Kathy the Tri Hard Mum

New Blog

2009-04-16T12:34:00.002+12:00

Rightio chicky babes and super dudes....

I'M MOVING

This blog page name is too long, too hard, and now old as it is 2009 not 2008.

Sooooooo, I'm moving to this one. Come visit - I'm going to try and be a more regular blogger, so please check in on me from time to time. I'm leaving this one live as it has all my race reports etc, plus alot of old writings and musings that I can't bear to get rid of.

Catch you in the new place!

tap tap tap.... hello, is anyone still out there?

2009-03-23T12:50:00.009+13:00

It's been ANOTHER month between postings....

There is so much going on it's hard to pop my head up and take a breath, but the light is at the end of the tunnel.... for a short while anyway.

What have we been up to?

The Saint FINALLY got a new bike for himself. After working for a bike importer for the last 18 months, and getting bikes for every Tom Dick and Harry, it was his turn. A lovely red and white carbon jobby, which he is now hooning around on with a big grin on his face.

The boys have been busy training for the Weetbix Kids Tryathlon. They entered as a team with their friend and had a ball doing it yesterday. Next year individual entries look to be on the cards, so that will be even better. Blake did the 100m swim and moaned about being kicked in the head! Welcome to the world of triathlon son! Liam did the bike and had a great time passing heaps of kids pushing their bikes up the hill - he has a great bike courtesy of The Saint of course! I bought them both an Orca tshirt at a sale and they were over the moon! Two more triathletes in the family could get very expensive, but it is great they are keen. There were 2200 kids at the triathlon yesterday - it makes you feel good to see them all out there giving it a go.

Team "FULL NOISE" before the start!
Blake after his swim, running to tag his brother.
Liam (in the front) coming in from his ride.
Off to the finish line.
With their well earned medals.

We went to Ironman New Zealand and had a truly inspirational day watching my friends, and all the other athletes, reach their goals and dreams. I thought it might make me want to have another go next year, but I am thankful to say that it didn't. I need to get better at my cycling.... oh and running.... before I tackle it again. The new bike has gone a long way towards helping me hit one of those goals - I'm still loving it, and am looking forward to a summer of races on it next year!

I did my first ever Ocean Swim event on the weekend - I know I do triathlons, but they have always been in a nice calm bay or a lake, not a surf beach. Well, I have to say it was the hardest swim I have ever done. It was 2.8kms, a 2 loop course of 1400m each, and I was ready to get out at the end of the first one. It didn't look too bad from the shore, but when you were in there the swell was actually quite big. You try to sight and get an eyeful of water, so you have to try again. My lower back was killing me by the time I finished, and it took me 1hr 6mins, instead of the 52mins estimation I had put down - plus I was passed by loads of people in the supposedly slower wave behind me!! YUK YUK! Anyway, I was pleased I did it, it was a good experience, and it gave me some food for thought and new tricks for this weekends event....

MOOLOOLABA is this Sunday. We are jetting over to Australia for a very quick 4 day trip and doing an olympic triathlon on Sunday as part of the triathlon festival. We get to watch the "real" athletes in the afternoon which will be awesome - they are so fast and athletic looking it will be great to watch. Hopefully some of the Olympians will be there - we follow the ITU races on Sky TV, so it will be great to see some of our triathlon stars and heroes in the flesh!

Will be back next week with photos (hopefully), and a full on race report - I PROMISE

It's been a while huh!

2009-02-24T13:00:00.004+13:00

Time is running away from me, and I can't do anything about it.

The family went camping at the beach in the last 2 weeks of January, which was great. I missed last years trip due to Ironman training commitments, so it was good to have a relaxing holiday. Since then I have hardly stopped to catch my breathe.

I took a group of my friends to Taupo for a long weekend to do Ironman training on the course - Ironman New Zealand is next weekend - I simply cannot believe it is 12 months since I did it. Still remember it like it was yesterday.

Then I ran a Novice Womens Triathlon workshop weekend. That was a lot of fun and I hope the ladies all got some good hints to take away with them.

I am doing swim coaching 3 sessions a week; taking a novice training session each week on behalf of the Triathlon Club; have a number of half ironman and ironman clients starting up for next season; am trying to keep up my own training for Mooloolaba; and working; and kids; oh and I still have a husband believe it or not!!!

So, this blog is totally being neglected, as is my reading of everybody else's. I am about 6 weeks behind in your news, and really have no hope of catching up. I will try and get back to it one day, but for now blogging is a little down the heap of commitments. Keep checking in on me though - I may get around to sorting my life out and posting again!!!!

Take care - safe and happy training......

Tauranga Half Ironman race report

2009-01-11T19:08:00.005+13:00

The day started early - 4.15am I was up for toast with honey and a banana, plus mixing all the usual potions and gunk that goes with these longer events. I hadn't slept well at all, and for some reason was feeling very nervous. The expectation of setting a PB was pretty high with my new bike, and it just got me all tensed up.

A reasonably heavy rain was falling as we drove to the race site, but it eased off by the time we arrived there. The bikes were sopping as they had been racked all night, but other than that the rain disappeared for the rest of the day thank goodness! The forecast was for a mainly cloudy day with light winds - PERFECT

The swim start was done in waves for the first time this year. Elite/pro first, followed 2mins later by age group men, followed another 2mins later by age group women. It was a full tide right at the start of the race, but it was pulling in one direction more than the other. Didn't notice it too much once we were swimming, so just got stuck into it.

Starting without the men was great - there was none of that agressive behaviour in the swim start that normally goes hand in hand with them!!!!! BUT, we did start catching up with the slow ones by the end of the first 1200m loop. It was like hitting a wall that you just couldn't get around. Boy there were lots of slow men, they were EVERYWHERE! Very frustrating, but part of it I guess, so I just put my head down and tried to surge through them. The turns at the bouys were messy and hard work, and the second 800m loop had a few jellyfish lurking around which added some tension, but otherwise I was quite surprised to see a swim time of 36:51 - about what I would normally do, but it felt slower! Off to a good start anyway.

After a 3min transition (abit long, but ok really) I was off on the real test - MY NEW BIKE IRIS! I had decided to use a HR monitor for the ride and just make sure that I wasn't going too hard. May as well have not bothered, because I mostly ignored it. I was having sooooo much fun passing people for a change that about 30mins into the ride I decided I was going to see what I could do for the full 90kms, and bugger it if I destroyed myself for the run - It was going too well not to just go for it.

The race is one long loop of 55kms, and then 2 short loops of 17.5kms. The wind was light and really only picked up a slight cross wind on the 2 smaller loops, but I didn't notice it too much. It favoured one way more than the other, so it was at least nice about it!

I have NEVER loved riding my bike in a race so much as I did yesterday. It felt smooth, easy and fast. I enjoyed every minute of it. My main race goal had been not to walk in the run; well I switched it to riding the 90kms at an average that was above 30kms/hr. And I did it with an extra km/hr to boot. I ended the 90kms in a time of 2:53:06 - well and truly smashed my 3hour goal out of the park, and was soooooo pumped about it! Let me just say, that never in my wildest dreams did I believe that I could ever ride ANY race at 30kms/hr, let alone a half ironman!!! It is super unbelievable, and I am still stunned at what I did yesterday. It blows me away that changing my bike made such a difference. Now I can see why people spend so much money on their machines - it makes the whole experience so much more enjoyable. Best damn thing I have ever done for myself! I do of course have my wonderful Husband to thank for it - if he didn't work where he did I would never have got it - I LOVE IT AND HIS JOB!!!!!!

Anyway, after a 2:49 transition that included me trying to calm myself after such a buzzed out ride, and then having to struggle into my straight jacket bra top, I was off on what I KNEW was going to be a very tough run after that bike ride. It had got so humid, and every now and then the sun would come out and just burn!

The first lap went ok really. I wasn't wearing a watch as I didn't want the extra pressure of time. I just needed to finish it in the best way I could. I was still hoping for a "non-walk" run, but I was struggling with this right through the 1st lap. I walked long enough at the aid stations to drink, and then carried on running. The Mount base track, which I had run piles of times in the last few weeks, felt like a mountain range. It was damn hard!

At the start of the 2nd lap I saw the time clock and knew that I COULD beat 6 hours if I could get through the rest of the run without needing to stop. Unfortunately I also knew in the back of my mind that this was highly unlikely. The road was black tarmac and you could feel the heat of it under your feet. I was absolutely dripping wet with sweat, I got chaffed badly under my arm, and I was struggling to stand tall. My neck just ached, my shoulders were stiff from riding aero for 90kms, and I just wanted to stop for a nap. I had made a pact with myself that I wasn't going to drink any cola until the last 6kms, and I stuck to it. I have got into a bad habit of drinking it all the way through the run, but this time I stuck to gels, water and electrolyte until that point. The cola was damn nice when I did start though!!!!

I stopped for some vaseline as my underarm was killing me, and I did stop for some unscheduled quick walk breaks in the last 6kms. I just had to. When I was about to start the Mount base track for the last time, Paul told me I had 30mins to beat 6 hours. I knew I wasn't going to do it, but I still wanted to get as close to 6 hours as possible. I was feeling abit light headed so I walked the first hill and then tried my very best to run the rest. It probably looked nothing like running, but it wasn't walking either, so I'm counting it. I walked the last big hill and then ran all the way home as fast as I possibly could. The kids joined me for the last 700metres which was great. The crowd really got into them and they ran quite fast too, so I had to keep up with them.

My final time was 6hrs 3mins and 44seconds - 18mins off my personal best time!!!!!!!!! Pretty much ALL of that time was from the bike - I was soooo happy to be finished, sooooo stoked with my overall time, and sooooooooooo amazed at my bike split!!!! And I did all of that only 4 weeks after my last half ironman race. It was the best feeling EVER (apart from finishing Ironman of course). I also did end up running more of the run than I ever have before - my run time is not my best for a half ironman run, but it feels like a better achievement! So, I still figure it was a success.

I stole the pics from Sub6 - as usual he was on hand with the camera - not that I really knew that - he's abit of a stalker!!!! lol. Check his blog for more if you like.

I'm in the blue swim cap trying to run around the slow boys!!!

I am on a training break for the next 3 weeks (2 weeks camping - yeehaa), and then it's back into training for the Mooloolaba Triathlon at the end of March. I can't wait! Iris is going to help me do a PB at that race too, I can just feel it!!!!!!!!

I had so much support out there from family and friends, both participating and watching the race. It was an awesome day; the best day; it was the day I finally smashed that bike monkey off my back!!!!!!

As for not doing it again next year???????......
hmmmmm we'll have to see. That Sub6 goal is mighty tempting!!!

Oh I am soooooo addicted to this sport......

PR BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2009-01-10T21:10:00.003+13:00

Too tired to write - it's been a long day.

I just had to stop by and let you know that I had the best race EVER.

Fastest bike ride EVER!!!

Fastest Half Ironman EVER!!!

Will fill you in tomorrow!

(MEAN AYE)

Racing tomorrow!

2009-01-09T09:53:00.004+13:00

It's on like Donkey Kong (love that saying).

I have had such a great few weeks of training since the Rotorua Half Ironman 4 weeks ago, that I am pretty excited about the prospect of going FAST tomorrow. Although, the last few days have seen me feeling very niggly and abit tense, so am praying for a great sleep tonight and a fresh start to the morning tomorrow.

Iris is AWESOME (as I have already informed you in previous posts), and everytime I ride I fall more in love with her! I have high hopes for her tomorrow, so I hope she doesn't disappoint.

The weather is supposedly going to be cloudy with the odd outbreak of sun! PERFECT! The sun has been beating down on us with a vengance the last few weeks, and I am not good in the heat, so if it can remain covered up for the run leg, I would be mighty happy.

I have a best time to beat at this race/distance of 6hrs 21mins. I THINK I could go under 6hrs if I can run well, but my real goal is to RUN the entire 21.1kms. I have done 4 Half Ironman races now, and I have walked during all of them. I can do a 21.1km run on its own, but not after the 90km bike. So, my goals are to get my nutrition right on the bike so I have the best chance of getting through the run in the fastest time possible - RUNNING. I also screwed up my run nutrition at the last event, so my other goal is to keep that in check. The tide is high 20mins after we start the swim, so there should be no tidal issues at all. Just jellyfish to contend with - YUK! But, I will ignore them... I will ignore them... I will ignore them... I will not get stressed out by a blob!!!!

Once again I have PMS before this race too (you men have got it soooo easy you know), and trying not to gorge on chocolate has been a struggle this week - especially when my Mum is in town and brings chockie treats for the kids. JUST MEAN. However, after the race I will indulge! I have a bottle of bubbles in the fridge also, as I think it is only fair that I get my New Years celebration at some point.... fair enough????

Wish me luck!!!!! You know I will be back with pics and a long winded race report, so check back on Sunday if you dare.

2009 Goals

2009-01-05T13:12:00.006+13:00

Everybody else is doing it, sooooooo

It's been kind of hard to pinpoint EXACTLY what I want to do. I wanted to do Ironman NZ again in March 2010, which would mean most of 2009 would be devoted to Ironman training again. BUT, this doesn't rock my socks so much anymore. I don't know if I'm ready to tackle all that training again just yet. Definitely 2011.....

Although, now that I have a new flash bike, it is tempting!!!!

But.... probably not....

Then I decided that I was going to give up even the Half Ironman distance for 2009, as I have really struggled to get myself motivated for alot of the training I have done in the lead up to this one in 4 days time. But, now that I have a new flash bike, I'm kind of tempted to do it again next season. And, the last few weeks of training have been going so well, I HATE the thought of losing all that fitness - but, gains come from rest too, and I think I need one!

So, my thoughts on all of this are:

1. That after 4 years of training for Half Ironman/Ironman races, I just need a break from "training for triathlons", not a break from "training". Just a change of focus for a time, shall we say.

2. I am committed to doing the Mooloolaba olympic distance triathlon at the end of March, and I can't wait. After Half Ironman training this will be fine for me to handle and I'm sure I can stay motivated until then (especially zipping around on that new bike).

3. I am going to head back to spin classes at the gym, and weight/core strength training. I have missed these sessions over the last few months, and am looking forward to getting stronger.

4. I am NOT going to head out into the winter mornings to run and ride in the cold.(although winter is a wee way away for us yet). I am going to go to my air conditioned gym and enjoy spin classes, weight training and treadmill running instead.

5. I will start structured "triathlon training" in September which should give me plenty of time to be ready for a Half Ironman in December, should I decide to do it that is (although I know I will, so who am I kidding???).

6. I don't know what races, if any, that I'm going to do over this time. I do enjoy racing/events, so I am sure I will find some, but given that I have done a lot of the same races over the last few years I think it's time to try something different. Will ponder on this and just go with the flow and see what happens. I did enjoy the trail running series I did last year, so I might give this another go I think.

7. LOSE WEIGHT (that's on my list every damn year!). I have actually managed to keep off the 20+kgs I lost a few years back. That is a minor miracle in itself, but I still need to lose more. It would make climbing hills on a bike (or in running shoes for that matter) alot easier! I want to wear nicer clothes and womens tri gear!!! If I cut out the long training I think it will make it easier. My body doesn't like the fuel you have to give it too much (sweet electrolytes), so if I can exercise without the use of those things, then it will fall right off me! That's my theory anyway..

I really do feel that I am just exhausted from always being on a schedule, and to be honest, it has been un-fun at times recently. I need to find the fun again, and just go with the flow, get out with the kids, and enjoy life a little more - I take this training stuff too seriously, and I think my non-triathlon friends have decided I'm boring.

I want to get my coaching up and running, and finding time to dedicate to this has been hard! I start Polytech part time in February too, so giving up my long training sessions was going to have to happen sooner or later!

So, even though our triathlon season is only just beginning, mine is half over on Saturday when I (hopefully) finish my second Half Ironman race in 4 weeks. I will then have 1 week at work before we go camping for 2 weeks. This I am looking forward to as I missed out on our annual camping trip last year due to it being right in the last few weeks of Ironman training. Sun, surf, relaxing, a few beers, and sausages on the BBQ - what more could you ask for!?

In 2008 my only goal was to finish Ironman - I did that in March and then kind of floated through the rest of the year. I'm looking forward to 2009 - it will be different for me training wise; I am hoping to be full steam ahead with my coaching and training sessions; I am starting study in a field that I am so excited about; and I am determined to spend more time with my family and friends. It is going to be a good year - not sure why I feel like that, but I do.

Un.... freakin'.... believable....

2009-01-03T19:27:00.003+13:00

I rode 56kms in under 2hours today...

I managed to ride the first 55mins at just over 30kms/hr

I only let my speed drop to 28.4kms/hr INTO A HEAD WIND

My heart rate was EXACTLY where it should be

I rode nearly the whole way on the aerobars

I got off and ran my fastest lap around the Mt Base Track EVER!!!!!!

I LOVE MY NEW BIKE!

A training update and HAPPY NEW YEAR

2009-01-01T17:15:00.010+13:00

I know I know.... I have been slack at posting about training; instead I've been trying to make you all jealous about the wonderful summer of fun we are having in NZ so far.

It is Jan 1st 2009 and we are having a scorcher. I am feeling somewhat angelic as I have absolutely no hangover from over indulgence at New Years (went to bed at 10pm - NANA I hear you saying), and have started 2009 with a bike ride instead of a headache. (I did just have a beer, but don't tell anyone)

So, with only just over a week until the next big race, this is what I am up to:

SWIMMING
Going pretty well, even though all I have been doing is one monster pool swim a week, with the odd open water sea swim thrown in. These usually end with me abit stressed out, as there are jellyfish and other horribles lurking about in the water. The other week I just got out and walked back after seeing one too many! As usual though, swimming is not really the issue for me - it's the other 2 disciplines which cause the problems!!!

CYCLING
Will fill you in on this in a minute.

RUNNING
This has been going surprisingly well. In the 7 days Tues to Tues just gone, I did 7 laps of the Mount Base Track - I HATE running this track as it is just up and down with no way to really get into any rhythm. BUT, after not having run it for some time, it has turned out to be quite good. I am running around it in 21-22 mins usually, with the other day pushing it down under 21mins. GREAT. The Half Ironman course includes 2 laps of this track - in last weeks long run I managed 3 laps in one go as part of a 2 hour run - all 3 laps were roughly the same time. So, I am well pleased with the way it has been going. My speed is ok for me, I am running a 2hour run reasonably easily, and I am happy. Will see how it feels after a 2km swim and a 90km ride, but right now it feels good.

CYCLING (again)
I just got THE BESTEST BIRTHDAY PRESENT EVER! After waiting months for the new bike to arrive, it finally came 10 days before my race - so, a slightly nervous, anxious me went for a 2hour ride on it today. The bike looks far too flash and fancy for me to be riding, but I'm going to anyway. I am the first person in NZ to own one, and that feels pretty special. It felt funny at first, but by the end of 2hours, I was pretty happy with my new machine!

So, do you want to see it????

Do you REALLY want to see it????

YOUR SURE????????????????????

TAH DAHHHHH.... Meet IRIS (don't ask)

She is super light, super sexy, super fast, and.... well.... just SUPER.

I was so scared I was going to hate it. Having never ridden a TT bike, it felt like it was a delicate piece of equipment not really built for my not so delicate frame. BUT, today I gave it a burst on a flat piece of road we use for... well going as fast as possible, and it went just that. I was riding at over 30kms/hr without even REALLY pushing it. My heart rate wasn't going through the roof, and it was just easy to do. I have now got enormous expectations for my race next week, but will have to just wait and see. Conditions still play a big part in any ride you do, but I was pleased that even into a resonable head wind, I kept the speed at around 28kms/hr.
UNBELIEVABUBBLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A new me on a bike has been born, and I am in loooooove with Iris.

So, we will be out doing the 55km loop of the bike course on Saturday and be putting it to the test to see just how fast I can go. CAN'T WAIT

And just so you weren't feeling deprived of our summer pics, I have left you some of the kids (and Paul) trying out the new slip and slide they got for Xmas.

HAPPY NEW YEAR BLOGLAND! 2009 is gonna be a ripper, I can just tell.

Xmas Kiwi Style

2008-12-29T15:59:00.020+13:00

This Xmas we decided to flag the big dinner and go bush. We packed our tents on Xmas morning and headed to McLarens Falls Park - it is just a 15min short drive from home, you pitch your tent where you want, and voila.... a peaceful Xmas prevails.

We did have to duck home for Paul to do a quick triathlon, but other than that we just ate, drank (it wouldn't be Xmas after all would it??), walked loads, saw thousands of glow worms, got bitten by sandflies, threw frisbees, played cricket, and slept on an airbed that was flat by midnight! CAMPING, you can't beat it.

