Happy Festivus

The joys of Christmas begin - I got the lights up late this year as I have been in the midst of thesis writing. Due to a number of unforeseeable circumstances, I did not meet my planned due date and will be finishing everything off in the new year. I'm onto the last section of the last results chapter so everything should roll smoothly once that is done.From B, Jeb and I have a very merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I hope to be able to catch up with friends more often in the New Year. Wish me luck with the job hunt and fingers crossed the dream job calls for an interview.

getting the teeth out

Ever since my dad started time-trialling I looked fwd to the day we would race together.

I've been making steady progress in the last 6 months. Work has been insane, but exciting. My PhD is 75% of the way there. 6 months ago it was 20% there so I have a real sprint to the finish line, but it's do-able.


So a quick update before I put my head back in the books.

The 2up TT held by ATTA late in October was the perfect opportunity for me to stretch the legs and challenge myself. Two months away from the event I was hardly riding, as riding results in my body shutting down and an inability to work without pain.

Two n a bit weeks out from the event - all those planned weekend sessions failing to happen - panic sets in and i set out to train.

Squeezed a few TT sessions with coach Lorraine and recovery with Bec just in time for the pre dawn wakeup call.




Managed to lose a sock before the ride, so I got stuck with dad's daggy sock - never mind booties covered it. We took off and held a good pace - staying lead bunny for nearly the whole lap. Went faster than we thought and I gave dad a taste of what suffering is about. Look fwd to seeing him slogging it in King's park soon.

Stay tuned for the latest outing with a famous Australian speedy sidekick! Have to wait for pic - glad to get the teeth out again

Ready for winter?

So not in the mood for writing - photos it is.

Hit another speedbump in recovery last week with the infection by another virus that leaves me achy, tired and weak.


Some good news - new gloves! they should keep me warm and fashionable if i ever make it out.

UWA at dawn

Mother's Day Part II

A quick trip home to drop off Jebine and then back out again to visit the other half of the family. This arvo we were heading down to watch some basketball; Rockingham vs Stirling.









It was a nail-biter, Stirling (the blue team/our team) were down 20 points at quarter time. They were still down 1 point at 3/4 time but continued dominating the last half to win by about 7 points.

Mother's Day Part I

Dad was doing the ATTA Season Close TT @ Champion Lakes. I'd planned on meeting him pre-race for a warm up spin but only just made it in time to see him take off. I'm a bit hooked on the iphone app 'Hipstomatic' and tested out a few different settings today. There not the best for action photography but I'm still impressed.

Jeb was looking forward to the walk around Champion Lakes

Mouse working hard - as always keeping things running smoothly

The rowers were out this morning which meant the start/finish line was near the bridge today creating quite a cozy atmosphere with everything so close together

Dad crossed the line a few seconds away from his PB. Not a bad effort considering his just come back from 3 weeks in Europe!

Dad and I enjoying the 'post-race wave of goodness' - "Are jelly legs normal?"
Starting to look like a pro

Takin a break from the grumps

This is my view 9 to 5, mon to fri

My view waiting for the rest of the crew to show up Sat morn

The greeting I received from my naughty puppy who dug up my garden whilst out ridin'

Got the grumps

Probably shouldn't write today - my cold is taking over. Work is like a hills ride when you're overweight and have flat tyres.

grump mumble mumble


early to bed me thinks!

Maybe i can ride next week!

Looking forward to getting my hands on the latest RIDE magazine as I even managed to get a grumble posted in their. And - they sent me a shirt for writing in!

Look who keeps me company though - can't complain!

Jeb - after rampaging my garden

Why writing a thesis is like racing a 6 week tour

Thesis writing has many things in common with racing

The preparation - endless hours and it never feels like enough hours. Both include several pre-*big*race mini-races; (presentations and publications would be like club/state races)

The food - race time is when you get to eat all the high cal stuff and guess what happens when you work on a computer 10 hours a day.

