Journey's can change direction

Its been a while since my last blog post here, and I can now sit and be comfortable with my decisions. I had planned after having to pull out of this years Rottnest Channel Swim due to hypothermia that I would make another attempt at a solo crossing in February 2017. Some things have happened in my life for me to make some slight changes.

I know that I don't need to make the crossing solo to prove to myself or anyone else that I can do it. I know that I am recovered from my eating disorder and can continue to gain and maintain my weight and not stress over it. I can live my life without having to be exercising every day. I have also come to find new loves in my life that now take a new priority. I have new dreams and goals that I am now working towards.

It has been a tough decision to make about not attempting another solo crossing, but I can happily say that I will be doing a duo with my awesome training partner.We will have our amazing support crew just like this year and we will be training hard like we did last year, just this time I have put a little more focus on other things in my life and not just being totally obsessed with swimming and making sure I am getting faster with every training session.

I know in my heart of hearts that I will one day try a solo crossing again, but for know I am happy to do it as a duo, and also to focus on my love for writing, and reading. Writing is my new journey and you know what its perfectly ok to make changes along the way of your life's journey and to me that is what the experiences in life are for, and the lessons that come with the experiences as well.

So there I am. New pathway, a slight change in a previous goal, and so much to look forward to.

Have an awesome week to come and enjoy the experiences you have every day xx

Hayley

Being Inspired...

This week has been one of finding some positive head space for my swimming. I have danced around the idea of not re attempting the Rottnest Swim for 2017. I thought I had made my mind up until late this week. I know a lovely lady in America who this week circumnavigated Bermuda 36.5 miles in 21 hours (58.74 kilometers), and I hear she is going to be swimming the Hudson 8 Bridges starting in a weeks time. So I kicked myself up the bum and said, well its time to get my shit together and stop shutting down and start ramping up. I also got a message on Facebook from the Rotto Channel facebook page for the date for next years event. 27th February 2017. I have also had the bonus and thank goodness the constant pep talk from my training partner over the last few weeks. So I am privileged to have people in my life who try to keep me on track.

So yesterday when I went swimming, it was the first time I didn't have fixed in my mind not to swim, but the opposite, it was get in and swim. It was a 1500m swim, nothing big, but more than I have done over the past few weeks since being back in the water. I felt almost like a new person getting into the water yesterday. I am looking forward to my swim tomorrow morning and an endurance swim on Wednesday morning. I can now look forward to getting into pool and turn the arms over and watch the black line pass me by.

Today while I was out for my first walk in over 2 years I saw some local guys out on their bikes and again I have tossed around the idea of selling my second road bike and giving up on my cycling all together, seeing them smiling as they rode past me, has made me feel that I need to stop being so negative about everything that I used to do and love, and find time to fall in love with it again.

The courage it took my friend to swim around Bermuda and to swim again the Hudson  Bridges is enough to show me that I can stop kicking myself and pick myself up and get back in the water, get out for walks and back on the bike.

Have an awesome week everyone and look to someone who inspires you to kick yourself in the butt to get back on the path to your goals and dreams.

Hayley xx

Swimming for the love...

Lately I have had issues with getting back into swimming properly. I have had surgery which put me out of the water for 6 weeks, I have had a minor car accident that put me out of the water for a week. I have mornings where I really haven't been bothered to swim at all. So why am I feeling so 'Blah' about swimming now, when I couldn't get enough of it last year leading up to the Rottnest Channel Swim?

I have gotten a year older, I have been busy, I have made changes in my life. I have found a new love for reading and enjoying quiet in my life. I guess I worked so hard at swimming last year that I gave everything else up, or didn't even look at anything else that would interest me. I have also found that I have a hate for 25 meter pools. My local pool is 25 meters and as much as its a great pool and really close to home, I hate going there. Its a 20 minute drive to other pools of larger size. I swim on Wednesday mornings at Belmont Oasis and love it. I got in on Wednesday for a session and as it was freezing cold outside and dark when we arrived at 6:15 in the morning, I managed to get my head into gear and get a 2km swim done which consisted of 1500m straight up and then 5 x 100m sets. I haven't done a 1500m swim in ages and it was nice to get a good rhythm going and as much as I was probably 4 minutes slower over all for the distance compared to just before the Rotto swim, I was happy with he mornings session.

I am going to be re-attempting the Rotto swim in February 2017. I guess now knowing what to expect and deal with I am not so pushed to be pushing my body so early, and instead doing a very slow build up to the Summer swim season and also getting back to the love of swimming, and not as much as the feeling of having to swim. As someone has told me more than once..."its ok, you are human!" I am human and I am going to have days where I don't want to do something, and you know what, that is ok.

As it is a long weekend here this weekend, I am working, though start my long weekend on Monday when everyone is starting to wind their long weekends up. I decided this week that I was not going to be swimming Saturday as I usually would, or Sunday, but swim at a different pool on Monday, and for the love and fun of swimming, more than the have to.