I hope verybody enjoyed their Xmas as much as we did - HAPPY NEW YEAR too.

Here's our Xmas in photos....

The kids opened "santa" presents at home before we left for camping.
Our campsite - My Dad and his wife in the campervan, my nephew in one tent, the kids in another, and Paul and I in another.
The kids with my Dad and my nephew, building a dam. It actually did work, with the water level in the pond rising quite abit over the weekend.
Taking a rest stop on one of our mammoth walks.
Some baby wildlife for you animal lovers.
Paul and Blake - I just liked this photo.
A small waterfall in the park. The walk up to it is where you go to see the glow worms. Very creepy bush walking in the dark, but the glow worms were incredible.
A stupid tree with the kids under it.
The view from the top of a mother hill we walked up.
The swim was at a surf beach with a run up the sand in between 2 laps - pure EVIL!
Paul heading out on the bike - it was a drafting race so he did some stupid ridiculous average speed of 40kms/hour - I hate him....
Paul looking good as he heads out on the run.
Sam Warriner (World #1) competed. She is doing the Half Ironman I am doing in 11 days. She rode the bike leg with a flat tyre!
Paul finishing the tri with a 400m run on the sand - that is just pure EVIL again!!

The 15year old I was coaching finishing his first triathlon - he did have some bother with the swim (cut it short), and was sick on the run due to an overload of sea water. Needless to say he was not thrilled with triathlon and has gone back to rowing - at least he gave it a go!!!

Photos to make you jealous

2008-12-22T16:18:00.012+13:00

For all those who read my blog that are in the grip of snow storms and a white Xmas, here is what WE DOWN UNDER have to deal with - a beautiful summers morning at the beach, while the kids enjoy Junior Surf - MERRY XMAS EVERYBODY......

All the kids getting their morning briefing
Omanu Surf Club
Simply stunning - Omanu Beach
Mount Maunganui in the background
The kids doing a warm up before they start - maybe Mum & Dad could learn something from that hmmmm....
Boys against girls tug of war - the girls kicked the boys ASS!
Liam ready for the beach flag sprints

Look at 'em go!!
The kids got a tow out to the waves in the surf rescue boat - "soooo scary but soooo much fun" was the verdict!
"The Big Guy" arrived in a surf rescue boat
Santa is mobbed by adoring fans

Things I learnt at the Rotorua Half Ironman

2008-12-18T12:15:00.005+13:00

When you take 7hrs 14mins to complete an event, the mind wanders. Here's what I discovered:

My cycling is still crap, I just can't seem to get any better! It's not like I don't try for goodness sake

I hate the sea, love the lake

My "large" wetsuit fits me, while the "skinny" one causes a mild attack of breathlessness - wonder what that's about?

I can run well for about an hour, and then it's all downhill baby

Coke is the best invention for endurance sports - EVER

Why do I ALWAYS think that this race will be "the one". You know.... the one where you smash your PR, ride faster than you ever have before, and run like a runner instead of an overweight penguin shuffling up the path! It's never going to happen like that, so stop dreaming, just do it as you are and be happy.

Carbohydrate gels are disgusting after 5hrs of exercise

Fast people doing their last lap of the run, while you are doing your first, SUCK

As much as I may tell myself that I want to quit, I really don't want to at all, it's just the mind playing tricks

Young enthusiastic kids at run aid stations are the best cure for the "I suck at this sport" doldrums.

When a 12 year old boy goes sprinting past you for his leg of the teams event, it makes you feel good - for him!!!

I came 8th in my catergory - WOOT WOOT! Hang on, there were only 9 that finished out of 12 - BLAH

That catergory was the Athena Division!!!! I think they should have weighed the winner, she was NOT over 75kgs!

Being in the Athena division is depressing, when my goal at the start of 2008 was to be 70kgs by the end of it. Theoretically I shouldn't have qualified! DAMN

I obviously see myself as some sort of "athlete" or I wouldn't do this shit!

Yay, the finish line - happy times......

Another event well executed for the most part. Another notch on the triathlon belt; another medal (which I held briefly until they ran out, then I donated it back for a first time finisher); another shirt; another day when I feel proud of all that I have achieved in the last few years.

The worst part is that after saying I wouldn't be doing another long race next year..... I know I probably will. Just call me a sucker for punishment.....

MERRY LEAD UP TO XMAS EVERYBODY!!!!!!

Finishers Photos

2008-12-18T07:10:00.003+13:00

Me finishing

The Saint finishing (ba$tard)

Rotorua Half Ironman 2008 Race Report

2008-12-16T13:14:00.005+13:00

Well, let me just say that it was 7 long hours, and 14 even loooonger minutes of hot crappiness!

The Rotorua Half Ironman is a very challenging course. The bike is undulating with a couple of mean hills (both in the last 20kms I might add), and then an off road/on road run that is either up or down - there ain't much flat.

The swim is in the Blue Lake and is simply beautiful. I am over sea swimming as there are too many critters in there, but lake swimming; now that is something else. It was even warmer in the water than out! The men start 5 mins before the ladies so at least we didn't have them to contend with. My start was ok apart from a foot to the face whacking my goggles. Got that sorted and then just found a space to cruise. 900m out to the first turn and I felt good. 1100m back and I got bored???? WTF??? Bored in a race.... it just felt like 1000m too long to be bothered with.

Anyhoooo, no idea what my swim time was as the split included T1 which I know was a dawdle. I figure looking at it that it was easily a Sub 39min swim so was more than happy with that considering my lack of inspiration for half of it.

Onto the bike and it is straight up a hill! Nothing like a good climb right after a swim to get the heart rate into the red zone. Still, a lovely long fast downhill sorted that out and I was off on the ride. Or so I thought 'til I realised that my front wheel looked funny. Figured out eventually that it was on the wrong way around, and given that I had directional race tyres on I really had to stop to fix it - didn't want to wreck those expensive puppies! So after a quick whip around of the wheel I was away (again) and actually feeling pretty good.

Some of the new chip they have put on the road recently was crap, there was wind swirling all over the place, and it was heating up; but I managed to get to the halfway point averaging 26kms/hr which is pretty good for me, and waaaay ahead of my time target, so I got all kinds of excited about thrashing my previous bike time on this course. Alas it was not to be, and after a scary run off the road into gravel (my own fault for looking at my tyres not the road - I'm always worried I've got a puncture, what's up with that??), and a tussle up the crap hill, and then another tussle with a crap head wind, and yet another tussle with an even crappier hill, I watched my speed shrivel along with my PR time - basically I did the same ride time as last year, (just over 3hrs 40mins for 90kms) - DAMN IT! More than a little annoyed, but feeling ready to redeem it on the run.

Another long transition as I struggled to put my straight jacket on (aka running bra for the big busted), and I was off and running. I tried to keep my pace down so that I could make it through the whole race without walking - that was the goal anyway. Unfortunately the run starts off on single track through the bush, winding and weaving it's way around the gorgeous lake we had swum in earlier. There are stairs, roots and trails to negotiate. I did a quick walk break up one hill, and then off again.

To tack time onto the run without going to Timbucktoo and back, they make us run a few kms out and back up a little dirt road. It was so stinking hot in there I thought I was gonna die. An older lady I waved to going the other way tripped and lay sprawling out across the dirt, so after a quick check to make sure she was ok, I was running again (btw, she passed and beat me!). I managed to make it to 8.5kms in the first hour, and I was STOKED. I felt I hadn't pushed it and had plenty in the tank to nail this run! Unfortunatley not long afterwards the wheels fell off. I walked HEAPS, got extremely thirsty, was getting burnt to a crisp, was starving, and generally felt like poo! I was just making it aid station to aid station, and at one point contemplated pulling the pin. It had got too hard, too hot and too much!

But, I really didn't want to do that either - I have never DNF'd a triathlon before, and I wasn't about to start now. So, on I went to the finish. The last lap of the lake was ok actually. It is 5.5kms around, and most of it was in the shade, which was more than a welcome relief at that point. I walked the uphill sections and then ran the downhill parts. The entire run was again about the same as last year, but I ran more last year and felt way more pleased then than I did on this day. My total finish time 7hrs 14mins. Last year I got 2 punctures on the bike and had a 7hr 25min race, so taking that into account, you could say I did worse this year - GUTTED. I felt really good at the end of last years race, but this time I was very hot, tired and disappointed. The beer at the finish line was bloody marvellous though!!!!!!

There were many others still finishing behind me as it just got hotter and hotter. They were all champs and we cheered everybody in. It had been a long long day.

We had a team of bloggers there who had all logged their training into Buckeye Outdoors. Kate, her hubby Phil, and Juls all finished well. Unfortunately for Mike his calf wasn't going to allow him to finish that day, and we were all terribly disappointed for him. But he has vowed to be back next year fitter and faster, so I guess...... here we go again!!!!!

As for my Hubby - Paul, The Saint, whatever.... he absoultely smashed his first ever Half Ironman finishing in some stupid time of 5hrs 21mins or something - all I know is that it was nearly 2hours faster than mine, and he has been well and truly demoted from The Saint to The Ba$tard - lol.

All in all, I am happy now with the day. The time was disappointing as I had hoped to do Sub 7hours, but I got myself to the finish line, and that is always a fantastic goal achieved, no matter what the time was.

I do it all again in 4 weeks (and believe me, I thought about that ALOT on the run).

WHAT A FRIGGIN' NUTTER!

PS: sorry no pics as the usual photographers were racing! Hopefully there will be some of the next race, when also HOPEFULLY I will be riding my new mean cycling machine.... watch this space for that update.

I finished.....

2008-12-15T13:09:00.003+13:00

And that's all I have to say.........

AS IF...........

You know me, I like to write a massive race report about every gory detail of every damn kilometre!!! But, today I'm tired and can't be arsed!! Be back later.

It's on.....

2008-12-12T16:36:00.002+13:00

The Rotorua Half Ironman is on....

TOMORROW

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Where did the time go?

How come I don't feel ready?

Why did I have to have PMS this weekend??????????

Who'd be a girl?????

Will I survive it??

Probably......

tell you about it on Sunday.

CIOW BELLAS

Afew Pics for those that might be interested.

2008-12-06T11:33:00.007+13:00

This was taken from the car on the way to Wellington last weekend for my Uncle's 60th birthday party. It was a gorgeous day, and at this time of year there really shouldn't BE any snow, but it looked fantastic.

This was taken of the same mountain but on the way home. It looks like this town is right at the bottom of the mountain, but it isn't really - that's just my amazing phtography!!! lol

The view from the lookout I got to on my ride this morning. This is taken from the top of Minden Hill, looking out to Mount Maunganui. That area is where most of the local triathlons are held, and we usually run around the Mount base track (thankfully not UP it).

View from the same lookout, but out the other side to Omokoroa. We take the kids here in summer for a picnic at the park which is right on the beach. Really nice peaceful spot.

Bloggers at Rotorua

2008-12-05T18:55:00.003+13:00

A wee while a go, some of us Kiwi bloggers got together and started up a Buckeye Outdoors Team to record our training towards the Rotorua Half Ironman (which is now next week).

When we started most of us hadn't met each other, but some of us had blah blah

Now most of us HAVE met each other/some/afew of the team and the talk is starting - there is smack talk, domestic abuse (I mean bliss) and just general good fun ribbing. The race is next week and the time goals are going up too.

After my blah post yesterday, I am now looking forward to it. Alot of hard work has gone into our wee team, and I think we are all gonna have a BLAST!

I've already bought my bottle of bubbles for the after match function.

BRING IT ON

PS... my friend Rachel, and my old coach Barb and her hubby Greg, are all racing Ironman Western Australia on Sunday!!!!! Hope you have a BLAST!!!!!!!!!!!!

8 DAYS - DAMN

2008-12-04T11:51:00.005+13:00

OH MY GOD

8 days and a few hours until my first tri of the season - and it's a hilly, challenging, half ironman; not a flat, cruisy, sprint!!!

DAMN...

Did a long run this morning, all the while wondering how the heck I was going to finish..... while also wondering what the hell made me enter another half ironman only 4 weeks after this one. Annnnnd I have a B-Fit B'day challenge to do in between!!!

My feet hurt, I'm super duper tired, and I'm not feeling the triathlon love. Loving watching everybody else do it, but not so mad on it myself.

WHEN'S IT THE OFF SEASON??????? Oh, that's right - the season just started...

DAMN...

Contact Energy Triathlon Race Report

2008-11-25T13:20:00.016+13:00

This is a race report with a difference, because I didn't actually do it.

Instead, I was support person for my husband The Saint in his first standard distance triathlon (1500m,40km,10km), and Coach to my first athlete doing her first ever triathlon (300m,9km,3km).

The little log cabin we stayed in - cool huh!

We decided to take the kids with us, which was a novelty in itself as we usually palm them off. I have to admit to being a bad parent and sometimes forgetting they were there, and who had them, and were they playing or lost!!! However, they are good muppets and spent most of the time amusing themselves on the great playground, and coming roadside to cheer when they so felt like it.

First up was my athlete Sam. She has come a long way since I first saw her swim a few months back. She has learnt to swim over winter and has improved tremendously. We caught up with her before the start to see how she was doing. "I'm really really scared Kathy" was her response - oh good lord I'm glad I had sunglasses on because the tears welled up instantly. I never knew this coaching bizzo would be so emotional.

Sam, all ready to go.

Her swim start was abit of a panic, she got kicked in the head, and needed assistance from a guy on a board. She was telling us she could';t do it while she clung on, while we told her she could from the shoreline. Eventually she got going again and even passed a few others - YAY SAM. Swim swum and Sam was away.

The guy on the board was BRILLIANT with Sam.

YAY, swim swum!

She was nervous about clipping into her pedals but she got on the bike ok and was OFF. PHEW... nothing gonna stop her now. She can run well, so it was just a case of seeing how many people she could pass. The smile started as soon as she saw that finish chute, and I have never felt so proud to see someone finish a tri!!!! Way to go Sam, if you can survive that course, you can do anything......

The run was the EASEEEE bit, except for the hills and sand!

ALL DONE! First triathlon is in the bag.

Still, there wasn't much time to celebrate with her as I had to gather the kids up from their tearaway positions, to come send Dad off on his longest tri to date. The race briefing we got in the race pack had said that transition closed at 6.45am, so The Saint (Paul - lets call him that from now on as his Saintly status isn't nearly so good now lol), got up early, drove up to the race, racked his bike, and then came back to pack up our accommodation and have breakfast, as the race didn't start until 10am. When we got to the race site at 8am, there were hardly any bikes racked. He stuck his gear in with the bike so he could watch Sam race, and then they closed transition. All his clothes were locked in!!!! So, it was a bit of a rushed start to get organised once they let you back into transition, but all good! Met Kate (blogger buddy) and Phil (her hubby) just before the start - it's hard to find/look for someone you've never actually met before you know, and with no cellphone reception at the race, it was virtually impossible!! They both did great and we're looking forward to catching up with them properly at the Half Ironman in a couple of weeks.

His swim went SUPERB. Must be that awesome swim coach he's got (teehee, that would be me!). The bike course was pretty brutal. 5 laps that was really either up or down hill! Glad I wasn't doing it. Still, it was great from a spectators point of view. There was always someone whizzing by us and we got to see Paul 5 times! GO DAD!!! He ran really well and finished in grand spirits. He was terribly salty though, which is something he needs to watch out for at the Half Ironman in a few weeks - Coach Kathy went into mode then and filled him up on electrolytes! I guess it's pretty hard to drink enough when you are riding a race full of hills!

Paul is the guy in front of the one DRAFTING... tut tut

Great running on the sand - gorgeous spot huh

Paul finishing

All in all it was a great day out - Paul topped it off by winning a $250.00 Asics shoe voucher, so well worth the effort I say.

Blake, a triathlete in the making maybe!

Sam Warriner (the kiwi chick who nabbed the World #1 spot this year), was racing with one of her clients in my Sams race - managed to snap a few photos of her out there. She was great, cheering everybody on and going out onto the run course to bring home the tail end charlies in the main race. She's a great ambassador for the sport in NZ.

Sam Warriner heading out on the 3km run!

As for me, well I'm doing great thanks. I rode 83kms from Tauranga (home) via Pyes Pa gorge, to Rotorua (race site) on Saturday while the kids and Dad came in the car. It is a brutal ride too, as Rotorua is higher than Tauranga (which is at sea level), so it felt like all I did was ride hills - just always UP! It was a great ride and I'm pretty pleased with where I'm at bike wise for a change. I'm still slow, but I'm feeling stronger so that's gotta be something. The run off the bike, well that is still hurting - alot. The race in a few weeks is sort of my B race, while the one on the 10th January is my A race. They are both Half Ironman races though, so A or B, they are gonna be long and painful - my brain must have exploded the day I entered both of them!!!!

This weekend we are away for my Uncle's 60th birthday. It is a 6+ hour drive and we are going there and back in 2 days - YUK. Unfortunately this is also the last big week before the Rotorua Half Ironman, so we are squishing all the weekends usual long training into the weekdays, splitting rides, runs etc... Our usual childminder is away, so it is a big mission to say the least! Still, we will do it..... we'll just be fagged by the end of the week, and probably fall asleep after 1 drink at the party, but we WILL do it!

Missing In Action

2008-11-04T15:52:00.003+13:00

Hello out there.....

Are you still there?

Well I know you are because every now and then a comment pops into my inbox, and I am struggling to keep up with my blog reading..... you all write alot

I have been missing in action, and trust me there has been plenty of action going on around here.

Life has been crazy busy with training, kids stuff, coaching and courses.

I have started my swim squads which are ticking along. Not alot of people about yet, but the word is spreading and there is new interest each week - just gotta turn it into attendance. There was a huge amount of crap going on trying to get the lanes booked - people are very unsupportive of new people coming into "their" patch and it was incredibly difficult to get going. I was tempeted to give in, but I haven't, and hopefully things will get better from now on. Thanks to my friends for supporting and encouraging me. Without you I would have just tossed it in. So, I am doing 3 coached sessions a week which is keeping me busy on top of my "normal" job (the one where I actually make some money).

My first client is doing her first ever triathlon in a few weeks. I am soooo excited for her and I can't wait to be sideline cheering her on. I know what a big buzz it was to finish my first one, and I truly hope she enjoys it and gets bitten by the bug like I did. She has learnt to swim as an adult which is extremely difficult, and is doing really really well at it now.

This weekend was huge, having attended a full day first aid course on Friday, did 4hours of brick training on Saturday, and then a full day swimming technique course on Sunday. This trying to change your career business is very expensive and time consuming I have to say, but it is great to be doing something that excites me. It makes it all worthwhile!

The kids started Nippers Surf Lifesaving on the weekend and loved it! Unfortunately I missed it due to my swimming course, but they had a ball and I will be there next week to take a look. I've never had any involvement in surf lifesaving, so it will be neat to do something different with the kids.

The boys are loving their new bikes they got for their birthday. Last Thursday I had to ride with them after I had done a 2 hour run that morning. My legs were hammered, but I can't very well say no to them getting out and being active can I? I'm looking forward to the long training being over so I can enjoy that stuff.

After my 2 half ironman races, I am backing off that distance and going to concentrate on shorter ones - the olympic distance is still enough of a challenge without the big commitment to training. So, to that end, The Saint and I booked a trip back to Mooloolaba in Australia to go and do that triathlon in March - it includes an ITU race which will be exciting to watch. There is normally a good contingency of New Zealand elite competitors at that event, so we can cheer for them! I Can't Wait! I've been dying to go away and do a triathlon overseas, and Mooloolaba is just gorgeous. It will be a whirlwind trip - just 5 days, but it will be fun. It is a festival of events including a 5km run, an ocean swim, a criterium bike race, a kids triathlon, and of course the olympic distance triathlon at the end of it all. FUN STUFF...

So, best be off now as have coaching tonight and the kids are at Scouts and need dinner before they go. Life is just one big blur, but it is fun (most of the time anyway).

Take care...... til next time

Quick, unofficial poll

2008-10-21T13:11:00.001+13:00

Is getting an Ironman tattoo "in" or "out"?

Just checking... for....

someone.....

Xterra Trail Run #3

2008-10-19T17:33:00.002+13:00

This was the final run in the series, and I have to say it was really enjoyable considering my lack of inspiration for it this morning.

The run was tough though - the first 40mins were just uphill! Honest to god, hands on knees, huff puff pant - UPHILL. It had started lightly raining at the start which carried on through the uphill section, but not enough to be annoying. In the cover of the forest you really didn't notice it much, it was only when you came to a wider track that you got wet.

