STOP!!!!!!...The Bus!!!!

Stop the Bus!!! lets put the brakes on and start to slow things down. I am finding lately that I need to make sure I get the time I need to slow my own life down, though I don't want to slow down that much that I completely stop. I guess this where balance in life comes in.

Balance can be a tricky thing, you can either have to much of work in your life and not enough time for rest and relaxation, or you can be the opposite and have to much time on your hands doing not a lot and could be more productive. Then the life of a novice athlete, the one who works, has family and still trains to reach their goals.

I fit into the novice athlete, its hard to make sure you have all your bases covered. I guess as my children are in their late teens and early 20's I am able to spend more time doing what I love with my swimming. Though there are other parts of my life that haven't quite balanced out. If it was up to me and I had no restraints (so to speak) I would be training every minute of every day, even knowing that is just not going to happen, but a girl can dream.

So where do we start drawing the line of what balance is in our lives. Even as we get older, should we really slow down that much, or should we seek that balance for the rest of our lives and make the pathway wider to let new dreams, goals and even a different lifestyle become available for us in the future.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGgoCm1hofM

I have watched the above video on YouTube a few times, the discussion from then 93 year old gentleman by the name of Charles Eugster whom speaks about being of his generation to the health and other issues. His lively address, shows that just how exercise, continual mental stimulation and getting older can be reversed from being a slow degeneration of the mind or body, to still managed to be strong in your 90's.

 Balance is vital to a long and enriched life, I find that yes I can be very one track minded when it comes to my love of swimming and exercise, though I know people who are the same when it comes to the work, and hobbies. I guess if we can all find that balance in our lives and happiness, we can go on and live long and full filled lives to what ever age.

Have an awesome weekend...

Hayley xx

Connections...

We all make connections in our lives with many different people in many different ways. We go to school with people, we work with people, we play sports, through our hobbies, and now these days we meet people from all over the world on Facebook and other social media avenues. This shows just how small our world has become. 

I was following in June on Facebook the 8 Bridges Swim in New York, and have now become friends with one of the girls who swam that event, which is 192km over 7 days, and I have the dream to conquer that particular swim myself in the near future, but its our joint love for swimming that we have a connection. 

We can also make connections with those who have the same ideals in life on social media as well, and hope to make a difference in any way possible.

 Some of our connections only last a short time and some last a life time, no matter how long, we need to cherish these amazing connections and learn the lesson(s) that are there for us.

Have an awesome weekend....

Hayley xx

A Quiet Winters Day...

Cottesloe Beach, Perth, Western Australia

On Saturday afternoon, I found I needed a little quiet time and so I headed for the only place I know the best...Cottesloe Beach, I have my favourite rock I sit on facing the north where I can stare off into the blue ocean. Its one of the simplest of places but with so much emotion.

As I was growing up I spent holiday at my grandparents, they lived over the road for a beach just north of here called, City Beach and I could hear the waves crashing on to the shore at night as I drifted off to sleep. The ocean has always had such a way of settling me when I have been upset or angry. Its interesting that I actually live 45 minutes from the ocean in the hills of our amazing city Perth. I guess I get the best of both worlds, I have the semi-rural area each day, and on the occasion I get to head to the beach for this amazing view and serenity.

Spread your wings....

There are so very few words to describe this amazing photo, that was on Facebook, from Amazing Photo's in the World.

I guess this image represents so many things to so many people, the beauty of such a large bird, the grace of flight, the reflection of life. For me I feel such a pull towards this photo in such a way that we all have such beauty with in ourselves, though we can find it very hard to see. We all have grace in the way we move through life. Reflection on life is so varied, it has been hard for some of us, and a little easier for others, no matter what we have done we can spread our wings...

As the eagle is such a a magnificent bird we to are also magnificent in our own lives, or we have the choice to. I have some friends who are so amazing with animals. They have a menagerie of their own beautiful fur-babies, that they recently have fostered three beautiful pups that were dumped and are  bringing them up just amazingly.  I believe with all my heart that we all have within us an amazing eagle.

May we spread our wings and saw to amazing heights...

Have an amazing weekend...

Hayley xx

If Money Was Not An Issue???

 How many of us are truly happy with what we have done with our lives so far?? Did you have dreams growing up, then as you went through college and university have those dreams been covered over with making sure you did the "right" thing and study something that would give you a stable financial life? Or did you chase your dreams and become what you wanted to be?

If money wasn't an issue, what would you have done??

