Day 1: Simple things in life...

Winters day at the beach...

The Simple Things In Life...

 soaking my feet in the ocean

 Today I found that I finally feel that I know myself. The person I want to be, and will be. Someone who enjoys life for every moment present, not the past, and not that far into the future. That does not mean I haven't got dreams for my future, but I am now taking each day as it comes and making sure I don't dwell on my past, and thinking of the simple pleasures in my life that make me happy.

Starting on Saturday 1st August, I am going to post of facebook each day something that makes me smile. It is also the first anniversary of the passing of my beloved grandmother, whom I miss terribly every day.

My Beautiful Golden Retriever

This morning I had a very interesting dream,  I am one that believes that messages from past loved ones are given to us. I have dreamed of a particular garden for a long time, one that has a long wandering pathway to a gate, most times I have been able to go through this gate, and  and into an area like a nursery of plants, that seem to be lined up, some times they are well watered and other times not, but in this mornings dream, I didn't see the gate and was more focused on the new pools that were put in.

On thinking about this dream as it was so very clear, in colour and had sound, I feel that the gate represented my past, and finally I have been able to close the gate and focus now on what is important such as my swimming (hence the pools). I found today that I for once have a feeling of calmness and lightness.

flowers in my garden

Its interesting to learn as a 40 something woman that has been through an eating disorder for over 30 years and understanding why I ended up with one. Suffering a heart attack in my mid to late 30's caused by salmonella septicemia, living with Coeliac Disease (gluten allergy), Depression (part of eating disorder), having to let go of certain relationships in order to become healthy, that these trials I have been through in my life have helped me to become the person I am today. Without these I wouldn't have learnt so much about myself and others.

I can now live each day knowing I am living the best life I can on that day that I have been blessed to have. I have dreams and goals that in time will happen, and I am working very hard to help them to happen.

If there is anything I can take away from my life so far, is we are truly blessed to have each day we can take a breath, smile and know we are a live. We go through many trials in life for reasons, and its up to us to learn and understand these, and not dwell on the negatives in these trials, but to find the positives that we are to take away and live.

I just hope we can all find tomorrow that something simple thing that makes you stop and smile...

Have a great day...

Hayley xx

Bottlebrush flower with a bee in it.

A little rest and relaxation...Queenstown, New Zealand.

View from Hotel Balcony

 This past week I was lucky enough to spend it in Queenstown, New Zealand, on a work conference, but had a little time to take some awesome snap shots of this most amazingly beautiful, scenic town. I can say that I fell in love with the beauty, food, the multi-cultural people working and holidaying.

It was also nice to have a week off of training and to enjoy myself and take in so much around me. Yes I was there for work as well, and even listening to a couple of inspiring people talk was great and gave me a boost to know I am on the right playing field.

So as I step into a new week back here in Perth, and look forward to getting back into the pool, I take a moment to remember the wonderful moments I had in Queenstown.

I had many days of looking out onto the most amazingly clear, turquoise water and wanting so much to go swimming...only if I had, had my wetsuit and the water was a little warmer than 8 degrees...

Carrick Winery, Central Otago, NZ

This is my boss, and I at Carrick Winery, messing around...This beautiful winery is organic and bio-dynamic. The wine was just stunning, the food mouth watering, and the weather was excellent, even though a tad chilly.

The time spent in NZ was also to do no training, and try to gain two kilograms. I managed to gain 1.3kg which is great, and with all the healthy foods I could find, oh and yes there was a little indulgence in gluten free caramel slice at breakfast.

On one of the mountains near the town, just a short walk away from the hotel, had a gondola, which we took to the top and had the most spectacular views of Queenstown. I could just dream of swimming through the water that was below us and dreaming of the clear view under the water. As the water comes from the glaciers its very, very cold, but I was biting at the bit to get in, but couldn't.

Shotover Jet

Queenstown has a lot of adventures for everyone, from snow-boarding, skiing, Shotover Jet boat, Luge, hikes, bungy jumping and so much more. I would love the opportunity to go back and do so much more.

I will miss Queenstown very much, till next time  So for now, its time to get back into the pool tomorrow and back into training as its only a matter of 12 weeks till our first qualifying race of 10km. So between the pool, gym and conditioning sessions the time I am sure will fly by. Though I am very much looking forward to getting back into the ocean for training, kind of miss the waves, seeing the fish and not following the black line.

Have a great week everyone...

Hayley xx

Digging Deep...