There was a very large steep downhill section that was a bit rough to descend. It looked like earth works machines had been in there - it was all clay with big gauges out of the path. Very slippery under foot, and it was only time before someone (mwah) went down - thankfully not that bad, it's just dirt!

Next was a river crossing - lol, it was really a creek you could jump over, but it was fun to say!

Single track through the bush, up and down abit more and we were done. It was a great run, tough to start but enjoyable to finish. The distance was supposed to be 15-16kms but there is no way in hell we did that in our time of 1hr49mins. We walked too much to be that fast. My foot pod said 11.5kms which is not really far at all (the light was flashing red which means a flat battery, so it MUST have been short). So we will go with the 13kms we heard someone else reckon it was!!! A little more like our speed for hill climb walking & bush running today.

So, after my slow sluggish start, I really did enjoy it - alot. There's nothing better than being out in the fresh air, the peace and quiet, and being at one with nature!!! lol that is so corny but hey, it is actually true (you can stop laughing now!)

Event Day

2008-10-19T06:34:00.002+13:00

I am sitting here, typing this, trying to muster up enough enthusiasm to get myself organised for an event today. It is the last run in the Xterra Off Road Run series. Today is 17kms of forest/trail running. The info email we got says that this weeks course has some mean downhills, which can only mean there are also mean UPhills. sigh....

I am not up to it. I have bad PMS/cramps/attitude, and after 10 days on holiday and 5 very busy days back at home/work, I am just not ready to run that far. My gut is bloated (from said PMS), so the fuel belt feels tight, and I have chaffing from yesterdays bike ride (of only 1hr 20mins I might add - my butt has gone soft!) sigh....

It is the boys 8th birthday tomorrow - I don't know where those 8 years have gone. I look at them now and see young men not cute babies. On our holiday we went shopping quite abit, and somewhere in there Blake developed a like for Billabong/Rip Curl and all things Nike and Adidas (wonder where he got those 2 from??). He is a label bashing surfer dude now, not a Ben 10/ Pokemon kind of kid (at least not on his clothes). Liam is still set on becoming a vet when he grows up and we thought we'd take a look at a university prospectus to make sure his schooling is going in that direction - AT EIGHT YEARS OLD!!!!! Oh my, what pushy parents we are!!!

Anywhooo, I feel old when I look at them, and yet I'm not. We purposely had them young so that they are off our hands while we are still young enough to travel the world and enjoy it. The idea was to then go to France/Italy/Spain and sip wine and eat gorgeous food - now we want to travel the world doing Ironman races - oh how things change!

So, I s'pose I better get my sh!t together and get organised for my race. sigh....

I'll tell you all about it later!

Holiday Snaps

2008-10-18T07:35:00.009+13:00

Sunrise from the deck in Surfers Paradise - HEAVEN ON EARTH!
Our apartment block in Surfers Paradise.
Skyline of apartments in Surfers Paradise.
The dolphin show at Sea World was amazing!!!!
Sea World had a fantastic water ski show - very talented skiiers.
A great kids ride at Sea World.
The kids loooove Spongebob (why? gawd only knows).
The Spongebob Flypants ride at Dreamworld.
Showing off the tigers at Dreamworld.
Relaxing in the shade with a furry friend.
The Moto Coaster at Dreamworld, riding replica super bikes. We're not in this pic, just thought I'd show it to ya. It was super cool.
Blake with a Koala at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary.
Liam with a Koala at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary.
The boys surrounded by more furry friends.
Sunrise on the Sunshine Coast - MAGIC.
The view of Mooloolaba and Alexandra Heads from our 12th floor apartment.
Our apartment as seen from the beach at Maroochydore. We were the one on the left.
FINALLY, one of us!! Atop the lookout at Mooloolaba.
All of us at the park entrance.
One of the many critters wandering the zoo with Keepers. A baby aligator!
Steve Irwin is still larger than life even though he is gone. It's a real shame to lose someone as passionate as he was.
Blake with a snake!
"Liam, save Blake, he's being eaten by a giant croc!!!"

Australian Holiday

2008-10-15T19:48:00.003+13:00

There were so many things good about this holiday it is hard to know where to start. The reason for the holiday needs to be explained first. While training for Ironman my poor deprived children spent many hours being babysat by the TV - mainly Animal Planet. There developed a love affair with Stever Irwin - aka the Crocodile Hunter - and his Zoo, Australia Zoo. So, as a treat for the family post Ironman, we decided to have our first overseas family holiday and take the kids to his Zoo in Queensland Australia. Unfortunately Steve wasn't there due to an incident with a stingray afew years back, but his memory and dreams sure live on at that place.

The kids first ever plane trip was awesome! The planes had individual TV's in the back of all the seats, so they watched telly and played video games. It was a peaceful trip to say the least. I watched this new programme that has just come out over here - The Big Bang Theory - it is the funniest thing I have ever watched, and I must have sounded like a right git laughing out loud, but I just can't help it - it is priceless hysteria!

Our first stop was the Gold Coast where the theme parks are. I have never been to any big theme parks, so it was all abit eye popping for me. 2 days of endless walking and queueing for rides in the baking hot sun is not my idea of a relaxing holiday. However, because of my kids love of things furry, fluffy, scaly or slimy, we had to see every animal that is in existance in Australia. Sea World had an absolutely stunning dolphin show and a riotous seal show. Throw in a polar bear, some sharks and a few other critters, and the children were like pigs in mud! There first ever "real" ride was the log flume which was great!

Next day we went to another theme park (I know, suckers for punishment we are) called Dreamworld. The reason this one was chosen was...... wait for it...... because it had tigers! Of course daaaah..... There were alot more rides than animlas at this park, so we managed to get the kids onto some smaller kids versions of rollercoasters and flying things, before we all went on the Moto Coaster - this is a rollercoaster where you ride replica superbikes, and specially for kids there are side cars. This was the coolest ride EVA!

After 3 nights at the Gold Coast (Surfers Paradise to be exact - have never seen so many apartment blocks before, amazing!), we hi-tailed it to the much more relaxing Sunshine Coast (Maroochydore/Mooloolaba to be exact). On the way we stopped off at a Koala Sanctuary. The kids got a photo cuddling one which was like a dream come true for them. So sweet.

We managed to get 1 day of relaxing, before the kids couldn't wait any longer and we were off to Australia Zoo. The poor boys were just about popping with excitement. They couldn't believe they were actually there. Their "when I grow up" dream job is to become vets and work at Australia Zoo, so for them it was the biggest buzz of their lives so far. It was the most amazing zoo I have ever been to, and if you are ever in that neighbourhood you simply must go. The kids knew all the crocs names and were once again like pigs in mud. I tell you what, to see their faces get so excited about the things they were seeing and doing, made all the money spent getting there totally worth it. We ended up getting a 2 day pass because we just knew they would want to go back.

Apart from all the animal watching and theme park riding, we just did touristy stuff driving around checking the place out. Our apartment in Maroochydore was on the 12th floor overlooking the sea and the big long sandy beach. The ensuite shower wall was a window, so you could sit on the loo or have your shower looking out to sea! MAGIC. The weather was hot for the first half of the trip, and then overcast and abit showery for the second half, but still warm. It was light bloody early in the morning so we were up and about before 5am usually, along with heaps of others, walking and cycling the boardwalks and tracks around the beach areas. One day we were boogey boarding and swimming at the beach at 8am - that's how warm it was. Taking two 8 year old boys on a trip is not really very relaxing as they can't sit still, so it was a very busy time indeed, but oh so enjoyable. We saw whales from our apartment window 3 days in a row which was simply stunning. What more could you want! Pigs in mud I say, pigs in mud!

You might recall that I had been trying to include a half ironman in this trip, but it didn't happen. Well, it turns out that this area has loads of big events, one being an ITU race, so the next trip will DEFINITELY include one. It is the most amazing spot for a triathlon, and training for that matter, and if I could move there tomorrow I would.

So, back home and back to reality of working, training and school/homework for the kids. I have to say I really thought the holiday would help me get abit of my flagging mojo back, but it seems I am still as blah as ever in regards to training. Or should I say - cycling. I'm just not feeling the love for it at the moment, and watching those damn event countdown clocks is not really helping me. I think being on holiday with the kids and doing fun stuff with them, really made me realise that they are growing up way too fast and I better spend some time with them while they still want me to. So, I think next year might have to be the year of the Olympic Distance Triathlon, and no more. It's too much with everything else I am trying to accomplish at the moment.

I will post some pics when I have time to play with them all - we have about 500 of them if you want to come for a very long visit to see them!!!!!!!

I'm home

2008-10-14T16:48:00.001+13:00

We had a wonderful wonderful holiday, and I wanted to let you know that I am back, but I am busy - will post pics and stuff soon....

OMG you guys write alot - when the heck am I gonna find time to catch up with YOU...

I'm off.......

2008-10-01T16:12:00.003+13:00

I'M ON HOLIDAY

YEEEEEEHAAAAAAA

C ya in 10 days with lots of pics...

Take Care

SMASHED

2008-09-27T19:26:00.004+12:00

Today, the wind and hills smashed me! 3hours turned into 3hrs 30mins of pain and suffering. Did I once say I wanted to do another Ironman? NUTS!

NOW I GET 2 WEEKS OFF RIDING THAT DAMN BIKE

Not sure if that's a particularly good thing looking at those countdowns, but today I don't care. I'll worry about that in 2 weeks!!!!

SMASHING IT

2008-09-25T19:31:00.003+12:00

This week I have been trying very hard to SMASH myself! The last few weeks of training have been very up and down to say the least, so this being the last full week before we go on HOLIDAY (yipppeeee), I decided to go hell for leather and SMASH myself.

Mondays easy/recovery ride turned into Spinervals Hillacious with Coach Troy. niiice... This was in the evening after my first day back at the gym in 2 weeks. My legs were suffering from the squats etc, but I kept at it and did a great, sweaty workout. Lovely

Tuesday was my drills run session. Lunges, knee ups, butt kicks.... all very energetic on legs that are sore from the previous day. However, it was a great run all the same. The evening saw another big swim set by the coach. About halfway through the 3000m set my legs kept cramping up everytime I pushed off the wall, so I had to take it easy and just swim off the wall instead. This slows you down somewhat! Probably what I should be doing all the time, but hey.... I'll take a time advantage where I can get it!

Wednesday I decided to do my ride in the morning instead of in the afternoon. I was out at 5.45am and it was great!! It was so quiet out on the streets - hardly any traffic, no wind - perfect. My legs were SMASHED though. Every little hill hurt but I wasn't going to let that stop me. I found some short sharp ones to haul my ass up and really make it hurt. Felt great when I finished, but pooped at 3pm when I should have been at the gym (note the "should"). Oh well, I can't win 'em all.

This morning was a 1hr 25min run which was to include 2x 12:30 hills. I couldn't find a hill long enough to run up close to home, so I decided to do 4x 7ish mins up a hill I have been running for the last few weeks. I SMASHED it!!!! The first one was 7:15, 2nd 7:08; 3rd 7:15 again, and then I decided to run the last one hard to attempt sub 7 - SMASHED it in 6:52!!!!!!!!! I am a legend!!!!! I have to say that this hill has become easier in the last few weeks - not easy, but easier. My turn around point was at the petrol station at the top of the hill, and each time I turned the attendant was staring at me out the window - probably waiting for me to pass out!! He must have been wondering what the nutter was doing running up and down Waihi Rd at 6am!

So, this week has been great so far. Isn't it amazing what the thought of a holiday will do to you. I have a rest day tomorrow (although I may attempt Wednesdays missed weights session), then a 3hr ride on Saturday and a 1hr 15min recovery ride on Sunday + a swim. I am planning to SMASH Saturdays ride and punish myself further in the hills.

As for next week, well there will be a spot of training in amongst packing, driving to Auckland, catching a plane and flying away from 18 degrees and into 28 degrees!!! Niiiiice. I changed my currency today and it seems more real now. The kids finish school tomorrow for 2 weeks of holidays, and then on Thursday it's Australia here we come for 10 glorious days - I will have my running shoes and my togs, but no bike - bliss!

The last few weeks I must admit I have been questioning this madness of training (again). Spending every spare minute, every weekend, every early morning training. I was wondering if I had finally had enough of it. If it was time to quit. But I can't..... I can't quit training even when some days are hard. I can't give it up, throw away everything I have worked so hard at. I just obviously need a break. I haven't had a decent holiday in over 18months due to Ironman training, so it is time to re-energise I think.

btw, this week hasn't gone along without incident. I had to pick up one of the boys from school today because he had taken a knock to the head by a DESK! What you ask? Well, they had the desks stacked on top of one another to make room for 2 classes of kids, and Blake knocked one over which SMASHED down onto his head as he was sitting below it. Lots of blood and one Doctors visit later, and he is ok. Thankfully he didn't need stitches because what would a trip to Australia be if he couldn't swim!!!

Ciow for now....

I wasn't last....

2008-09-20T20:25:00.002+12:00

Though I got damn close!

Today was my first ever duathlon. I am a pretty good swimmer and usually come out of the water about a 3rd of the way down the field. I'm not however, a very fast runner, so I knew that starting with a run was not going to be a great thing for me.

But, the idea is to challenge myself this year, so a duathlon it was.

The run was in a part of the forest in Rotorua that was used for the Xterra run we did a few weeks ago. That run started with a nasty set of quite steep stairs. Well just for larks in this duathlon, they made us run up them there stairs 3 times!!!! Mean buggers!

Anyway, back to the race. It started at midday which was just odd in itself. We had a breakfast at 6am, then another at 9.30am before leaving home to drive an hour to Rotorua to the race.

First up was a 4.5kms run. I got spat straight out the end right from the start, and only had 1 person behind me. I managed to catch another lady as we entered T1, but she quickly rode away from me. My Coach, bless his cotton socks, had told me to catch the bunch and ride in the shelter. Well, there were 4 bikes left in transition when I got there, so today I was on me own!

The ride was a 2 lap out and back 28kms. The out was uphill, the back was downhill. NASTY. An about average ride later and I pulled into T2 quite bloody exhausted.

Onto the final 3km run and it was the first run off the bike I had done since March - it wasn't too bad except for those damn stairs. The lady that rode away from me on the bike crashed and burned on the run as I caught her in the last couple of hundred metres, and finished 3rd to last - WOOT WOOT. Good on me - pip an old girl at the post - I don't care that she looked 50years old, I beat her!!!!

I have to admit though that out on the bike course I had my usual negative dialogue going for a while - "god you're so slow", "man you are going to be sooo last", "catch that woman in blue", "I suck at cycling", "just pull out, you're pretty much last anyway".

Then I started telling myself off. No good Coach should quit because they are near the back. I persevered, had a good final run and finished. Yes, it was at the back of the field, but that field was FAST. It was the North Island Interclub Duathlon Championships afterall, so it was all on the line to go fast. Disk wheels, draft legal, team tactics and everything (knew I should have put my race tyres on).

My time of 2:12:00 was about what I was expecting, so what the heck. I achieved my goals and it felt good to go out and do something different. I have about 12weeks until my first half ironman, and it did prove to me that I need to focus some more on training. I have been feeling blah about it all, but I did enjoy racing again! That's what the training is all for at the end of the day - to race! So, onwards and upwards and bring on the triathlon season I say.

Motivation

2008-09-19T13:13:00.003+12:00

It's funny really.... how we are so psyched up about stuff one minute, and then unable to get going the next.

I've been trying to figure out why my seemingly excited launch of Fit Goals has led me to now hardly being able to cope with my own training. I think it lies in the fact that I am impatient.

I want Fit Goals to be up and running NOW

I want to be a qualified gym instructor/ personal trainer/ swim coach NOW

I want to be done with my own big events and just do small ones so I can fit everything in NOW

I want to lose a few more kgs NOW

I want to be a faster runner and cyclist NOW

I want my new bike NOW

I want my holiday to be NOW

Geez, I should take a chill pill and worry about today right?

Right then.....

Today it is.....

(Thankfully today is my rest day..... aaaahhhhh)

Where is it????

2008-09-18T15:50:00.003+12:00

Where is my motivation hiding?

It seems to have vanished.....

Poof.....

Gone.....

A few posts back I wrote about keeping your eye on the prize and working through the hard stuff to get to the end result

Well, I take it back..... lol

I've lost the plot!!!!

All my workouts this week have been either moved around, modified, shortened or just simply not done! That is just not like me, so what's up?

I DON'T KNOW !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I just feel like I am over it! Over training, over working, over kids, over husbands, over colds, over housework (oh that's right, I never do any) - over not GETTING any housework done

JUST OVER IT ALL!!!!!

I NEED A HOLIDAY (ooooh goody I happen to have one of them coming up)

Hopefully this will be just what I need to light my fire again, because for now I feel heavy, frumpy, old and tired!

BAH HUMBUG!

What have I been doing?

2008-09-16T12:49:00.003+12:00

Well, you might well ask - not blogging much it would seem, but there just aren't enough hours in the day at the moment.

* I went to my first MTB event this weekend. The Saint's work was the major naming rights sponsor, so we went to.... well.... work!!!! The race was a 6hr or a 12hr team or solo event around an 8km track. There was 2500+ people all in a mini tent city, 500 of which were whizzing around in the forest at any given moment in time. The 12hr solo dudes are just NUTS as far as I'm concerned, but the team thing would be a go for me next year I think. It was tempting to jump in for a lap, but given my NIL MTB experience, and the amount of people I would have to get out of the way of while I negotiated a MTB, I decided to do some practise over the next year and give it a crack next time. Seriously a great event though. It was just buzzing with excitement - I have to say they are a different breed to the triathletes I normally hang out with!!!!

* Training has been very up and down. I seemed to be really fatigued after my off road run event, and last weeks training just felt blah. I did manage a pretty decent ride yesterday, but then I ended up with a sawing pain in my throat last night which kept me up for hours! This morning I am abit better, so will miss my swim this evening and attempt a run instead.

* I had a running drills session with the coach and the rest of his clients last week. That was fun, although you do feel like a dork at the beach doing skippy, hoppy, jumpy, lungey things out in public! I have been doing drills for a few weeks now, and I do think they are actually making my running better. Only time will tell I guess as summer rolls around soon and the events begin.

* My swim coaching sessions have been going well, a little light on people some weeks, but at least there is some interest. I am hoping to get some more permant week day ones up and running soon, so keep an eye on Fit Goals if you live locally and want to hook into them.

* I am doing my very first Duathlon on the weekend. I am nervous as hell as I am a slow runner, and I will be left behind from the gun! Normally in a triathlon I get out of the water about 1/3 of the way down the pack and then everyone passes me on the bike, and I manage to stay ahead of a few people on the run. This weekend I will be spat out the back from the get go, and will be trying my hardest not to get my first ever DEAD LAST FINISH - but then, there is still nothing wrong with that is there? The point of this year was to do some different things, and that included a Duathlon. The Coach made me laugh when he said to get in a bunch on the ride as it is a draft legal cycle leg - haha, I'll be lucky if there are any bikes left for me to draft off!!! Very sweet thought though.

That's about it from me I think - I'm thinking of all my bloggy buddies who are getting hammered by Ike and other storms in the US - hope you are all keeping safe.

Keep your eye on the prize

2008-09-10T14:24:00.004+12:00

I have a few friends who are currently training for Ironman NZ. The doldrums are starting to set in for them, and it made me think back to my own training at this time.

Unfortuately we have had a pretty crappy winter. The weather has done nothing but throw weather bombs at us, the windtrainer and spin bikes have been used more than is justifiably tolerable, and you are just over training but there is still so much more to do.

So, what do you do?

KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE PRIZE

There are times during Ironman training when you feel so overwhelmed by it all that you just want to scream. You start questioning the reason why you are putting yourself through it all in the first place. You stand in the middle of the lounge and see the washing to fold, the dust to wipe away, the TV with finger prints all over it, the windows you can barely see out of, and the windtrainer perched in the middle of it all!!! The tears can be pretty close to the surface and burst through at any given time. It only takes one malfunction in the well oiled machine and all hell breaks loose...

KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE PRIZE

The kids are nagging, the husband is lonely, the groceries need to be bought, the dishes are piling up, your clothes are getting too big, your daily nutrition consists of protein shakes, energy bars and pasta - where'd the wine and cheese go?

KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE PRIZE

You feel like the race is a million months away, and yet it seems that the weeks are slipping by at an alarming rate and you have no idea how the hell you are ever going to be able to complete an Ironman.

KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE PRIZE

The prize is worth every ounce of blood, sweat and tears. Every missed night out in favour of an early morning ride is training in the bank for withdrawl on Ironman day. Your friends and colleagues will think you are crazy, but you know you're not. You want this so bad you can taste it. You see it when you are asleep at night. You can feel the water as you slip into Lake Taupo, you can hear the whirring of disk wheels out on the cycle course, and you can see all your family and friends cheering you on during the run. You hear Mike Reilly's voice calling your name and telling you that you are finally an Ironman.

KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE PRIZE

Hindsight is a great thing - for me standing on this side of Ironman it all looks so simple. I've done my Ironman, and all the fear, frustrations and guilt that I felt were, in the end, wasted energy. I had so many people tell me that it would all be ok. "The training is harder than the day itself" I was told - I really didn't believe them. It was such a relief to finally be on the start line, that the race did in fact become easy. Doing the months of hard work to get there is tough. It isn't easy, oh it so isn't easy, but that finish line was the most amazing personal experience I have ever had. I have never ever been more proud of myself than the day I became an Ironman, and quite possibly, that will never be beaten.

So, KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE PRIZE and remember that you are amazing for even starting this Ironman journey in the first place.

Happy Fathers Day (yeah right)

2008-09-08T09:18:00.002+12:00

Yesterday I did what every good Mum should do on Fathers Day - left The Saint with the kids (and MY mother), jumped into a car with some girlfriends, and went to an event!!! woops... not good planning.

Anyhoo, it wasn't all bad as my Mum was visiting from out of town, so she took the kids out for breakfast while The Saint went out for a bike ride, so he was ok. No flashy breakfast or anything but who needs that anyway! We did take afternoon tea of chocolate cake and quiche around to MY Dad's later in the afternoon, so that will have to do.

The race was GREAT. It was race #2 of the Xterra Off Road Run series. This time it was 16kms in a different part of the forest at Rotorua. For the most part it was fairly tame compared to last time. There was one mean hill in the middle, but apart from that it was nicely up and down dale. I ran for a good part of the race with a 13yr old boy. He was great and we chatted about this and that. It is really cool to see a boy of that age out doing this stuff instead of playing computer games etc... I only hope my kids head in that direction!

We did get lost towards the end as we got to a 3 path intersection and there were no markers telling us which one to take. Turns out some little butthead had removed it! What idiots! So, we took the wrong track.... ended up running abit further than necessary, but oh well. I was only bummed because I was aiming for under 2hrs and we did 2hrs 1min!!!! Pooh....

It was a great day out, the weather was awesome, and 2 of the 3 of us won a spot prize. Stop for coffee at a cafe before heading home to do some Fathers Day celebrating. Unfortunately by the time I got home I was feeling absolutely knackerd, sick from lack of decent food after the race, and had a whopping headache. The Saint had to cook the kids tea - so much for Fathers Day...

The Saint is exactly that - The Saint. He has always been an awesome Dad, right from the time we brought our 2 wee bundles of joy home from the hospital. Having twins is pretty hard work when they are babies, but he was right in there - mixing bottles, changing nappies, midnight feeding one while I fed the other. I have always just been able to leave the kids with him without having to leave a list of instructions, as he always just knew what to do. He gets pissed off when people tell him he has to "babysit" - he calls it "looking after my kids"..... He is now the Cub Scout leader even though he really doesn't want to be, just because his boys love going and they desperately needed someone to keep the pack going. So, Happy Fathers Day Paul - sorry you only got undies and chocolates!!!!!! You deserved way more...... love from us...

Fit Goals is here

2008-09-03T15:59:00.003+12:00

Today is the official launch of my coaching company Fit Goals!

It is going to be a long process from today to being fully functioning, but I am letting it fly so I can get the word out there. Keep checking back as I try and update it regularly. This will still be the page for my daily moanings as usual, but Fit Goals is all about helping you get started.

If there are any queries regarding training, programmes, fees, sessions etc, please feel free to email me (address is on the Profile page), or leave a comment on the blog page.

http://www.fit-goals.blogspot.com/

Exciting times are ahead as I get stuck into more training courses and research so that I can provide a top quality service for my clients. I hope I get to meet some new people along the way, as well as motivate you to GET MOVING!

It's been a good, no GREAT, weekend

2008-08-31T20:13:00.005+12:00

FINALLY - some sunshine and fine weather instead of weather bombs.

Max HR testing over, it was time to roll in the hills again on Saturday. I had 2hrs 45mins scheduled with 2 hill reps off our local hill riding mecca Welcome Bay. It seemed every man and his machine in bright yellow was riding on Saturday as in the space of about 50metres I saw 20 cyclists - literally ALL in fluroescent yellow! The cycle safety message is obvisously starting to get through.

My main aim was to stay seated through all the climbs. I did manage this bar a couple of times when I had to stand to unlock my lower back! The last few times I've been over Welcome Bay I have spent the entire time in and out of the saddle. This time, much better. Legs a little trashed afterwards, but successful all the same. I was bloody slow, but efficiency and strength building was the order of the day, not land speed records!

Fast forward to the afternoon, and I had my first real taste of what it would be like to Coach "for real". And I looooved it. I am coaching a 15 year old boy to his first triathlon in December. He is in the school rowing team and is fit and able, but hasn't swum in a long time. So, with Mum watching, we set about trying to put together a swim plan for him. He has the technique and the speed, just not much endurance. But, ample time to get there, so he is away. Mum has asked me to give him info regarding nutrition and the such like as he won't listen to Mum and Dad - "maybe coming from you he will do it"..... so, info sheet all typed up, he now has his first official programme and I'm hoping I won't kill him in the first week.

After I had been with him, my next group arrived. This was for my casual technique/ recovery swim that I am trying to get running for my tri peeps. Today 5 came. It was great. They had all dragged themselves from a nap on the couch, and then proceeded to swim and love it. All claimed they would be back next week, dependant of course on whether they had any better offers at 4pm on Saturday afternoon.

This week we were social ourselves on a Saturday night, and went to dinner at a friends house. The sun has barely peeked out from behind winter and we had our first BBQ of the summer! YUMMO. The cookies and cream ice cream covered in chocolate sauce, not so great, but oh so good all the same.

Today was a 1hr 10min easy recovery ride. Got about 1hr into it when the nice wee hissssss sounded from my front tyre. Wish I had timed myself because that had to be the fastest, calmest change of a puncture I have ever had. Normally I stamp my feet for 10mins and blow and curse the interruption to my ride, before I even think about getting the tools out. Today, the sun was shining, I only had 10mins to ride to get home, so I sat in the sun and changed it. Got the last bit of the tyre on without a swear word or a stomped foot too - another success!

We sold our car (finally) last week, so decided to take the kids out to lunch for a treat. Liam has been a bit unwell this weekend, but wanted to go all the same. Not sure what drugs they put in his food, because he came home and slept for 3hours! That hasn't happened since he was about 4, so it was a very quiet afternoon in our tired household (midnight social outings and training are really quite hard work!)

This evening we have been at my Dad's for dinner - another BBQ - I love summer! The best bit though??? 2 dinners and 1 lunch I didn't have to cook this weekend! BLISS............

Not enough time in the day

2008-08-28T18:03:00.003+12:00

I feel like I am running crazy at the moment. It's been a while since posting and there is so much to say, yet I can't really be bothered. Nice huh. I will try though - bullet points are always good for times like this.

lets see..... what's the haps....

* Went to Auckland for the weekend to meet up with the people that were sponsored, and the sponsors, with me at Ironman NZ. The book is apparently due out at the end of September, so will keep you posted on that.

* The weather was so bad that I stayed in Auckland an extra day so that I didn't have to drive home in the dark and pouring rain. Can't see!! Not good. So, a day off work and school for me and the kiddly winks. Watched Cat Woman - Halle Berry is all kinds of stunning!

* I really really want to start getting some triathlon clients and planning for the summer. Struggling to find the time to sit down peacefully and do this in amongst the training, working and kid stuff. This may be harder than I first imagined. I need a cool catchy name, a website, a pricing schedule, a training schedule, marketing material, SOME CLIENTS! Good things come to those who plan and wait I'm sure.

* I got "interviewed" last week for an article in our Triathlon Club newsletter - wot with me being the FEMALE TRIATHLETE OF THE YEAR and all (just in case you forgot). So, get ready Tri Tauranga for that wee masterpiece - hehe.

* Work is boring - nuff said.

* I finally moved into the Millenium and got me an iPod. I know I know - how have I trained without one? Well, the idea was that seeing as you aren't allowed them in Ironman, there wasn't much point in relying on it to get me through those bits when your feet hurt and your head says stop. Now though, well I need some sort of motivation to run 5kms these days, so I gave in - LUV IT; LUV IT - that iTunes is AMAZING; AMAZING (you get the idea).

* The Olympics are over thank goodness. Need to do some housework.

* I am looking into getting my Swimming NZ coach certification next. Don't know when the HECK to fit that in amongst every other god damn thing, but I will give it a nudge and see what happens.

* I am trying to set up a swim squad (very casual) on a Saturday afternoon - I do believe I have said this before on here, so at risk of repeating myself.... come along and join in if you wish. 4pm at Otumoetai Pool - obviously bring your togs and swim toys (we love toys) and jump on in. I won't laugh I promise, just to give "encouragement" and "helpful advice" is the name of this game.

* What else..... hmmmmm.... the kids have come up with some choice vocabulary lately, which is just doing my head in. How about "that's so gay" or "you're a homo" or "random" - everything is "random" wtf???? They have no idea what gay or homo means and I'm not about to explain it just yet, so quietly reminding them to be polite is the way to go... boys, they love anything to do with toileting too - YUKKY creatures!!

* WE GO ON HOLIDAY IN 5 WEEKS!!!! Yeehaa........... Sunny; warm; beaches; theme parks; togs; sand; maybe even some vino - can't wait!

* Oh yeah, and I have been training. I have started with a new Coach and told him (him, I got a him - unbelievable), anyway I digres. I told him I wanted to be pushed out of my comfort zone as I needed some self confidence in my own training so that I could do my own tri coaching confidently - get it? Well, this morning I was so far out of comfortable I thought I was gonna die! I had to do Max Heart Rate testing this week on the bike and running. The bike I think I could have gone harder, so might try some other stuff on the weekend ride and see what happens.

The run today was 1hr 10mins including 3x 6mins 30secs uphill repeats. The last one was to be as hard as I could with the last minute at a sprint! SPRINT, I don't DO sprint - and definitely NOT at the top of a hill. But I did it. My avg HR for the last 6:30 was 170, with a max of 179! I was heaving so bad at the top I thought I was going into oxygen failure. I still had 20mins to run and it was hard!!! Thankfully I am now on rest until Saturday morning. Love it love it tho. Feels great to work so hard you want to puke!!

Anyways, that's me for now.

The sun is meant to shine for the rest of the week and into the weekend, and I am looking forward to climbing Reid Rd - twice - power of positivity does wonders!!!

Happy iPodding peeps.....

It's official.....

2008-08-19T09:23:00.002+12:00

I AM NOW A TRIATHLON NZ LEVEL 1 ACCCREDITED COACH

YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA................

Special thanks needs to go to SUB6 for his great "critical friend" portion of my assesment - this is what Tri NZ had to say...

"Congratulate Mike also on his valuable and well presented feedback. People like Mike can be a valuable resource"

Thanks heaps Mike for your input. I really appreciated it.

happy happy joy joy; now I just need some clients - we'll worry about that another day, for now I am just going to enjoy the news!!!!!!

aaaaahhhhhhh nuts!

2008-08-18T21:36:00.002+12:00

The NZ women didn't fair so well today, but GO EMMA SNOWSILL

Awesome!!!!!

Super Saturday!!!!

2008-08-17T20:08:00.004+12:00

What a massive weekend of olympic watching. Here are the highlights for me:

* The flagbearer at the opening ceremony, Mahe Drysdale, rowing til he puked (literally) to take the bronze medal and make the whole of NZ proud (we are weird that way)

* The double skulling twins photo finish for gold was heart poundingly fantastic!

* Hayden Rolleston in the mens pursuit on the track - beautiful! Love the silver fern on the back of the suit and the top of the helmet - looks awesome!

* Michael Phelps - what can you say. I held my breath for the photo finish of the butterfly and yelled at the US team to swim like crap in the medley relay! What an absolutely astounding feat by an amazing athlete. I even cried during Star Spangled Banner!!!!

* Valerie Vili smacked that shot put around like it was a golf ball! she is NZ's new darling of womans sport!

* That Tansania fella who stole the gold from Australian Grant Hackett - the guy is a drugs cheat and only just got back into competition after his 18mth ban lifted - that's just CRAP! Hackett should have that gold (and it isn't very often we Kiwis stick up for the Australians, so this is serious!)

And so much more to come..... womans pursuit for bronze tonight, mens teams pursuit as well.

And of course, the triathlon tomorrow and Tuesday. It's on while I am at work, so the trick will be to see if I can get to watching my recorded event before finding out the result. I am keeping fingers crossed that Emma Snowsill wins, Vanessa Fernandes a close second, and of course a Kiwi in 3rd - any one of them will do, but my pick is that Sam Warriner is going to have the race of her life!

The mens triathlon, well that is tough. Gomez is obvious favourite, but I reckon Unger is going to give it to him. He's beaten him before (twice), so why the hell not do it at the Olympics. Our own Docherty will be bridesmaid again!!!! Bummer, but I just don't think he will do it. Sorry, I know that's not very patriotic of me, but I think there are too many good men, and he just isn't up there - not so great at finishing when the pedal goes to the floor.

Ooooooh, so much anticipation! I have a headache.... I have never loved watching sport so much! Hopefully I can get into bed before midnight tonight, as training is suffering severely (oh yeah, I have actually managed to do some of that too).

Happy Olympic Watching......

It's in the mail

2008-08-14T20:17:00.004+12:00

I have posted my assessment stuff away for the Triathlon New Zealand Level 1 Coaching accreditation. It is a huge relief that has quickly been replaced with NERVOUSNESS....

Did I do it right? Have I given them too much information? Did I waffle on in the way I do?

I HOPE I PASS....

Anyway, it seems that while I have been madly trying to sort this out, I have dropped the ball completely on training properly and eating well. I feel like an elephant, I can't fit anything, and I look at myself in the mirror and see BLOAT!

I have also been feeling rather knackered, under the weather, and slightly seedy for the last few days, so I decided I needed to make myself feel better somehow - so I had all my hair cut off! I have to admit that it has slowly been getting shorter since I finished Ironman, but it has now officially been cut SHORT.

Unfortunately it didn't change the fact that my jeans are too tight, and I have those bits that stick out over the top of your bra when "they" don't all fit in there properly sigh.....

On a positive note, I am training a lady towards her first triathlon in January. She is learning to swim, and is doing great. I have been poolside with her, and accompanied her on a bike ride to see how she is getting on. God I loved it. It felt really good to be helping her out and passing on my pieces of triathlon knowledge. It made going back to my "normal" job very sucky indeed! Oh well, the ideas are flowing, the wheels are in motion, and I am hoping that next year will see a humungous change in my life and career! Fingers crossed anyway.

The girls that I "coached" for my swim assessment have asked me to make it a weekly session, so I have. I had the first one last week and 1 came! Plus The Saint of course, but he HAS to come! This week should be better as they all had genuine reasons for not being there. It is supposed to be a casual thing, so if no-one comes, well I go home!!!! But it will be great practise for me IF YOU GIRLS (and boys are allowed too) DECIDE TO SHOW UP!!!!! haha. Seeing as the weekends for most people are quite big in terms of training volume, the sessions are just easy using drills and short swim sets. If you are in the Tauranga area and fancy joining in, then come along to Otumoetai Pool at 4pm on a Saturday - be nice to have you!

Other than that I am just sitting on my ever expanding butt watching the most gorgeous bodies in the world battle it out at the Olympics. I had no idea that the sport of diving had such ripped men! The thighs on them are amazing, and the abs.... oh the abs.... anyway, while I sit and drool and gain weight, they are all performing amazing feats of athleticism, and it is fantastic to watch. Almost inspiring, but I still don't move from the couch.... And that swimming machine Phelps, well isn't he amazing. Although, hand on heart, proud Kiwi and all that, Moss Burmester did try his best to kick his butt in 200m Fly - did us all proud he did, unfortunately not enough for a medal. What is it with these games anyway? World records are just being smashed like plates at a Greek wedding! TOTALLY FREAKISH!

Oh well, I guess I better get up tomorrow and at least pretend like I am training for 2 half ironmans!!!!! The weather here is CRAP ALL THE TIME! Rain rain go away........ not making for very good motivation of getting out of my warm bed I have to say. I kind of got over all that training through winter for Ironman last year. But, it seems the comfort food has caught up with me and I must away now and organise myself for a gym session and a run in the rain! Even thunder and lightening is forecast - oooooh goody!

Feeling like a fraud

2008-08-12T10:58:00.002+12:00

There are times in this sport when I feel like a fraud.

I go too slow to be called an "athlete"...

I am too "plus sized" to be a coach to aspiring athletes...

I shouldn't own that flash bike because I don't make it go fast enough... (well, I don't own it yet but I will soon - I'm sooooo excited)

I run in the womens gym because I hate running in front of men...

All these things add up to my mixed feelings about triathlon at times. I love achieving the goal, but sometimes wonder if I should really be there at all.

I have just caught up with some of my Tri Club friends on the weekend, and was filled in on some gossip that made me really mad! Apparently, one of our club members thinks that if you can't do Ironman in under 15hours, then you obviously didn't put the work in and that you shouldn't be doing it. Well, that got me all kinds of riled up!!!

I worked my GUTS out to become an Ironman. I SACRIFICED everything to train to become an Ironman. I SPENT a wad of money selfishly working towards becoming an Ironman. I HURT, I CURSED, I PLODDED, I WAS FRUSTRATED, I CRIED, AND I DID IT...... I became an Ironman and it was the most amazing day of my life. I had achieved something that I had thought IMPOSSIBLE! I did scrape in under her so called 15hour deadline, but I wasn't expecting to. I was expecting to take up as much of that 17hour cutoff as I was allowed.

This came from a woman who I admired and respected alot. She worked bloody hard to qualify for Kona, which she got, and she made her dream come true. Right now I just feel sorry for her, as she has lost that respect, and that of alot of other people for her rude comments (all this was said to a guy that DID take over 15hours I might add - how would that make you feel???).

This sudden burst of rage was then backed up and calmed down by a great post written by someone who has obviously experienced alot of the CRAP that can come out - usually from the lazy slobs doing nothing, or the elite idiots (not all are idiots, most are actually really nice, there are just some who spoil it for the rest) who think that we back-of-the-packers are a waste of space. Well, at least we fill up the numbers at events, or there wouldn't be any!!!!!!! She has put all that we feel into words fantastically, and how we really should just get on with it anyway - IN YOUR FACE LOSERS as it might well be said!!!!!

I LOVE this sport; I enjoy the friends I've made, the experiences I've had and the goals I have achieved. I work as hard as anybody else to be a triathlete. I'm not overly good at it, but I do it anyway for the simple fact that I can!!!! I would NEVER have entered Ironman if I felt that I wouldn't be able to do it. No-one enters thinking they can't, they just give it a damn good try. Some days are good, others not so good, but we persevere anyway. That should be enough!!!!!

I plan on living, not existing, and if that means it takes me 16:59.59 to complete an Ironman, well excuse me for breathing!!!!!

Taupo Half Marathon race report

2008-08-03T18:03:00.007+12:00

I did a personal worst!!!!!!!! I knew it was not going to be a great run, but hell, it turned out to be a grovel fest of epic proportions....

The weather has been really really bad for the last 10 days. Storm after storm is hitting us, and it just rains and rains, and blows and blows. And last night, lying in our cabin in Taupo, I listened all night to the howling gale and driving rain thinking I had wasted a pile of money because I was NOT running in this crap!

We woke in the morning to much the same conditions. A few texts to other friends also competing, and we all talked each other into doing it. Might as well, we were here!!!

Miraculously though, the weather started clearing. The wind died down, the heavy rains stopped, and we only got a resonably light shower not long after the start. The wind did pick up again to make the last few km's straight into a stiff head wind, but other than that I think the weather gods made nice to us!!!

It seemed the running gods had up and left me though, as I was rubbish. The first 5kms was done in 31mins and I knew then that I was going to be crap. Half way in 1:05 and I knew a 2:10 was out the window. 15kms at another ridiculous time and I was struggling to make peace with the fact that this was the worst performance ever. Once I gave up and walked I was history. I couldn't run, I couldn't walk, my feet hurt, my butt hurt and I wanted it to be over.

