and I have been up to other fun stuff too. On Sunday 23rd of March it was the Melbourne Ironman which started down in Frankston and finished in St Kilda. In the afternoon me and Darc went along to the finish line to see the male winner cross the finish line in a phenomenal time of just over 8 hours and looking as though he had just been for a 10km run. We hung around for abit to see more elite men cross the line and also the female winner, before we decided to head back to get food, because as with all super events like this and the marathon, its always much more fun to see the fun-competitors complete the ultimate challenge. Around 8pm and what was now the 13 hour finish line of the Ironman, we headed back down to the unbelievable scenes in St Kilda to see the inspirational people completing their Ironman. We stayed until around 10.30pm and the whole time we were there, the support lined down the red carpet finish line was amazing, with music continuously pumping and the American dude congratulating everyone that crossed the finish line saying, "congratulations, you are an Ironman!" It was so inspiring to watch every single competitor run down the finishing straight, with the biggest smile on their face, looking as though they felt physically great and were thoroughly enjoying soaking up all the atmosphere and support. It kind of brought a lump to my throat to think of how them people must feel crossing the finish line and the sense of achievement they experience and the whole time I watched I told myself that one day that would be me and I would complete an Ironman! Even the few people we saw hobbling down the finishing straight clearly in agony but still smiling as the crowd carried them all the way over the finish line, hasn't put me off this thought and is maybe edging me on a bit more. Not only was watching the end of the Ironman causing me to set yet more life challenges (don't roll your eyes mum and dad don't think it's another thing I'll get to do that you haven't), but it got me pumped, fired and excited for competing in my first triathlon which was only just a week away.
The following weekend, Friday 28th March, it was Ben's 21st (Darcy's step brother) down in Mornington Peninsula. We arrived down there mid-afternoon and spent the afternoon just chilling out with all Darc's brothers and Bec before getting ready and into our fancy dress for the night to begin. The theme was fancy dress beginning with a B, so I was a Bavarian Beer Maid and Darc went as a beer bottle. It was a good, fun night, although all my early mornings at work that week meant by the time it hit 1am I was knackered and what was supposed to be a 10 minute nap turned into a 3 hour sleep and bed time. On Saturday, we helped clean the mess up from the night before and had a very chilled out day, heading back to Melbourne early evening ready for a carb meal and early night in prep for my tri the next day.
For pictures from Ben's 21st birthday Click Here - Ben's 21st
On Sunday 30th March, I was awake nice and early, excited and a little nervous for my first triathlon, sprint distance - a 750m swim, 20km bike and 5km run. I was feeling good and ready and raring to go. When I arrived down in St Kilda, there seemed to be lots going on and a lot of people about. I picked up my race pack, got numbered up and went and set up my bike and stuff in the change over area, before making my last minute preparations and heading down onto the beach where the start line was. Looking around there were probably about 80% of people in wetsuits whereas I was in a swim costume and shorts and I was a little concerned about how cold the sea was going to be. It was a lovely morning though, with the sun out shining and no/little wind which made for perfect race conditions. My tier wasn't setting off until 45 minutes after the first group started and in this time I went in the sea to try and acclimatise to the water and warm myself up a bit. I was actually pleasantly surprised and found that it wasn't that cold and before I knew it, it was my turn to line up on the start line. I really enjoyed the race. Being my first open water swim, I found it a little difficult, mostly because my sense of direction wasn't that great, but I was pretty happy with my swim and time, 15 mins 29 secs. The first change over also seemed to go pretty well and the bike leg flew by. I pushed pretty hard on the bike, with a split of 39 mins 32 secs and as I headed out of the second change over and into the run I knew it was going to hurt and be a long 5ks. I was right, my legs hurt throughout the run but still I kept pushing to the finish line and trying to get a split as close to 25 mins as possible. I didn't quite make it, 25 mins 49 secs and I finished with an overall time of 1 hour 25 mins 10 seconds, which isn't bad I guess for my first triathlon. I must admit I wasa little disappointed I couldn't hit a sub 1 hr 25 min and was only 10 seconds off of it, but I guess that means I'll just have to do another to get that sub 1hr 25 time. I ached a little after I finished but wasn't too sore and in the evening I very much enjoyed a delicious recovery roast courtesy of Darc and his housemates before crashing for a very early night.
To see pictures of me during my triathlon Click Here - Sprint Triathlon
The following weekend (Friday 4th April - Sunday 6th April), work held the first Asia/Pacific Football and Futsal Seminar. I volunteered to help out over the weekend and really enjoyed getting involved and having the opportunity to listen to some good speakers and experience my first conference. Friday afternoon was the first day of the conference with welcome presentations and a talk from one of the guest speakers David Tucker, followed by drinks and canapes. We headed to a nearby pub after where we enjoyed a few more drinks and it was a nice evening with a good group of people. On Saturday and Sunday there were a variety of presentations across the day given by invited speakers Martin Buchheit, Darren Burgess and Carlo Castagna, guests and students and staff at Vic Uni. It was great to listen to some of the research conducted in the football and futsal field by a variety of experts and I found the conference pretty interesting.
