Specialist physio 1/12/23

Saw Emily at Moorgreen Hospital in the MSK Stoneham Centre unit.

It was brilliant 

She reckons due to what I was able to do exercise wise and when she wiggled, pushed and pulled my legs that my fracture has healed

Now my body needs to get its proper form back, build strength and trust that I can do more stuff

My exercises from the rehab unit have been put to one side and I've been given a whole new page of exercises to do. It's like I've been doing GCSE work and now I've moved onto A level work 🤗

Also, the next 3 Tuesdays I'm seeing Fred the rehab assistant in the gym at the Adelaide centre to increase my strength, flexibility and confidence 

This should hold me over to Christmas and then the drivers insurance should kick in with some private physio and PT - my solicitor is chasing this up

Am feeling very positive 

I'm still using one crutch - mainly to ensure I get a seat on public transport and when I've been walking for more than 15-20minutes and am getting tired I can rest on the crutch. 

Plus with the lights on the crutch I can see where I'm going / can check if any ice / be seen by drivers, cyclists, other pedestrians. 

I'm defiantly feeling as if I've turned yet another corner on my journey back to full pre accident fitness x

November update

It's weird but I've done lots of updates on Facebook but haven't touched my blog for over a month.

I'm wondering if it's because although I'm progressing nicely it still feels ages until I'm back doing regular training so didn't feel as if I had anything to comment on?

I was thinking about it on the bus home this evening and decided there was plenty to update you with as to my current and previous months OF&H 

I've had x3 hydrotherapy sessions at the pool at the General Hospital 

Graham my therapist at my first session 27/10 said I didn't need both sticks anymore 

When I got home one crutch is now in my cupboard - it's the one I was using to support my right leg which is actually fine 

On my 2nd session 8/11 Graham gave me h/w to go swimming. Which I did 9/11 at Jubilee with Katherine and Pam. Loved it - 30mins of some lengths and some exercises.

3rd session today - Graham signed me off and gave me continuing h/w of 10-12mins walk no stick, rest, repeat as I need to be stickless to start back running.

Solicitor wise - the drivers insurance company has accepted all liability and I'll be getting a rehab package sorted soon

On the stationary bike I'm up to 35mins no resistance. Graham reckons I can do 10mins with resistance level 2 then back to no resistance for 5 mins and repeat a few times 

Walking - just need the one stick

My time for a km is now 16-20mins depending on length and how tired I am, which is amazing seeing as it was 25-30mins just a few weeks or so ago. 

And work is going well

Phased return 

I've done chats and did an hour of phones today 

Very tired but utterly delighted to be back 

Haven't rejoined tri club swimming yet - Graham doesn't trust me to not get over excited which is very astute of him! So I'll continue to go swimming  at Jubilee or the Quays through December and then see how I'm doing. It's the walking poolside and in the changing rooms that makes me nervous - so scared I'm going to slip. 

Plus I continue to do my lane based exercises 

I'm doing okay

I am up and down mental health wise - I have been very sad 

I'm feeling fat - I'm back to 80kg

I'm also feeling slow 

Sad-Fat-Slow

That's me!!!

But I'm also feeling optimistic

Excited about my progress 

Enjoying work

Enjoying starting to get my life back 

#SlowlyCarefullyGently xx

Back to work tomorrow 11th October 2023

I posted this on Facebook this evening 

I'm feeling excited, nervous, odd…

I'm not 100% ready / set but I'm set enough to head back to The Student Hub 🤣🤗

I must be careful 

I must not try and do too much

My returning to work - it's like I've finally got myself to the start line of an ultra. If I want to get to the finish line in one piece (or at all) then I must pace myself and trust in the saying of 'slow and steady wins the race' 🎉

I've got to stick to the plan 💪

This next phase of my current OF&H journey will probably take me to Christmas / New Year

I need to remember that 12 weeks ago I could barely walk and had to use a walking frame to go maybe 15 steps.

I want to be back on my bike, back swimming and doing C25K with my running / tri buddies within these next 12 weeks. 

I also want to be back doing my 8am-8pm 4 days on 4 day mini break shift pattern within these next 12 weeks. 

So I definitely need to remember my mantra of :

#SlowlyCarefullyGently 

🥰

I absolutely can not wait to start!!!

