'life'...... hard, or just a challenge?

'Sometime's life is hard', this is probably one of the most stupidest sentences around. Of course life is hard, if it was easy where would we be? If it was easy to achieve your ambitions, where would the challenge come from? if it was easy to own a Ferrari where would be the challenge to earn one? if it was easy to raise a family where would be the challenging moments that often bring us closer together, or the most joy. However, is it really 'that life is hard'? or is it more the case of how we deal with situations that we perceive to be 'hard'? What one person perceives to be a hard moment in their life might be an everyday challenge faced by another. Do we sometimes make life harder by our own actions? then complain that 'life is hard'. Do we really mean 'hard', or do we mean a 'challenge'? Change the word in the first sentence to challenge, 'Sometime's life is a challenge'. How does that sound to you? does the word 'challenge' set your fight mechanism in motion as you search for a way to overcome the obstacle, or do you say the word challenge and feel fear or apprehension?

I am not going to use the word 'hard' because I am fully aware that my situation is for some people just a minor inconvienience, but I would be lying if I didn't say the past week or so has been a challenge. Now I have faced many physical challenges, most of course are set by ourselves. Now there's another thought, if you set yourself a physically challenging situation can you then come back to it with negative feelings or complaints or unhappiness? surely if you challenge yourself you must face the consequences or I would conclude you should cease to challenge yourself in the future. It's not like you've been locked away in a WWII concentration camp, you have set yourself a challenge. I digress.... So I left you last week with an ear infection and a perforated ear drum.

The week unfolded and I revisited my GP becasue I was concerned how long it was taking to improve, she advised me that it could be up to a week or so, I left feeling reassured, but non the wiser of when it would be back to action stations. I was still consumming painkillers at an alarming rate, until the back end of the week when I seemed to be taking less and feeling more lively. I still had discharge from my ear, although even this was starting to dry up. I felt I was on the mend and had penciled in a return to work on Monday, and recommence my training mid week.

I had a horrible sleep on Saturday night and found myself at 4.30am sitting in front of the computer reading all sorts of triathlon related blogs and Epic Camp accounts, popping painkillers and trying to ease my ear and head which felt like it was going to explode. I returned to bed at 8am and dosed the morning away whilst my ear discharged what can only be described as greeny/ brown gunk the consistency of a quality home grown runny honey. Sarah insisted she take me to the hospital where another doctor (that's 5 now) confirmed I had a secondary infection. He took a swab and as I write this I am waiting for a call from the Ear Specialists at York Hospital where they want to check me out. They are concerned with the level of pain I am experiencing around the bony part deep in my ear. I have been prescribed stronger painkillers and have ear drops which I hope will do the trick, if they can penetrate the gunk that has taken residence in my ear canal.

I have tried to answer all sorts of questions this week, mostly concerned with my imminent departure (Saturday 14th Feb) to Tuscon, USA where I will be joining my best mate Ben on one of his triathlon training camps. I started the week asking, would I be able to swim? maybe an ear plug and a swim hat would work, would I be able to run? would the bouncing make the ear too uncomfortable? would I be able to fly? The first doctor said yes, "given that you have a perforated ear drum you aren't going to suffer from a pressure build up". I have tried to stop asking questions now because it is messing me up too much. Will I be on the flight to Tuscon on Saturday? I really don't know, will I be training next week or convalescing in the Arizona dessert? I just don't know? It's only Monday, only time will tell. But whatever the outcome this challenge has been thrown my way and it is up to me to deal with it. Having said that my amazing wife has been just that..amazing. Yesterday my whole family were superstars, Ellie and Evie were the best little girls in the world, and Sarah in her comforting manner made things so much better, also from a far but over the telephone from Stewkley and Newcastle my 2 Mum's and Dad's, thanks guys it means a lot.

So on to the picture of a sleek looking sexy bicycle. I wanted to change my race bike a little this season. I wanted to go to 10 speed and change to the SRAM Red gear mechanics. This mean't I would also have to change the front end. Over Christmas I delivered a polished frame, clean wheels and a box of sparkling bits to my Dad for him to assemble. He's 'the man' when it comes to assembling or fixing bikes. Yesterday it arrived and this morning I unboxed it (I must have been feeling bad yesterday I couldn't even open the box) and stood back admiring it. I am super pleased with it. It is set up for IM Lanzarote (without my disc wheel) with the 50mm rims given the predicted winds. For anybody that is interested here is the bike.

Frame: Swiss Full Carbon frame and fork.

Wheels: Corima 50mm, TUFO Tubs.

Bars: Profile Carbon Areo Base Bar, Carbon Extensions.

Brakes: Campagnolo Record Skeleton.

Components: SRAM Red, (including super sexy carbon brake levers and gear shifters)

Crankset: FSA Carbon with 54 tooth Chain ring.

Cables: NOKON Red anodised.

Pedals: Look Keo.

It's weighing in at 17.5lbs which is pretty light for a triathlon bike. I cannot wait to get out and put some power through those cranks. I know for a fact that when I am back to normal I am really going to spend some time getting really strong on the bike.

I am sure you will all have a challenge this week in some shape or another, how we shape up to the challenge is what makes us who we are. I am winning my challenge, and real soon will be throwing down some more enjoyable ones, have a good week.