Keep you, you

We are in scary times. I, like the majority of people, cannot stop thinking about what is happening to our world. I also cannot escape it. I am considered a keyworker (which thankfully does help the childcare woes I was so worried about in my previous blog) so am still coming to work whenever shifts are offered. (This may be subject to change but at the moment I have cover). However, working at Sky News obviously means I am all consumed with my worries at home and then surrounded by all things COVID 19 when working.

This has meant that training has become yet again my refuge. Exercise, and when asleep, is probably the only time I properly switch off. Yes IRONMAN Wales, and all the lead up events, may well be cancelled, I am well aware of that but I am training as if I am still racing. It is good for my mental health and well being and quite frankly I am enjoying the escape and seeing my fitness grow. It is giving me a focus and I am also loving watching the weight fall and the fitness scale on Training Peaks increase. It's an obsession but at least it's a healthy one.

Swim for Tri swim set water bottles

Also as expected the gyms closed last week so that is no more gym sessions and most notably no more swimming for the foreseeable future. This is super annoying more because I got delivery of my new water bottles from 'Swim for Tri' on Friday. These are awesome and have a variety of swim sets on them for varying distances. No more taking a shoddy hand written piece of paper to the pool folded in a plastic sleeve which becomes crinkled, wet and eventually useless! Great idea Dan. Get yours ready for some motivation when the pools eventually reopen here.

The gym closing is a huge blow but I understand why wholeheartedly. However, with some careful planning I can still get my 10-12 hour per week training in. My turbo and virtual training world Zwift is becoming my best friend. I also live in the middle of the countryside so lots of rural runs and then I have my treadmill and weights at home too. I have it good and know I am in this sense lucky and therefore have no excuses!

Luckily as well the swim isn't something I am the most concerned about. I know I can swim that distance when asked. I won't be as fast with some months out and nowhere near my peak, but I am lucky that my confidence in the water will not be drastically affected. My focus when training this year has always been on my bike and run anyway.

Actually the only other time I do totally switch off to Coronavirus is when I'm driving. I am currently working my way through the Harry Potter audiobooks and getting totally absorbed in them. They also help the tiredness I do feel during my super early and super late commute times, even after night shifts. Stephen Fry's narrating keeping me super focused and intrigued (despite knowing the stories all too well) as opposed to sleepy. I really get transported to their world yet again and even enjoy my time in the car now.

Cake baking

My advice to anyone going through self-isolation for whatever reason, and with a 3 month lock-down potentially on the horizon, is to find these things that make you able to switch off. It is going to be hard mentally and financially for I believe 6 months, maybe more. Then there is the economy to try and recover. Hard working parents are now with their children 24/7 and it goes without saying keeping them entertained and yourself sane is a hard thing to do! I had the boys all this week while nursery was closed whilst also juggling work and training; it was exhausting! I did however keep them busy as much as I could. Cake making, walks and buggy runs.

On a 9 mile run and meeting 'horseys'

No words

I think it is mutually agreed with most parents, in fact not even just parents, maybe as a nation, I drank more than normal this week! Thankfully the alcohol aisle doesn't seem to be affected by the stock hoarding idiots. Well, I lie, the beer aisle was incredibly low apart from cases of Corona! One word; MORONIC. I drink wine and gin so didn't affect me personally but did grab some for the husband who loves a Corona. I couldn't actually believe it when I heard a rumour that Corona had lost billions due to the virus. Do people really think they're related?!

Anyway, I have reigned myself in when I wanted to grab the bottle on a couple of occasions this week and I went training instead. My relationship with alcohol will not go backwards. I am in a good place and in control. COVID will NOT affect the positives I do have.

During this time remember to check in on your friends. Arrange Skype or Facetime calls, have a glass of wine at the ready. Send stupid meme's, videos and jokes to keep up morale (like the ones below and above). I know Sam would be sending me hundreds of these if she were still here! Remember to talk to those at home too - communication is vital. We are all in this together!

Keep focused and most importantly keep safe everyone. Keep you, you and take care of your mental health. I'll hopefully see some of you in person soon but for now I'll hopefully see you on here! xx