I'll be on the 09:20 U1 bus to the University tomorrow - Wednesday 11th October 2023 

#IveGotThis xxx

New step goal

I keep upping my step goal

I've just upped it again to 5000 steps as today I've done 10,444 - UoS open day with E

Approx 4km of walking in 1:40 with an additional 1:50 of rest such as when sat in a talk, having lunch, sitting on a bench etc… I haven't really moved from my chair since E left to catch the 5:25pm train to Ashtead via Clapham 

I have no idea how long I'll last on Wednesday when I go back to work. I'm not feeling confident it'll be till 4pm 🤔😐

Day 1 of stationary bike and one crutch training - musings on my accident and going back to work

Today feels like the start of a new phase in OF&H and my fractured pelvis rehab

20minutes Hurtbox session on the stationary bike chatting to Suzanne, Sue, Jenny and Lindsey while watching YouTube cycling video. 

Walked to and from Lidls with just one crutch

Walked to and from the Quays with just one crutch (with my front light attached to it)

My left and right groin is sore

My right rib is still a bit sore

My left side at the back above (ish) my bum is sore 

The small of my back is abit sore

My left thigh is sore 

I'm tired 

But crikey do I feel epic!

Also the driver has admitted she just didn't see me in her police interview and the cctv that the police have secured of my accident clearly shows exactly what I said happened 

I pulled out left onto Commercial road from Hill Lane

The lights I could see were red to the station, green to go up past the Mayflower (where I was going) and you can see her car waiting on the left hand side on a side road just before the traffic lights waiting to pull out.

I'm travelling down the road, not to fast, no to slow and the driver doesn't look and just pulls out.

Apparently you can see me react so i'm hit by her car straight on which is why her car has zero damage - I figured her bumper hit my back wheel which sent then me up then down hard onto the road. 

I haven't seen the footage 

Mate Sharon is like - do you actually want to get back on your bike at some time?? 

 I suppose if it goes to court I'll see it 🤔

I've also filled out a couple of forms that my solicitor sent me a couple of weeks ago. 

I feel as if I'm finally able to do stuff. My brain is working a bit better, a bit quicker, a bit more able to manage multiple things at once. Which is just as well seeing as I'm back at work next Wednesday! I'm so going to be like a 4 year old on their first day at school - totally overwhelmed / overstimulated, I'll be exhausted, probably cry, may have to come home early, will be very hungry and then fast sleep by 9pm 🤣 

I can't wait xx 

 

10,095 steps!!!!!

Holy crap!

I've done 10,000 steps today 

Community physio came today :

I went on my stationary bike 

We walked to the precinct and back with ONE CRUTCH 

PamC came over 

We went to the cafe in the park for lunch then had cake at Ceanos at the Quaya

STC carpasses

Round trip to the Quays to give out STC carpasses 

Now home watching TV sat in my chair very very tired. 

What a day 🤗

1. I can use the stationary bike, low resistance, build up the time, Monday, Wednesday and Friday 

2. To start walking outside with just one crutch - small distances at first but out and about, not just the walkway. 

#SlowlyCarefullyGently 

Epic step count!

Okay, I did have to have a little nap this afternoon but holy smokes my step count today is 8,984!!!

I'm also down to comfortably managing to only have pain meds 3 times a day. My round trip to the Quays this evening was about 30mins after I took my 2nd load of meds today 🤗 I thought I could manage with just two lots but then realised I was flagging and sore and wanted to get the car passes. No need to be martyred about it 

Also it looks like my km/hr speed is nearly 3km/hr when I'm not tired and/or in pain so that's brilliant xx

I did gloat about this on Facebook and added pics and videos

Here's the text and as you can see I've managed to squeeze in a few more steps since posting xx

'This last week has felt normal.  

Went to The MAST last Tuesday to watch films of the oceans with Karyn and Shaz, went round to Jenny Penney's for lunch on Wednesday, went up to the track Thursday to give out a car pass to an STC club mate, met Katherine for lunch at Solent on Friday, was away for the weekend with friends in Dorset for Jenny A's birthday then yesterday up to Annabel's for supper 

Regular, normal stuff. 