If its raining, run outside and dance in the rain and have fun.

Have a great weekend

Hayley xx

Finding my swimming mojo

Over the past few weeks as much as I am trying to be positive about my swimming, its just not clicking. I feel like I really can't be bothered getting into the pool to swim laps. I feel tight and slower than pre-surgery which I know is to be expected. Plus having a small car accident three weeks ago has not helped with whiplash and a sore back. So the last couple of weeks have been hard to find motivation to go swimming and even when I am there, to do much.

So I am hoping with a new week I can get my mind in a better place and start to be more driven in the water that sinking. I guess as much as I know in my heart and mind I won't be able to run again, but maybe power walk, that I could go back to triathlon again. So with a few things running (excuse the pun) through my mind, and not having my swimming mojo, its been just a little difficult to find much drive at all. The other hard part I guess with out really taking the time to think about it, is I finished my last open water swim doing the Rottnest Channel Swim in February, and with a DNF (did not finish) due to hypothermia and I haven't been back in the ocean since, due to surgery and now weather as its cold, stormy and almost Winter. Swimming in the ocean for me, makes me feel free, light, one with the ocean so to speak, and the feeling of almost flying. I guess that is the part I miss the most, where swimming in the pool, just ins't the same.

Now its up to me to find away to pull myself out of this hole and into a better mind set for when I swim in the pool and push that bit harder and smarter.

Have an awesome week everyone...

Hayley xx

Never Give Up!

 When you have a dream and for some reason you think that you can no longer reach that dream, remember there is always a way, it might be a different direction you need to take to get to that dream, but never give up!

I thought I wouldn't be able to go back to triathlon, though I had a wonderful thought of instead of doing the run section there might be the idea to power-walk it. Though I need the all clear from my surgeon before I tackle this idea.

I call it an idea not a goal at this point, as I don't want to get my hopes to high and then land myself back to where I was when first told I wouldn't be able to run again. As much as I would love the to do another solo half Ironman event, I have to be very much aware, that I can not afford to injure my foot again, as it will only cause bigger problems in the future.

I wish I knew years ago what I know today. As cliche` as that sounds I think aspects of my life would be different, though many would be the same. I wish I could have loved triathlon as a 20 something and had more time doing such an amazing sport. I am very grateful for the times I have competed as a team member and a solo participant, with great memories and wonderful experiences. So what ever happens, I will work my way through it and come to see the reasons for what happens.

Have a great weekend when it comes...

Hayley xx

Training to start 2016/17

This week will see me stepping back up to quality training, as the past week has had set backs due to a minor car accident last weekend. Yesterday was my first proper swim session in a little while and it was good to be back into a better perspective on my swimming. Over the next couple of weeks as I start to get more sessions in per week again and slowly build back to my previous fitness levels before my first attempt to swim the Rottnest Channel.

I have realised I have lost speed over the last eight to nine weeks that I have had off from surgery and accident. So with determination and drive I will strive to rebuild and become faster again and regain the 11 seconds per 100m I have slowed down by. In order to rebuild, and as much I would like to go back to swimming  5-6 days a week, its not going to happen. I need to slowly rebuild. Form is still where is should be, its back to rebuilding the strength in my back and shoulders. Also I noticed with my swimming yesterday I need to do a bit more work on my lung capacity, so more sessions of more strokes per breath that needs to be taken while doing freestyle. Above all else with training its also a matter of staying focused on good eating habits, or I will be back to where I was the day of the swim as well, with not fueling properly before the swim, and that would have made the attempt a little harder as well. So as this week takes shape so will my swimming. With a session planned for tomorrow night for an hour.

Have an awesome week everyone...

Hayley xx

A new year of training

 With two weeks till I start back to proper swim training, I am looking forward to the time in the water to relax, clear my mind and to plan for the next eleven months of training, but not just myself, this year I am coaching more people, others who want to join in the journey of swimming across the Rottnest Channel. I will have a lovely team of four, hopefully a duo team and four of us who wish to do the solo.

For me this year training will be different. Not so much on my technique of swimming more on being able to deal with long cold swims. I am hoping to do some winter open water swims as well, to condition the body into the cold and choppy waters that we get on the channel swim. Even though this years swim was the best conditions that has been had in such a long time, there were still areas of choppy water, especially once you start getting closer to Rottnest Island. I am looking forward I guess more to next years swim, as I know what to expect and how to deal with the sea sick situations that I had and knowing I am and will be even stronger physically and mentally than this year.

The next eleven or so months will be filled with so many new and old things. From swim training to writing novels, and to working, plus family time, my days will be filled and my life fulfilled. I guess that is the simplicity of it all. Its a matter of putting things in your life that you enjoy and that make you happy. Finding the courage to chase your dreams and goals, though finding the balance to be able to not rush and enjoy the journey no matter which way it goes.

Have a wonderful week ahead and chase your dreams...

Hayley xx