The stress. Almost impossible to think or talk about anything else. *Beware* this can get you in trouble if it appears you aren't listening to those around you.

The daily rituals are very similar come race time wake up, dawdle, eat, dress, dawdle, check equipment, dawdle, warm up, get going, sprint, worry you aren't going to make it, slug it out, cross the finish line, shower, eat, relax, sleep. Then you repeat * 42

The major difference between the two being fitness - one goes up, the other goes down.

Better cross the line soon so I can get back out there!

Photo courtesy of Peter Mah

Am I ready to come back?

It dawned on me (in the shower) that my health has improved hugely in the last two weeks. We'll never know exactly what it was that helped with the improvement. Was it simply time, or the handfuls of multi-vitamins, probiotics, good food, fish oil, good rest, sleep herbs, chinese herbs, oil tinctures and catnip, caffeine or riding my bike. Maybe the latest Ride will have some answers - I posed a question to them and am looking forward to seeing how they respond!

Then I realised that even if I wanted to train 20 hours a week I simply don't have those 20 hours to spare! Phew ! Coz I'm enjoying 'life' at the moment and am not ready to go back into race mode.

Back to why I *can't* train 20 hours a week -I'm in a different race, not on the road, on paper. yikes! I've got less than 2 months to finish the dreaded thesis. We're getting there! Progress has been made. Looking forward to sending it off though. Better get back to it then.

Ticy Ticky Boom

Perth band Boys Boys Boys! launched their video clip for Ticky Ticky Boom last Friday. I love it.

Great for a sidetrack or boost early morning...

What the others say about GF

There really isn't much scientific literature out there about glandular fever or mononucleosis. I've gotten a bit disheartened by this and by the length of my recovery - when so many others have taken a few weeks not 4 months.

There is light! I'm managing full-time work now (just) and I'm hoping to start doing some cycling soon. It'll be short and with lots of reflection as to how my body is coping. The food elimination may be helping, but it's really hard to say.

I'm on the hunt for some evidence - and not really having much luck.

I did find a couple of things interesting about the mono article from Peak Performance. Firstly, stress is a very recurrent theme when talking about illness and immunity. I guess the PhD isn't really helping there - but now it seems like the stress of the PhD is larger because I don't get to go for a ride before/after work. It *will* be finished soon.

The other part of the article that caught my eye were the 'smoke signals'. Did I have any smoke signals? Maybe. I was running around like a headless chook last year. I had some other stressors and I definitely struggled for a lot of the time. and after returning from a productive work trip overseas had my training cut short one day when I truly just couldn't get on the bike.

Maybe I should go meditate now...

Is it working?

Not cycling is not all bad.

Every journey begins with a single step (or pedal stroke)

I rode my bike!!

Yay for me. It wasn't a long ride, long enough for me to test my legs, enjoy the fresh air and get out of the house!

Saturday morning I managed to catch up with SPR to pick up my new kit. I couldn't wait to try it on when I got home - and you can see that once I got it on I was back to bed - major headaches and fatigue. Luckily, it fits - I have a new body thanks to glandular fever - I wasn't sure how *big* to get the new kit. Would love to be smaller and well the only way that is going to happen is with exercise.


Which reminds me of Shaun McManus' advice to a young NOVA listener one day. A girl had rung up asking advice on diet- would a low carb atkin's style diet be a good diet to follow? Shaun replied with something like - every time my wife brings up dieting and changing our food I say "E, X, E, R, C, I, S, E, EXERCISE." So very true in my mind, you can change your diet but if you don't exercise you won't get the results. But saying that, I used to exercise 15 hours a week and couldn't lose weight. Maybe if I could have lost my addiction to chocolate!!

Saying that I need to lose weight but I can't overdo the exercise. I'm way too tired to function properly as it is. I'm getting there slowly, I've altered my diet in a million ways and aim one was to reduce the kJs that were mainly comfort kJs. I've started going back to the chiropractor which is helping immensely.

