My coach, my progress, my new epithet

Life feels so good right now, my progress is amazing, my coach is grand and I just became a grandmother. Being a granny is so cool. I look so much forward to spoiling my grandchildren to death and telling them all of these granny stories, just like they do in the movies. I am going to pester them with Ironman, marathon and vätternrundan stories, and they are going to say, granny you already told us that story, at least 10 times. Well you better listen again, cause its granny's favorite story. I have all the answers already.... :-) Granny or not, I just can´t use granny as my epithet. My dearest sister and one of my best friends, Theresa has been a granny for a while, and I have teased her sooo much. She is persistent. I am no granny to you, I am nana. Nana it is, Iron nana. Like the sound of it already. (Sorry Theresa for the 10 years of pain I caused, please don´t beat me up, like you used to do when we where kids). I am going to be an iron nana no matter what, just like my mom is. I will always be there for my grand kids.

My progress is going fast forward at the moment. Crazy fast. Well progressing in swimming isn't that hard since I still have a ways to go, but its not as boring anymore and I have new things to work on. When it comes to biking, I am not really sure... No biking season, and everything has to be done indoors, more or less. But my running. My running. Unexplainable. I did my first 5 K under 25 minutes.  It was one of those days my legs wouldn't stop going and my breathing was perfect.....But still, I weigh about 10 kilos to much and my weight will be my next focus area after my weekend in Milan. 4:50 speed per K, is my goal after losing my access weight.... :-) (I feel fine with myself but the strain to my body an Ironman will have, I don't want more kilos to carry around then I have to. Trust me, it will be tough enough anyway.)

My coach is grand. We still talk once a week and he ALWAYS keeps my spirits high and my head focused. This would never work without him. No matter what I do, he reflects, evaluates seriously, and gets back to me with his views. When training with different people you get a lot of know it alls. Like the swimming camp I attended last weekend, even if it was fun and I learned a lot its important to follow up. I wrote and told Andreas about how they saw things and what I should do. Andreas knows me, and he know triathlon. So he returned to me with his recommendations on what I should focus on. I trust my coach. Ruben McGray said 3 important pointers when training for an ironman, at his seminar last weekend. 1. Everyone needs a coach. 2. You have to trust your coach. 3.  It takes about a year to optimize your relationship with your coach. So I know I am doing things right. I have a coach, I trust my coach and my coach knows what works for me. He is truly amazing. (Even though he pesters me with a bunch of drills that I hate)

My sister and bestfriend, teebag, nana, theresa, etc. Kärt barn har många namn. A swedish saying

Grand coach Andreas, with my grand friend and partner in crime Madde

Nanas daughter and grandkids, I luv em, they are sooo beautiful! (I am auntie)

Me and my granddaughter soon...:-)

My oldest daughter Yvonne, she has had an amazing journey. I am proud of her.

The rest of my amazing kids, Patric, Caroline and Happy. I am blessed

I found this in my smart phone, why did I take this picture? Its stupid, old and blurry... I share everything with you... :-)

Amazing swim camp

My God did I have fun this weekend! I participated in a 3 day Swim Camp, and honestly ... I have been so unbelievable nervous. I have only been swimming for like a year so this is a completely new experience for me. I thought I was going to drown, embarrass myself and end up leaving with out anyone seeing me go. The only thing I did was embarrass myself, which really isn't anything new... This big mouth usually ends up saying something inappropriate.

The camp started on Friday at 5pm and ended Sunday at 2:30pm. We had 4x1,5 hours of swimming sessions and 2 one hour seminars and a half day seminar. we were 27 swimmers divided into 4 groups, one elite group, 2 advanced swim groups and one semi advanced group. No beginners. I guess that's why I was so nervous, I still see myself as a beginner but ended up with the semi advanced swimmers. I honestly believed that I was going to be the slowest swimmer in my group, I am so used to being last all the time that anything else surprises me, and there is nothing worse than holding back a group. I was far from the slowest swimmer. I was middle - top, (in my group)and It was the best feeling ever. 2 reasons, nice not being last, and I never felt that the slowest swimmer held us back, on the contrary, it reminded me about how my hard work has paid off.

The seminars were interesting with a lot of tips and information concerning swimming techniques, training philosophy and exercises. I have learned so much about swimming this weekend, it's like I want to go swimming tomorrow again, just to test all the different things that they taught me. Our coach said focus on three things that you want to work on more. My 3 things will be my leg strokes, my arm catch and keeping my wrist straight. The ugly Snorkel that I bought was probably the best swimming investment I ever made. It really helps me focus on my techniques.

I have had a lot of laughs as well. During our personal presentation, with all the serious triathletes, I presented myself as a cocktail triathlete, that I combine training with wine... Really stupid, because I think they though I was serious..... I kinda am, but the whole world doesn't have to know...... Luckily.... My friend Madde heard our coach Sebastian tell head Coach Ludde that even the cocktail triathletes are doing good...:-)

I did my fastest 50meters ever, 49 seconds, and I can start to feel love and peace while swimming.... Unbelievably crazy, I truly believe I might end up enjoying this crazy sport.

