tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44090550467004076662024-03-16T01:09:29.831+00:00If You Can't Move It, Climb ItThe blog of a girl who accidentally decided to climb a mountain.Vikki Roberts-Caigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11227652880609322275noreply@blogger.comBlogger787125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4409055046700407666.post-41475547712398364392018-07-20T16:35:00.003+01:002018-07-20T16:35:37.808+01:00Back on the BikeThe weekend just passed was IRONMAN UK weekend, the Ironman branded event that takes place in Bolton. I supported Dean there last year and would have been there this year had he not deferred (right decision, but one it took a while to reach). But ten of my triathlon club mates took part and many more went up in support. I just watched from afar via updates to Facebook and the tracking app. There Vikki Roberts-Caigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11227652880609322275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4409055046700407666.post-75525173700492214662018-06-29T09:31:00.003+01:002018-06-29T09:31:43.721+01:00So... What Now?In the words of Dusty Springfield, I just don't know what to do with myself. It's been almost two weeks now, since Lakesman and I've only realised this week just how much of my time it took up.
Immediately after the event, Dean and I took a three-night break at Champneys Springs, using one of our Vitality perks for a 75% discount (well we had been extremely active and earned those points after Vikki Roberts-Caigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11227652880609322275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4409055046700407666.post-30629769798841264552018-06-24T19:11:00.007+01:002018-06-24T19:11:46.766+01:00Lakesman 2018I am a Lakesman. I have completed an iron distance triathlon. I am an iron distance triathlete. I can't quite believe it. This journey was around 7-8 months in the making. Months of training, compromises, tiredness, overcoming all sorts of things, from lack of bike confidence to lack of self belief. I have had support from so many people; Ellie my coach, Emma my osteopath, Georgina my sports Vikki Roberts-Caigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11227652880609322275noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4409055046700407666.post-62015286150053604862018-06-15T08:00:00.000+01:002018-06-15T08:00:19.621+01:00Preparing To Eat The ElephantHave you ever been faced with a huge (perhaps mammoth - ahem) task, the size of which leaves you paralysed with anxiety over how on earth to even BEGIN such a thing? Has some bright spark then asked how you eat an elephant? One bite at a time! The idea being that rather than look at the overall task, you focus on one little piece of it, get that done, and keep doing that until the whole thing is Vikki Roberts-Caigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11227652880609322275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4409055046700407666.post-35765435571356206272018-06-08T20:00:00.000+01:002018-06-08T20:00:12.951+01:00Riding Three Counties and Starlight SwimmingAfter writing about struggling so much with my positive mental attitude last time, I'm happy to say that I'm in a much better place now. There have been a few things that have been instrumental in this change...
I was still suffering with my outlook up until Wednesday last week, when I met Cathy for lunch and a catch up. No matter what's going on in her life, she always seems to have something Vikki Roberts-Caigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11227652880609322275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4409055046700407666.post-61325093656596903692018-06-01T14:56:00.000+01:002018-06-01T14:56:06.356+01:00I Would Ride 100 Miles...And I would ride 100 more, if only my head and legs would get in the game at the same time. My last big milestone before Lakesman is the 100 mile bike ride. I've done 82 miles... how hard can 100 be? Um, very, as it turns out. I had signed up to the Surrey Hills Cyclone Sportive, epic distance (102 miles) on Saturday 26th May. The benefits of this were that I would have a route planned out for meVikki Roberts-Caigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11227652880609322275noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4409055046700407666.post-71728069362219588092018-05-25T20:46:00.000+01:002018-05-25T20:46:09.095+01:00The Good, The Bad and The OutlawAs I write this it's just a little over three weeks until Lakesman, my "A" race this year, the big event, the grand finale (although there are a couple of encores in the diary). I'm perpetually tired, moody, and full of self doubt. I'm doing my best to be on form for work and telling my classes what I'm working towards when I'm not teaching them has helped a bit. The little voice in my head Vikki Roberts-Caigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11227652880609322275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4409055046700407666.post-90381111950555770842018-05-15T20:46:00.001+01:002018-05-15T20:46:50.469+01:00What I Eat In A WeekWith the significant increase in training, my appetite has been yo-yoing like crazy. I've been making more effort to match my diet to my training needs, more carbs on days I'm training hard and protein for recovery. I'm not always sure if I'm over eating, and I'm trying not to reward myself with food too often. So I decided to record what I ate for five days.
