Not only motivation, you have to make up your mind

It is so easy to talk about motivation and inspiration. But am I always motivated to go out on a 1,5 hour jog? Do I feel like going to the gym and working my ass off? Or even worse, going to the pool after work, at this pee smelling place, with naked people everywhere shaving and scrubbing the most private parts you can imagine. No... I am not always motivated or not even inspired, actually I believe that its all about making up your mind.

This past week has been a real tough one. It started out with a cold so I couldn't follow my program, and then a trip with my company to Amsterdam, ending with a weekend in Rotterdam with a close friend and colleague.

I get a bit stressed out and restless when I can't workout, its like my body is so used to physical exercise, even when I am sick, it drives me crazy mentally that I can't work this body. So after not working out for 4 days, I was depressed. By the time we left for Amsterdam on Thursday my cold was over but our conference had the tightest schedule ever. When we finally had a 1,5 hour break, I rushed to the gym and had a 6k jog. It kind of sucked. My legs did't want to, my motivation was really low, and I felt kind of stressed out due to the time limit, knowing that I wouldn't be able to workout until Monday. But I made up my mind, talking to myself "Dee, this is the price you have to pay if you want that Ironman medal, so make sure that you eat heathy and stay focused". So what did I do? Like any normal human-being forgetting about my commitments..... Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday was all about good food and wine.

So what happens to me mentally when I haven't followed my program for a more than a week? I loose motivation and inspiration. This is when I have to make up my mind. Today I dragged my body to the gym, ran my ass off, 6K in 30 minutes and did some weight lifting. Ending Monday with a big smile.

The queen is back on track!

See that cheese in the window? My GOD I love cheese.. and it was good... :-)

Well we did a little biking anyway, the Dutch bike everywhere, that probably why they aren't fat, cause they have the craziest sweet-tooth

Moule... mmmmmm... with lots of cheese and bread

another favorite... sprinkles, sweets for your breakfast sandwich

Back on track, finally... Just do it, and I did it... :-)

To win, be last, feel like a champ!

My training program this week was planned to be out of this world. I really looked forward to the challenge but I ended up with a soar throat and a cold. I know... Rest is the only thing to do, but....  I won a spot to race with Abeba Aregawi World Champion, 1500 meters 2013.... so I threw all common sense out of the window and convinced myself that I felt great, I didn't have a soar throat yet, but I knew something was on the way.

So how did I get this fantastic opportunity? Well one of the most inspiring people I know, Jessica has a blog that I have followed, mainly to get a bit of her energy. She used to be my spinning instructor, and she is the type of person that gets the best out of you. She sees everyone, cares, and she makes you feel like you matter. Feel like a Champion. She really does take pride in everything she does.

She had a lottery on her blog, 3 people had the chance to race Aregawi, and you had to motivate why. Well my motivation was longer than the Bible, so either she gave up reading, or she knew I would stalk her until the bitter end if I didn't win. To be inspired by great people is one of the great things in life.

I won the lottery, came second last in the race, but felt like a champ afterwards. First we had a 1500m warmup and some runner charring before the big race. Than a 400m race. I was all fired up and ready to go. Bom! I ran, and I saw Aregawi for a split second and than she was gone... She is small to start with, but without my glasses on, all I could acknowledge was her bright jacket in the horizon. She didn't even use full power... :-D But It was fun, and I realized how fast these athletes are. FAST!!

However it was a great way to start a weekend, so Saturday morning my chummy Madde and I had a close to 3 hour bike ride. We didn´t go fast or get far, only 34 miles, but we had the chance to talk and enjoy the beautiful morning. I thought I was healthy, probably high on Jessica and Aregawi, but Sunday morning, I payed the price. Soar throat and a runny nose. Well I'll be okey soon and back on track. My coach got me thinking wisely. Sometimes it feels like he's the older one, not me... :-D

Aregawi and I

My ticket for the challenge, I was sooo exited my collegues almost threw me out of the office. they kept saying... Girl... shut-up!

Runner charring, looks easy but it isn't... but it's fun

You can see me in the far back, just started and Aregawi is GONE!

Jessica, beautiful Jessica

My all time favorite slogan... Just do it... NIKE 

Learning how to enjoy something you hate

Honestly, if anyone had told me for 3 years ago that I would become a triathlete, my response would have been a big old laugh. Yeah right. Not a chance in this life. Not that I had any clue of what it meant to be a Triathlete but I definitely knew that this queen doesn't swim. Well I knew how to float and get around in water, but I hate outdoor cold water, and the few times I had been at the pool every swimmer has passed me in what felt like the speed of light. When Madde convinced me to go with her on our first trip to Mallorca I decided that I would participate in jogging and bike training but skip swimming. My boss told me, Desiree If you are going all the way to Mallorca to participate in a Triathlon camp, you might as well do it properly. Buy a swimsuit and some glasses....  Said and done.

