… I played with your hea—FALSE… I entered another Ironman.

What a song. I remember this time last year when I was training for Ironman Wales I used to listen to ‘Stronger’ by Britney when I was on the treadmill. Obviously I checked the volume levels to ensure no one realised what I was listening to. Alas those days are gone and I no longer care what people think of my music choice/taste/lack of. Poor Chris had to listen to 4 hours of Kisstory on Sunday – Remember TLC and Mya? Amazing artists….ahem.

So – pretty obvious what today’s theme is going to be. I’ve signed up to do another Ironman. This time in Austria. July 2nd 2017. I am VERY excited. For a number of reasons…

1. My boyfriend Chris is also racing
2. My new BFF’s Cat and Laura are ALSO racing
3. My FB buddy Mel is ALSO racing
4. My parents are coming over to support
5. It will be warm and sunny
6. We have the most amazing accommodation on the lake
7. I am aiming for a much much faster time than my initial race in Wales last year (16 hours and 19 minutes)

So! It has taken me thus far in 2016 to fully commit to another full distance Ironman. I have ummed and aahed about racing a half distance in Weymouth in September but it appears once the full distance gets you nothing else will give me the same fear. Well that’s a weird sentence…

A few things have been playing on my mind recently. My friend was telling me recently how she received some odd messages from a “close friend” of hers. Essentially these comments were targeting an image of her and her “close friend” was criticising her strength training. Saying it wasn’t very feminine. Or something along those lines anyway. You know, it’s a funny thing. Who are these people exactly? At what point did these people decide that was a FRIENDLY thing to say? Is that supportive? Is that constructive? Is that caring? No.. it’s not. My response? CUT THEM OFF. It’s just not worth it. Bye Felicia.

Essentially this then ties into my next thought process… You gotta do what makes you happy. Right? I know we have discussed this before but I think sometimes I need to take a step back and realise what that is. It is also ok to change your mind. You don’t have to stick to your guns at all times. Take the brexit vote recently. People are backtracking on their decision to vote Leave. This doesn’t really surprise me given the aftermath of carnage within both the financial and political sectors. I’m not here to get into a debate though. In fact I am going off on a tangent here. Not uncommon if you read these things regularly.

Doing what makes you happy – this can relate to so many things. It isn’t just about hobbies or pastimes or the food you eat or the people you are friends with. The example that springs to mind is actually me. Ha! Self self self. But seriously. If we look at my last few years. I have gone from fitness freak, to carb hater, to obsessive calorie and macro counter, to nursing an ongoing mild eating disorder, to lifting heavy weights, to being obsessed with all things protein, to avoid alcohol, to panicking about nights out in case they made me fat, to arguing with family and friends about them not understanding my need to train and religiously monitor what I ate, to intermittent fasting, to saying gym was life, to hating on people that couldn’t stick to a rigid eating plan, to judging people for complaining about their weight and then drinking a bottle of wine every weekend, to signing up for an ironman, to being injured all the time, to doubting my capabilities, to losing “best friends”, to realising what real friends looked like, to appreciating what my body can do, to realising six packs aren’t everything…. christ almighty. Look at that list.

Just writing that makes me roll my eyes. But essentially at the time I was doing what made me happy. Were they all long term? No. Do I regret some of them? Yes. However – I’ve found something and I have some people that I know will always make me happy. It wasn’t what or who I expected but there you go.

Anyway – getting back to the point. If there even is a point. Ironman Austria 2017. When I signed up for Wales I didn’t tell people what my goal time was because I didn’t want people to judge me if I didn’t make it. Well this time – WHATEVER. I am aiming for around 12 hours and 30 minutes. Yes. Really. And yes I know that’s mental. But I don’t care. Let’s go for it. Why not? I never thought I would do an Ironman full stop. So why can’t I shoot for an insane time like that. If I don’t make it I don’t make it. But imagine if I did make it….

I’ve been meaning to write something here for a couple of weeks now but I’ve struggled to find the motivation to get the words down. I simply couldn’t be bothered. Funny how a few days after signing up for IM I’ve found the motivation. Guess they go hand in hand for me.

There’s a few other things I’ve been discussing and realising recently. These include (in my humble opinion – and these are real 180’s for me)

1. Counting calories and macros isn’t very fun and I don’t think it does me any favours long term
2. Protein products are pretty bullshit. People shouting they’re eating clean but then necking protein shakes three times a day? Whatever. Again, do what makes you happy but I have finally come to realise the vast majority of these things are just very expensive supplements that we probably don’t need.
3. Real food is pretty cool. You know. The stuff your granny made. Meat and two veg. Milk. That stuff is good for you.
4.  We almost definitely eat too much meat. I cannot BELIEVE I just wrote that. Watch Cowspiracy. No I am not going vegan. But I don’t need ham and bacon and chicken with every damn meal.
5. I’d rather be full of energy and training hard than trying to eat as little as possible. If that makes me bigger and stronger then so be it. I won’t get over that finish line in 12 hours if I’m living on diet coke and counting carbs for chrissakes.

So – that’s a few little thoughts for you. According to Chris who is sitting next to me “I am blogging my t**s off” right now… He’s so charming.

On that note. See ya. I’m meant to be swimming today.

Cat xxx