I don't calorie count at the moment,Vikki Roberts-Caigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11227652880609322275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4409055046700407666.post-29464483966616558902018-05-06T19:36:00.000+01:002018-05-06T19:36:18.062+01:00Let Sleeping Cat Owners Lie"Darling, we need to talk about the cat..." not a conversation I thought I'd be starting with my husband on a Friday morning. We've been accidental cat owners for the last 5 months. Accidental because we never planned to get a cat, it wasn't on our radar at all, until a friend got in touch looking to rehome their gorgeous Bengal who is affectionately known as Fang. Now this little bundle of fluffVikki Roberts-Caigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11227652880609322275noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4409055046700407666.post-32368913144562139902018-04-29T17:02:00.004+01:002018-04-29T17:03:12.791+01:00Swimathon, Sportive, SlumpsThe last two weeks have been a bit of a mixed bag. The euphoria of Brighton carried me through a few days. Training was meant to recommence on the Tuesday but I felt I needed an extra rest day, so I took it, sacrificing a track/interval session, and felt no remorse. Instead I got pummelled by the lovely Georgina under the guise of a sports massage. My poor thighs!
Wings for my trainers! A Vikki Roberts-Caigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11227652880609322275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4409055046700407666.post-21228007334196594212018-04-20T08:30:00.000+01:002018-04-20T08:30:13.121+01:00Event Review : Brighton Marathon 2018
Oh I do like to be beside the seaside! We (my parents, Dean and I) arrived in Brighton on Friday afternoon. It was sunny and we had plenty of time after checking into our hotel to wander to the race village by the front to collect our race packs. It was happening. Dean and I were running the Brighton Marathon, him for the first time, me for the second and with a time goal in mind. I was feeling Vikki Roberts-Caigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11227652880609322275noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4409055046700407666.post-903338817257875332018-04-10T08:07:00.000+01:002018-04-10T17:07:37.007+01:00The Week Before BrightonOn Sunday 15th April I will finally be running the Brighton Marathon. It's been a real rollercoaster of a few weeks not only in terms of what I've achieved (or not) with training but emotionally and mentally. Let's have a bit of a recap...
Week of March 12th
Swim: 1,600m
Bike: 51 miles
Run: 8 miles
It feels like lifetime ago that I walked the Sam Run course in the snow with Jackie, the race Vikki Roberts-Caigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11227652880609322275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4409055046700407666.post-90116102058080013052018-04-04T11:53:00.001+01:002018-04-04T11:53:34.700+01:00Flotation Therapy : My Next Adventure In Self CareAs training and work take up ever more of my time and energy, I'm seeing changes in my energy levels, recovery, sleep patterns and moods, not always positive. If I'm at home I struggle to sit still and relax (there always seems to be housework) and sleep has evaded me more frequently in recent weeks than it used to so I was looking for something to try alongside my vitamin supplements, dietary Vikki Roberts-Caigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11227652880609322275noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4409055046700407666.post-72450280141480137812018-03-26T08:36:00.000+01:002018-03-26T08:36:17.168+01:00Samaritans Run 2018 - What's NewI really enjoy being a part of local races, whether running them, working behind the scenes or supporting on the sidelines. I'm especially fond of The Samaritans Run, which I've run every year for the past 4 years!
The Sam Run, as it's affectionately known, is a 5k and 10k race, usually part of my running club championship, in aid of the Bracknell branch of The Samaritans. It's a vital event inVikki Roberts-Caigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11227652880609322275noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4409055046700407666.post-41106070170402439662018-03-14T11:21:00.003+00:002018-03-14T11:21:57.097+00:00Snow, Stetsons & SocialisingThe last three weeks have been eventful to say the least! The week after the Wokingham half marathon was a mixed bag. I had to shuffle my training sessions around a lot to allow for work and a weekend with the children. As such my "recovery run" became a 10 mile "comfortable run" which I nailed - felt really strong and had some good pace. It all fell apart a bit after that mind you. I had a Vikki Roberts-Caigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11227652880609322275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4409055046700407666.post-52670101638287592932018-03-01T08:30:00.000+00:002018-03-01T08:30:00.524+00:00The Power of Comparison
Comparison: a consideration or estimate of the similarities or dissimilarities between two things or people.