On our first day of swim training in Mallorca, my coach's girlfriend, Ida decided to join us. She is the coolest. She liked swimming as much as I did(not), and she swam from one end of the pool to the other, got out of the water and walked back, and tweeted afterwards that she remembered why she never swam. I never confessed to this, but damn was I jealous of her. I wanted to get out of that damn pool too.  

I really didn't get the swim part, but I did fall in love with the thought of becoming a triathlete. So I had no other choice than to learn how to crawl. I tried on my own for several months but my coach and Madde recommended me to take swimming lessons, this was a brilliant idea. Last fall Annie Thorén, another amazing triathlete took us under her wings and taught us how to crawl. We were a  group of 5-6 people and the majority of us had the worst techniques ever. I know she laughed her ass off at times. I think we looked like elephants with fins or something. 

Since than I have trained swimming 2-3 times a week. Thought I was getting pretty good. One guy even asked me How I could swim so fast. My reply was, "If you think I swim fast, you really have a lot to work on" I do a lot, but I DO NOT swim fast..... :-D (He was probably just flirting anyway) Well I got my reality check this spring when I tried outdoor swimming in my wetsuit for the first time. I thought I was going to drown, I thought my husband was going to drown and my coach thought both of us were going to drown. I think I swam like 50 meter (felt really short) and than I gave up. Disappointed, upset and unsatisfied I told Björn(My husband), lets go back and do it again tomorrow. Said and done we went back to the ocean, got in our suits and completed 100 meter. It was a small step forward, but every step counts. Since than I have come a far way. I might not be the fastest swimmer but I can handle 2K in a wetsuit in cold water and this winter, training for Ironman focus will be on handling at least 4K in less than 2 hours. And I have learned to enjoy swimming... A small step for some, but a huge step for queen Blomberg.

Me and my wetsuit that my mom so generously gave me.

My first cap, glasses and swimsuit

Mr Björn getting ready for his first triathlon swim.

This seasons competitions

Oh my god what a season its been. All my hard training has finally started to pay-off. This season has been full of competitions, training, good days, bad days, over training, depressions... everything. I was enrolled to participate in 8 races this season and completed 7. In all 7 races I ended up doing personal best. I am slowly getting it, running, biking and swimming techniques. I am constantly surprised thinking about how fit I have become, okey I still have chubby on my tummy, BUT I am a strong, fit women. And I feel really good about myself. The only race I missed is my full marathon, because not only did I have a cold, I ended up with a minor depression due to stress, menopause and all that old women's stuff. Not knowing who you are anymore and things like that. Thanks to great hospital care, family and friends, I am out of it, and feeling better than ever, although I have become very careful.

The hardest part when It comes to training and turning older, is realizing that your body isn't as strong as it used to be, and that everything takes more time and discipline. I have to be more careful, so I don't get injured. I have always been the type of person that has believed that anything can be achieved if you just put your mind to it. I still believe it, in a sense, but I have added a little common sense into my future commitments.  I don't know if enrolling to participate in an Ironman competition would be seen as using common sense by most... :-D But I truly believe that I can do it. Common sense for me is knowing who I am, and being honest with myself and in what I can accomplish. No one knows me better than I.

I have listed this seasons races and accomplishments below. It's a short summary of this years events, the last summary before I get down and dirty on my journey to becoming Ironman 2014.

Premiärmilen 10K race time 58:59  minutes- Good race
Stockholm Marathon DNS - Due to illness
Parloppet 5K race time 27:59
Stockholm Aquathlon 2K swim 7K run time? just did it - Really fun and tough as hell
Riddarfjärdssimningen 1,6K swim(1Mile) time 52 minutes- My god I hated it (Another story)
Midnight run 10K race time 56 minutes- Fun fun fun - Like a huge Party
Stockholm Triathlon Olympic Distance - 3h 10 minute Race of the year, the race I trained for, and it was amazing, fun and I loved it
Stockholm Half Marathon time 1h 59 minutes, best result ever and I was a bit tired before start.

I received a nice email from my coach. I am really happy with my half marathon result, but I was tired before the race and my calves had started cramping at the end of the race. So I had to lower my pace. Somewhere in my mind I have been thinking: Could I have done better? After Andreas email, I am even happier. This is the thing with having a great coach, they explain why? Why I had cramps, why I felt a bit tired before the race, why I should be extremely pleased with me... :-). Best of all, he puts things into perspective. And he ended the letter: You are a fighter....Yes I am!