 Yesterday was one of the best swim sessions and one of the hardest I have ever done. Yes I accomplished my first 10 kilometer pool swim. Time wise I gave myself and my training partner four hours to get it done in. We managed a huge 3:46 (3 hours and 46 minutes). Our target for doing the same distance in the ocean is 4:00 (we are allowed maximum time of 4:15).

So what goes through the mind of someone swimming 10 kilometers in the pool? For me I started and at about the two kilometer mark I was so relaxed that I felt like I was going to sleep, and startled myself a little. By the time the first 2.5km mark came it was time for a carbohydrate gel and drink, then within less than a minute I was back into the swim...

I get back into the rhythm of the swim, but it did take a bit, and then I realise that the sun is shinning and well...oops no sun cream, so we are going to get a bit burnt..oh well, nothing I can do now, just keep going. So now it was a matter of getting to the five kilometer mark before I could have another gel and that would put me at the half way mark. I already knew my time was good, when I hit 2.5km, it was a matter of not letting it drop to much.


 I hit the 5km mark and still feeling good, time for a gel and drink, then back into it I go...I knew this wasn't going to be easy so I thought, I have made it to eight kilometers before, so just focus on breathing and keep the arms turning over. Pace...Pace...Pace...try not to slow down to much and don't push to hard...got to have enough to get through.

Time was still good, I was under time wise from my previous long swim by a bit. So with feeling good and knowing there was more to come, it was on wards and "just keep swimming".

I could feel that it was a little harder getting into a smooth rhythm this time, so it was a matter of settling, breathing and focus on the arms getting them relaxed and into it.

I started hitting a good rhythm and felt good. There were laps when I could feel the pace drop, and the back and arms were starting to fatigue a bit, but the mind was still in the right place. I took a mental recon of how my body was feeling by the 7.5km mark when I could have my last gel and a drink. I could feel some of the chaffing happening, the fatigue had kicked in and the mind was starting to feel it as well. I knew I could get through the next 500m with no issues and then push through the next two kilometers and break them down if I had to.

So I make it to the eight kilometer mark, feeling it all, and the mind is starting to feel it, but I keep going, there are laps in the next 1000m that I have to dig deep and remind myself that I am doing this to swim the Rottnest Channel and I visualise the the last two kilometers of the Channel swim coming up onto the beach and finishing...

By the nine kilometer mark the arms are tired, the lats (muscles) in my back are burning, the chaffing is starting to sting, and I know that I just have to dig deep to make the last 1000m to reach my goal. I start to chant "Welcome to the Grind" this is my favourite inspirational piece that boosts me when I need it.

I make it to 9500m and the burning is unbelievable, but the mind just kicks in and tells the body to keep going, and yes some of my technique has already gone by the way side and my arms are just turning over. I try to keep my breathing stable and positive thoughts.

9800m I want the next four laps to fly past me, and I turn for the last 100m. I know I am good for time. I make my way up the lane feeling every little bit of my body...I turn, start to turn the arms as much as I can faster, by the 25m mark the legs kick in and I know I am at the finish line....

I stop. I press the interval button on my watch, then press stop...take a moment to see my time...3:45:53, feeling amazing and trying to calm my breathing. I take a moment to take what I just did, this is the first time I have managed a 10 kilometer swim. Its time for a slow cool down and do another 100m breast-stroke. Then its time to get out, now last time when I did the 8km swim my toes cramped up and I was expecting that again, so I took it a bit slower to climb the stairs out, stretching my legs and calves. With every inch of my body feeling the cold air, I walk ever so slowly to the doors to the indoor pool and into the change rooms for a hot shower.

Have an awesome week everyone...

Hayley xx

Finding inner strength...

Come Sunday my training partner and I head for the pool to do a 4 hour swim, and hope to make 10 kilometers in the water. As much as I would prefer to do this in the ocean, here in Perth the weather is not suited to open water swimming, its just to cold and over cast (what I call Shark bait weather) and plus its also a matter of being sensible with ones training. So the pool it will be.

 I have not done 10 kilometers before in the water, either pool or open water, so this is going to take a fair amount of preparation to do this. Its not just the body that has to prepare, its also the mind. I truly believe that no matter what the mind thinks the body can do, but if the mind becomes negative the body does as well. Now normally I would swim with music playing but lately have found it becomes more of an annoyance, so I have decided not to swim the the tunes, but to just train the mind to stay focused on my breathing and to relax in the water.