Its easy to find me because I am the brown spot on all the pitcures..:-D second person

Getting instructions from our fantastic coach Sebastian

Head coach Ludde going through theory and techniques

One of Swedens most inspiring triathletes and silver world medal champion Lisa Norden tells her story

We took a group photo and I was standing right behind her... Ouch...:-D

For me personally Annie is the most inspiring, thanks to this fantastic womens patience I can swim. (She is Swedish silver medalist in half Ironman) This girl rocks... 

And this is honestly how happy we are after this fantastic Swim Camp!

Winter darkness and staying inspired

November through January are the darkest months in Sweden. I mean crazy dark. In Stockholm, around December 20th the sun is up for 6 hours and 3 minutes. This means 17 hours and 57 minutes of darkness. The sun goes up at 8:44am and down 2:47pm. I am just happy I don't live in Kiruna, in the northern part of Sweden where the sun doesn't go up at ALL between the 11th and 31st of December, we are talking total darkness.

These are the toughest training months for me, and I really have to find different ways to keep myself inspired. It's dark in the mornings, cause I am at work before the sun goes up, and its dark when I get home from work. It's a bit easier when we have snow, because the white snow lights up everything, and my surroundings aren't so damn sad anymore.

Just the other day, was the first time this year, that I really felt the impact of this total darkness. I had put my alarm clock on 6:am so I could be at the gym by 6:30am. I had 45 minutes of biking, followed by a 30 minute jog, so it was important to be there on time (I need to be at work no later than 9:00am) I got up, everyone else was sleeping and It felt like the middle of the night. It was awful at first, but it really is about my mindset. I made up my mind. If I am going to be an Ironman, I have to have a Ironman mindset. No pain, no gain. I know it sounds a bit superficial. But it works. I looked in the mirror, and I told Desiree "It isn't always going to be easy, and it isn't always going to be fun, but the reward will be worth it - It's the journey that counts, and the reward is a strong healthy body no matter what happens on the 17th of August next year (Ironman Kalmar)"  I smiled.... and I was gone. (It helps that I have a Ironman token around my neck and I never take it off, keeps me focused)

Tips:
Pack your bags the evening before.
Be mentally aware that you are going to be tired, but you'll be okey.
Remember your goal.

A little to quite and a little to dark for my taste

My orange bike, I love my bike, especially after one week in Rio (spent to much money), and I can´t afford my monthly bus ticket..:-D

Going fast

Taking pictures and biking at the same time. (Yes I am a women and can do 2 things at a time)

The empty spinning hall, just me, my music and program

A smile always helps everything

Stretching

Next week I will tell you about by swimming camp together with one of the worlds best female triathletes

Bye for now... :-D

Rio - Its okey to be you

Honesty, there are 2 places in the world that I have never been interested in traveling to. Brazil and Australia. I don't know why, I just havn't. Rio is my mothers dream, and since she has brought me up to become this decent humanbeing, I really wanted to do this trip with her. I thank Caroline and Zofia for coming up with the idea, and I thank everyone with me on this trip for making it a memoralble one.

So quess my surprize when I realize that I LOVE Rio. And it has nothing to do with the citys outer beauty, its deeper than that. Its the citys mentality and its the way Brazilians see themselves, see others and their attitude to life. Everything. Since this blog is about my journey to Ironman, I will be sticking to body. I have alway heard that Brazilians care alot about looks and body. Before coming here I thought that I was going to have to hide my chubby tummy in a tight swimsuit. But really, no one cares. Everybody works out - fat, skinny, black, white, female, male, old, young, rich, poor. The WHOLE city of Rio, gives everyone the oppertunity to take care of themselves. There are outdoor gyms everywhere. They have more outdoor gyms than we have busstops. (most of them look like busstops) On weekends they close all the major beach and lakefront streets so there is room for everyone to bike, jog, powerwalk, skate and so on. They take working your body seriously over here. And its for everyone. People play vollyball, beach crossfit, weight lifting. You can borrow all kinds of equipment. I have never been on a vacation with so many oppertunities for outdoor exercising. And its all free.

Best part is you don't have to look skinny. At home everyone is always talking about weight. It more about looking like the Swedish norm. Skinny, and its a tough goal for a fullbody girl like me. Okey I am abit to heavy for my Ironman challange, and I need to get rid of some pounds before the competion....but still. Here in Brazil its alright to have curves, its alright to be old...... Most of all, its alright to be you.

I was upset before my trip when my swim teacher Annie and half ironman Swedish silver champion had to defend here weight. She is for most if us a light weight, but she is heavier than many other female triathletes. And people honestly care about how much she weighs? The girl is second best in Sweden! Give it a break..Instead of focusing on what other people weigh start focusing on you... My GOD this topic can get me fired up....Annie you rule..... And Brazil you rule! I am in love

Outdoor gym

Björn is rocking this old peoples gym

Saturday morning jog on streets closed for traffic

Even the hotel has a swimming pool for athletes 25m

Gym for the older generation

Women and men doing thier thang

Björn and I on a 14K jogg one of our first days

Beach exersises

Well made biking/jogging lanes

Lovin it

Does it get better than this?