This years first race

Stockholm marathon, I was sick but I was interviewed on TV, telling Sweden that if my husband doesn't run fast enough he is not welcome home.. :-D

My first ever Aquathlon, might be my last... It was fun, but not really me...

Hate race of the year, my God I feel sick even writing about it..... Fun for everyone except Queen Blomberg

Same day, Midnattsloppet,  party race of the year, it was like running a discodance.. All I was missing was some shots.

Getting fired up for the race I have been training and longing for. It was silly fun, I simply loved it!

My halv Marathon results, woop woop

See ya all

Everyone needs a coach

 

I truly believe that everyone needs a coach all depending on their situation. It could be professionally, private or as for me, setting up high goals physically. Most people have friends, co-workers or family to talk to, but I is also important to talk to someone that is not emotionally involved in your life with values and their own agenda. 

My coach Andreas is awesome. He is a professional triathlete, and has an amazing track record. He is a Swedish record holder in a crazy challenge called "Super Classic" (Its a marathon 42K, 100K skiing, 300K biking and 30K swimming and it has to be done within 24 hours) And he just managed 3rd place in the Sweden half Ironman championships, "70,3".  We have worked together for nearly a year, and my journey to becoming a triathlete would have been so much tougher if I hadn't had him, or I might even have given up. The transition between cycling and running is like cutting your legs off and sewing on legs from 200 year old elephant. If Andreas hadn't convinced me that it´s temporary, I would have thought that I wasn't built for this sport. And he knew, that elephant legs feeling eventually would go away. 

My Ironman challenge would be close to impossible in this 49 year old body without Andreas. 49 years old is no age, if you have been running marathons your whole life. There are a lot of older triathletes. Actually I think its a good sport to grow old in, its time consuming and something that has changed drastically for me is that I have patience now a days. The thing is that biking, swimming and cycling are completely new sports for me, and trust me, It may sound simple, but it isn't. And if I do something I want to do it right.

Andreas does my monthly training schedules and we talk once a week. We talk about what has worked and what hasn't. We talk about me, we talk about him and we talk about life in general. I have never judged people by age, but sometimes its weird that my coach is the same age as my son. He is so wise, and I often wonder where his wisdom comes from. When he turns 50, he will be like this old indian man that everyone goes to for advise. Its a bonus that he is damn handsome. My mom who is 74 (I thought she was 78 yesterday and I will never call her that again, thats for sure... :-D ) is always asking me for pictures of him. 

Andreas lives in Mallorca where he and his beautiful girlfriend Ida arrange Training camps I have attended 2 of them. Björn, Madde and I are planning on going next year. I have learned so much from him. On my first training camp, Andreas had to push me up hill on bike, so I could keep up with the others (People walked faster than I biked up those mountains the first time). On my second training camp, my first time in my wetsuit, both he and I thought I was going to drown. It was crazy. He has been and is phenomenal. I am so looking forward to continuing to work with Andreas. 

Ironman challenge

Its been a fantastic journey so far. Thinking back about my first trip to Mallorca and my first triathlon camp, it really is unbelievable that I have gotten this far. My friend Madde, challenged me into signing up for this 187 mil (300k) bike race, 2012. Crazy. And since I barely had biked or knew how to bike she had this great idea, that we should participate in a triathlon camp in Mallorca. Sounded like fun. I had never been to the island before, so I was really exited. Shortly before landing I was looking out the window from my window seat and realized that Mallorca was all mountains. " Madde, we are not going to bike there now?????" The expression on her face... "Oh yes we are" ... My first thought was "hell no!"  But said and done, I biked those damn mountains and every single biker passed me, all sizes, colors, ages and shapes. I didn't have a chance. But I did it, and Madde was really patient with me. She fixed my chain when it jumped cause I didn't want to get my hands dirty and she waited for me to blow my nose in paper towels ( real cyclists blow there nose while cycling, this is never going to happen with queen Blomberg, that for sure!) Not only that, I had to learn how to swim (another story)

2 weeks ago I completed my first ever triathlon race, Olympic distance. 1 mile swimming(42 minutes) , 25 mile cycling (1h 24 minutes) and 6,25 mil run (53 minutes) 1,5k swim, 40k bike, 10k run. Total time including transitions 3h 10 minutes. I still feel Happy. I have never done anything more fun athletic wise. All the photos taken of me, I have this goofy smile. So Ironman here I come. I have a year to train for a 2,4 mile swim, 112 mile bike and 26,2 mil run. Can I do it? Answer Yes, I can. With commitment, brains, health and lipgloss anything is possible. So please follow me and my journey towards Ironman 2014.

Here are some pictures from my first Triathlon Camp 2012.