Where is Holly

I am here behind my computer, in bed, at work or in the gym*.
I am several hundred steps away from getting my life back. That is submitting my PhD thesis.

But, as I have already taken several thousand steps, relatively speaking the end is not that far away.

Why is it taking so long. Perfectionism, motivation, health, focus, understanding new concepts involves time-consuming tasks, rechecking, comparing, reading and re-reading previous studies for perspective....

Doing a thesis is like driving to a distant town, without a map. With some idea of the direction, there are times when you pick the wrong road or hit a pothole. Then the tyre goes flat or you run out of petrol. But you fix the car, go back to where you came from and try again. Eventually I will arrive at my destination.

In the real life**, a friendly police officer informed me this evening that my brake lights were out. Luckily no fine or work order.

Yes I am here, I am in the midst of planning many new exciting things and will be back soon. xx

* Current favourite class Sh'Bam!
** My brother and I bought our sister an Angry Birds game "To play in the real life!" Which I hope she is enjoying without losing study time.

New kids on the block

Watch out - there's a new team in WA, La famiglia bambola. You guessed it - my family. Here's mum modelling her kit before a mountain bike ride around her back yard. Glad to hear mum might finally be having some luck sorting her asthma out. She'll be pushing dad in sprints before he knows it I'm sure.
I've started to commute on the bike a bit which has been good for the legs and the soul. Seems such a waste to live in a beautiful city and not get to enjoy the views. The draft of my second last paper is practically done and I'm starting to sort out the pieces of the last one! Won't be long now before I can get some use out of the new kit. I'm in training for a TT in May! Won't be aiming for a PB that's for sure but would like to know where I stand based on minimal training. Here's to the body holding up - all has been well for a few days and I would like to get some fresh air and sunshine.

Self restraint

This week I started the Michelle Bridges 12 week body transformation.

She has got a great website that takes you through all the necessary steps to sort out your demons for the best chance to lose weight. Saying that my body decided to pack it in the week of starting and hence my exercise is still not taking off.

For two days after exercising I am extremely fatigued, my muscles are stiff and ache. And not the good ache, my muscles actually refuse to work whilst doing simple things like cooking, getting dressed, cleaning, walking.

Luckily my home office set up is quite comfortable and I can continue with my thesis whilst feeling like my body is made of concrete. To meet my work pressures I was resorting to chocolate and take out food for convenience. I am now dealing with the consequences and it's an interesting world to live in. I have now made a conscious effort not to eat chocolate and include fresh fruit and veges in every meal - following the 12WBT plan. Experiencing a few hiccups already as a forgetful mind, tight budget and family emergency meant a few substitutions have been made. Thankfully it all seems to be working - there was a 4 week preseason period where I made changes to diet and started to exercise. 4 kg down already! I'm impressed because I was struggling to stop the gain. My comfort eating has now been replaced by bottles of water which I am happy to do as I have a wedding to look great at!

Perth crits day 2

These photos were taken on my iphone and processed using the Instagram app (one of my favs)

Despite her best efforts, Emma Pooley could not shake the bunch. Various break attempts lasted a few laps but were chased down, leading to a final sprint. TIS outpowered the bunch to take 1st and 2nd, Pooley 5th.

Out of hiding

For the past year, I have been hidden under piles of papers. Lists of jobs to complete and the burden of finishing my thesis.

I would love to say that it is finished. But after slogging through illness for 9 months I needed a break.

Had the most relaxing few weeks over the break - despite the last minute shopping efforts, house hopping and party going. It was great to catch up with the family and friends that I have been so badly neglecting for a long time.

It allowed for reflection back on a tough year. And the time to recharge the batteries for a strong TT like effort home.

So whilst hidden behind the slog of writing a thesis my sloth-like personality developed and lets say I'm itching to ditch it. Have joined up to @MishBridges 12WBT (http://www.12wbt.com/) and am looking forward to the Challenge which starts late Feb. Here's to getting my life back in order... Looking fwd to sharing some success stories this year!!
x

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!!