That time I did an Adventure Race (a short one)

So earlier this year I recieve a text from my friend Jo with the link to a womens only sprint adventure race with Adventure Junkie
I had my knee surgery a few months prior and still getting my bearings but doing ok. I decide to say yes and so we partnered up.
The race was a 2 km Kayak, 5 km Run, 1 km orienteering, 10 km bike ride.
I got a bike for my birthday so this was the perfect opportunity to really break her in!
Our local lake was doing weekly kayak hire with Canoeing Victoria and this is where our training began. This was so much fun, once we got the hang of how to paddle we were good!

First time on the water

Sunday was kayak day, we got some awesome weather until one Sunday it was 11c and pouring. So we had to borrow the thermals from the hire people. Thing is they only had small sizes and we got on to a smashing start when I tried to sit down in my kayak and heard an almighty RIP coming from my rear. I could not stop laughing. You know the laughing where there is no noise, you can't breath and all your emotion is coming out in tears. I think that was one of my favourite training sessions because after we were done, soaking from the rain we went our separate ways, I got home and into the shower and under a blanket to snuggle with my babies.

As the weeks went on we trained, going for bike rides and out for a run. I struggled with the running due to suffering Achilles tendinitis and I am grateful for the patience that my partner Jo showed me in my moments of pain where I just could not run for the pain.

Training never seemed like a chore and was a great time for us to bond and build our friendship.

Race Day. March in Melbourne is always lovely and we got a lovely day. 1st leg was the Kayaks and we are hit with our first challenge. The 2 person kayak. See, we had only used a single person kayak and while in theory we were prepared there was one part of the kayak we weren't prepared for. The rudder, in our case the malfunctioning rudder. Which ever way we paddled, it wanted to take us a different way! Being in the back of the kayak it was my job to steer the rudder instead I drew my feet away and used my paddle to steer. Once we had that figured out we were good.
Now, if you have never done an Adventure Race like me, it may surprise you to know there are check in points all through the course. Trying to check in on a kayak is a challenge, especially with 20 other kayaks around you and you are starting to float under a jetty and doing your best not to capsize as you lean over to scan your tag at the check point.

We lost a fair bit of time in the kayak leg but it really was quite the strategic challenge in the sense of "how the hell do we get out of this marsh we are currently bogged in", we made our time back surprisingly in the run. I was able to go in short bursts for a time before having to walk it out and then run again. I have strong legs and can push out a good sprint when I need to.

Once we got through our run the cycling was next, we got our bikes and set off in the wrong direction. It's OK though because the other teams were so supportive and especially in the bike leg everyone was helping everyone as we tried to find all the checkpoints. One thing we were not expecting in the bike section was all the hills, so many steep hills. My tip for getting up those bad boys aside from hopping off and walking is to shout your head off, and swear a lot! After the race I heard on the radio that this is actually a fact and I can wholeheartedly say that it works, because I made it up the biggest most steepest hill of the lot in one good go!

The orienteering was the bit where I followed my partner Jo and just made sure I was keeping up.

Crossing the finish line was a great feeling I was elated and so proud of both of us.

This race took me back to a time when I was a kid and did stuff because it was fun. Somewhere along the line I became so self conscious of what people think of me for how I looked and the things I do. Striking up this friendship with Jo and her enthusiasm to try things and rope me in for the ride is really cool, There really is no pressure from her but when she says she wants to do something, most of the time I think "yes I want to do that too!"
Doing this race was not about being the fastest or the strongest, it was about trying something new and having some fun. I got out in the fresh air, I  moved my body and I had a really good time with my friend. I am looking forward to doing more things like this in the future. I am doing Tough Mudder with my husband in October and yes I am very nervous but also excited at the same time.

Doing this race has shown me that even though I am a grown up now there are so many things in life to experience just for the fun of it! Get out there and do something that makes you think "that would be fun" you will not regret it 

Big Thanks to my friend Jo for asking me to join her!

Fi 

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Using a visual to understand anxiety

Away on a fun weekend with old family friends. We started the tradition before all of us had kids and now we have many children in our little group.
As my friend and I sit on the last day in a quiet room. The rest of our group and the children have gone for a walk along the beach. We have done our packing and relish in the brief silence us Mums rarely encounter. I like this about my friend, we can comfortably be silent. As we rest in the peace, she asks me how our daughter is going with her anxiety. My friend is a clinical psychologist and is a great support on the topic of our daughter's anxiety. Whilst we actively seek professional help, she always has some helpful suggestions on how we can support our wee girl.

She asked me if she has ever show me her "diagram" on how she explains anxiety to patients witg anxiety. I said no she hasn't and so she begins to explain.

Holding up her hand with a closed fist she points to her wrist.
This is the root of our brain
At this stage we need the basics here protection, shelter, safety.

Next she opens up her hand exposing her palm. In our palm is where our emotions are they are developing as we go into toddler-hood and have tantrums, experience separation anxiety etc. This is pure emotions in this palm.

She then begins to close her fingers one by one over her palm. This is logic developing. This takes into the teen years in which to develop and as it does so, places a lid over the emotions.

When someone experiences anxiety the lid (logic) has popped off allowing the emotional state to completely take over.

How do we settle this emotional state? We have to go back to the root. Back to basics. Protection, safety, shelter.

When my daughter has episodes of extreme anxiety I have become anxious myself, panicked even angry. None of these reactions helped the situation.

After seeing her psychologist she advised that I just hold her in these moments. Just hold her as long as she needs.

As I spoke with my friend she nods and adds that stroking her arms, a hand to the forehead any nurturing touch. Those who suffer anxiety very commonly will rope their arms around themselves or place their on hand on the forehead unconsciously seeking this comfort.

The explanation of how the brain works in anxiety has really helped in how I respond to my daughter and also my son who is 3 and requires the same support as he goes through his toddler-hood.

Encouraging my daughter to tap into logic is where we are at. For example she lost her class at school one morning as all the lines  were making their way to classrooms. It was busy and overwhelming for her. As she is in Grade 2 she is familiar with the school so I gave her 2 options to think of if she finds herself lost.
#1: she heads to her classroom
#2: if her class room is empty she goes to the office. She knows where is it and that there will always be someone there who can help her.
We went over these together and I got her to say it back to me and we touch back on it from time to time.

I hope this helps someone out there. It is horrible to see your child with an internal struggle and we all want to do our best to support them.

Fi
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