Phillipa Beltran

It's the final countdown (doodoloodo, dododo!)

So last saturday saw me tackle my final Time Trial - a fancy term we use to work out whether we have improved since the start of the program 14 weeks ago!

Happy to report that I have improved my times across all 3 elements (thats my 5km run, 20km Bike and 750m swim!)

We graduate from our program this week - and that means one thing....IT'S RACE DAY THIS WEEKEND!!!

I am confident that I can complete the course, (thats the one thing that Can Too can assure you about with all their training and pre race day prep!) but the one thing that I have to honestly admit I am packing about is what my Race Day will actually be like...I have had a tendency to kinda freak out on race day, over think things and not have the best time...I have always managed to complete each event I've done but THIS time I'm gearing myself up to have a fun day and just enjoy each moment!!

I will keep you updated with how I go - fingers crossed!!

Well That Sucked!

I’m not gonna lie, last week was a TOUGH week. As those of you in Sydney will know, we had some insane non-stop rainy weather that made it feel more like we were in the middle of an English winter than a Sydney Summer!!

Convincing yourself that you want to go to track night when it’s been bucketing down non-stop is not an easy task (especially when you’ve added extra xmas chub, haven’t eaten much all day and left some of your gear at home!)

But I pulled up my big girl pants and persevered! My “reward” for turning up was a long warm up in the light rain, followed by a high intensity Fartlek set for 1.5km (hello chucky feeling), followed by a run around Centennial Park in the heavy cold rain and then running back to the track where we start…I think I was told it was about 6km all up, but I can’t remember as I spent most of that night throwing up from dehydration :( (talk about one way to learn an important lesson on nutrition!!)

Saturday’s super session was also very “interesting”. We had a massive Bike / Run set (which saw me cycle further than the event we’re training for (30km all up!) and then we were off to Clovelly with the full knowledge that beaches on either side were closed down due to pollution levels from the proceeding rain and dangerous rips…yay.

Our reward for turning up to the beach was some lovely brown, choppy, seaweed infused water – and our task was to jump in and start swimming towards the beach (else get caught in the rip and get pulled backwards) and then get out at the beach and run back to the start and do it all again (I have to say I did feel a little sorry for all the beautiful people having breakfast having to watch me run past them in my swimmers!) We were tasked with doing a minimum of 4 sets and a max of 7 – at that point I thought I was going to be lucky to make it to 3!

But with all things Can Too, even when you think you’ve given it everything you have, the support and encouragement from everyone around you helps you dig in and just find that little bit more. That little last bit you didn’t know was there that you could have sworn was gone hours ago.

And BOOM – there you are, 7 sets down and ready for coffee on the lawn with your buddies!! :D

I am hoping that this week is a lot nicer to me – nicer weather, better nutrition and of course that the running gods are on my side!

We shall see… :)

It's almost xmas!!

So here we are, the day before Christmas. A time when most people look forward to a much needed break and spending some quality time with their family, friends and loved ones. But sadly for most of us, there will be someone missing from our celebrations this year.

After a small hiatus I am back in orange and thought that it was time to step up my game, so am taking on a Triathlon! I am training at least 4 times a week (including 4hrs on Saturday!) to learn how to Swim, Bike and Run my way through the Kurnell Triathlon Festival in 2016.

The reason why I do all of this is that I believe in Can Too.

At this time of year, where we already giving so much to everyone else, I am asking for you to consider making a donation to Can Too. Any amount you can spare would be so much appreciated by not only me – but also the next crop of researchers coming through and the lives their research will touch.

On that note, I just wanted to say, thank you so much for all your support so far – I definitely could not have achieved so much without all the love and support of those around me. Stay safe these holidays and be kind to each other!!

xxFlip

(p.s. dont forget to scroll up to the Gallery and check out some of my pics)