The rest of the week at Playitas, Fuerteventura

Breakfast was indeed all one could have hoped for and more!

Athletes, especially triathletes happen to be the fussiest bunch of eaters I know. Well, this breakfast had something for EVERYONE. Every kind of bread you can imagine, gluten free, rye bread, white brown and everything in-between. A smoothie bar manned by a guy churning out smoothies like no-body’s business. An egg area, for whatever kind of egg you would like! Omelettes, that Spanish thing I have forgotten the name of, like quiche without the pastry. My fave is the ‘make your own museli’ station which has load of different dried fruits and nuts. All kinds of milk, soya, even no lactose milk! And of course cooked breakfast including fried courgette and all kinds of strange stuff along with all the faves. Basically everything!

The staff also seemed to have warmed up a bit and have been helpful and friendly. Someone even kindly showed me around the apartments as I think that might be nicer (and easier for food etc) when I come back for the Challenge race in April.
 

This is pretty much the landscape!

 My thoughts on the bike course (The Challenge Fuerteventura bike route) is it basically has 4 distinctive parts;

Undulating

HILLY/mountainous

Undulating

Flat and fast



Hydrating on the beach!
 Nearby café with great
coffee and free Wi-Fi!

I think that hydration and feeding are going to be critical on the bike, its very hot and humid even now in December. The wind ads anew problem to the equation too, since taking a bottle to drink from, at the same time as a strong gust nearly sent me tumbling into a ditch!

I have found there is a wild cat feeding area in the hotel! Some very friendly kitties seem to mooch about here. This provided a nice distraction from the pain in my legs for about 5 minutes!
 

Dinner was as good as breakfast, everything you could hope for and lots of it! My only criticism is that drinks are pretty pricey, and they don’t let you take your own bottles in, even just water.
 

Day 2 and the rest of the week

Went for a little dip in the sea which was lovely. The sea temp is about 19 degrees centigrade. There were a few little tropical fish floating about, but after they had gone the seabed was pretty barron! Just black and volcanic! It’s a really good beach for OW swimming as there are a number of bouys fairly near the beach so great for sighting practice.

Off on the bike again after breakfast and I went on a short-ish ride down to the south. It must have been hotter than yesterday, but the wind masked that. I only realised how strong the sun was when I got back and saw my lovely red arms and crazy tan legs in the mirror!

I ran off the bike today…cripes! Windy and hilly made for a fairly miserable run…however I got some new tan lines. Ehem….I mean burn lines!
 

I swam in the evening in one of the later sessions, and now I know why no one swims then…it gets freeing! I couldn’t finish the session since my head was pounding and I started getting black spots in my eyes! 10 mins in a hot shower and normality was restored.

The pool is an extra EUR2.70 for an hour. It was really clean and 8 lovely wide lanes in the sunshine :) Very nice for someone who hates swimming.

One day I decided to try out the small fishing village adjacent to the resort. I went to a lovely restraint and decided sea food would be the best option given the nature of the location. I had a delicious meal, and cheeky EUR2.00 glass of wine! The dinner was lovely and on the seafront. Perfect place and way to unwind after an intense day in the sun! And it was really reasonable. The dinner was also accompanied by the local kitties, fine for me as a cat lady, but others weren't so keen!
 

Last day

I had a late flight which meant after checking out at 1100, I had some time to kill. I did a swim and sesh in the gym (which is free to hotel guests). The gym is large and really well equipped. Lots of eights and machines, plus all the foam rollers and thera-bands you would expect in a top-class gym. The staff kindly stored my bike and luggage for me so I was free to swish about the resort as I pleased. A bit of trg and a lot of book reading, and then it was time to leave :'(

Concluding thoughts

The resort is really clean and well set up for runners, triathletes and generally active people. The weather in Demember was lovely, not too hot, but sunny enough to top up the vitamin D levels and get a bit of a pre-Christmas tan! The staff were actually very friendly and helpful, I think they were just having a bad day when I arrived. The food is good and plentiful! The cycling is as challenging as you want it to be, but beware, its not called the windy island for nothing.

I would definitely go back for a week, or more of training. The long flight time (4h +) makes it a little too far for any time less than a week. Looking forward to being back for the Challenge event! And by looking forward....I mean totally terrified by the hills, the heat and the sheer enormity of 70.3 (for the Sprint and SD distance girl anyway!)



 

First Fuerteventura thoughts

I hopped on a plane this morning over to rather misty Fuerteventura. I only have a few days here due to work and other commitments, but a few days in the sun is definitely better than none!