On Monday when I was swimming four kilometers I had different things running through my mind, like my favourite video from YouTube and then all of a sudden I design in my mind the pictures I would love to have embroidered onto a tshirt. Two dolphins on either side of a circle, a shark at the bottom and a jellyfish at the top. I did want the words...No Fear! printed in the middle as this is what it means to be to swim in the ocean from Cottesloe Beach to Rottnest Island.

I believe in myself to reach my goal this Sunday in swimming 10 kilometers in the pool, in four hours. I believe that my body will cope with this swim, I hope that my mind stays positive throughout the swim and if some negatives gate crash my thoughts, that I can deal with them and get back on a positive track of thinking.

Have an awesome weekend coming and stay positive...
Hayley xx

Endurance....

Today was a session of learning how ones mind and body can connect on an endurance level in the pool of swimming up and down the lane 160 times and try to maintain a good steady pace and even though the body was feeling it and at times wanting to stop, the mind was...no keep going we want the eight kilometers...

The body will fatigue, the pace will become slower, the way to deal with this I found was with breathing, making sure I was breathing from my diaphragm, not my chest. Consistent deep breathing, and the words "Feel the Grind" clicked through my mind when I could feel my arms slowing down. (I have put up on a separate post Welcome To The Grind...this is one of the best inspirational video's for athletes. I find it helps put things into perspective when I am having a crappy day and just need that pick me up...
 

In order for me to make my dream and goal of swimming the Rottnest Channel Swim I need to do these long distance endurance swims, and make the body feel so fatigued that it knows that it can keep going, and that as much as the body feels uncomfortable and the muscles burn...and yes they do burn, knowing that there is a reason for all this.

These endurance swims are also used to work out the best foods and drinks to use for feeding. Its interesting to find even when you swim you think of things that would be good, so I thought of having watermelon, one of my favourite summer fruits and having the natural sugars and water from this fruit would be ideal, so one that must be tested.

I believe that with endurance in sports, life and all that we do, will bring so much learning about ourselves and others around us, and the situations we go through.

Have an awesome weekend.

Hayley xx

Welcome To The Grind - Sports Motivational Video

Inside...

 Inside we all have a dream that we want to have come true, we all have fears that can derail these dreams. Life can get in the way, our thoughts can get in our way, other people can derail our dreams. What does it take you to keep on dreaming that dream, what do you think when you see that dream inside and how does that dream make you feel when you see that dream inside...

We need to replace our fears with words, sentences of all things positive to keep striving to reach our dreams. Its not going to be easy, or everyone would be so happy to have their dream, but would that happiness be filled with taking that dream for granted, if you didn't work your butt off to get that dream.

Bear Mountain USA

Some dream the biggest they can, and some have small dreams, but equally important. Others will say things to put you off your dream...they will question your dream...its up to us to know in our hearts, our minds that our dream is ours and that with all our being we can and will reach that dream.

The hardest step is taking that dream from your heart and having your mind come along for the ride of a life time and see it come to fruition. I believe while we have our bodies on this earth, we are to do the most we can with it, dream the biggest dreams, reach for the highest star, and make yourself the happiest you can, as no one else can do that for you.

 Whether its your dream job, your dream sport, your dream event. No matter what it is, you will have some that will go with you and stand by you as you strive, take the hands of these and draw on their encouragement, not the ones that question your dreams, or try to derail your dreams...without dreams this world would be covered in the darkest clouds of negativity, it is our dreams that shine the rays of light and life that the world needs to say we can...


Our journey to our dream is all part of it, its the hard work, the tough times, the ups, the downs, the hills, the highs, the lows, we need to keep our hearts and minds on the dream, no matter what it puts before you, this is all the learning you are needing to do to reach your dream.

My dream is to swim the Rottnest Channel Swim (20km) in February 2016, and then to swim 192km down the Hudson River (The 8 Bridges Swim) within the next two to three years, I would love to be able to swim like a dolphin, and I fear the sting of the stingers, I have faced and will continue to face with each and every open water swim I do. In my journey to my dream(s) I swim in the ocean that houses both my love and my fear, with each swim I face my fear and have started to become tolerant of the sting that I get, that I can mentally detach from the pain of the sting while I swim, and know I will deal with it once I get out of the water, its a matter of keep swimming, make the distance, breathe, you can do it!!

Reach into the deepest part of your heart find that dream that makes your heart skip a beat. Let your mind take on the dream and see that its going to be an amazing journey and that no one can stop you from reaching your dream.

Hayley xx