Snoozing in pilates

Trigirl is tired. She feel asleep during the relaxation session in the pilates class.

strettttccccchhhhh

Trigirl is stretching her muscles today. Her legs do not feel too bad, except they are rather tight around the achilles. When she lies on the floor and lifts her legs, she can tell that her hamstrings are tight too.

She is tired after the race.

She is also a little shocked by the fact that her heart rate was 90 an hour after the race, while she was just sitting in the car. She cannot allow this to happen again.

Reading Half Marathon finisher!

Here is Trigirl (in the pink) about 100m from the finishing line of today's Reading Half Marathon. Her time was 1:55:20, which is about five minutes off her pb. Given her recent illness, Trigirl feels this is an excellent achievement.

The race was huge, with around 18,000 runners. Trigirl spent most of the first mile trying not to bump into other runners. After she got past this point, Trigirl would like M to know that she spent most of the race thinking about her arms and shoulders, and occasionally about her feet. Hopefully there will be some photos that prove this!

The race finished in magnificent style in the Madejski Stadium. With the seats filled with thousands of spectators cheering uproariously, it felt like the end of an Olympic final.

Some statistics from Trigirl's heart rate monitor: average heart rate 183, max heart rate 196, average speed 6.9mph, max speed 13.3 mph, 1562 calories burnt.

After the race, Trigirl and family met Trigirl's brother, G, and his family. In particular, his little son, H, who Junior Trigirl 2 is very proud of.

For the photo album of the day, see:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/trigirlsheila/sets/72157616085970658/

£200!

£200 is how much Trigirl spent today - mainly on children's shoes and dance kit. Trigirl has decided that she can no longer afford to have children.

Help Trigirl raise money for Asthma UK

Trigirl lay awake last night because she was cross with herself that she had forgotton to enter the Royal Parks Half Marathon the day before yesterday. Yesterday, by the time she remembered that she had wanted to sign up, all the regular places had been sold. After hours of tossing and turning, Trigirl got out of bed in the middle of the night and decided to take a charity entry for Asthma UK. This does mean that she had to pledge to raise £350.

So, please, please sponsor Trigirl now! It is an extremely worthwhile cause - over 1200 people died from asthma in 2006 in the UK. 5.4 million people in the UK are receiving treatment for asthma. Even the two Junior Trigirls are asthma sufferers. It is the most common long term medical condition.

It is simple to donate. Visit:
http://www.justgiving.com/running4asthma

running machine?

Trigirl was extremely inspired today. She met up with M, who is helping her transform her shambolic and slouching running style, seen here in last year's Crowborough 10K.

M has given Trigirl lots of exercises to do. Trigirl is going to practise everything M has taught her and is hoping this will make her into a sleek and efficient running machine.

simple pleasures

Trigirl is enjoying her day. After the morning school drop-off, she had a lovely run through the woods. She then went out with M to help her with her exercise class for MS sufferers, where she ended up running around after dropped balls and playing 'table tennis' with an old guy. Afterwards, M treated Trigirl to lunch at her favourite cafe. Simple pleasures - but all the more enjoyable having spent ages stuck at home with a viral infection.

Cool Chick

Trigirl feels like a Cool Chick in her new sunglasses.

Trigirl thanks her Mum and Dad for this fab pressie and the Junior Trigirls for taking the photo.

ho, hum - first run

Trigirl's first run after her recent viral infection was much like her first cycle ride - a somewhat slow and joyless occasion.

Happy Mother's Day!

Today's posting is dedicated to Trigirl's Mum, seen here at lunchtime today with Junior Trigirl 1.

Mothering Sunday started early for Trigirl. At 6:30am, she was showered with handmade cards, lovely drawings, two (!) boxes of chocolates, a lovely necklace and a Hama beads heart. At 7am "sharp" (as per her instructions!) Trigirl met Cycle Chick G for a very pleasant bike ride.

To see a slide show of the rest of the day's activities with Trigirl's Mum and Dad, see:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/trigirlsheila/sets/72157615769739164/

hooray! the cycling equivalent of a jog

Hooray! This is a muted cheer for Trigirl's first bike ride since 9th March. It was a rather low-key and solo affair - the cycling equivalent of a jog. Her total distance was under 20km with an average speed of 16.5km/h. Normally Trigirl has no trouble averaging over 20km/h, even on a much longer ride. Trigirl didn't experience the rush of joy she was expecting from being back in the saddle in the fresh air, but she felt like it was a big step forward.

retail therapy

Trigirl has almost never enjoyed retail therapy as much as she did today. After her near hermit-like existance of the last two or three weeks, Trigirl was delighted when her Mum and Dad invited her out to the mall. Just to be out and about, instead of stuck indoors alone, was such a joy to her.

Trigirl found an expensive pair of sunglasses (which she bought far more cheaply online when she got home), she also managed to buy herself a dress, which she had spotted in a magazine. To top it all, she was treated to a delicious Italian lunch - deep fried spinach balls and a big glass of wine. Fab!

recovering - at long last

Trigirl managed to take the Junior Trigirls to their swimming lessons today without losing her temper. Trigirl must be getting better - at last.

