I wanted to ensure that every step I take, in my 2012 season, only my second as a triathlete, and one which sees me wearing the GBR vest as an Age Group Athlete for the very first time in just over six and a half weeks, at the European Triathlon Championships in Eilat, Israel, is there for my little girl to read when she is old enough to do just that.
Freya Catherine Lillian Walker was born at 16:42 on Wednesday afternoon 29th February 2012, in South Tyneside General Hospital, and one of three Leap Year babies born in the maternity unit, by emergency Ventouse delivery. She decided that she was going to make it just a little bit difficult for her mam, turning her head to the side to breathe as she was coming out, like the Pisces swimmer that she is. I Quote – “there is no way that that baby is going to come out of there without any assistance.” Square peg and round hole hole spring to mind and a bloody waste of four hours of pushing on Gas and Air. After what felt like we were quite literally signing our lives away, Charlotte was rushed into theatre, with me scrubbed up by her side for epidural and a bit of assistance, ensuring we were in the right environment for Section if required.
Thankfully a short time later, after what seemed like an eternity, our beautiful, perfect little girl was born. Thank you to all the staff involved at South Tyneside General, you made that unpredicted experience as smooth and calm as it possibly could have been, even down to the doctor looking up during the process to tell me that they recognised me, ha ha get on with your job!!! Far too relaxed for me!
Charlotte and Freya made the front page of the Shields Gazette the next day on the 1st March as a leap year baby. Makes a change from me being all over the press for once, take a bow girls you did me extremely proud and have given me the greatest gift that anyone could ever ask for, a perfect one that just continues to keep giving, and that’s life.
Freya
In Norse mythology, Freya is a goddess of love and fertility, and the most beautiful and propitious of the goddesses. She is the patron goddess of crops and birth, the symbol of sensuality and was called upon in matters of love. She loves music, spring and flowers, and is particularly fond of the elves (fairies). Freya is one of the foremost goddesses of the Vanir.
She is the daughter of the god Njord, and the sister of Freyr. Later she married the mysterious god Od (probably another form of Odin), who disappeared. When she mourned for her lost husband, her tears changed into gold.
Her attributes are the precious necklace of the Brisings, which she obtained by sleeping with four dwarfs, a cloak (or skin) of bird feathers, which allows its wearer to change into a falcon, and a chariot pulled by two cats. She owns Hildesvini ("battle boar") which is actually her human lover Ottar in disguise. Her chambermaid is Fulla. Freya lives in the beautiful palace Folkvang ("field of folk"), a place where love songs are always played, and her hall is Sessrumnir. She divides the slain warriors with Odin: one half goes to her palace, while the other half goes to Valhalla. Women also go to her hall.
So to that end, it has been a pretty amazing journey, not just the last week, but for the last nine months to be presented with a surprise baby girl, you never know, maybe a triathlete of the future!!!
It’s also been a nice week off training for me. My winter block base training has come to an end now and as of this evening, Monday 5th March 2012, Speed training is starting to begin and we are ramping it all up in preparation for Israel. With not long to go now, and that nice break, I felt great in the pool this evening, let us hope it’s replicated on the bike and on the track. The first real test coming this weekend on Sunday, with my first bike Time Trial of the season, 21miler down in Stokesley, Cleveland, before a couple of weeks later we have the Stokesley Duathlon on 25th March, my first real race of 2012.
Am I ready? I’ve said it before; bloody damn right I’m ready. More than ever, I’m chomping at the bit and ready to go. With a greater incentive now. Slushy I know but I’m doing it in the family name now, the name on the front of my GBR kit, I’m doing it for my girls who I know are there for me and
will be cheering me on along the way.
Before my winter base training, on 10th December 2011, I had improved my Watts output from 3.2 wkg in September to 3.5wkg. At a body weight of 72.3kg
Friday 24th February 2012, Prior to March speed training, 68Kg and 3.73Watts per Kg body weight.
Extremely happy with this improvement and ready to race.