I'm definitely feeling a lot more able to do a lot more stuff 🥰🥳 

Todays step count = 8,810 💥 IKR!! Epic!! Although I did have to have a nap this afternoon (Lisa and I walked nearly 3k this morning 😮) xx 

And check out the little videos of me walking. What a difference 10 weeks makes 

From barely able to wiggle a toe, to barely being able to walk 6 steps to now strutting about all nearly human like / hardly robotic at all. 

I feel able to see that I'll be okay soon. 

It's a good feeling to be able to have xx'

 #SlowlyCarefullyGently

Corners being turned!

Amazing

1. Not only am I walking about in the flat with ONE crutch, I'm also less robotic when I walk about the flat with NO crutch!

2. Last night - Sunday 24th September, 10weeks and 1 day after my accident I was able to sleep a bit on my LEFT SIDE

3. I had a shower this morning Monday 25th September and I stepped in the shower with my right leg but then lifted my left leg over the bath as opposed to dragging it over the bath

I am now feeling epic!!!!

I'm back to work 10am on Wednesday 11th October 

Physically I'm getting there

I now need to work on my mental side and getting my brain / mind back in gear 

Plus making sure I keep up with the exercises and explore adding more to restart OF&H xx

Celebrating mini wins

I need to keep celebrating all my mini wins so I keep feeling positive as I see myself constantly moving forwards - albeit not as impressively as when I went from a walker to crutches or managed steps for the first time

So what little wins am I celebrating this week

Monday 11/9 - walking 16 seconds with no crutches in my flat

Tuesday 12/9 - first time walking 1km without stopping. Yes I then had to sit and rest on a bench in Hillier's gardens for about 15mins before we headed to the nursery space to buy plants but 1km!!! Non stop!!!!

Wednesday 13/9 - did skittles. So did bowling with just one crutch. 

Friday 15/9 - well - where do I start?? 

Walked all the way up and down the whole of the walkway with just one crutch!!! Yes I had to have a nap and yes I had to take additional pain killers but crikey - one crutch!!!!

Saturday and my step count - it ended up being 5473!!!!

But today I'm celebrating two quite major things.

1. Shower

I stepped into my shower - I didn't sit on the bath board and carefully swing my legs over the bath

No, today i stepped into the shower backwards as has to lead with my right leg. Then clinging onto the hand rail I dragged my left leg over the bath.

I then had shower but didn't sit down once.

I then stepped back over the bath onto the bath mat. 

2. Up to the University to see the Hub gang

Alex and I have pencilled in 10-4pm Wednesday 11th October as my first day back

It will be 12 weeks and 4 days since my accident if I do manage to go back on the 11th 🤞

#SlowlyCarefullyGently

#MovingForward 

Thinking about my daily step count exactly 9 weeks since my accident

Today I am celebrating the first time since the 14th July 2023 that my step count has exceeded 5400 steps in one day!!!!

14/7/23 = 14,222

15/7/23 = 4,455

16/7/23 = 82

On the 26/7/23 I changed my daily step goal. 

It had been 12,500 steps a day

It was now 500 

On the 6/8/23 it was changed to 750

On the 24/8/23 it was changed to 1000

On the 12/9/23 it was changed to 1250

On the 14/9/23 it was changed to 1500

Today, at 22:15 my current step total is 5,407

I am utterly and totally blown away with this!!! 

It's taken 9 weeks but today my step count is now (according to the NHS), more than the average daily step count for Brits (3000-4000). 

This is a big deal

I will celebrate by changing my step goal to 2,000 steps a day. 

 

One crutch in the flat!!!!!

Just seen the community physio

Not ready to do the stationary bike as she wants my pelvis to heal more 

Not ready for swimming yet but she did mention hydrotherapy 

However I am now ready to move to just one crutch in the flat (still 2 crutches when out and about)  and to add walking along my walkway with just one crutch to my exercise programme.

To work on:

I need to relax my left hand

I need to look up more as she said my eyes were pretty much fixed to the floor!

I need to build up to walking both up and down the walkway as my groin was sore by the end of the walk. It def felt that both sides of my pelvis knew we'd been working

Catherine pointed out that when using just one crutch I'm having to use my muscles loads more so they will be sore. We then had a chat about my pain meds - I'm now down to pain med 3 times a day as opposed to 4 times a day. 