I dreamed of becoming an Olympic swimmer. I did my swim lessons to a certain level and then stopped, reason why...I don't know. I loved the water, loved the ocean...it only seemed natural. I would watch the Olympics and dream of being the next gold medalist in the freestyle or backstroke, and yes my favourite strokes even to today. Like everyone else I guess I was conditioned to follow the "right" path and I became a Dental Assistant. I liked it initially, but it was the same mundane efforts each day and with a bad back it became even harder.

 I married at an early age (20) and had my kids early as well, which for me is a great thing, though while the kids were little I spent a lot of my time in a deep depression due to having a later found eating disorder and coeliacs disease, which both caused malnourished, which caused the depression, I also got to a point of being suicidal, and thank goodness I never did anything to make it happen. I did though spend many an hour journaling about how I felt and what I thought I really wanted in life, there were the deepest darkest moments as well. Today I can say I am reaching for my deepest dreams and making them come true one at a time.

Challenges come in so many different ways, they could be the goals we set for ourselves, they could be over coming serious illness, no matter what they are it is so very true that things in life don't challenge you, it doesn't change you.

So lets go a little closer with the statement...If Money Was Not An Issue....what would you be doing?? Write that novel that is sitting deep with in you, play your favourite sport at an international level, sing for thousands, become an actor. So what is truly holding us back. Is it the voice of reason that says you need to be realistic and have a "real" job??

Why can't we have that real job, and still manage to reach our dreams. Even if your dreams means going back to school and learning something new, training for the beloved sport, or spending your spare time writing your novel, become the chef you always wanted to be, by starting with cooking for your family.

So why does the horrible feeling of self doubt rise with in us? Is it the feeling of the unknown, is it still that voice that says..."what are you thinking?"... Lets take the feelings of self doubt and throw them to the ends of the earth and place small challenges in place to make the stepping stones to the dream.

I recently watched a video on Facebook in regards to setting yourself a month of challenges. The person making the speech said he spent a month taking photo's everyday of places, etc. Like he said in the video, he now remembers the moments when these photo's were taken and where he was. It wasn't about catching a pretty picture is was about something in that moment that caught his eye and that would leave a lasting memory. If you have that novel curled up with in you, why not spend a month writing a set number of words each day and see what you have by the end of the month.

My goal is to spend September writing. I have a book within me that has been there for a long time, and I believe its about time I actually sat down and put words to paper (so to speak).

I challenge everyone to find something for the month of September to do. Make them small challenges that way you won't be overwhelmed with what you are doing and will keep going with it.

Good luck and have an awesome week...

Hayley xx

The Healthy Me...

 Over the last 12 plus months I have learnt a lot about myself. I have gone from being at the starting process of going through the start of my recovery of an eating disorder, to today where I am a lot happier with myself physically, mentally and spiritually.

I have taken a lot of small steps to be healthier and on all levels and there have been many a time where I have take steps forward and then two steps backwards. These days its a lot more steps forwards than backwards, which is the best.

Triathlon Training at 44kg

I remember doing my first Half Ironman Triathlon May 2014, weighing in at a small 44kg (97 pounds) which for that kind of endurance sport is not good, still way to light. Then when I had to come to the conclusion that due to a foot injury I wouldn't be doing Triathlon again, I would have to look to another form of endurance sport to keep me happy on a fitness level.

As I have always love the water, it was the only avenue I could see that would work for me. I had already done a number of 2.5km open waters swims for added training for triathlon, but it was time to up the anti and look at longer distances and if I could do it. Here comes the crunch I had to gain weight and a large amount in order to be 1. capable of sustaining the energy levels for open water marathon swimming; 2. reduce the risk of hypothermia while is cold waters for longer periods of time; 3. to keep good muscle tone for the distance and strength for marathon swimming as well.

 Today I am happy to say I have gained a large amount of weight, not at the goal weight yet, which is 60kg but very close. I still fluctuate each week, some weeks I am up some I am the same and some I drop, but I am constantly reminded to why I need to have the extra weight on.

I do have my moments of freaking out (eating disorder moments) where I look at my stomach mainly and with it...in my words...podgy, is a little difficult to still get my mind around. Many people look at me and say, "you gotta be kidding, where have you gained the weight??" Every Friday I weigh in, and here is the funny part, at the local veterinarian clinic where I know that the scales are the most accurate. Many of my friends and family have made some very interesting comments about this, but it works. I stay focused and keep going each week, trying to get closer to the goal. So as of last week I am 57kg a total gain of 13kg over 13 months.