2hrs 22mins later (almost 10mins slower than my old slowest time, and 16mins slower than my PB) and I was done!!! Literally done! There are a tonne of excuses - hardly any sleep listening to the storm; "that" time of month which means the body rebels against running (sorry boys but it is a womans reality); not enough long runs; wind & rain; grass tracks (which were in pretty good condition considering the rain); blah blah blah.....

*** Update as official results are now out - My time was 2:21.58. You can see I bombed as the 1st half was done in 1:05.30 and the 2nd half in 1:16.29 - oooops.

The Saint faired slightly better, missing his PR but not by much. If the weather had been better he would have nailed it, but even he was hurting by the end. Most of our friends who were there had a bad run actually. This was definitely one of those runs where you had to mentally dig deep and just finish, even if you felt like you were losing the plot.

So, that is half marathon #9 for me (not including half ironman runs). I will do #10 in the next 2 months, and that will be a cool achievement. I wanted to do one for such a long time but never got around to it, so to have now done 9 is awesome.

But hey - the new matra around these parts is AT LEAST WE WERE OUT THERE!!!!!!!!!! Plenty of people would not have made it to the start line this morning because of the weather, but we took our cement pills and hardened up!!!!! We are TUFF!

Busy busy busy

2008-07-24T12:50:00.007+12:00

That is me right now. I am in full "change my lifes direction" mode, and it is BUSY. I attended another course yesterday, this time on Event Management. I have a few ideas rolling around in my brain, along with all the other mush, about an event I want to run and some public training sessions that I want to do. It's all helpful information about planning, sponsorship, funding etc....

So, I am overloaded! I am doing a training session with a few tri buddies on the weekend as part of my assessment for the Level 1 accreditation. I am running a swim session, and someone is going to observe it and then comment on how I went - I know you'll be nice, even if I'm hopeless (won't you??). Yesterday I swam the session myself just to make sure it was ok and something I would enjoy doing - I didn't die, so that's a start.

I have a few things to do to complete the course and get my accreditation, so have decided that my blog writing might have to take a back seat for the next couple of weeks while I sort out STUFF.

Training has been ok - I've been bloody tired which is starting to get, well, tiresome!!! I've got my half marathon race in 10days time, and I do NOT feel overly ready, but I know I will be able to complete it, and I guess that is still an achievement anyway.

So, bloggy peeps. I will be back once the envelope has been signed, sealed and delivered to Triathlon NZ - I want to be a coach very very soon so that I can get stuck in for this summer - priorities priorities.....

Take care, train safe, and race hard...

Triathlon NZ level 1 Coaching Course

2008-07-21T17:37:00.007+12:00

WOW - I had a great weekend doing this. I was soooo nervous about going to it, but it was quite simply; fantastic!

I hardly slept a wink all night on Friday - I'm sure I had more sleep the night before Ironman, I was so wound up about it. Silly me - everyone told me not to be, and as usual I shoulda listened.

The presenters were the best. One has been around triathlon for a long long time, and he had so much information to give out. He was just a triathlon tap! It was fun to spend 2 days with other athletes just talking training, racing and general triathlon STUFF all weekend long - my all time favourite kind of weekend (hence the reason I love training camps so much).

There is still so many questions though. We could've spent another day doing it and there'd still be more. At the end of the day there is no right or wrong answer to compiling a training plan for an athlete - it's all about what works for each individual.

So, I have come back home with lots of reading to do, lots of googling to take place, and a few things that need to be completed and sent in so that I can get my accreditation. EXCITING STUFF I HAVE TO SAY...

Lots of motivation going on around me right now. Lots of plans, lots of whirring in the brain (and probably more sleepless nights wondering how I can save the world by telling them all to do triathlons!).

So, I am hoping to be accredited soon. Once that happens I want to set up some training sessions and hopefully grab a few clients who are wanting to do their first triathlon (gonna start with beginners and work my way up). Although it's not limited to triathlons. I can cope with fun runs or walks, or even a cycle race or swim event. So, if there is anyone who reads this who wants to give triathlon a go, and wants training plans and advice from a back-of-the-packer real person (not like those fast racey coaches who are out there - lol), then you can email me (you'll find the address under "view my complete profile" on the side bar). Of course, there's no point in me doing all this if I do it for free, so there would be a small fee involved, but I promise it will be small. Being a Mum in a family situation I know what it is like to have to budget every cent. But, I am going to try and provide some real "bang for your buck" as the saying goes.....

So, onwards and upwards. I am hoping eventually to change my career completely from boring number crunching, to helping people reach their fitness goals and start to feel good about themselves. I have a long way to go but it is a start. I am on the slippery slope into the triathlon dungeon, and will probably never return!!!!!!

Another busy weekend

2008-07-14T17:30:00.008+12:00

I woke up this morning and wondered where the hell my weekend had got to. It seemed to pass by in a blur, and now it is back to the drudgery that is work for another week.

Saturday I woke up with a very sore neck, shoulders and back, so popped some drugs and decided to wait and see if it got better before attempting the 1:30 run I had planned. Managed to clean out the fish tank ( we can see them again now, and thankfully there is still 2 of them), cleaned the bathroom, did the washing, and generally tidied up about the place before deciding it wasn't bothering me anymore so I'd go out.

The day was overcast, it eventually rained, but I felt good. I had been having doubts about whether I would do the half marathon in a few weeks, simply because I had planned to PR (well, hoped to PR), but know now that it is very unlikely at the pace my runs have been at. But, I had such a good run on Saturday (nowhere near PR pace, but still better than I have been running) so I decided I would just go along and enjoy the event for what it is. No pressure, no PR to worry about, just a good solid effort. My cycling buddies are going too, and so is The Saint, so it will be abit stink if they get all the fun of competeing while I sit and watch.

I was pretty stiff afterwards, and seeing as the kids are on school holidays at the moment, we decided to take them to the hot pools for a soak. The pools has these really high powered shower jets that beat you to a pulp when you stand under them, so I got in there and manouvered my shoulders and neck for a really good massage. It was lovely to take the weight off the feet and soak in the spa, and we had a great time.

Sunday morning was the start of the hill riding again. I haven't ridden any decent hills since about 6 weeks before Ironman, so to say I was nervous was an understatement, especially when you are going with others. But, it turned out ok - hard; sure, but ok. We rode over the Welcome Bay Rd hills and did one ascent of Reid Rd. The Saint was out riding on his own and he was on his way down Reid Rd when we were going up, so just to show off he had to come back past us on his way up for a second time - he went past like we were standing still - ba$tard! Anyway, I did manage to stay within eye sight of the other 2 girls so was fairly pleased they didn't ride away from me. I did alot of standing which was annoying me, as I had worked really hard on my seated climbing last year. Oh well, they say if you don't use it you lose it, and that seems to be the case in regards to my hill climbing technique right now.

My riding buddies, Yvette and Jodi, are doing bloody fantastic! Their riding is going really well, and I am having a good time going out with them and Kate (or mainly chasing them, but it gets me riding abit harder than if I was by myself). You girls are gonna do Ironman just fine, and I will be there cheering you on all day like you did to me.....

3hrs and 60kms later, I was done. Really done. Knackered. Done!! But, it was a great ride. The weather was perfect. Hardly any wind, sunny, a gazillion times better than the week priors freeze fest - in fact I was wet with sweat instead of rain which was a nice change.

Sunday afternoon The Saint went sailing and left me with the "devils" (kids). Boy they sure are pushing my buttons at the moment, so it was abit of a yelling match afternoon as we all tried to get our points across. Not fun really, but we ended it with a walk at the Wetland wildlife reserve and then a play at the park. They aren't bad really, it's probably more my reaction that sux. Oh well, that's just life as a parent I guess. Guilt, doubt, anger, frustration, love, fun and laughter all rolled into one little package called the "devil" (ooops, I mean kids). I love them really, but at 8 going on 18, they are a test.... Heaven only help me when they are actually 18!!!

Anyway, this mornings alarm went off and I really wanted to ignore it. But, I hauled it out of bed and went to my RPM class at the gym. I have to admit I layed off the resistance abit, but I still worked hard and enjoyed the class. Now though, I am struggling to keep my eyes open. I've been trying to read a book and have to keep re-reading bits as I find myself "pausing" while I shut eye for a tad.

This week is another big week and then it is the downward slope to my half marathon. I have the Tri NZ course on the weekend, so will let you know how that goes next week.

There are so many people racing eveywhere in blogland at the moment, it is really getting me super hyped up for summer to come. You're all doing a great job and are inspiring me to keep going as I look forward to summer - keep up the good work.

Ciow for now.

It's all go for Level 1....

2008-07-10T12:54:00.005+12:00

The Triathlon NZ Level 1 Coaching Course is confirmed for the weekend after next - IT'S ON

There was a chance that it might not be if there weren't sufficient numbers, but there is - so.... IT'S ON

And now I'm nervous again

((sigh))

But.... I will go.... I will be positive in my abilities.... I will NOT compare myself to the sub 10hr Ironman (I've been googling participants names - best not to know I decided and stopped at the sub 10hr Ironman)

I have something... different... to offer any athletes that take a chance on me and let me coach them. Then I get to call them MY athletes - cool.

I have a "back of the pack" perspective....

I have a "mummy guilt" perspective....

I have an "I love food, can't lose weight" perspective....

I have a "god I love achieving goals even if I suck" perspective. Or should I change that to "HAVE TO TRY HARD" perspective....

I figure there isn't actually too many of those coaches around, so why the heck not....

I'd go to me....

Well, I hope somebody does anyway, otherwise I'll just be coaching myself and The Saint, and he doesn't listen to a word I say

Only 9 more sleeps 'til I become triathlon brainwashed, as if I wasn't already

Weekend Roundup

2008-07-08T12:55:00.003+12:00

Well, it was busy.......

SATURDAY MORNING - met 3 other tri ladies for a ride. Was cold but fine when we started, but that soon turned to rain and damn freezing as we were on our way up a 35min gradual climb. By the time we reached the top I was numb from the waist down, my toes were froze, and I wished I was at home. We decided to take shelter at the shcool at the top of the road, which wasn't without incident I might add! I tried oh so smartly to ride through the narrow gate into the school. Unfortunately the turn on the path was too tight so I tried to go up a small ledge - I hit it kind of sideways rather than front on, and next thing I know I was smack on the ground. Boy that was the last straw. I was already over the ride half way up the hill, and that just topped it off nicely. Laying on the ground, bike on top of me, in the rain, in front of 3 other people - Niiiiice, not humiliating at all......

Needless to say the ride back down the hill was bone chilling. The rain had stopped while we were hiding out, but the wind chill was horrible. Normally I get in the aero bars and nail it down this particular hill because it's not really steep, but it is FAST. Not today though, it was too damn cold creating all that extra wind! It was time to head home, this was so not fun anymore. I did manage 50kms in total so it wasn't all lost, but I was sooooo cold by the time I finished that The Saint had to take my shoes off as I couldn't bend down when I got off my bike. I struggled to put my feet on the ground they were in so much pain, and I was FROZEN. I didn't get in the shower as that would have just burnt me, and 2hrs later I think I finally felt warm again. I have never been so cold on a bike in all my life, and I sure hope it never happens again - it just ain't pleasant at all.

SATURDAY AFTERNOON - We had friends coming around for dinner to watch the All Blacks play South Africa, so I spent the afternoon in my nice warm kitchen cooking. The sun was coming in, the oven was on, and it helped defrost me some more. Our friends 18mth old son kept us entertained and we won the rugby, so it was a lovely evening.

SUNDAY MORNING - I was supposed to ride and run, but it was very cold again, and after the day before I could not bring myself to get out there. So, I ditched the ride and just ran. I was as stiff as a board, and it was the longest 55min run I've ever had. It felt like 2hrs. I think I was dehydrated as I hardly drank anything the day prior due to being so damn cold I suppose, plus I never stretched after the ride either - so, it wasn't pretty but it was done.

SUNDAY AFTERNOON - I went to a seminar on stretching and self massage that was organised by the Tri Club. It was fantastic. I have learnt some new stretch techniques which seem to be helping sore bits already, plus how to use massage wax, sticks and tennis balls to self massage - great stuff and all very handy when you are trying to save money and there is none left over for luxury things like massages.

MONDAY MORNING - RPM class at the gym. Due to skipping my ride on Sunday I decided to hammer this and had a great time sweating it out in a warm air conditioned gym on probably the most frostiest coldest morning I have ever experienced!

MONDAY NIGHT - The Saint and I went to a seminar being held by his gym about how to manage life basically - it was run by a Life Coach (new fandangled occupation in this super goal orientated and personal development age we live in), and I found it really great. Lots of "light bulb moments" as he called them, and I now have a template to fill in that might help me identify some areas I need to work on (as if I didn't know those already), plus planning to help me actually achieve them. All good positive stuff. Another embarrassing incident for me though when I dropped my empty wine glass and it smashed everywhere, right in the middle of his seminar - oh well, thats what I get for thinking I can drink a glass of wine! Back to my Powerade me thinks!!!

So, another busy few days just been, and another pile to come. But, life would be boring if we had nothing to do now wouldn't it...

Training update.....

2008-07-04T11:45:00.005+12:00

I decided to get back to business and train hard this week. It worked... some days, and boy am I feeling better than last week - although it wouldn't be too difficult to top now would it?

On Monday I did a 40mins Spinervals session on the windtrainer with mad sprints and one legged drills. Have to say the legs weren't overly great at co-operating due to being tired from the day befores off road running event, but they did feel better afterwards - looser I suppose.

On Tuesday I did some weights and core strength, then did a 25min hill repeat run up the wee hill outside my front door (5x up in 2:00 and 3:00 round the corner and back down). It was damn cold (major frost in fact), and it took the whole time running before I could actually feel my feet - GREAT STUFF! In the evening we dropped the kids at Cub Scouts and hubby and I went swimming. Wasn't a very good swim really, I kinda piddled around at it. Gotta get more focused in that area me thinks.

On Wednesday morning I did some interval running on the treadmill - 12x 1 min intervals at above race pace with 1 min recovery at a very slow jog in between. Then I finished off with 2kms at race pace. Christ, my actual pace ability and my supposed (or should I say desired) race pace are poles apart. I DIED! But, I held in there and completed the session. There were moments where throwing up felt like an option, but seeing as I was at the gym, I held that in.

Wednesday afternoon was supposed to be a 1:30 ride - the weather was CRAPOLICIOUS with torrential rain, so I canned that and went grocery shopping instead. The idea was to do a session on the windtrainer later on while watching Two and a Half Men and Scrubs - alas this didn't happen. I just couldn't be arsed setting it all up and organising myself basically - oooops, wee loss of focus there, but telly was great!

On Thursday morning I went and did a 5km TT run trying to run at my race pace. I was trying to work out how hard that would be when I had to do it on my own and not have the treadmill dialled in to make me go at that pace, you know, REAL running. The first and last km were abit off, but the middle 3 were great and I ended the 5kms at EXACTLY my desired race pace. Never mind that I couldn't breathe and that throwing up was once again looking good. How the hell I am supposed to do that for 21.1kms I have no bloody idea. After the TT part of the run, I carried on for another 3kms and was stuffed by the end of it. Even reduced to a fast walk up a hill! NUTS...

The reason for all this "race pacing" is that I have a half marathon on 3rd August that I want to go Sub2 at. Last year I did 2:05.something, so it isn't entirely out of the question, but since training for Ironman I have developed this very slow steady Ironman marathon run pace, which when you are as slow as I am at full speed, well, it's pretty slow....

So, I am giving it a last month ditch effort to get up there. Might have left the charge a wee bit late, but I'm damn well gonna die (or at least throw up) trying!!!

This morning was supposed to be a sleep in, but the body clock is dialled well and truly to rise early, so I did some upper body weights and core strength stuff.

So, all is going well (apart from a distinct lack of cycling effort) so far this week. The weekend sees a 3hr ride tomorrow and then a 1hr ride and 1hr run brick on Sunday. Plus, I should really throw another swim in there somewhere, but time may be abit amiss this weekend as I also have a seminar to go to on self massage and recovery techniques! Niiiice. Plus, we have friends over for dinner to watch the mighty All Blacks stomp all over South Africa.

Happy weekend to all......

WTF???

2008-06-30T16:00:00.001+12:00

By now you've probably all worked out that I am some psychotic freak show eating everything in sight while I churn out an Ironman finish. Looking back on some of my posts, I am quite inclined to think the same. Sometimes I feel like Dr Jekyl & Mr Hyde....

I guess my emotions are just raw on some topics. I have always been a pretty jovial person to the outside world, but inside I have massive issues about my own self worth and confidence. I don't feel good enough, or fast enough, or slim enough. I want to fit into the "mould" of an athlete, and not be the "overweight lady that did Ironman". I hate sticking out! But, that is probably why I won the Triathlete of the Year - because I did Ironman regardless of the struggles I face!

I am lucky in so many ways that at times I feel shallow for thinking these things. There are people out there with much bigger problems than whether I finish a race last or if a size 16 will fit me this week. Reading other peoples blogs reminds me of this, as we all have our own personal struggles to deal with.

The reason I want to become a coach is to help other people like me - I still struggle with all of this; I still have confidence issues surrounding my participation in a sport predominantley filled with stick insect athletes with no boobs!!! Yet it is this sport of triathlon, and events in general, that has given me a purpose in life and goals to achieve. On the weekend, running around in the bush on my own, I felt ALIVE and that was a great feeling. I was out there doing something I never would have imagined doing a few years ago. I wasn't afraid, I was ready for the challenge.

Now, I just have to face the "other" part of my life that isn't going so well, and tackle it head on like I did when I trained for Ironman - no holes barred, obsessive behaviour!! It's the only way I know how.....

Triathlon really has saved me from being a failure. Now I just fail sometimes, and learn from it; and personally win lots and love it!

For that I am thankful.

Xterra Trail Run Series - Race 1

2008-06-29T14:42:00.004+12:00

Today was my first ever off road running race. It was GREAT.

The weather here has been nothing short of hideous for the past couple of weeks. Very cold and rainy! So, it was a blessing this morning that the rain had disappeared. It was still cold, but we can cope with that. Nothing a good poly prop can't handle!

We got to Rotorua, registered, caught up with a few other peeps I've not seen for a while, ummed and erred over what to wear (as we woman do), and then we were off.

The half marathoners (long distance 21-30kms) had already started, and we were scheduled for 12kms today (medium distance 12-21kms). I was thankful that the first race was shorter so that I can get used to the idea of "trail running" before I have to do 21.1kms of it later in the series!

We started off - 200m up the road and then hit the first hill - which took me 12mins to climb! MEAN.

After that it was round there, up there, over that small creek, round that tree, down those stairs, up these stairs - until we hit the mother of all trail climbs. It was narrow, steep, slippery from the recent rain, and definitely hands on knees, butt burning kinda climbing. It was so loooong. A few guys strolled on past me quite quickly, but I was pretty pleased to see they weren't running either, just walking very fast! The view of Lake Rotorua at the top was great, then it was downhill time - god that was steep too. It's just as hard to go down a steep slippery hill as it is to go up.

At times I was running on my own, no one else in sight, in the middle of the bush, wondering if I had missed an arrow or turn off. That can do weird things to your mind, but it was all ok. We joined up eventually with the half marathoners, then the 7km short course runners, for a fairly quick downhill run to the finish.

I was pleased with my time - I thought a 1:30 would be good (slow, but this is off road where there is quite a bit of walking going on in parts). I ended up doing 1:23:53 so was fairly happy with that.

It was damn cold once we stopped, but nothing a good hot chocolate from the mobile coffee vendor didn't fix.

All in all it was a great race. Got a cool cap and shirt for entering the series, and am looking forward to the next one in September. I have some serious off road running practice to get in before then, but there's plenty of time to work on it.

Thanks to Jodi, Yvette and Kate for the great company!

Food is my demon....

2008-06-26T11:08:00.004+12:00

This is kinda hard to write, because it bears an ugly side of me that not too many people know about (it took me ages to even admit it to my then boyfriend The Saint).

I have always had a very unhealthy obsession over food. In fact it just about consumes me at times. I went to Weight Watchers for the first time at 16 years old, and went back probably a dozen times - each time heavier than the last. I was always overweight as a kid and this carried on into adulthood.

For 12 months while training for Ironman, my obsessive compulsive behaviour had something else to think about and it became less of a "problem" and more of a means for fuelling. Although, there were times that I did wonder if I was using training for an Ironman as an EXCUSE to eat heaps of food - maybe, I don't know.