She's next at mine 10am Friday 29/9/23

Lots of explore

1. Stationary bike

2. Going to one crutch outside of the flat

3. Exploring swimming 

4. Discussing work 

We'll be going for an extended walk outside so she can properly observe exactly where I am in my review wet / rehab. 

She pointed out I may feel as if my progress is slowing down but actually she can see that physically I'm strong and I have good balance so a large part of the next 2 weeks will be the mental side of recognising I'm able to manage with just one crutch. 

This is great news 

Accident time line?

It'll be 9 weeks tomorrow Saturday 16th September. 

NB - I've appointed a solicitor to help me with compensation (am feeling so epic that I've actually managed to make a decision) 

Physio Catherine suggested hydrotherapy so I need to investigate possible venues in Southampton for this 

Update!!!

I needed a nap after she’d gone as was quite tired and sore 

Getting crutches

24th July was a big deal as that was when I went from a Walker to crutches 

25th July 

And then we tried steps on the 26th July!!!

Snaps from SGH 15-19th July

Not sure why I can include a video but here are a few pics from my stay at Southampton General Hospital

In A&E early Sunday morning 

In F7 pink bay on Tuesday 18th July 

Off to RSH rehab unit 19th July 

Our NHS is fantastic ❤️

How’s my walking going?

I've been 'celebrating' this week as my walking speed tops 2km/hr 🥳

But then I think back to creeping painfully into the ambulance on the night of the accident

Of being unable to make my legs move (very weird situation)

Of not being able to scooch up or down in bed - the nurse tipped the bed back so I could slide head first 'up' the bed!

Of those first painful and painfully slow first 6-7steps with the walker on the Sunday to Monday and being able to very slowly walk half way round the bed (lift up the knee, kick out the foot, place down the foot - me trying to remember how to walk)

I've got to remember how far I've travelled

Walked 1km in 40minutes (twice)

I am currently walking slower than if I was swimming

Off to the Quays this morning to the mobile breast screening van and my appointment.

I gave myself an hour so I could have a stop at my x3 identified rest stops / aid stations

The wall by the garage on Queensway

The seat by Holyrood church and the QE2 anchor

St. Michael's square

Made it to the Quays in just over 57minutes

40minutes was walking time

17minutes resting 

I was on my own but Katherine was following me on what's app location share so I did feel as if I was being checked on 🥰 (made me feel safe)

It was the same moving time back home but this time I sat in the Simmel Street community garden for awhile 

I'm delighted seeing as just under 6 weeks ago I could barely lift my leg and could manage maybe 6 steps with a Walker. So a 2km round trip that I walked on my own is pretty mind blowing!! 

It's also wow you walked one measly little kilometre and it took you 40minutes plus 17minutes of rest and then you had to rest at Cenos at the Quays for a good 30-40minute before you walked one kilometre home.

The bar is set so low yet I'm also celebrating every time I reach it. I'm recovery physically but I'm also having to recover mentally. It's all very odd and I don't have the language yet to fully explain to myself how I'm feeling with it all xx

Pics of feeling epic on my walk 🥳

Musings on 5 weeks since my accident

This time 5 weeks ago the ambulance was on its way and I was sat on a chair in the middle of the pavement waiting for Annabel to come and get my bike

And now, 5 weeks later I'm sat at home, watching TV thinking what a lovely day / week I've had finally leaving the flat and doing stuff. For instance, today I sat in one of Vik's garden chairs and cowbelled everyone at Southampton Parkrun. It was fabulous 

5 weeks really isn't that long at all. 

Isn't life bonkers.

Look right, look left, look right again.

If only the driver had remembered to look right again 🤔

Over 1000 steps!!!!!

Wow!!

Most steps since 15th July!!!!!!!!!!

#RecoveryRocks xx

Walking the walk way 7.20 🏃‍♀️

Okay I must have mis read my watch the other day as I did a lap of the walkway just now and it took 7.20mins 

Bit tired now and my groin area is sore.

Will do this I think at least a couple of times a day this week and maybe even do a couple of laps. Be interesting to see how I manage it. 

