I've lost the balance

Just when my training schedule should be stepping up, I've had almost 2 weeks of virtual inactivity on the training front. I've managed a couple of runs, a couple of gym sessions and a swim, but that's nowhere near what I should be doing at the moment. I'm trying not to be disheartened and I know that compared to this stage in the training last year I'm miles ahead ... literally miles ahead in fact.

So where has it gone wrong? Work, family and life in general seems to have intervened in a particularly frustrating way. Two weeks ago, we competed in a hard and fast 14 mile race on the Thames and despite my balance problems for about a mile (literal balance problem - hangover from encephalitis many years ago, occasionally my balance goes for no apparent reason) we were delighted with the improvement we showed. The following week I managed to run/gym, but then had to take daughter #1 back to Cambridge for another uni interview. Then I was unwell and that's when life seemed to take a further turn towards the frenetic. We had to cope with one daughter deal with the stress of waiting for a uni offer: finally discovered after several interviews, pooling, recalls, more interviews, that it was a no from Cambridge, but with a firm offer and a sports scholarship from Durham, it wasn't the end of the world.

Then daughter #2 who has struggled to train recently was hit with debilitating headaches, cue several doctors' visits, blood tests, high emotion. While daughter #3 has had an offer of a place at a new (much better) school away from a nasty bully, but was hugely emotional at the prospect of a move. Add to that mix needing THREE new tyres in the past 5 days for THREE cars (2 flats and 1 bald) and the news that my father has been rushed to hospital in NZ with chronic heart failure (among other problems). Then comes parents' evenings and a series of 12 hour working days. I've continued to get up at 5.20am, but have been unable to manage more than just a walk round the block with the dogs. Total bloody exhaustion is lurking nearby!

So all in all I'm feeling a bit of a failure and as though my life has become completely off kilter - but we've put tomorrow aside for a paddle and a trial at something completely different. We're going to try out dragon-boat racing before we do a shortish training paddle.

And Monday is the start of a new week - I've brought my boat back home to see if that makes it easier to get out on the river first thing in the mornings. All I know is that if I don't get things back on track, any hope we had of going under 24 hours for the DW race will be out the window. I have to get some balance back in my life - if only to stop the stress I feel building when I don't get out for a long training session at least once a week.

Here's to a more balanced few weeks...

When I was 15 I grandly declared that when I reached 50 I was going to kill myself as there was no reason to carry on after that point. As the dreaded age approaches, I find that my daughters are not fully supportive of my teenage plans, so I've come...

I've known for a very long time that I have an addictive personality but generally, I can use that focus for good. My slightly obsessive qualities become really evident when competition is involved - whether it's playing freecell on my phone or wipi...

Yes, this non athletic paddler actually managed to get a medal at the national marathon championships in August (we're talking kayaking). It's been a good summer - watching my daughter win at the World Quad championships in the Czech Republic, time i...

The role of supporter is hugely under-estimated - all the focus is on the athlete, but the organisation and demands on those of us left holding the water bottles and outer-layers is simply not understood. Our preparation, health, fitness, lung capaci...

It has been a little long in coming - but I've finally had a moment to put some words together about the World Quadrathlon Championships and our trip to the Czech Republic. Marthe, myself and Chris (my sister) were all heading to Sedlcany for the rac...

Ok, so I am not personally competing but my daughter is and my role as chief supporter has never been more important. I'm happy to take my participation vicariously. After such a long battle against the debilitating effects of glandular fever, this i...

The news this week was just as I expected when i heard Will was missing. After 25 hours, the 17 year olds body was found, following his capsize during a run-of-the-mill race in Richmond, on Sunday. The newspapers published a load of rubbish in th...