Training is time consuming. Not only is my training taking up my time but it's consuming my brain power. I find myself thinking a lot about what I'm doing, how well I'm doing it, what sessions I have to juggle or move this particular week to fit in with other things. It's exhausting, andVikki Roberts-Caigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11227652880609322275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4409055046700407666.post-33115180583603270432018-02-22T16:09:00.002+00:002018-02-22T16:09:31.844+00:00Race Recap : Wokingham Half MarathonMy first event and target for the year has been ticked off the list. On February 18th I, along with a couple of thousand other people, took part in the Wokingham Half Marathon. I'd set myself the challenge of a sub 2-hour half marathon but it became clear in training that I wasn't going to be able to maintain the speed to do that so I re-adjusted my goal to achieve a PB, anything below 2h10. It Vikki Roberts-Caigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11227652880609322275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4409055046700407666.post-51014945581269693742018-02-14T08:30:00.000+00:002018-02-14T08:30:25.539+00:00What's In My Swim BagSwimming doesn't come easy for me. I really have to work at it. I still get freaked out if there are too many people in the pool, get worried that I'm holding people up (there fore swim faster and knacker myself out) and feel like I only ever have one pace.
I'm going to the pool twice a week these days, either to my Tri Club coached session or to the leisure centre to do a set dictated by my Vikki Roberts-Caigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11227652880609322275noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4409055046700407666.post-43335230500926235882018-01-30T08:30:00.000+00:002018-01-30T11:18:57.848+00:00But My Back Feels Fine!At the beginning of the year when my coach was setting my training plan up for the month, she got in touch to see how I doing generally and what my thoughts were about training. It was around the time I was under the weather, again, and as well as recommending I got checked out by a doctor she also strongly urged me to go and see an osteopath she visits herself, to see if she could shed any lightVikki Roberts-Caigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11227652880609322275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4409055046700407666.post-37805280241838542712018-01-24T08:57:00.000+00:002018-01-24T08:57:30.382+00:00A Message, Motivations and Making Time For MyselfA couple of weeks ago I was checking my email between classes and saw one from Anthony Nolan. It was entitled "Message from your recipient". After donating white blood cells, my second donation for my match, I sent a short message to my recipient via the charity. I had no way of knowing if my recipient was in the UK or if she would want or be able to return my message, but needing white cells ledVikki Roberts-Caigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11227652880609322275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4409055046700407666.post-75605547124237322852018-01-17T09:00:00.000+00:002018-01-17T09:00:31.891+00:00Event Review : Costa Rica Marathon
The warmth and exoticness of Costa Rica seems a distant memory now we're mid January but it was only a few weeks ago that Dean and I were out there for our honeymoon. A fortnight in the Central American country had been timed so that we finished with the Costa Rica Marathon on December 4th. A fitting honeymoon for a couple as active as we are!
It's not so sunny in the cloud forest
Of course Vikki Roberts-Caigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11227652880609322275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4409055046700407666.post-55726647234393946232018-01-10T11:16:00.003+00:002018-01-10T11:16:47.224+00:00New Year... Better YouHappy New Year everyone! I think I'm still just about able to get away with saying that. I hope you had a fabulous Christmas and New Year, however you chose to spend it. I had a lovely, quiet time with my husband and parents, eating, drinking and doing very little exercise. It was perfect.
At Kew Gardens with the Mister
The lack of exercise wasn't by design. In the space of two months I've Vikki Roberts-Caigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11227652880609322275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4409055046700407666.post-9320097004918069822017-11-19T08:30:00.000+00:002017-11-19T08:30:02.562+00:00Mrs Roberts-Caiger Misses TrainingI flopped on to the sofa on Friday night at around 7:45pm. I'd just finished packing for our honeymoon, made up the kids room, welcomed said children into the house and still had dinner to cook. Swimming would have to wait until another week. It's been a bit of a theme in the past two weeks, since our wedding and spa trip, that exercise has taken a bit of a back seat. I've read the post-training Vikki Roberts-Caigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11227652880609322275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4409055046700407666.post-58038653852169547102017-11-10T08:30:00.000+00:002017-11-10T08:30:00.170+00:00Champneys Forest Mere : A Bloke's Perspective on Spa life
The following post has been written by my new husband, Dean. I love saying that :D Anyway, here's some words from him.
Stop me if you’ve heard this one…. A bloke walks into a SPA….
Okay it was a "we", it wasn’t just me, it was Vikki and I (or should I say my wife and I having been married a mere 24 hours before hand), eagerly making our way through the automatic doors of the hotel spa Vikki Roberts-Caigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11227652880609322275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4409055046700407666.post-58929515936554751582017-10-27T09:48:00.001+01:002017-10-27T09:48:06.645+01:00Hen Do's and Hospitals
The week following the Eden Project half, was my last week of proper training for a little while. My quads were rather sore on the Monday so I was glad to only have a swim to do in the morning. Even better, breakfast was a free latte from Waitrose and a cinnamon bun brought back from Eden! That said, swimming felt hard and I couldn't find my speed no matter how hard I tried. At least I had a Vikki Roberts-Caigerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11227652880609322275noreply@blogger.com0