Anyhoo, my issue with food has been this. I will eat for the sake of it. Because I'm happy, sad, frustrated, lonely, bored, or for absolutely no reason at all - I know lots of people do, but I have tended to take it to the extreme in the past and just EAT continuously.

Before we were married, I once had to ring The Saint to come and get me after I had crashed my car pulling into McDonalds. The embarrassing part was that I was on my way to an Overeaters Anonymous meeting (more on that soon), and I had just eaten dinner at home. The question was of course, why then was I at McDonalds?

Overeaters Anonymous (OA) is an organisation run under the same umbrella as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). It uses the same literature and tries to help people overcome their food "addiction". I used to sit and listen to stories of people maxing out credit cards to buy food; stealing food and money to buy food; bingeing and throwing up - heaps of stuff that blew my mind because it was all things that I had done, or tried to do, or wanted to do but couldn't bring myself to. All to get the next "fix" as it were. I was constantly ill from the copious amounts of food I would eat in a day; I couldn't sleep; I was always in a fog; I was angry; I cried alot; I drank heaps of alcohol at that time too, and if I wasn't careful I was going to end up at AA meetings as well. It's surprising really that The Saint married me in the end, because all of this went on while we were just dating. I was very lucky to have him at that time as he supported me ALOT!

Eventually it got to the point where I felt that all the attention I was giving it was becoming unhealthy. I went to an OA meeting every day and thought of nothing else but my obsession with food. If I obsessed over it before I went to OA, then I was worse afterwards. Food became "bad" and I was always struggling with what to eat, should I eat, am I allowed to eat? It took a long time until I could have a normal relationship with food again (semi normal anyway), and I have come such a long way since those horrible ugly times, that I don't want to slip back.

This week I did just that. I had a bad afternoon at work, I was mad, angry and upset when I left. All I could think of was gorging myself with disgusting food. I picked the kids up from school and we hit the bakery. I ate cream buns and pies, just because!!! It scared me a little, no in fact ALOT, that I still use food as a way to dull my feelings and make me feel better - for 5 mins anyway! It never truly does make it better. It just turns everything into a vicious cycle of loathing and pity until I am backed into a corner of despair and have no way out of it.

So, how do I stop this from getting worse again? How do I feel happy with my "lot" in life? How do I push myself to be better? How do I become the person I long to be? The person that isn't afraid of what others think....

How do I be ME....

Why am I so insistent on hurting ME....

What do I do to make me feel better about ME....

Ironman didn't seem to work to be honest. I thought doing that would magically take away all my issues with myself. I thought it would give me the confidence to do bigger and better things with myself. But, I feel like I have done that and moved back into a life that I no longer want to live (if that makes any sense at all).

Why do I punish myself when I slip up from time to time? Why do I have an all or nothing type of mind set? Why can't I just deal with things and move on? Why, when I have a great family, do I always feel like I am letting them down or not being there when I should be because I am always so self-involved?

Everyday I wake up and say I'm going to be "good". Everyday I eat something "bad" and then beat myself up over it. Everyday I battle with an inner voice saying I'm hopeless at this, I have no willpower or desire to succeed. EVERYDAY I SUCK AT BEING ABLE TO CONTROL MYSELF. And it is really really hard for people who don't have this struggle to understand it. The Saint doesn't, but he knows he has to try for my sake. Food isn't fun for me, it is just a right pain in the ass, and I really wish that you didn't need it to survive!

I joined a bloggers weight loss challenge which I had hoped would just steer me back in the direction of losing some weight and making me feel better. Instead, I obsessed. I stopped weighing myself when training for Ironman as I felt I didn't need to. The number on the scales determines my mood. But, when I am watching the scales like a hawke, for some reason I become WORSE. The food gets WORSE. The obsession becomes huge and I lose the plot completely. Seeing that this is what was happening, I pulled out.

Where to from here?

Well, pouring your deep dark secrets into cyber space sure helps!!! Not sure why really, but it just means it's not in me I guess, taking up my head space. Let someone else have it....

Doing triathlons has saved me from myself in a huge way, but what happens if that is no longer enough? When I lose the desire to do this anymore, then I will probably go back to something nasty. I can't do that to me or my family.

I HAVE to find a way to make this better

I HAVE to stop obsessing over stuff I can't control

I HAVE to use my healthy triathlon training obsession to dampen down my unhealthy eating obsession

I HAVE to take control of myself and BEAT THIS DEMON........

I JUST HAVE TO!!!!

Ironman Couer D'Alene is DONE

2008-06-24T11:19:00.005+12:00

There were so many bloggers racing at Ironman CdA, it was GREAT (not much work done here as I spent most of it on the internet catching up on everybodys splits). In particular I was watching Tea, Misty & Colleen.

Colleen absolutely ROCKED IT you little beauty. What an awesome time for your first Ironman - Wicked!

Misty was fantastic and inspiring, moving from being the last official finisher at her first Ironman, way up the ranks at CdA to set a fantastic new PB - way to go, you are an inspiration.

Tea, my hero, devastated us all by getting sick during race week and having to make the horrible decision to pull out halfway through the bike leg. Her decision took guts, but most of all, was sensible. I don't think I would have been able to handle that with the grace she has. She worked so hard to get to her Ironman - 6 hour wind trainer sessions; runs in the freezing cold; 4am (yes AM) swims. She is a shining example of what it takes to become Iron, and no-one deserved it more than she did. I am so sorry you didn't make it - THIS TIME. Without a doubt you will be Iron one day Tea. For now your positive outlook on the experience, and goal setting for the future, has made me really step up and look at my own self pity pot I've been dwelling in. YOU ARE A TRUE SUPERSTAH!!!!! One day we will race together - I will make sure of it!!!!!!!

So, to me. I am feeling good - energised even; ready to tackle this negative outlook of mine; I feel like I just quit too easily when the going gets tough or it hurts too much.

Not anymore.

We went to Auckland on the weekend for my nephews 5th birthday. Needless to say I ate loads of crap and felt awful come Sat night. Sun morning I went for a 1:30 run to redeem myself from my excesses. It was wet and miserable but I had a good run. There is something about running in the rain - kinda feels like you are kicking ass by being out there in the misery of it all.

"I'm tough because I run in the rain..." haha woteva...

Last night I went for another run; an easy recovery jog - I loathe running at night! It was windy and cold; I had a sore neck from being at my computer all day long; I wanted to eat the nice warm dinner I had cooked for the family that was waiting for me in the microwave! But, I did my planned 30mins, I actually did a reasonable distance in that time, and I felt great afterwards (once I thawed out that is).

This weekend is my first off road run event. A few of us tri chicks are off on a road trip for the day, so it should be loads of fun I'm sure - can't wait! Not sure of the distance yet - anywhere between 12-21kms. I am truly hoping that the distances step up as the series progresses, because 21kms first off is gonna be long and hard. But that's a good thing right? Right??????

Moving on from yesterday

2008-06-19T15:54:00.006+12:00

After yesterdays mini "blah" (I have those alot aye???) I started catching up on everybodys blogs and happened upon this entry by Tri to be Funny - take a look at it. It answered my ever present question of "why bother?".

Lots of people ask me why do I do this stuff.

Why did I put myself through the endless hours of training for Ironman?

Why do I abandon takeaways, alcohol and socialising for early morning winter rides and swims in the sea with jellyfish?

Why do I spend all my hard earned cash on tri pants and race tyres when I don't have a scrap of fashionable clothing in my wardrobe?

Why is it that I want to quit my reasonably well paying job and change to a career that has more to do with motivating than making money?

WHY WHY WHY

All good questions really. SO, WHY????

I like the way I feel when I come in from a good hard bike, or a solid effort on a run. I am energised and pumped.

I love being out riding in the fresh air when people are still crawling home from the pub on a Sunday morning. It makes me feel "holy" somehow... lol

I like knowing that I am fit and healthy and will probably be around for my kids for many more years to come because of it.

I feel proud of the positive example I am setting for my kids - one of healthy living and getting out and having adventures.

I like the companionship and support that I get (and hope to give back) from other triathletes. It is like a community all working towards becoming better people - both in fitness and in life.

I get to "race" (I use that term very loosely) with my idols! There aren't many sports where you line up next to the best in the world and race the same race they are, at the same time! Exciting stuff.

This started as something I could do to keep me from turning into a very fat, very sick person. It has turned into a lifestyle that now both my husband and I enjoy. It has given me goals, pride, confidence and most of all LIFE. I have been places I never would have been. I have done things that once upon a time seemed impossible. I have met the most amazing people. I am also yet to meet more amazing people from around the world, who I now share this lifestyle with via the internet.

There are millions of us nutty triathletes out there around the globe. We all have the same goals, the same desires, the same fears and the same commitment to the sport, whether we are good, bad, fast or slow at it. At the end of a race we are all called "TRIATHLETES" whether we came in first or last.

And that is something that feels great everytime I finish one.

My MOJO is slipping!

2008-06-18T16:20:00.006+12:00

Without the carrot of Ironman dangling in front of me, I am struggling to keep up with my training.

I am self coaching and keep missing workouts. I do the main ones, but it's all the little ones that I keep skimping out on. Not the best effort or example is it now? When I finally become a coach and clients ask me about missing workouts, what do I say?

I DO IT ALL THE TIME, DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT....

OF COURSE YOU CAN STILL DO A TRIATHLON EVEN IF YOU DON'T DO ANY TRAINING....

Somehow that just doesn't fit does it?

Yet, still I have a pile of excuses flowing for every time I miss something:

"It's windy out"

"I'm tired"

"My foot hurts"

"My gut is crook"

"It's gonna rain"

"I have to do the groceries"

All very common reasons for me not getting my ever expanding ass out there.

I miss the drive I had when training for Ironman. I miss the nervous anticipation of heading towards the unknown. I miss the larger than life "thing" that Ironman represented.

I also miss the "dedicated to training" woman that I was then. Now I feel lazy! If it's not at least an hour of hard training then it doesn't feel worth bothering about; yet anything longer than that and I can't be bothered!!! Vicious cycle really ain't it? There is so much I want to do, but there's the same problem as usual, only so many hours in a day and pots of energy to do it. The excuse of Ironman training is gone - can't use that puppy anymore for shirking responsibilities!!!

What I don't miss though is the constant thinking in my head. There was only room for one train of thought for 12 months before Ironman - IRONMAN! It drove me crazy; it drove everybody crazy! It feels good to be training knowing that if I don't do something, then it's not actually the end of the world. It gives me the guilts big time, but that is my problem to deal with.

I am writing this instead of riding my bike. It's a beautiful sunny day, quite windy and cold, but gorgeous none-the-less. I have been fighting with myself for an hour now; changing my training schedule around in my head; justifying the fact that I had a nana nap after work instead of getting out on my bike (that only a few days ago I RAVED about).

So, that's enough whinging for now - I better get pedalling!!!!!!!!!!!! My planned 1:30 ride now has enough daylight left for a quick 30min spin - right now I'll just take anything.

Thanks for listening.

UPDATE....
I did my 30mins out in the fresh air; have come back revitalised; now onto the chores.... (sigh)

Ironman Couer D'Alene

2008-06-17T08:59:00.003+12:00

Don't ask me how you pronounce that name, but somewhere in the middle of the US, this Ironman race is being run this weekend (22nd June).

I have been following a few bloggers who have trained long and hard for this race, and now it is time for them to withdraw that training and KICK ASS!!!!!

Go my dear blogger friend Tea

Go Colleen & Go GeekGirl

You are all super inspirational women; you have worked hard to get to the start line; I hope the race is everything you imagined it to be...

Off road running

2008-06-16T18:07:00.004+12:00

Off road running is damn HARD...

It is dead slow...

It makes your ankles hurt rolling around all over the place...

They make the stairs on bush tracks either huge for giants or so steep you can't walk upright...

There is mud...

There are tree roots...

It takes a huge amount of concentration to just watch where your foot is going...

IT IS MAGIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I "heart" my bike again

2008-06-14T20:27:00.000+12:00

Well, I have managed to ride my bike 3 times since last Saturday and I have to say that it feels good to be back on it.

I seriously wondered if I would EVER want to ride it again after Ironman, and I think the 3 month break from it was what I needed to rekindle my love affair (well maybe not "love affair", perhaps more like a "serious commitment").

Wednesday I went out at 3.30pm for a 1:30 ride. I set off in nice sunshine but within half an hour was frozen to the bone. As soon as the sun went behind the hills it got coooold. It was just as well I'd thrown my arm warmers in my back pocket or I woulda been home in 30mins! The knees froze due to having short pants on, my fingers were numb due to fingerless gloves, and my feet didn't really feel like they were there. But, I was out and I was going to finish the ride damn it. Seeing as the last time I rode my bike it was summer, and now it's winter, I kinda didn't think about my clothing choices overly well. For all you overseas folk, the weather where I live is gorgeous in winter. It doesn't snow, but it gets good frosts. The sun is out, the sky is clear blue and you just have to wrap up warm and ENJOY IT! It only took 15mins of hot running water in the shower to get me defrosted!!!

So, back to the ride. I was going to do 4x 10min hill reps, but due to fading light I had to cut it short to 3. Still, I rode the hill that I always ride when doing hill reps, and considering it has been 4 months since I last did it, I was only 2mins slower over the whole ride AND I stayed seated for the entire hill climb on all reps. GREAT STUFF... good start!

Thusday morning I had a 40min Spinervals technique spin and my legs felt like lead after the ride done only 12hrs before. By the end of it though they were good to go again.

We are a tad behind on the whole Biggest Loser thing, but I watched the final last night from the show that ended in the US at Xmas. I was in tears at the amazing transformations, and even though Friday morning was meant to be a rest day, I just had to get up and do something after watching that. Great motivation!!! I only did a weights workout but it was good all the same.

That brings us to today. I met up with a couple of Tri Friends doing Ironman NZ next year and we went cycling. They needed to do a 3:35 ride, but I was going to beg off at around 2hrs. Better not hit the deck too hard! I managed to do 2:35 and just over 50kms, so was pretty pleased. The day was very overcast and cold, I wore long pants and a thermal so was nice and snug, and we did a great ride. I was a bit slow on the hills, but did manage them all seated bar one, which I was pretty pleased with. So, the verdict on my riding is that I have lost a little fitness but my leg strength seems to be ok. It won't be long and I'll be back in full swing I'm sure (not that my full swing is fast, it's just comfortable!).

Tomorrow I'm off for another trail run - this time I'm shooting for 1:30. I think tomorrow afternoon might end up being ciestaville (like this afternoon was), but that's cool. The first couple of weeks back into it are always hard - I'm sure I will be fine in another week or so.

My other news is that I have decided to do 2 Half Ironmans this summer that are 4 weeks apart. Gonna be tough I'm sure, but if I can't do Ironman then this seems like the next best thing - chop it in half and transition for 4 weeks - EASEEEEEEEEEEEE.............

So, Rotorua Half Ironman on 13th December, and then Tauranga Half Ironman on 10th January. Then I get to go camping for 2 weeks with the kids in the holidays - I believe I will deserve the break by then!!!

Happy Weekend............

What have I been doing?

2008-06-10T16:09:00.005+12:00

Well, lots really, but I am feeling restless.

After winning the award Friday night I felt re-motivated to go out and give it heaps, but then life comes back at you and sucks that away in a big hurry.

I had a good ride outside on Saturday morning. It was my first one outdoors since the 30th March - heck, I knew I needed time off it after Ironman, but I honestly wasn't expecting it to be that long! Still, apart from the sore thighs from the squats I'd been doing, and the fact that breathing hurt due to my cold still hanging around, I had a really good ride. My speed was no different than normal thank GOD. I'm already slow enough so to be slower would have just sucked big bananas! I climbed the few small hills I rode ok. Basically I felt pretty good. So, tomorrow I have another ride planned, but this time it has 4x 10min uphill repeats. I'm going to do a hill I rode quite abit in training for the Ironman, so it will be interesting to see how I go.

Sunday I went bush for my first off road run practice. As you know, I have entered an off road run series of 3 races, the first of which is in just over 2 weeks time. The distances vary from 12-21kms and at this point you have no idea which race is how long, so it is a big guessing game. My HOPE is that the first one won't be 21kms, because I only managed 7.5kms in an hour and I was SORE and TIRED afterwards. This off road stuff is hard - and SLOOOOW. I carried a camelback with 2L of water in it, and my back is still recovering - give me a fuel belt anyday, but it just doesn't carry enough! The run was very very awesome though - it was so nice to run through the tracks and trails, beside a lake, sun shining, cool wind blowing, and just enjoy the outdoors without the cars and noise and pollution. It was really quite magic!

After I got home the kids wanted to go biking, so off I went on The Saints MTB with them. We did a good ride and I was buggered by the end of it all. How the HELL did I ever do Ironman????

Monday morning was the first weigh in for the weight loss challenge I've joined. I am embarrassed to say that in the first week of a weight loss programme I gained a pound. AAAAGH - who the hell does that???????? You ALWAYS lose weight in the first week. I am blaming those problems that girls get and I don't care what you say, I know that's it! Needless to say after that I was just grumpy. Plus the old run around car died and after already spending $600 on it in the last month to get a warrant, we had to spend another $100 to get a new battery. I hate paying out damn good money on crap like that. I'd much rather a new bike, a new pair of running shoes, or even an entry fee to an event. Cars are crap, but unfortunately necessary. As if the petrol price wasn't enough?????!!!!!!!!!!!

So, a grumpy evening ensued with me getting pi$$ed off at The Saint for no good reason, and then us going to bed without speaking to each other. See, that's why I stopped weighing myself - it makes me ANGRY at myself, which I then take out on everybody else. But, on we go and I will now have to lose that extra pound plus a few more to make up for it next week.

In amongst all this festering anger I did "manage" a 40min run on the treadmill plus a 40min Spinervals session doing technique one legged drill stuff! OUCH

This morning I got up and did a circuit at home - weights and core exercises interrupted with what I've termed "cardio blasts" - short hard out cardio. I did short sprints up the hill outside the house, jump rope, running knee lifts and running butt kicks. It was great! It seemed to clear my mood thank goodness and today I've been much better.

Tonight is supposed to be swim night, but I'm still getting over my cold and have decided to move it until later in the week.

So, as an overview, my feelings at this point are a melting pot waiting to bubble over:

I LOVE being Triathlete of the Year. It makes me feel "special" even if I'm still just me

I HATE gaining weight, it's just crap

I NEED to train to make sure I stay sane

I WANT to be able to run and ride better

I LOATHE my lack of willpower

I ENVY those who are more diligent about what they stuff in their mouth

I ENJOY eating pudding bugger it all

I LONG to be better/ faster/ stronger at this sport

I WISH to help others like me achieve their goals, if I can sort myself out first that is

I WILL become a TRI NZ coach this year

I REQUIRE a lottery win!!!!!!

Drum roll please.......

2008-06-06T22:40:00.002+12:00

The end of a looooong weekend

2008-06-04T16:10:00.006+12:00

The weekend was looovely. The kids had a teacher only day yesterday, so along with the public holiday on Monday to celebrate our Queen (celebrate what I'm not sure - her birthday apparently but it's not even her real birthday??? I'll take it anyway), I also had Tuesday off to make it a 4 day weekend - BLISS.

So, we packed up and headed to Napier (my hometown) for a family 21st - have to say I felt far too OOOOOLD to be at a 21st, but it was great to catch up with family. We stayed with my cousin and her hubby and 2 boys. The weather was beautiful but cold, so the fire was stoked up all weekend, and now I have the head cold building to prove it. Moving from toasty warm air to freezing cold air has a tendancey to do that to you at times!!

The "BOYS" during our walk around Pandora Estuary in Napier

The kids had a ball with the other boys, we ate heaps and were merry, and I even ran a couple of times. My cousin lives at the top of Napier Hill, so on the first run I just ran half way up. On the second run I decided to go for the whole hog and run the entire way up. After a 10min climb I made it - it was the biggest longest climb I have ever done and it was AWESOME! I didn't even die or pass out, so that was a bonus!

The kids have had dramas going on for the last few weeks which is just getting tiring... vomitting, sore throats, "private bits" not looking very good, and the latest one was an emergency trip to the dentist after they clashed heads and we thought Blakes new teeth were going to drop out of his head. Plus, we also found a wee cut on Liams head where Blakes now wiggly teeth sunk in when they clashed! Boys will be boys and WRESTLE. But, all's ok for now thank god!

I also need to get back on my bike. The weather has been glorious but I still haven't yet. The last time I rode my bike on ashphalt was on the 30th March. The longer I leave it the more nervous I am about starting. I was supposed to ride today but my babysitter isn't back from holiday, and I am so stuffed up in the head that I don't think I could breathe enough to ride anyways. So, maybe the weekend.....