The weekend gone was a very relaxed and chilled one spent with my Aussie family - Sue and Hannah, heading over Friday evening after a couple of drinks at work and staying until Sunday afternoon. We really didn't get up to much, just enjoying a cocktail, some wine, yummy food and a little shop to Westfield shopping centre on Saturday, but it was just what I needed and it was great to see them, especially as it had been so long.
Anyway that's me all updated for now. Next weekend is Easter and I am off on Darc's annual family Easter camping trip, which shall be interesting camping Aussie style and I'm sure they'll be stories to tell. But I hope you all have a lovely, relaxing Easter whatever it is you are up to and I'll be catching you soon!
Sending lots of love
xoxo
 |
| EEG - having my brain activity monitored |
 |
| Wounds from my 3 muscle biopsies |
The following weekend, Friday 28th March, it was Ben's 21st (Darcy's step brother) down in Mornington Peninsula. We arrived down there mid-afternoon and spent the afternoon just chilling out with all Darc's brothers and Bec before getting ready and into our fancy dress for the night to begin. The theme was fancy dress beginning with a B, so I was a Bavarian Beer Maid and Darc went as a beer bottle. It was a good, fun night, although all my early mornings at work that week meant by the time it hit 1am I was knackered and what was supposed to be a 10 minute nap turned into a 3 hour sleep and bed time. On Saturday, we helped clean the mess up from the night before and had a very chilled out day, heading back to Melbourne early evening ready for a carb meal and early night in prep for my tri the next day.
For pictures from Ben's 21st birthday Click Here - Ben's 21st
On Sunday 30th March, I was awake nice and early, excited and a little nervous for my first triathlon, sprint distance - a 750m swim, 20km bike and 5km run. I was feeling good and ready and raring to go. When I arrived down in St Kilda, there seemed to be lots going on and a lot of people about. I picked up my race pack, got numbered up and went and set up my bike and stuff in the change over area, before making my last minute preparations and heading down onto the beach where the start line was. Looking around there were probably about 80% of people in wetsuits whereas I was in a swim costume and shorts and I was a little concerned about how cold the sea was going to be. It was a lovely morning though, with the sun out shining and no/little wind which made for perfect race conditions. My tier wasn't setting off until 45 minutes after the first group started and in this time I went in the sea to try and acclimatise to the water and warm myself up a bit. I was actually pleasantly surprised and found that it wasn't that cold and before I knew it, it was my turn to line up on the start line. I really enjoyed the race. Being my first open water swim, I found it a little difficult, mostly because my sense of direction wasn't that great, but I was pretty happy with my swim and time, 15 mins 29 secs. The first change over also seemed to go pretty well and the bike leg flew by. I pushed pretty hard on the bike, with a split of 39 mins 32 secs and as I headed out of the second change over and into the run I knew it was going to hurt and be a long 5ks. I was right, my legs hurt throughout the run but still I kept pushing to the finish line and trying to get a split as close to 25 mins as possible. I didn't quite make it, 25 mins 49 secs and I finished with an overall time of 1 hour 25 mins 10 seconds, which isn't bad I guess for my first triathlon. I must admit I was
To see pictures of me during my triathlon Click Here - Sprint Triathlon
The following weekend (Friday 4th April - Sunday 6th April), work held the first Asia/Pacific Football and Futsal Seminar. I volunteered to help out over the weekend and really enjoyed getting involved and having the opportunity to listen to some good speakers and experience my first conference. Friday afternoon was the first day of the conference with welcome presentations and a talk from one of the guest speakers David Tucker, followed by drinks and canapes. We headed to a nearby pub after where we enjoyed a few more drinks and it was a nice evening with a good group of people. On Saturday and Sunday there were a variety of presentations across the day given by invited speakers Martin Buchheit, Darren Burgess and Carlo Castagna, guests and students and staff at Vic Uni. It was great to listen to some of the research conducted in the football and futsal field by a variety of experts and I found the conference pretty interesting.
The weekend gone was a very relaxed and chilled one spent with my Aussie family - Sue and Hannah, heading over Friday evening after a couple of drinks at work and staying until Sunday afternoon. We really didn't get up to much, just enjoying a cocktail, some wine, yummy food and a little shop to Westfield shopping centre on Saturday, but it was just what I needed and it was great to see them, especially as it had been so long.
Anyway that's me all updated for now. Next weekend is Easter and I am off on Darc's annual family Easter camping trip, which shall be interesting camping Aussie style and I'm sure they'll be stories to tell. But I hope you all have a lovely, relaxing Easter whatever it is you are up to and I'll be catching you soon!
Sending lots of love
xoxo
No comments:
Post a Comment