Reynaud's

Trigirl has been wondering for a long time why her feet turn into blocks of ice in the winter. According to Dr W, she has has a condition called Reynaud's. This probably also explains her mega cold fingers reported in this blog on 12th Feb:
http://trigirlsheila.blogspot.com/2009/02/fingers-what-fingers.html

frustrated

Trigirl is frustrated. She STILL has a runny nose and can't do any of the things she likes best.

innocent

Trigirl has been told off too many times today... and it is only lunchtime. She has done nothing wrong.

Can we pop round... from Bangladesh??!!

Possible, but purely imaginary, conversation snippet in school playground tomorrow morning:

Another mum: "So, what did you do yesterday, Trigirl? Go running and do chores?"

Trigirl: "Nope. Didn't go running cos I'm still recovering from that virus I had last week. Our friends from Bangladesh turned up unexpectedly and we took them out for lunch!"

Friends, S and I, from Dhaka in Bangladesh called from London this morning and made a spur of the moment plan to have lunch with Trigirl and family (and to prove it, S and I are in this picture). Events like this add spice and perhaps even a touch of glamour to Trigirl's otherwise predictable existance.

ahhh... little ducky

While in her ballet-lesson-chaperone-role, Trigirl challenged Junior Trigirl 2 to draw a duck. She said she couldn't draw ducks, but then she drew this very cute mini duck. Trigirl thought this was pretty good for a four-year-old.... and felt a warm glow of pride.

learning to read with Biff and co

Junior Trigirl 2 came home from school yesterday with her very first reading book. It was all about some characters called Kipper, Biff, Chip and Floppy (the latter being the dog) having fun at the beach.

Since Trigirl has now regained some semblance of normal health (hip, hip, HOOORRAAAAYYYY!), she had the patience to hear Junior Trigirl 2 read it for the umpteenth time before school this morning.

Trigirl is very proud of Junior Trigirl 2 for being so keen with her reading but she she can't help wondering what sort of mind came up with the name 'Biff' for a girl. There's nothing wrong with 'Janet'.

Somebody cook Trigirl a meal, please!

Trigirl is longing for a proper meal. She has been living on toast, cereal, yogurt and microwaved chicken for the last ten days. Only a small portion please, since Trigirl can't manage much in her current state.

blearrrchhh

The above summarises how Trigirl feels today. Doctor N summarised it as: "It's that virus that is going around."

Mamma Mia!

On a school day, it is most unusual for Trigirl to do anything other than (1) work (2) housework or (3) exercise. Today she did manage to do several hours of 1 and a little of 2, but then she collapsed in front of the tv with her streaming nose to watch her favourite film - Mamma Mia.

Not again!

Yesterday, Trigirl went on an experimental half hour run and it felt great. Buoyed up by this good experience, she decided that this morning she was well enough for a brick session in the sunshine (45 min bike, followed by 15 min tempo run). Lovely!... This evening Trigirl realised she had succumbed to another cold. Trigirl is shivering again but has run out of light reading.

Happy 90th, Grandma!

Trigirl and family celebrated (Great) Grandma's 90th birthday today. Trigirl would like to be as fit as her when she is 90.

To see today's photo album, go to:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/trigirlsheila/sets/72157614913363707/

Sugarbabe

Having taken Junior Trigirl 2 to her ballet class on her bike (she has a child seat), Trigirl decided that since she is still unwell, she needed a large capuccino and several slices of Battenburg to help her recover from the exertion. It was delicious, but Trigirl is no longer used to the lingering sugary taste in her mouth and does not like it.

brrrrrrrrrr

Blue sky, sunshine.... Trigirl is wistfully viewing the scene outdoors while she shivers indoors surrounded by a mountain of tissues, which she is using apace.

Zerogirl

Trigirl is wearing four layers in her overheated house and is still feeling cold. She also bought four boxes of tissues this morning. Trigirl has become Zerogirl until she is better.

Sweet dreams, Trigirl!

Tonight, Trigirl is forgoing her normal bedtime reading of sports magazines in favour of a women's mag. The one on top of the pile above, in fact. (Special message for M - don't buy this one. It's yours when Trigirl has read it).

And why this sudden, uncharacterisic behaviour? This morning, Trigirl did her 7x200m interval swim, as detailed on her training plan, and was wondering why she was slower than last week. Now she knows. Trigirl realised late today that she has caught the Junior Trigirls' lurgy. Poor Trigirl has a sore throat and streaming nose, so has decided she needs to turn in early with a hot drink and a mindless read. Sweet dreams,Trigirl!

you wouldn't believe...

... just how far a six-year-old can spit one teaspoonful of bitter-tasting medicine.

Summarize the day in under 25 words

WARM SUNSHINE! But... Kids off school with viral infections (both) and infected knee wound (Junior Trigirl 1). Trigirl enjoys enforced rest day at home.

Sunday running? No... cycling!

It's Sunday, so Trigirl must be running! Wrong! Ever unpredictable, Trigirl went cycling instead. Here are Ironman and Cycle Chick G discussing the finer points of gears at Trigirl's fave coffee shop today.