In good holiday and triathlon tradition the flight was at 0715 (not too bad) but that did mean leaving home at 0330 (quite bad). However once at the airport Easy Jet were brilliant! You herd it here first kids. The bike was no hassle, staff were very kind and polite, and I witnessed my bike being handled carefully by easy jet and the Gatwick ground crew. Good start.

I also used the valet parking at Gatwick which I booked online with them, cheaper than the long stay car-park miles away and it was super easy! Drive in, give them a car, 2 mins and you are at check in! Deffo one for the future, so much less stress, and the less humping about of a bike box the better! 

 

Not so good start was that in my bleary eyed state, after feeling quite smug at buying some intellectual books for the jaunt, I left my debit card in the WHSmith card reader at the self check out!

The flight was pain free and I slept most of the way, my aircraft essentials are;

                The trusty neck pillow that looks a bit like a cushion for people with piles, but oh so worth it to not wake up and feel like you have been in a 10 car pile up!

                Sleeping eye mask – no daylight, and no one tries to talk to you

                Newly found fab item – the cape/coat come blanket, snuggly sleepy warm heaven!

                Of course some comfy trews and shoes you can slip off easily (preferably with socks underneath!)

                Wet wipes, mini mouth kit (toothbrush and mouthwash) and a mini perfume, all = freshness!

Meow - there is a cat feeding area in the hotel complex!

I arrived and at the moment I have mixed feelings about the hotel. The rooms are quite basic but comfortable, but EVERYTHING is an added extra. You have to hire a kettle! But there is a fridge in the room and you don’t have to feed it euros to keep it cool! The room I have is a good size for one, but with two it might be a bit cosy.

Wifi is an added extra and horrendously slow.

50m 8 lane pool - lush

Use of the pool is extra, and despite me trawling the Playitas website before coming I could find no mention of a fee.

There is even a charge for maps which I have found are normally given out freely.

However the bathroom is really well fitted out, with a fab shower, and a bath which I’m sure I will be soaking my legs in towards the end of the week, and decent complimentary toiletries (at least I think they are complementary!)

Christmas decorations in the local town

There are a couple of sports shops on site (quite expensive too) but useful if you have forgotten something essential. A gym which looks great. A spa, and even a fish pedi place. A couple of on-site restaurant and a few bars dotted about the place. There is also a really decent bike workshop, and I think most people who come here just hire a bike as they have the place packed out with Di2 Cervelos and alike.

I didn’t manage to do any training today due to being soooooooooooooooo tired! I decided to head into the nearby town instead since I probably won’t get a chance/will be too knackered to go later in the week. It is quite sweet, and the Christmas decs are all out which I find quite novel, being next to palm trees and the sea! There are a few shops and a couple of supermarkets, plenty enough to stock your fridge if you were staying in the self catering apartments.
 

So, I’m not overwhelmed as yet, the staff were not terribly helpful or accommodating…but its all about the phys, so we shall see what tomorrow brings. Oh and the buffet brekkie….that could change things! 

Learning is taking place - injury

Things I have learnt having an injury. 

There have been a few different phases of mood associated with the news that I couldn't run due to pain in my achillies.  

Stage 1 

Relief! This was probably an indicator of over-training too. I was honestly relieved to have the pressure of competing and relentless training removed from me.

Stage 2 

Jealousy. I love to race. So after I got over the initial feelings of exhaustion,  and had a bit of R&R I was then itching to get back out there.... But I couldn't :( I then had to stand on the side-lines and witness ever one else continuing with their amazing seasons!  Made worse my the constant information streams from Facebook and Twitter! 

Stage 3 

Boredom and loss of interest. After a couple of months of swimming and cycling only,  I definitely lost my mojo. I find the threat of a competition looming on the horizon a good motivator, and there was no option of doing this. So another week off was in order.  

Stage 4 

Realisation that sport isn't everything!  I began to remember that I have some other interests!!!  And I have a family and friends who have suffered between mild and significant neglect at the hands of my obsession with triathlon and running.  I started to draw and paint again,  saw friends and family I hadn't seen in ages and tried out a few new things too.  

I think that one of the best was to approach an injury is to think of it as an extended off season. Focus on your form and weaknesses in the things you can do. I am lucky I can still swim, cycle and do S&C. Do all the things you don't have time for when you Adele training, working, looking after the kids etc.  

Yes it sucks. And no one wants to have an I jury, be in pain,  and generally not do what they want, but you really do have to look for the silver lining, else you will go mad!