Kassabaine Petersen is Shape’s deputy/managing editor. Between fulfilling this role and that of wife and mother to two-year-old Alex, she hopes to complete the SSISA’s 8-week triathlon training programme.
PROGRAMME: SSISA 8-WEEK TRI-FIT
PLAN: Complete 6-8 training sessions of swimming, cycling and running each week, with one rest day.
MY MOTTO: Get the balance right!
One day recently I was home alone (a rare luxury) and felt, well, almost lost, not quite sure of what to do with myself. You see, I had a baby a little while ago and since his birth, he is all my life has revolved around. So when faced with an unexpected hour or two to fritter away it suddenly hit me: what is it that I enjoy… (This was quickly remedied, though, when I poured a large glass of my favourite Chenin and curled up on a garden lounger with my book – bliss.)
So when the opportunity came to complete the SSISA 8-week tri-fit programme and enter a mini-triathlon, I jumped at it, for a number of reasons but mostly because it gave me the chance to prioritise me… That and:
1) I had hit a fitness plateau; I love running, but I am bored with it.
2) I am tired of using my new-born baby as an excuse for not being able to exercise. (He is nearly three)
3) I’m over being asked if I’m pregnant. (I’m not!)
4) And lastly, who wouldn’t want bragging rights and be able to say: “I did it!”
Sat 4 Feb:
7am; Skills assessment: we had our vitals checked and recorded (cholesterol, heart rate as well as body measurements); next we did a 12-minute motion test, which involved running around the 140m indoor track, and ended on a rather wet note: a 5 min, 200m swim.
I approached the swimming pool with some trepidation; you see, unlike running, swimming is not my thing. I can swim, yes, but I am not a strong swimmer. I lack the overall strength to keep me gliding swan-like through the water. I entered cool and calm, but I had not banked on what (or who) I might encounter in the pool. I was sharing a lane with Ingrid, my fellow tri-fit trainee and full-time swimming instructor (!) and to my left… er… the ENTIRE 2012 Olympic swimming squad. (Seriously?!)
It really couldn’t have gone any worse for me – even if I tried. I was intimidated and overwhelmed and thought I was going to drown – despite the water only reaching chest-height.
Feeling mortified and exasperated, after much flailing and un-choreographed flapping, I exited the pool five and a half minutes later wishing I had made like a Dispirin and dissolved instead!
Driving home at 8am on the most beautiful Cape Town summer’s morning, I was hit by the reality of the situation: I am rubbish at swimming and I will need to dig deep to complete this challenge. This is the one discipline that could possibly stand between me, and a successful finish.
Monday 6 Feb:
We meet at 5.45pm for a quick run: 30 min along a river trail surrounding SSISA’s premises in Newlands where it’s difficult to escape the overpowering odour of hops from the nearby breweries. The run restores my confidence somewhat, and I finish strong!
This was followed by a very informative session with SSISA dietitian Karlien Smit. Inspired by Karlien, I got home and unleashed my (rather limited) culinary creativity while I prepared lunch boxes for the husband, the toddler and myself, and half-cooked dinner for the boys for the next night as I had a girlie dinner to look forward to. Yay! But not before I have to fit in a 45-min cycle at 6.00am tomorrow…
At 10.45pm, it’s finally lights out.
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