Campbeltown Loch I Wish You Were Chocolate

Dreaming of anything chocolate....

OK so going without chocolate was harder than I thought.  I refrained from alcohol (nearly 2 weeks now) and drank the detox tea religiously but by the weekend I just couldn't cope without any chocolate!!  And do you know what, I don't really care - I love chocolate!!   I do feel better for my detox, lighter and healthier but I just can't live without chocolate.  I was moody and grumpy without it and all I could do on Friday night was think about it!  I've had a stressful week with work, painting the house at all hours (where everything just went wrong) and fitting in training (not the most successful either) and running has helped me de-stress and unwind but it can't beat chocolate.  If only Campbeltown Loch were liquid chocolate and I'm sure I wouldn't have a problem diving in!

It might seem a lot but my weekend treat (s) included kitkats, slice of chocolate fridge cake, square of dark chocolate and a curly wurly.....  I would've probably had more before so at least I've cut down.  I did plenty of exercise over the weekend so I reckon I deserved some chocolate - I think everyone deserves some chocolate in their lives, it just makes me happy.  If it makes me a few pounds heavier, oh well, I'm not giving it up!

For my Arranman (IRONMAN 70.3) training, Alix and I attempted to do some open water swim training on Saturday in Campbeltown Loch.  I say attempted as I was bleeding useless!  I think I managed to swim about 200m but I felt dizzy, freezing and disorientated.  Even afterwards I struggled to stand up never mind walk in a straight line.  Cue - panic!  Since then I've now swam up to 76 lengths in the pool which is the swim distance (I can do this comfortably) but unfortunately in the open water it's a different story for me.  I found it really difficult and well, a little unpleasant to put it mildly even though I have swam in 2 open water triathlons before.  

It was much choppier than I imagined as it was a beautiful morning.  However, I am now putting that down to the eclipse and weird tide fluctuations...  Panic!  How am I ever going to complete this Ironman??  I'm slow on the bike and running too - will they allow me to do it if it takes me all day?  Will I be the one that gets fished out the water and doesn't even get to complete the other sections?!  Hmmmm.... I'm going to re-evaluate this event's training over the next few weeks to see if I'm really up for this challenge!  Might as well open that Easter egg then....

Spring has sprung!  Breakfast on the decking overlooking the Loch that 'looked' calm

Apart from chocolate - one of my favourite meals this week - grilled salmon with lemon and coriander, veg and noodles