Happy flying

Yep.  What it says.

I've been getting a little down at my lack of trapeze progress over the last few months.  Though I knew that triathlon training would effect how much I had to give in trapeze, and set the bar low, it was still frustrating to make little or no progress.

Last week (2 weeks ago now) I had to fight tears that my stinking layout was STILL in lines, that I STILL couldn't turn my splits to my back (for NO reason, since I've done it before!) I was wondering whether I should take a flying hiatus for a few months.  There were two reasons not to: 1. I've already signed up for the next IFW, and 2.  I really love flying, even when it's a shitty flying day.

So fast forward a week (and now 2)... everything has fallen into place.  The instructors had a powow, and have decided that the layouts can be thrown out of lines!! The mighty catcher (Josh) has agreed to take my splits catches without lines.  Here are some recent examples of the splits.

And this is the drill we do at the end of class - it's a layout drill.  The object is to hold the set as long as possible.   Ideally through to peak, but at least through poles.  My most recent attempt:

There's also a fitness component to the class now.  Abbey has come on board and has us doing stretches and exercises between turns.  It's quite fabulous to not just sit around doing nothing.

And on the triathlon front - Devilman is this weekend.  I feel like I'm woefully under-prepared.  I guess that means the goal is to finish without thoroughly shaming myself.  Oh, and to have a respectable swim, since that's the only leg that I have been consistent on and hasn't been affected by pollen allergies.  Wish me luck.