I have joined in a bloggers weight loss challenge and had to send my weight through for the start of it on 1st June. The challenge is in pounds but I am used to measuring in kilos, so it was a shock to see such a huge number. Anyway, I am hoping it will help me kick back into some decent eating (even if I have eaten half a tray of choc fudge brownie - it's a "diet" receipe but I still think you're only meant to have one piece as a treat! - but by crikey it's GOOD!)

This Friday is the Tri Club awards dinner, so will let you know on Saturday if I won TRIATHLETE OF THE YEAR!

Random stuff....

2008-05-26T16:59:00.004+12:00

A few thoughts and issues floating around me this week...

Each year my Tri Club has a "member nominated" Triathlete of the Year. Everybody gets the chance to vote from the list of nominees, and what a blessed suprise but...

MY NAME IS ON THE LIST!!!!

OMG that is so weird. The fat chick who hated anything athletic (apart from swimming until I got too fat to wear a swimsuit in public), is up for an ATHLETIC AWARD! The winners are announced at the prizegiving dinner next Friday night - to say that I am pretty proud just to be nominated is an understatement, but if I won, well, you just might see me speechless!!!

Me... an athlete of the year...

ME... an ATHLETE even. hahaha

Check out what some fantastic person said about me:

She is your average kiwi. Mum, wife, working woman and she set herself that mammoth goal of doing and achieving Ironman and on her journey she has inspired many, she has had her ups and downs but stuck to the job at hand and I think it is a remarkable achievement for her. She doesn't fit into the mould of natural, slim athlete, but she sure has amazing physical and mental strength and I think a deserved winner from your natural, elite athlete, as I feel she has pushed even more boundaries and I really admire her, she is a great role model for us woman.

HUH so is my head just swelling right now do you think???? In all reality though, that is what I had hoped would happen - if I have inspired just one woman like me to get out there and give it a shot, then my effort was well worth it! But, anyway, I am up against some pretty amazing people, some of them are even top age group and soon to be elite athletes, so will just have to wait and see.

Moving on, training has been pretty good the last few days. Nothing too structured, just cruising around, doing different stuff. I set up a circuit for myself at the gym on Saturday morning and just went for it for 40mins - I had heaps of fun and a really great workout. I even used a jump rope, which is quite a hard thing for me to do when all my bits are wibbly wobbling everywhere, but it was great fun (I only used it because I was the only person in the gym - there are some things I just will not do in front of people, and jump rope is definitely one of them).

I went to an RPM class at the gym this morning, and my legs turned to jelly! Normally our instructor loves the high cadence stuff (which I incidentally HATE), but today he just powered through it with really heavy resistance. I usually LOVE that, but today it was just tough, especially seeing as my attendance at the class has been nothing short of negative!! Oh so good, but bloody hard work.

Yesterday we had the kids school gala/fair. I ate lots of homemade sweets, cakes, sausage sizzle and coke. Felt like absolute crap for the rest of the day, so really did need the massive sweat fest I endured at RPM this morning.

I have been driven crazy all day by the fact that Ironman Live has not been updating fellow blogger MONICA's stats on Ironman Brazil. Still don't even know if she finished! CRAP. I sure hope she did!!!!!!

One of my boys has been sick for a week - headache, sore throat, vomitting. He's totally miserable but Mum is not who he wants. Oh no no no - he wants to go to Nanas house where she lets him eat dried noodles and watch TV all day!!!!!! TRAITOR

The Saint spent most of Saturday (no in fact, all of Saturday), cleaning our carpets and the upholstery in the cars with a wet vacuum thingy we hired. The house looks fantastic!

Apart from that, things are boxing on. Still no serious training going on yet - we have a long weekend here this coming weekend and then THE PLAN starts in full swing. I will attempt to ride my bike outside for the first time in over 2 months and see if I remember how to ride it when it isn't attached to a windtrainer!!!!

Have a good week everybody!!!!!!!!!!

Things I know:

2008-05-21T17:02:00.007+12:00

* I get grumpier and grumpier the more time I have away from training

* Entering a 3 race off road run series makes me scared

* Eating crap makes me feel crap

* Crap food is cheaper than healthy food

* Said eating as above seems to aid in the shrinkage of clothes and fuel belts

* Apparently a 2:10 half marathon is quite acceptable, even tho I'm busting my ass trying to get under 2hrs
* Rest weeks suck

* Training actually does make you feel good even though sometimes it's hard (aye??)

* Being in a team logging workouts on Buckeye Outdoors is great motivation to do harder training in an attempt to keep up; hence my entry into the impending off road run series

* A fuel belt will not carry enough fluid for a 20km off road run in the middle of the bush

* Moving from road triathlete to off road multisporter requires altogether different gear

* THIS SPORT IS A NEVER ENDING MONEY SUCKER UPPER

Rest week is now 3 days, and I'm back to training tomorrow!

Huntly Half Marathon race report

2008-05-18T16:24:00.015+12:00

Stopped to take this photo on the way down! It was such an awesome morning!

Well, this is gonna be short & sweet (except for all the photos The Saint took)

I went....

I ran....

I didn't do a PB.... (surprise suprise)

The day was perfect, in fact you could say it even got damn hot running. Very strange for May!

The start of the Half Marathon Run

Fellow bloggers SUB6 and Juls were great. We waved each other on at each passing point throughout the race.
SUB6 sprinting to a SUB2!!!!

No watch as promised, even though it was hard not to put it on - it's amazing how attached you get to times & splits! I managed the first 8kms feeling pretty good. I was even starting to think I might be in for a good time. But alas no.... the not so good feelings started, the legs hurt, the feet hurt, the butt muscles started cramping, and I was counting down the km's to the end.

4kms to go and feeling like shite!
And... a close up of me feeling like shite!
Nearly there

The last 4kms is around a small lake, but by the time I got there the 10km walkers were absolutely crowding the place out, so there was lots of weaving around to get by them. I tried to dig it in for the final km as much as I could, but the end time was pretty much exactly the same as last year - 2:09.37.

At least I managed to pass someone in the finish chute, even if it was only a walker!
And the job is DONE!

Still, I was well pleased to squeeze in under 2:10. The PB will have to wait until Taupo Half Marathon in August - I will be giving it everything then!

Bloggers Julz, SUB6 (or is that now SUB2?), and ME - all finished!

After that it was prize giving and lunch with fellow bloggers and families. No spot prizes, but a nice day out all the same.

Now, I'm up for some well deserved rest I think. The legs are really punishing me now, so they need some time up not pounding the pavement!!!! A good soak in hot pools sounds like a far better plan.

2 more sleeps

2008-05-16T14:20:00.003+12:00

Huntly Half Marathon.... here I come....

Running has been not so bad this week, although to be fair, I haven't run for anything longer than 30mins, so really I should be able to handle it.

My aim for Sunday - finish smiling

What not to wear - a watch!

Unlike SUB6 I will not be wearing a gadget on each wrist and an ipod in the pocket. No, I will be running au naturale, and just running by how I feel! If I'm feeling good, then I guess I will run fast; If I'm feeling bad then I guess I will be running slow...

Weather forecast looks great - cool but fine!

Kids are going to Nanas, so this is a road trip for The Saint and myself.

oooh oooh oooh, I forgot to tell you!

We got a new car!

Well, its an old car, but a new car to us!

And, it has a stereo in it; with a CD player even (my old car didn't have either). Plus, you can open the drivers door from the inside (my old car struggled to do this from time to time). And, the boot doesn't leak when it rains (my old car used to have a swimming pool in the back!). So, this will be our first "trip" in it which doesn't include supermarket shopping or school runs. The CD's will be locked and loaded and ready for ear blasting us all the way to Huntly.

Race Report will follow as usual!

Happy Friday everyone!

Weekly review

2008-05-10T07:52:00.002+12:00

WOW, it's been a week since I last posted.

Boy am I ever feeling better than I was last time I wrote something! Hangovers are evil! It's not just the "illness", but then it's the crap you eat when you do start to feel better. Kinda like carbo loading..... but on hot chips, pies and doughnuts instead of pasta and spuds!

Friday was the longest day ever. I hung out in bed wishing I could die. I was determined however, that Saturday I would be up and running.

And I did. And I even managed a half pie decent run. And I felt alot better!

Sunday I had my longest run before the half marathon next weekend. I did a verrrry slooooow 19kms! I think I almost did it in the time it took to do my slowest ever half marathon race! Oh well - I have no big designs on next weekend being a PB - it has been downgraded from fastest run ever, to slowest run ever. I can live with that now. At the end of the day, these things are about participation and having fun - the PB will just have to wait another few months. Plus, SUB6 and Juls are doing it too, so it will be a fun bloggers outing.

On Sunday afternoon I finally met SUB6 properly. We live in the same town, but we've only really yelled at each other from the sidelines of a race and said hi at registration! So, it was great to meet him and his family! Sorry 'bout the chocolate I bought round. I forgot that you had banned yourself from that treat. Oh well, we enjoyed it anyways!

The rest of the week has been blah! My running is going badly. I am really sore. Sore calves, shins, hammies, butt - you name it, it seems to hurt when I run. So, they have been abit short this week. I'm meant to run for an hour today and then 1:30 tomorrow, so will see what happens when I get out there.

I'm over running...

In fact, I want to get on my bike for a change...

Now that's really saying something ain't it, knowing my love/hate relationship with that machine!

But, the half marathon is next Sunday, and then I am having a whole week doing....

NOTHING. NADDA. ZIP. ZILCH.

Then the following week I will do whatever I fancy, unstructured, that doesn't include running! I might even hop on that bike again! At the beginning of June I am going to start an 8 week bike focus plan, while still maintaining running and swimming. I'm looking forward to it (I think).

I'm still struggling with weight gain. But, you actually get to the point where it starts to get so uncomfortable you know you have to do something. That's me now. My clothes are feeling crappy, and I feel unfit even though I have still been training. I think 2 mths of eating is quite enough - it's time to be that super athlete I once was!

Plus, I have decided to do the TriNZ coaching course in July and I can't turn up there all unfit and blimpy, so that will be a great new incentive!

Apart from all THAT CRAP, life is bowling on.

The kids did a duathlon at school the other day. I marshalled and it was super fun. It was awesome to cheer on the kids, and run to the finish chute with the ones who were struggling and needed a helping hand. The boys reckoned it was EASY and want to do another one. They do swim, so we will see about a summer tri, but for now I am quite content that they want to do something, so duathlons it is!!! I've never done one myself, and I love the swim, so that will be a new experience. Left behind right at the start - GREAT! At least when there's a swim first I get out nearer the front and everyone passes me on the bike, so that by the time the run comes I am in my rightful place near the back!!!!!! Being there from the start just seems NASTY!

The Saint is away today at a 12hr MTB race. He's packed like he's going on a world trip, but the weather is supposed to be shite, so I guess he will need every bit of clothing he can get. They have teams of 5 who relay ride round and round and round in a forest for 12hrs! There was a 24hr option that started at 10pm last night, but being old fellas they are only doing 12! Hope I don't have to go pick him up from hospital - he hasn't really done much MTB, so it will be very interesting!

Mothers Day is tomorrow, and I know the boys have been busy making cards and organising me breakfast! So, after my run tomorrow I will be chowing down! MORE FOOD, but I gotta eat breakfast right?

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY TO ALL YOU MUMS OUT THERE!!!!!

The hangover from hell

2008-05-02T16:50:00.001+12:00

Today I have been very very hungover. It had to happen eventually. I have been so restrained in the consumption of alcohol for the last 2-3 years, but I knew that after Ironman, I needed to have some down time and a bit of the happy liquor!

NO I DIDN'T NEED IT - I WAS FINE WITHOUT IT

The kids went to a sleepover at a mates place, so I decided to make The Saint and I a nice dinner and crack open the bottle of Moet & Chandon I got given after the Ironman. That led to another bottle of less French Champagney bubbles, which then led to VODKA! Oh crap! We just had a mini party! Just me and hubby. Us, the alcohol and the music channel on TV - lots of great 80's music videos! FUN....

At least it was fun until the full force of what we'd drunk hit us. The Saint (who is also a tad out of practise when it comes to alcohol consumption), spent last night heaving it all back down the loo, while I spread my heaving out over the course of the last 24hrs, to make this day a complete write off!

I went to work at 9am and was back home by 10.30am. Crawled into bed and arose again at 1.30pm - slightly better, but not really by much!

The Saint and I used to spend a lot of days like that. Alcohol drinking was our pastime, and I have to say that it took a long time for us to get used to not drinking! Now it seems we are very used to not drinking, and not used to drinking - SO WE WON!

I have decided that the hardest, shittiest, toughest run is better than a hangover!

So, back to training tomorrow. No doubt it will hurt and be hard, but it's gotta be better than how I feel right now! Besides, I have a half marathon in 2 weeks that I have to PB at - that being a PB for my longest eva half marathon!!!!!!

BUT WHO CARES - I am just gonna celebrate being a fit and healthy Ironwoman - not the bordering on alcoholism, fat depressive I used to be (and I have to add, will NEVER EVER be again!)

My lovely long weekend

2008-04-29T09:41:00.000+12:00

I have had 4 glorious days off work in a row. The kids are on school holidays and my mother-in-law looks after them, but on Thursday she couldn't, so I took the day off - plus with Friday being a Public Holiday, the timing couldn't have been better.

Hubby had brought me home a loan MTB from work to go out for a ride with the kids. The local Council have made a fantastic wetland area not far from our house, so we went exploring. I LOVE THE MTB! It was sooo cool to be able to ride anywhere, over lumps, bumps, mud and kerbs! It was great fun, the kids were awesome, we fed ducks, and just enjoyed ourselves. Unfortunately, it turns out I ran over something I shouldn't have and my bike had a flat tyre by the end of the day - bugger it all, I thought those big knobbly tyres would be more puncture resistant than that. So, now I've added a MTB to my wishlist for this year, right behind my TT bike and a new car (better get buying those lottery tickets - why does my wish list have to be full of "wheeled" things I wonder?).

Friday after the ANZAC parade, we attacked the garden. I've decided gardening is like training. Sometimes it is hard to get the motivation to do it, but once you start you get into it. It looks great - there's still more work to go, but it was a damn good start.

Saturday was The Saints big bike race - 90kms from Rotorua to Whakatane. We drove to Rotorua to drop him off, and then the kids and I cruised over to Whakatane to wait for him. I wanted to see the finish of the race, not the start, as for once I wasn't racing which gave me the chance to witness first hand what the mad sprint at the top end of the field looks like - LIVE! It was raining unfortunately, but that doesn't stop them. 2 guys were off the front, 1 was a clear winner, but then the bunch came just behind - OMG it was scary to watch. It was wet and slippery, but that didn't bloody stop them - they just go hell for leather until they are over the line! Scary but exciting stuff. Then we stood around cheering more bunches and riders in - The Saint was expecting around 3hrs, abit less probably, so we just about missed him in the bunch when he came through in 2hrs 28mins!!! Way to go Honey - awesome ride. Unfortunately we didn't win any of the fantastic spot prizes, but it was a good day all the same. Although, the kids reckon that Ironman is way better to watch than the end of a bike race - YEEEEAH kids - I agree!

Sunday the weather was crap - I managed a run, but it was in the rain, and my legs were so stiff they felt like they wanted to snap muscles everywhere, so I gave in. Sometimes you just gotta listen to the body and it was yelling at me to stop, so I did. So, I spent the rest of the day baking and filling the freezer with muffins for The Saints lunch (and mine when I need a treat), and catching up on blog reading. A very lazy day indeed!

All in all, it was a great 4 days! Not much really in the way of training. It was just nice to cruise through the long weekend.

ANZAC Day - Lest we forget

2008-04-26T12:12:00.000+12:00

Today in New Zealand it is ANZAC Day. For overseas visitors to this blog, that is our day of rememberance for those who have died serving in the armed forces during wartime, but more specifically, World War 1.

It is also a National Holiday.

Great, a day in the garden, a day to ride my bike at a normal hour - outside. A day off work!!! COOL.

But, also it is a day of dawn services, wreath laying and civic services for many. And so it was that we had to attend one of those. Our kids are in Cub Scouts, and as part of that, they go and join in the ANZAC day march with the war veterans and other community groups and schools.

BUGGER.... my gardening will have to be delayed by afew hours

But, as it turns out, it was great. Neither The Saint or I have been to an ANZAC service since we were about 18 years old. Me as a Girls Brigader and him as a Sea Scout. As a young person, it means not alot. It's boring, and a fag to go to on a day off school, all dressed up in a uniform you don't want your mates to see you in!

But, as an adult, it made me feel proud to be a New Zealander. But also sad that so many had to lose their lives so that I could have the life I live today. It made my 500gm weight gain pale in comparison, and my family seem more important to me than ever. I can't imagine having to send my kids off to war, never sure whether they would return or not.

As the bugle played the last post, it gave me goose bumps and the tears welled up. The singing of the national anthem, the gun slaute, the solemness of the occassion, the noisy war helicopter flying low over the crowd, and the marching by of the old war vets to raptuous applause. I couldn't think of a better way to start the day!

"THEY SHALL GROW NOT OLD AS WE THAT ARE LEFT GROW OLD. AGE SHALL NOT WEARY THEM, NOR THE YEARS CONDEMN. AT THE GOING DOWN OF THE SUN AND IN THE MORNING, WE SHALL REMEMBER THEM - LEST WE FORGET"

So, wherever you are in the world, think of all those who are currently serving in war torn areas. Think about how fortunate we are that we can go for a run or a ride down the street.

How free we are

How lucky we are

Crap crap crap crap crap

2008-04-24T04:11:00.000+12:00

I gained 500gms this week (sorry I don't know what that is in pounds for you non-metric people). So much for the "new improved" me. I'm trying hard most of the time, but have to be honest and say that I usually come home in the afternoon and end up stuffing biscuits and fat laden crackers in my mouth! Maybe I need to eat more in the morning to stop the afternoon munchies.

crap crap crap crap crap

There is a Level 1 Triathlon Coaching course coming up that is being run by Tri NZ, and I really really want to go and do it, but who is going to take me seriously when I turn up, overweight, and say I want to help people do tri's???? My idea is actually to help people like I was/am/will probably always be - a back of the packer, achieving goals regardless of shape or size. But it is still a little intimidating to think I will be a rotund coach in the making, surrounded by nicely honed athletes, who can do a triathlon in half the time I do....

crap crap crap crap crap

(sigh).... life goes on, the debate rages, and will I/won't I do the course

PS... if there is anyone out there reading this blog who...
* lives in NZ
* has not done many, if any, tri's and would like to do more/one
OR
* has a teenager that would like to do one
then I need you. IF (big IF) I do the course, I need to coach you to a tri and then hopefully, if you succeed, I will get the coach accreditation! Just asking.....

I'm BAAAAAACK.....

2008-04-19T12:14:00.000+12:00

Hello there. I've been missing you all, and missing emptying my thoughts into cyber space. It was so hard to know what to say anymore about how I was feeling. I wasn't really sure why I was so down in the dumps myself, but it seems that I am feeling better now and rearing to get into it all again.

ESPECIALLY after watching Megan and Carrie do Ironman Arizona. They both did an awesome job, and if you want to read about what makes Ironman so amazing and special, head on over to their blog pages and read about their day. The pics are great, and both of them are now Ironman heroines.

I sat at work with IronmanLive playing on the computer, just listening to Mike Reilly calling in the athletes. They were all ages, from all over the place, finishing in different states of standing upright, but they were all Ironmen!!! Every one of them. It was cool to be working while listening to peoples dreams come true.

This week I received a disk from the sponsor with all the photos of me on race day that they had taken. I just wanted to add a couple in here for future reference for myself. After all, I don't really care if people read this blog page or not, this is a diary for me to read anywhere, anytime. Plus, I'm allowed to relive the day when I want to - right??? The one thing that stood out to me looking through them all, was that I was smiling! All the time! In just about every one! People watching the race at the time have said that I was. It's hard to imagine, but now I have seen it for myself. How the hell does one smile while riding 180kms, and running 42kms, and spending nearly 15hrs in one day, exercising!

How?? - Why?? - WEIRD!!!!!

But there I was, smiling away - looking like I was enjoying myself. Forgotten were the miserable days suffering through 8hrs bike training. Forgotten were all the saddle sores and rashes. Forgotten were the mornings when blow drying my hair was tiring. I was out there, I was alive, and I was doing Ironman. Why not smile? Why not rejoice in the fact that I could do it? That I had the option, for that day, to test myself both physically and mentally. And that for just one day, I was a SUPER IRON WOMAN!