PS- I still eat chocolate.

Speaking of diet - I have made additional changes to my diet in hope that cutting out certain foods will alleviate some of the pain and fatigue that is holding me back.

Increased:
A million supplements, extra vegies, gluten free products (crumbly pasta), sleep

Lost:
gluten products e.g. 'normal' bread/pasta,

Reduced:
Chocolate, Caffeine (from 6 cups/day to 2), refined sugars

Next to go:
Milk!

Take care of yourself

Two days worth of supplements equals quite a hefty handful.

Armed with confusion and frustration, I have taken to trying every remedy besides witchery. I took this photo when making a pack of supplements to take to work with me. Bianca is sure there are more and I think she's right. I'm confident in the fish oil and multivitamins, and everything else is there just in case. Can't forget my mood supplements - choc + icecream. The other vitamins include; Thompson's Immunofort, Rose-Hip Vital, CoQ10, vitamin C and magnesium.


I can't say this week has been the most progressive recovery week. Energy wise - the mornings are always the hardest and the toughest. Quite a few mornings weren't very pretty but I made it to work every day and I'm a few baby steps closer to finishing my thesis.

Coffee is my next best friend right now and I truly do not function without it in the morning. I have to be careful though - I'm banned from having more than 2 cups a day - if I have too much caffeine I tend to overdo it with 'fake' energy and eventually become more unstuck.

Flying the McClellan flag

My dad took up Bike Riding and then time-trialling last year. We managed to do one TT together before I got too sick to sit on a bike.

Despite living 200km away he's managed to compete in 8 time trials and is doing a great job of meeting his aim of collecting PBs. Last weekend he took almost 3 mins off his previous best time for Champion Lakes and is now in the 30km/hr club.

Go DAD!!

Stuck in the cave

Several hundred dollars later I am full to the brim with tonics, teas, powders, capsules, tablets, fresh fruit, fresh vegies, red meat, gluten-free goodies....

Into the bin have gone the chocolates, wheat-filled lovelies, double shot coffees, and late nights.

Not that I had a lot of late nights.

I'm a bit worried about the sanity of those around me as I deal with the sugar and caffeine withdrawal symptoms.

When will I be allowed out?

When will I start a week feeling good rather than shattered? soon, please be soon.

To pass or fail

Or to accept small graces and improvements.

Still tired, still grumpy. I have trouble holding my head up or walking stairs.

Boo - I just want to ride my bike.


The improvements are slow but sure. I wake up before the alarm. I am back at work. I am about to send off the next paper to be published.

New challenges

It's no secret that I'm not exercising at the moment. It's also no secret that I'm not enoying being sick - who would?

At the moment I feel like I'm on the start line of a race that is constantly being postponed because the roads are clogged and unsafe to race on.

So - the challenge. I'm not entirely sure how smart it is to embark on a challenge that I can't fully immerse myself in like I usually would but it's a challenge that needs to be undertaken.

Waffle waffle.

I need to lose quite a few kgs to be a healthy size and weight. To make my task slightly easier I'm going to break it down in stages. Stage 1 is 10kg, my first goal is to stop the increase! Argh, my love for food and lack of exercise has got me in a bit of trouble! Here goes...

I'm publicising my challenge to stay accountable and focused. Feel free to post your favourite weight loss recipes, tips, tricks and hints!! They will be much appreciated.

Appreciating the small things

I am so frustrated with being sick, again, still. Boo.

My body aches. I'm tired and I'm grumpy. I have 2 months to finish my thesis and end the marathon that I have been running for the last 4 years. So, here I go, wish me luck. I'm starting another day feeling like I should be finishing a tough week.

But, I thought I would share something that I enjoyed on a night I would usually be training.

A couple of weeks ago I went to a fancy dress party where the theme was marriage and I got to wear a wedding dress. I never dreamed of my 'perfect wedding dress' as a child and I guess I was surprised at how much fun I had doing it and how much I loved my $10 dress.