Also not 100% sure how well the watch is enjoying a slow walk 🤔

Did the walkway 🥳

13 minutes up and down the walkway 

Smashed it 

Home and feeling a bit fed up.

Update

So, how's it going????

It's now the 10th August

I watched clips of the Outlaw from hospital on the 30/7 - felt sad. The weather was quite windy so it would have been hard but I still reckon I'd of got my medal 🥳 

But how am I now?

I'm home

I'm on crutches

I've got my exercises 

I'm pretty fed up 

Everything is just so slow!!!!

It's just over three and a half weeks since my accident, Dr Jen in A&E said - bones mend Liz and it'll be 8-12weeks. I know it'll go in a blink of an eye, but right now, it just feels like forever 😢

2 days from the Outlaw that I’m not doing

Still in hospital

In the rehab unit at the Royal South Hants 

Been here since last Wednesday and my progress is amazing!!!

However.

As Suzanne did point out today while visiting me in hospital 

"You were going to be running 42km on Sunday and now you're doing chair exercises" 

Isn't it bonkers how one's life can change in a blink of an eye

My Outlaw 2023 journey is over.

Update - I wrote this Sunday morning (16/7/23) in hospital. 

(Accident happened 8:30pm ish Saturday evening 15/7/23 cycling home from work)  

Gang - a Lizzie update. A car pulled out on me as I cycled home from work yesterday evening and I've ended up in hospital with my pelvis fractured in 3 places. I'm fine apart from that 🥰 but sadly although Lizzie will def go long it just wont be this year 😢 My lovely dr in A&E says bones mend and reckons it'll be 8-12weeks recovery but the orthopaedic surgeon will check me out and figure out the best way to mend me. Will know today or Monday. Have had toast and marmite and tea for breakfast. Everyone looking after me has been fabulous. Just gutted about the outlaw ironman. But every cloud - will get Apple and Netflix subscription and binge watch a whole heap of shows I've made a note of. So you know, not all bad xxxx

Next update - a few hours later  

Just seen one of the orthopaedic surgeons - they reckon it's not too awful. They want to load me up on pain killers and see if I can walk with a walker. Yesterday I'm planning how I'm going to manage the marathon - today I'm wondering if I'll mange to walk with the walker. What a difference a day makes xxx

Next update 

So just had physio - lovely couple of woman and a walker. I managed to get to the side of the bed, stand up and take about 6 maybe 7 steps. They then pushed the bed over to me and I sat back down, swung my legs round and schooched back into bed (all super super slowly and in a fair bit of pain). They were very pleased with my progress. Although I may be here a couple more days - will be moved to an actual ward soon.

I feel as if I'm in some Hollywood blockbuster learning how to walk again 😂

View from my window bed on the ward F5 pink bay last Sunday evening 16/7/23

What a weekend! 

Started with me cycling off to work Saturday morning and finished with me admitted to Southampton General Hospital with a 'fractured in 3 places' pelvis 

16 days to go

Last few days of my last recovery week then I'm pretty much done

See below for the 2022 Outlaw highlights 

https://youtu.be/rlKtuJVXlbE

Have decided the swim looks okay 

I reckon the bike course will be really pretty 

And I think the marathon will be super sociable

Can't wait 

🥳

#LizzieGoesLong

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/lizcartersibs

 

Race number!!!! #332

Eeeeep

I've now got my race number 332

It's all very real now xx

Plus had a lovely 7k run this morning 

18 days to go

Today has mainly been:

Swim

Indoor cycling 

A nap

TV

Chores

More swimming

Pub 

Day 2/4 of my current mini break 

This time in 18 days it'll be 4 minutes after the 17 hour cutoff - hopefully I'll be high as a kite wearing my medal as a necklace scoffing food in  the recovery tent 🤗

40k of cycling this evening 🤗

Fabulous fun

Cycled to Lyndhurst for Southampton Tri Club's 10mile TT

The forest looked amazing

Then got a lift home with jenny as it was starting to get chilly

Only noticed I hadn't paused the garmin when we got to Ashurst

Hilarious 

Needless to say best ignore the average km/h for def the last 2.42km and a fair bit of the last 5km time as well 😂😂😂😂

