Quilting

I know this posting is going to get me in trouble with Rinny. She already calls me a "nana" because I wear floral Birkenstocks. Well, I might as well sign up for the retirement home now because quilting takes my old lady qualities to a whole new level. 

I have always been amazed at quilters and what they are able to create. My mom has always been a sewer so I grew up helping choose patterns and fabrics and I feel at home in a sewing store. I don't seem to have any interest in regular sewing these days but I sure have felt like returning to my fabric store roots and starting something new. 

I tried to talk my way into a quilting class while in Fredericton, but it was an intermediate class so in hindsight, it was probably good I wasn't allowed in. I made some calls when I got back to Victoria and found an amazing quilt shop downtown that had room in a beginners class. I met up with the instructor this morning to pick my fabrics. Oh my gosh, I was like a kid in a candy store! There were SO many fabrics. It took a good two hours to get everything sorted and now that I am home and looking at my fabrics, I still like my choices. It was such a tough decision picking the colour palette/pattern and I was worried I would regret my choices. So, I think it's a good sign that I still love them because there is no returns once the fabric is cut! The only problem is that I am dying to start cutting and sewing now but can't touch the fabrics until class next Friday!!

I know that time and energy won't be an issue when it comes to quilting. This next month is still light for training with a 'choose my own adventure' theme. I haven't yet struggled to find things to fill my days and there is still plenty to choose from on my off-season checklist. I've been doing plenty of adventure runs and a few short trainer rides every week, just to keep up the strength. The trainer isn't exactly the most fun (unless What Not To Wear is on tv), so I am looking forward to getting on my cross bike once my elbow heals up. I'm also now in the pool a few times a week for very short swims. I'm amazed at the improvement from week-to-week. I am now feeling like there is a little power behind my left arm which is a wonderful feeling. I was worried for awhile that I was going to return to my kick-dominated stroke from the old days (the pre-"gunz" days!) I have been secretly timing myself for 100m every time I'm in the pool. I don't swim hard because that's not really possible right now, but I just like to monitor my progression. When I got in the water at 5 weeks post-crash, I swam 1:35 for the 100m 'test' (which I think was almost entirely kick). At week 6, I swam 1:28. This was exciting for me, sub 1:30! This week, week 7, I swam 1:22! I should be back to good in the next few weeks, but will stick to my 'Nana' activities until then.