Can you believe Bianca made the bustle in one afternoon? Of course, Jeb our dog, was there every step of the way!!

Back on the bike

Well, some of you may be ready to say "Where the bloody hell are you?" Whilst others may have said it so long ago they've stopped thinking it.

Enough already.


I have re-entered the world, one step at a time (literally), since getting sick over 4 months ago!

Recovery is a bitch. But without your health, you really don't have much I have found. So, whilst I have been watching my biking colleagues travel around the world, I am rejoicing leaving the house!

Priorities have changed as 4 months of my life were literally smooshed. Right now, I'm focusing on finishing my PhD, starting my career in the lab and getting my little house together. In my free time I'm planning a wedding (late next year), riding my bike, and recovering some more. My body still aches and aches after any sort of effort which is a little disheartening. Slowly, slowly. Looking forward to my SPR kit coming soon as I am out of bike gear after a few debacles, *food* being one of them!!!

Good luck to my dad who is competing in his first 40km TT this Sunday. Go DAD!@!

Can't expect to change the result if you keep trying the same treatment

There are small cracks in the system now, and if we keep patching them up and ignoring them the wall may tumble.

In other news, Glenn O'Shea and Mark Renshaw both have glandular fever. It will be interesting to see how we all recover. I'm envious because those guys are able to ride at the moment and I'm stuck in bed!!

Tomorrow is another day.

P.S I'm sorry

I'm sorry if I have recently offended you. In some ways, I've turned into an old woman. I'm impatient and I'll tell you what I want, what I can do, what I can't do, and unfortunately, I might tell you what *you* should do. Don't worry, the fatigue affects my tongue as well.

To all those silly drivers that make me work harder to avoid smashing into them, I'm not sorry for beeping my horn, you annoy me.

To all the people writing documents, websites, announcements etc, the red squiggly line that appears underneath the word you've just typed indicates there could be a spelling mistake. OK?

To the people that tell me I need to do the dishes - says who?

To the people I have not seen, including my boss :( it's not by choice.

To the people that pick up my spelling mistakes, sshhhh!

Back to work - Partially

Yep - I'm getting sick of being sick.

A quick update - early November I was knocked down with glandular fever. Since then I haven't been able to get off the rollercoaster that keeps toying with me. I have good days and bad, and at the moment I don't trust a good day as the sign I'm hoping for that I can resume normal life.

Some cool things I have found out whilst being stuck in bed with a body that feels like it should be able to work, until I get out of bed;

1. Some things don't matter that much
Like a clean house. I love a clean house and like most, I hate cleaning. I hate even more, not being able to clean. I know I should do the dishes. I also know I will need to sit down while doing them and then rest afterwards.

2. Some things in life matter
I have gotten over the guilt of not doing things and have now started to enjoy my time off and getting to know the people that I have missed whilst running around like a headless chook. Enforced rest is not always bad.

3. Caffeine is my friend
I love it.

4. The internets are my friend (and yours too)
The ability to shop online means that I can now eat and play without leaving the house - groceries, clothes, jewellry, stock for the business, work plus all the other good time wasting things. I also managed to buy some new track wheels!!

5. The iPhone saved my life.
Love it, love it, love it. I thought the battery had karked it this morning - yikes - it's ok now tho :)

6. Things happen for a reason
Don't always like to believe in fate, kharma or luck. Sometimes you gotta roll with it though. I have learnt a lot about life, love and friendship and some very good things in my life might not have returned or would have taken a lot longer to happen if I hadn't taken a second look.

Lil j, one of my girls that keeps me sane

7. You have to listen to your body.
I could say a lot about managing fatigue, blah blah, but obviously I haven't quite figure that out fully. I do know what caffeine withdrawal, pain, fatigue, hunger etc do to my mood, my brain and me.

So, let's see what I can do and fingers crossed I'll have made some improvement with the next update.