I'm saying 40km in 1:45 with the 10mile TT done in approx 38mins 

Happy with that xx

20 days to go

And just like that - it's less than 3 weeks till the Outlaw

Yes, I'm excited

Yes, I'm feeling confident 

But also yes I'm bricking myself 😂

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/lizcartersibs

21 days to go

Smashed my training this week

Maybe my best ever week of training 

So pleased 

But still terrified 😂

23 days to go

Okay

I'm feeling like I can do this

🥳

24 days to go - an epic bike ride

That was fantastic 

150km 7hours

Plus I'm not going to change into cycling shorts so will cycle in my tri shorts - they were fine for 150k today 🤗

We did the Rattler bike course - picked it up at the Happy Cheese Ashurst. We loved the ride back in early June and loved it just as much today 

25 days to go

By 9:45am today I'd swum 2.5km and cycled on the stationary bike for 1.5hours

Needless to say I was pretty tired so had a shower and a snooze

Rest of the day I was on weather watch trying to decide if I was going to cycle to Manor Farm for the RR10

Decided too wet - I'm paranoid about injuring myself while running so no RR10 for me - instead some shopping, supper, TV and off to bed by 10pm

Big day of cycling tomorrow- going to do a 100miles just so I know I can do it xx

Running in zone2 is hard!! 26 days to go

Didn't cycle today as the weather forecast was for rain - a lot of rain

So instead I had a lie in and then inspired by a running channel YouTube video - the one when Anna ran a marathon in her small back garden over lockdown - I ran 8k in 1:20 while watching running channel podcasts.

My average pace for the 8k was 9:44 which would equate to a just under 7 hour marathon

I could have done that pace for hours 😂

I had a weird left knee pain about 1.5km into my jog up and down my flat but then I shortened my stride and lifted up my knees a tad more and the pain went

8k and 1:20 hours later it was time for lunch 

Finally I can say I've done a run in zone 2. 

And can I just say how hard it is to run in zone2!

 

Outside I'd struggle to run slower than 9minute kms

The having to stop and turn around at the front and back doors certainly helped to slow me down xx

I now intend to start watching Marvel's Secret Invasion while peddling on the stationary bike 

#LizzieGoesLong

27 days to go

This is my last hard week

Today I ran 18km in 2:40

Should have been 26km but I was running out of water and was getting hungry for my lunch 

Kept to my run a km walk for 30secs plan for the Outlaw and felt fine. My average pace over the 18km ended up being 8.47 per km which would give me a time of about 6:15 for the marathon 

There will be plenty of water / electrolytes plus some food and a lot of support so as long as I make the swim / bike cutoff I may well finish the race within the 17 hours!!!

However

Regarding the swim…

I am feeling very confident 

This evening at Ellingham I did 3.5km in 1:22 

I wasn't racing or trying to go quick

I felt relaxed and pretty blinking awesome

I reckon I may well finish the swim within 1:40 which'll be brilliant as I'll be able to gift myself a little bit more time for the 112mike / 180km bike leg 🥰

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/lizcartersibs

 

It’s July the 1st - 29 days to go!

You know that excited sick to your stomach feeling I was describing last week? I'm thinking this will be my constant buddy until the 31st July 😂🥳🤢

Finished early today so I can attend Amanda and Jamie's civil partnership party - can't wait 🎉

My training today will therefore consist of a lot of dancing - well jumping up and down and flapping my arms about. #BestFunEver.

Tomorrow will be skins swimming at Shepperton Lake and a run when I get back to Southampton tomorrow evening.

Then it's full steam ahead for my last hard training week before my last pre race recovery week,  a couple of weeks of tapering and then it's The Outlaw (😬) xx

Eeeeeeep xx

Update - 90k bike ride Tuesday 27/6

Okay, so today is a rest day - thank goodness as i am sooo tired

On Tuesday27/6 I cycled 90k in 4:45

Was with Jenny for 1:30 and then Fi for 2:00 and then cycled the long way home from Eastleigh to get in another 1:15 - ideally i should have cycled for another 45mins but needed to get home and showered as up to Ashtead that evening to see cousin Ruth 😍

And FYI - i LOVE my new bra - I couldn't feel it at all!

Am hoping to swim in Shepperton Lake this Sunday so will see how it feels after an open water swim 

31 days to go

One month till my 1st full ironman distance triathlon

Am i ready??

