This week, I finally started to feel more like myself in my trainings after a slight rough period post 10km race where my body struggled to keep up along with other areas of my life being changed. Coming back from mid term break it was nice to go into lectures with up to date lecture notes. To understand the building of the story they unfold, but with another mid term exam upcoming the first Wednesday back it was definitely a stress added already.
Luckily for this paper, physics there is plusage for the final exam meaning if this mid term does not do quite as well as the final, the grade will be matched which is a slight relevance, especially now its done knowing that will be needed and from surrounding talk its a common feeling. I look at it like racing sometimes the best learning is just by doing it and then analysing where you need to improve and doing so.
Coming into this half of the semester being only 5 weeks of learning and then the end of semester exams its quite overwhelming to think about but my goal is too keep being up to date, working through practices to be one step ahead and try avoid as much of the final stress as possible which I know is impossible to completely resolve, but setting myself up for success is something I can pick away at.
With my training starting to feel better with my body coming out of a struggle period post 10km race and mid term stress I’m trying to focus on taking things as they go and listening to my body. Whether that be where I train, when I train and how that is going to look throughout my day. At the beginning of the year I was always set of doing every training before uni, as for school once I was there that was it. But knowing I have more flexibility but also other places I have to be at various times I am able to accomodate slightly to give my body the most rest and least stress it can.
I still continue to be a morning training person as I like to get it done and out of the way with my full energy, still completing most before uni as I did, but every so often on double days or swimming only days I will swim after my first lecture which I will attend an earlier one if I can or in the afternoon between lectures, accomodating to how I feel and the day priors activities, if its a late night I wont force myself to get little sleep as I know my brain needs full recovery if I want to keep up to date on uni work. Or if I had a test that night I have moved my rest days a day early and moved my long run to the day after, allowing full rest for the exam and less stress into my run so a double win.
In my training terms this marks the beginning of the next training block towards the half marathon in Wellington in June, I have just entered which is exciting, and it is right in the middle of my mid year break, meaning I will have minimal work only ucat exam prep, and wont have the stress of exams as they will be complete.
With this new goal it gives me something else to work towards and focus on which I need especially during high stress study and exams as everyone surrounding me is doing the same, it gives me a outlet that is uniquely me not the same plain as everyone around me. I’m excited for the upcoming weeks and im feeling excited and confident in trying my best.
A highlight of my week was probably the perfect weather that showed on Sunday which I couldn’t say no to going outside for my long bike which I haven’t done in over 2 months, a key self note for next time is to wear gloves as the Dunedin chill is for sure no joke heading into winter!
Ray has been such a stable in my wobbles in the past few weeks, setting me my training and commenting on them, checking in on how I’m progressing and assuring that each athlete has moments of struggling periods in training. Having a set structure is always a good way for me too push through as it holds me accountable and keeps me from falling further out of line, teaching me too keep to routine even when i’m not feeling 100% as that time will pass.
– Jessica Bray