Taken 10/8/2015 (57kg)

So to date I am feeling fitter than I ever have, I feel stronger than I ever have and more confident in myself and how I look.

With only seven months till the Rottnest Channel Swim (Big Goal) I have time to reach my goal weight of 60kg and maybe even pass that, though making sure I stick to a good healthy diet, as I am coeliac (allergic to gluten) and allowing myself the special foods that fill the heart and stomach with fun (vanilla slices).

Having the best support group around me has been the most important and valuable assets in my life over the last two to three years of recovery, and with out them I wouldn't be where I am today and as healthy as I am.

To add to the last quote, and to Support You!!!

Have a great weekend everyone, and yes it weigh in tomorrow for me :)

Hayley xx

Self Coaching....

I am finding the role of coaching myself isn't that easy, as I don't have someone watching my swimming to correct issues, or suggest things for me. I am though very lucky that I have a number of people who are sports physiotherapist, marathon swimmers, performance coach.

Take today for instance, I went swimming and as I was driving to the pool I changed my original plan. I was going to swim a straight five kilometers, then decided it might be better to swim 1000m sets. I was initially going to do 3 x 1000m but made a diversion to stay with 2 x 1000m as I was going to try and hold a faster pace, as I was trying to see if I changed my stroke rate, how much it would change my time and distance coverage.

I sent through to a friend of mine some details from, today's swim and one from last month that were the same distance. Times were a little different and so was stroke rate.

Distance	2,000 m	2,000 m
Time	43:39	51:08
Avg Speed	28.4 100m/hour	28.6 100m/hour
Avg Pace	2:07 min/100 m	2:06 min/100 m
Calories	296 C	295 C
Elapsed Time	44:03	51:08
Max Speed	32.4 100m/hour	31.7 100m/hour
Best Pace	1:51 min/100 m	1:54 min/100 m
Avg SWOLF	101	97
Avg Strokes	37	34

This is the two swim sessions I was comparing, the first on is today and the second one was on the 1st July. The thing with this diagram shows that as my stroke rate was higher, so more strokes used, less over all time, though my average pace and speed was a little bit slower, yet my maximum speed was higher this week.

It was suggested to me today that I do a one kilometer time trial and use that as a base for comparison. So my swim session on Wednesday will start with a one kilometer time trial, and then 100m sets for pace and speed.

I enjoy coaching myself and seeing how each swim can be different. I realised over the last couple of days that I am capable to making the qualifying distance of 10 kilometers and so over the coming weeks focusing on pace and technique will be more important. Then it will be a balance between getting the kilometers in and keeping good pace and time.

So as I go into a new week of training, its about pace and time and enjoyment of being in the water.

Have a great week everyone...

Hayley xx

14 Weeks and Its Qualifying time....

 14 Weeks and Counting

With just 14 weeks till I do my 10km Qualifying swim at City Beach, I take to the pool again tomorrow after a two week absence after having virus that has kept me land bound. The feeling of being able to get back into the water fills me with excitement.

These past weeks have been good in a way to allow me to gain some more weight, and take time for the body to recover and build stronger, even though mentally its been a little hard, that I find peace of mind and relaxation in the water, but find that difficult to do on land as much.

So the next 14 weeks are going to be filled with 3-4 swim sessions per week in the pool and in the next 4-5 weeks its time to return to the open water for some strong kilometers and hopefully seeing lots of fish. As well as swimming,  my time will be focused on strength training to keep the body strong and continue to gain speed, and distance and lock in feeding schedules as well, for in the pool and the open water as well.

There will also be some open water races as well, these are part of training than racing to win. Its all about getting the kilometers in and staying focused and keeping the body, mind and spirit sharp.

 I look forward to this weekends swimming and strength training sessions, and hope everyone has a great weekend as well.

Hayley xx

Day 5: The Simple Things In Life...

Today is day 5 of the simple things in life, I found this amazing video on Facebook this morning and just say so much about the human spirit...


http://www.fb-229.dailymegabyte.com/sailor-who-stepped-on-an-ied-and-lost-unstoppable/

Be unstoppable no matter what...

Have a great day

Hayley xx

Days 2,3 and 4 of The Simple Things In Life...

Day 2: Swim Gear

Day 3: Swan River, Perth

Local Park Creek

Loving each day as it comes...

Hayley xx