Maybe not quite yet but i reckon i will be xxx

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/LizCarterSibs

32 days to go

I'm very tired.

Tomorrow is a rest day

Will tidy up the flat a bit and then off to bed 

34 days to go & new sports bra day

Isn't she magnificent 🤗

I may have just finished - 10:33pm in exactly 5 weeks time xx

Crikey

So I got up today at 6:30am

Met Jenny 8am - was out for 6 hours but my bike moving time was 4:30 and I did 87km

Home by 2pm

Have lunch, made a sausage casserole for the slow cooker then off on a run via James' new pad in Woolston and a cuppa / visit

Run = 6.5km, 1 hour 

Shower, put washing on them off to Karyn and Sharons for food, drinks - B and Marcella also there. Was lovely. A good couple of hours sat in the garden drinking tea 

Just got home and now watching Elton John's Glastonbury set

Basically in 5 weeks time I'll be doing PE for all of this time. It's utterly ridiculous when you look at it this way 😂

Outlaw prep learning :

I need a new sports bra - just not comfy for 16-17hours of wearing 

Will go to M&S tomorrow 💪

Brunch bars are awesome so will def have at least 3 of them in my top box.

35 days to go

#LizzieGoesLong

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/LizCarterSibs

 

36 days to go

One of the absolute joys of training for an IM while working a 12 hour shift is having to grab training when you can. 

Today I ran as the sun was setting. 

It was fabulous.

5k, 45minutes xx

37 days to go - no backing out now

Today is the last day to be able to defer to 2024

I am not going to defer!

I am going to do The Outlaw on Sunday 30th July 2023

#IveGotThis 💪

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/LizCarterSibs

38 days to go!! Best start doing some fundraising :)

I'm raising money for Sibs it's a cause that means a lot to me. I've set up a JustGiving page to explain what I'm doing and why every donation is so important.
 
Take a look at my page to find out more about I'm doing and why:

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/LizCarterSibs?utm_source=EmailShare&utm_medium=email_social&utm_campaign=LFCFRUK_MomentumShareWide.

Wahoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

#BestFunEver

#LizzieGoesLong

#Sibs xxx

39 days to go

Well now it just feels really real. I'm starting to get that sick feeling in my stomach - that dread of an upcoming event that you know is going to be so hard and so painful and you're not 100% you'll make it. 

It's bonkers I know but I absolutely love my sport

You're racing against yourself and in my case the cutoffs but ultimately it's you racing against yourself to see how well you can do.

This is the peak training time

Swam and ran on Monday

Cycled Tuesday

Swam today 

Will swim tomorrow 

Swim and run Friday

Gym and run Saturday

Cycle and run Sunday 

Am so excited to see how well I can do 🤗

Running with JosieDog

7km round Ashtead yesterday - loved it

40 days to go

Just over 4 hours of cycling today 

Which was brilliant as although I cycle a lot I know I need to do more big chunks of cycling so I can do the 112miles / 180km in less than 8 hours which is making sure my average km/hour is 22.5km or more an hour

Doable 

And certainly helps when you've got awesome mates who'll take you out riding while designing a magnificent route on the fly xx

End of week 18 - recovery week

Didn't cycle much this week but have started to up my running and am very happy with how my swimming is going

Am in my major training period now so need to focus on getting those hours in the saddle sorted xx

42 days to go!!!

Well I'm def getting there!!!

Just got to keep doing the training

Swashbuckler done in 7:55!!!

Am feeling epic 

My first sub 8 hour middle distance triathlon.

Think the swim was on 1500m but the run was just over 22k so reckon it all balanced out.

Loved it

Swim was wonderful- not at all worried now about the Outlaw swim, just concerned about just how far it is and whether I'll be losing the will to live by the end. Although tbh I may well be feeling that about the whole thing!!!

Cycle was in biblical rain

Took it carefully but I was tired at the end so need to get stronger 

Run - every km I walked for 30secs

Wasn't fast but I did feel like a little would up toy, just kept going.

Basically I may well scrape the cutoffs

I'd like to be a bit more confident 

Need to be another km/h faster on the bike and another 30secs per km quicker on the run 

Let's see what happens over the next 5-7 weeks