Coming into T2 and so happy to be finally getting off the bike!

Starting the run...

Nearing the finish line - the plastic bag isn't the new running fashion accessory! They were giving them to us at aid stations because the weather was so foul - I did take it off before running down the finishers chute for my finishers photos!!

So, over a month later, watching Ironman Arizona on the internet on the other side of the world, I felt the fire burn again. I felt the desire come back to get better, stronger, faster and sleaker. It is time to move again. It is time to hurt, to push, to try hard. It is time to get on that swiss ball and fall off trying.

The first step is to lose some weight (here we go again..). So, after reading about the online food diary Fitday, on someone elses blog, I joined in. It has definitely made me aware of what was going in the mouth and staying on the belly! Training for Ironman meant I could eat heaps and not gain weight, but the same can't be said for post Ironman. So, back to low fat healthy eating. I have been the same weight, give or take 2 kilos, for about 3 years now. I have slimmed down in that time (if you can call it "slim") but not actually lost weight. This is about to change. I need to put in a last ditch effort to get rid of the excess once and for all. I know I can maintain it ok, I just want to maintain it at a lower weight.

My work mates are helping. One has threatened to write a comment on my blog everytime I eat roast or pudding at work. I'm not sure I want to test her word so I am abstaining from it altogether!!!

I have also been getting over a cold, slowly, which has been hampering my running. I am doing a half marathon in 5 weeks, and I had hoped to PB. This has gone out the window I think, as I have now run out of time, and training went abit backwards while I was sick. That's ok though. I am feeling good running again, the pace just isn't there at the moment that's all. I will have to go for my PB at another half marathon in August.

In the meantime, I am internet surfing, downloading, reading, writing, planning - ALOT of stuff. I can't decide whether to run more, lift more, ride more, or struggle more on that swiss ball. I want to get better at everything NOW. I want to rip into it, but there is only so much you can do at once. I want to diet for a day and the weight be gone - I'm impatient. This stuff takes time, dedication and commitment.

(sigh) here we go again - obsessive, compulsive behaviour towards training is back in gear!

Oh well, I could be obsessively complusive about worse things.......

OK OK......

2008-04-11T15:30:00.000+12:00

I'm done moaning! I won't post another entry until I have something positive to say!
Oh yeah, just one more - now I'm SICK! Damn runny nose and bunged up head!

This will be me soon....

Power of positive thinking....

A hard ass on the swiss ball! ooooh love those abs - I have an ab, just the one, but I have an ab.... one BIG one! Although not as big as it used to be, it is there none the less, and that tortuous bouncy rubber thing is going to rid me of it (oh yeah, the miles of running and cycling will probably help too).

I will return when my mind is not so CRANKY!

Jeepers I'm GRUMPY

2008-04-10T12:31:00.000+12:00

Life is just getting me down at the moment, and boy am I grumpy with it.

I have been getting worse and worse over the last few weeks, and I'm not entirely sure what to do anymore. I thought throwing myself back into full on training would work, but all it has done is made me sore, tired and grumpy! I'm a toad to live with. I feel constantly like I'm.... depressed.... I guess.

So, this evening I am at home alone, and listening to PINK.... really loud - you know what? It seems to be working.

Maybe I actually need to let my hair down and just have some fun. I feel so serious all the time. I'm constantly number crunching (at home as we are broke, and at work because that is what I do for a crust). I go to bed with budgets wizzing around in my head, and wondering how to make money grow on trees. I get up in a fog and try and train, and just come home dejected when I've quit because it got too hard. Then I get grumpy, then I eat roast and ice cream at work, then I go home and can't sleep........ and so the cycle continues.

I need to find a break in the cycle - something needs to give. I need to let go of the crap and try and get over myself! I just did Ironman for goodness sakes! Life should seem easy - well you would have thunk it wouldn't you? I was so looking forward to post Ironman - I thought life would feel so CRUUUUISEEEE after training for Ironman - but it seems my expectations are just higher now than they were before! Both of myself and my family.

The kids are going to their first Scout camp on Saturday, and The Saint is going too, so I am going to do some GARDENING! That's right - GARDENING (I think I just heard The Saint faint!). I NEVER garden. It is a minor miracle to see me weeding, trimming, or mowing, but this weekend I am going to GARDEN. I am going to try and get some sense of pride back in myself and my living environment, and that means trimming my majorly sprouting yukkas, and taking the tree thistles out of the middle of it all.

I suppose on Monday I will be sore again, because lord knows the muscles you use for gardening are going to be screaming at me (because I know they are different to the ones used in Ironman!). The back will be aching, and the hands will be dirty, but it will be nice to drive up to my house and see a nice garden looking back at me.

Tomorrow I have another run - I quit this mornings one - it got too hard! See, now I'm not doing Ironman it's too easy to quit - I hardly quit anything when in training for that! Now I just go "oh well, the race is only 21kms, that's far enough for now" - huh, when did 21kms become "only".

So, anyway, back to the run - 9kms with afew "speed up" sets thrown in for a lark. I have another 9kms on Saturday and then 16kms on Sunday - this is all going to depend alot on how the gardening goes of course. If I can stand up straight and walk after my green fingers effort, then I will be running! If not, then "it's only 21kms she'll be right mate" hahaha

Will I do Ironman again?

2008-04-07T11:36:00.000+12:00

I have spent today on the internet, following my friend who is racing Ironman Australia. I sooooo want to be there, but not watching, I want to be doing.

I love Ironman.

I would love to do Ironman again next year, but the torture of those long training rides is still too fresh in my mind to be able to cope with.

It might be a bit like having a baby perhaps. The pain of it all eventually wears off and you start to think about doing it again.

Plus, our finances are still trying to recover, so maybe not.

Although, I have 2 friends who are doing Ironman NZ next year, and I have invited myself on there long weekend rides. If these actually go well for me, and I manage them without too much drain on life, family and finances, maybe I will.

For now though, it will be a plan for 2010. Maybe if the money is good, I might even look at doing Ironman Australia!

But for this weekend just past, I have barely been able to WALK. It feels like the day after Ironman revisted. With the introduction of my weights programme, which happens to include an awful lot of squats, it seems my thighs have suddenly woken from the slumber they have been in since Ironman. I have also started some reasonable running this week, in anticiaption of kickin' it at my half marathon in May.

Sooooo, yesterday afternoon I was in pain!

Sooooo, this morning I skipped my 5km run in favour of being able to walk this afternoon.

Sooooo, to make me feel better, we have just bought a cheesecake for dessert. Good grief, I cannot help myself!!! Tomorrow, I promise to be back to goodliness, decent eating, and treating my poor tired body to a good dose of fruit and vegetables!

Back into the swing of things... again...

2008-04-05T13:26:00.000+13:00

This week has seen me just about do a complete week of training. After my terrible triathlon on Sunday, I needed some kind of boost. I have been given a new weights and core programme at the gym which is just HARD. Not the weights so much, but the core stuff is - whoever invented the Swiss Ball really has alot to answer for... that thing is bouncy torture! I spend most of the time getting on it, falling off it, getting on it again, wobbling, shaking and then falling off... again. My abs hurt when I so much as cough, which is just another reminder about how out of shape my core is... Oh well, that is on my list of things to improve for the year, so I guess I've gotta start somewhere.

So, my goals are now starting to take shape. I have a new running programme in place that is going to get me a new PB at the Huntly Half Marathon in May (hopefully). I have started being more vigilant over my food choices, mostly, and have been taking lunch to work to avoid the temptation of a roast buffet everyday. This has worked for the most part, but being the foodaholic I am, it's nowhere near perfect yet!

I have a friend doing Ironman Australia on Sunday, so I will be spending all day on Ironman Live watching her progress. We went to High School together but you wouldn't have called us friends, just classmates really. We met up a few years ago at a small womans only triathlon. We were both just starting out in the sport, her because she was a golf widow and needed a hobby (although she has always been a super runner), and me to lose weight. She's alot faster than me, but we still went and did heaps of events together, we did our first Half Ironman race together, and this year we are doing our first Ironman race. Unfortunately she moved to Australia a couple of years ago, so we now just email across the ditch about our triathlon addiction. It is such a shame that we couldn't do the same Ironman race, as that would have been awesome. But, I will be thinking of her as she goes through all the emotions I went through just over a month ago.

GO HARD RACHEL - I KNOW YOU WILL!!!!!!!!!!!

Apart from being glued to Ironman Live, I will also be running this weekend - a 10km run tomorrow and then a 5km one on Sunday. The Saint is going sailing on Sunday for his first weekend race in what is probably about 12 months!!! Needless to say he is looking forward to that!

So, another week down, not much to tell really - these blogs are going to be BORING without any Ironman blab, but I will try and find something interesting to talk about!

Worst time eva......

2008-04-02T12:14:00.000+13:00

The tri I did on the weekend is officially the worst over that distance. I have done the same course 3 times now, and that takes the record as the SLOWEST ONE! By a whole 10mins!!!

tragic........

Oh well, it wasn't about the time anyway, so let it go.....

LET IT GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

DAMN IT.....

10 whole friggin' minutes!!! What a hopeless twit...

12 months training for an Ironman and I go 10 minutes slower in a sprint tri!!!!!!!

BUGGER.....

Last triathlon of the year....

2008-04-01T08:46:00.000+13:00

Although it doesn't feel like I've really done many to begin with. Once upon a time I just entered anything and everything! Once I got a coach however, she kinda put a stop to that. Something about "training" more and racing less - oh well, I no longer have a coach, so I'm going back to entering everything and trashing myself bugger it - that's the fun part of all this, not the training!

So, I entered a sprint tri this weekend gone. The distances were abit less conventional than your normal sprint tri, but it is local and cheap, and supposed to be fun.

The 600m swim started in a mess. Most of the swimmers weren't even on the start line when the gun went off, so I had to swim like mad just to catch up with the CHEATS! It felt like my lungs were exploding. By the time I got out of the water and had to run to transition, my heart rate felt sky high, and I had to stop and walk to catch my breath!

Next up was the 16.5km ride - 4x laps around the Mount industrial area. The conditions were perfect. Not too much wind and overcast. I tried to push it as hard as I could. It took 2 laps before my breathing even got back to semi normal while riding a bike, and my hammies were so tight they were screaming at me!

WHAT AM I DOING HERE????? This should be EASY after Ironman, but I tell you it HURT!

So, off the bike (where are the bike taker awayers????). Oh right, this is a NORMAL tri, not Ironman, you have to rack the bike yourself! Off on the run and it felt like the longest run around the Mount base track I have ever had. I wouldn't know though as I had decided to do the race without a watch! Time wasn't really the goal today, just doing it was, so I ditched the thing that normal dictates whether I'm having a good or bad day and just did it on feel.

And now I feel bad, as the fact that there was no time clock at the finish means that I STILL HAVE NO IDEA how I went.... have to wait until they email out the results. Like I said, this is just a little local event, and everything is done manually - can't expect too much for $20.00 I guess.

So, home absolutely stuffed, but still pleased to have done a tri after Ironman. Even though it hurt, I still enjoyed it.

This morning however, I went to my first RPM class at the gym in about 8mths - THAT REALLY REALLY HURT!!!!! Now all I want to do is go to sleep, but seeing as I'm at work, that will have to wait until later. But I have to say it feels good just to muck about doing what I feel like. No programmes to follow or anything - just do it and have fun. Thanks to all the people who commented on my last blog. I am feeling much better and ready to go again! (thanks Kieran especially - your email was great!).

Will let you know soon if I did do the tri in record time, or if it was as slow as it felt!

Ho Hum... Ho Hum

2008-03-27T13:20:00.000+13:00

I can't get myself out of this funk I'm currently in.

I feel grumpy, moody, tired, restless and just... I don't know... fed up!

With what exactly, I'm not so sure! That's where the problem lies you see. I think I am bored. There is now no Ironman to spend every waking moment thinking about, work is the same old mundane job it has been for the last 4 years, and well, everything seems blah....

I keep looking in the cupboard for yummy food (of which we never have any). I wander around the house knowing there are things I could be doing (like HOUSEWORK), but I can't be bothered! I have a new training plan that has been worked out between me and The Saint so that he can go back to doing stuff, but I keep buggering it up by skipping my stuff, so then I end up doing NOTHING! I feel lazy and irritable. Not even the training I do get around to doing seems to be making me feel better (and actually, when I do do something, I am doing it well, so I am obviously recovered from Ironman, so that's not the problem).

SO WHAT????????? HELP ME PLEEEEASE! Kick my butt, say mean stuff, tell me to get my sh!t together and stop eating roasts for lunch (there is a carvery restaurant where I work - it really does suck when you are overweight and have access to a buffet meal everyday for lunch!) - annnnnyyyything....

My old problem is back to haunt me....

2008-03-24T03:58:00.000+13:00

While training for Ironman I could pretty much eat what I wanted, when I wanted, and the weight never changed (although if I'd been more vigilent I could have LOST plenty more....)

Now that training has stopped, and eating is going on with a vengance, the weight has piled back on. I am now well and truly back over 80kgs, I am bloated everywhere, clothes are tight, and it's only been 3 weeks since Ironman....

CRIKEY.......

Easter DOES NOT HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!

Easter eggs and hot x buns are being devoured like I never ate them before!

So, it is back into it TOTALLY this week.

I have been bumming around this last week just trying to get the body slowly moving again without feeling like a train wreck. On my first run I thought I was having a heart attack! My legs didn't feel attached to my body, and it was the worst 5km run time I have ever had!

Yesterday I did a small triathlon, just for the fun of it - by myself! The water was lovely, but I haven't swum in sea water for months, so it was a bit of a shock when I opened my mouth - YUK. I did 750m and felt really good - swim ok!

The bike was the first ride since Ironman (I don't count the windtrainer), and it felt like it too. My hammies and butt were very tight! Still, I managed a fairly decent average speed for my 17.5kms - bike, getting there!

Then I did a 5.5km run around the Mount base track. Being an absolute stunner of a day, and given that the town is PACKED because of the Easter Jazz Festival, the base track was crowded. So, it was abit like dodgems. I also ran up the stairs they have put in up the side of the hill. They are quite steep and certainly got the HR going! I have been reading a book on running and it has said to introduce stair running. I would have gone up and down a couple more times, but it was so crowded it was hard to pass people going up the stairs and keep running (that's my excuse anyway - next time I'll do 2 reps I promise!). So, running is feeling pretty good at the moment.

I have entered a local sprint tri here next weekend, so that should be fun - I haven't done anything smaller than an olympic distance all season - although I think I'm better suited to the longer ones - I'm not good at going fast, and at least in the longer ones I don't have to go fast, I just have to finish!

This weekend has been fairly relaxing. On Good Friday we went to the rock pools with the kids and did some crab hunting. It was good to do it as this is the stuff I never had the energy for when training for Ironman. Today we'll go for a walk and feed the ducks and maybe take the kids for a bike ride. We have friends coming for dinner and apparently she makes a mean Lemon Meringue Pie which we are going to put to the taste test (oh crap, here comes some more kilos!). Then we still have Monday and Tuesday to go (the kids are off school on Tues too so I took the day off work - I could get used to all these days off I've been having).

THE GOAL - GET BACK BELOW 80KGS - AND FAAAAAST before I get back into some very bad habits!!!!

For all you stats geeks

2008-03-20T15:57:00.000+13:00

I've been meaning to post this for the last week, but just couldn't be bothered, so here goes:

ANALYSED RESULTS FROM IRONMAN

OVERALL FINISH PLACINGS
912th overall race rank of 1034 race finishers
30th of 36 in my age group (30-34)
164th female of 216 female finishers

SWIM
1:09:19 my swim time
1:48/100mtrs (Niiiiice)

1:09:00 average swim time
1:13:04 average female swim time
578th overall race rank
13th of 36 in my age group
84th female of 216 females

TRANSITON 1 (incl run from lake to T1)
9:48 (mine was a bit slower than the average of 7:21)

BIKE
7:38:40
23.5 kms/hour

6:17:31 average bike time
6:53:56 average female bike time
945th bike rank (that means alot of people passed me on the bike!!!! And you wonder why I get demoralised when I ride!)
30th of 36 in my age group
165th female of 216 females

TRANSITION 2
8:17 (had a wee rest! Nothing too long, but just a slight breather if you will allow it... this time I was WAAAAY slower than the average of 3:53!)

RUN
5:42:07
7.36 km/hour

4:34:45 average run time
4:53:09 average female run time
893rd overall race rank (I actually passed people on the run, now that was a surprise - I NEEEEVER pass people on the run!)
31st of 36 in my age group
177th female of 216 females

So there you have it - not the best results, but who cares, I'M AN IRONMAN REGARDLESS!!!!!!!

You can check out the full version with graphs and all on the following link:
Kathy Miller race results

A weekend of relaxation

2008-03-18T16:57:00.000+13:00

What a weekend that was... the first social one I've had in ages, and it had NO training in it whatsoever (unless you count lifting my right arm to my mouth as bicep curls!!).

It started Friday night with a harbour cruise for a friends 40th which was awesome! Then we packed up early Saturday morning and left for the most magic spot on the Coromandel Peninsula - Whangapoua. The weather was superb, the company of old workmates was fantastic, and the alcohol, gorgeous cheeses and easter eggs flowed! The kids loved it so much they didn't want to leave, and Paul and I are off to buy lottery tickets so that we can buy the place. Check out the pics and be jealous!!!

This was taken while I sat on the deck - couldn't get a better view than that while you drink wine!

Another view from the deck!

The crew relaxing, and drinking, and eating... what a life....

I love this pic of the kids playing beach cricket - it's just a great summer shot!

The surf was fantastic

Thanks to Claudine's Dad for the use of the house, and David, Claudine, Glenys, Rob and Jamie (spelling?) for making it a fantastic reward after the hard work of Ironman. Definitely something we MUST do again!!!

Ah well, back to the real world today of work, school, and a bit of training! Once again, life goes on......

Motivation in blog reading

2008-03-13T13:03:00.000+13:00

Originally I set this blog up under the guidance of my sponsor for IMNZ. I want to continue with it now because it helps clear my head. Plus, I have gone deep into blogland and read HEAPS of pages from around the world, about people, like me, delving into the sport of triathlon. I have my favourites, but I read ALOT of them.

Sometimes, someone will write a post that really strikes a cord with me. The other week IM Able wrote openly, honestly and brutally about her struggles with her weight. I could have written that myself. Every word she wrote was me in a nutshell. I just wanted to hug her and say "I UNDERSTAND" and hope she believed me, because I soooo do!

IM Able and Tea make me laugh and cry all at once. Tea is passionate about her sport, and yet struggles to give herself the credit she deserves at times for the effort she puts in. She is one tough cookie and I only hope I can win some of my mental battles like she is winning hers. If I ever win the lottery, I am coming over to race with you guys - you are awsesome!

Tri Shannon is currently using the alphabet to tell us interesting things about herself. Waiting on letter "F" at the moment.

Everyone has great stories, race reports, moans, whinges, wins and triumphs to talk about. Why wouldn't you get sucked into blog land!? Plus, it's a great way to get some geography lessons in, trying to work out where everyone lives!

This week I have read another great post written by Elizabeth Fedofsky (I found her through IM Able - thanks for that). She writes brilliantly. She is obviously a fantastic athlete as she is now racing as a professional, but even for me, as a back-of-the-packer, her words mean alot. They make me sit up and realise that I can achieve anything I want to so long as I am willing to put in the hard work, and that even the good athletes can have bad days and negative emotions towards themselves! It was her who wrote about The Wizard I alluded to a few weeks back - another great post and one definitely worth going back to. I want to remember every word of it so that I can bring it out when the going gets tough. Take a read of one of her latest posts How Champions are Made - see how you can relate it to yourself and your training. We are all champions of our own goals and successes as long as we work hard, stay honest, and move forward towards progress.

Sometimes we need to throw away all the gadgets and go with our instincts. We need to train outside of ourselves to see exactly what we are made of and how hard we can go. I hope to try that over the winter - run big hills, climb steep mountains, swim without counting laps!

I need to do all those things, as I feel like I got lazy towards Ironman. I didn't get faster in the last few months. I didn't push myself because I was scared to. I gave up on Core Strength and Weights workouts because I didn't want to trash myself! Really I was scared of failing. Scared that I would get tired, miss workouts, or muck it all up. I want to spend time finding the wizard, I want to be tough, I want to work hard, be honest when it comes to nutrition and make every workout count towards my end goal of becoming a Champion. Not a Champion who beats everybody, just a Champion who beats me!

I'm feeling a bit lost

2008-03-12T15:46:00.000+13:00

Post Ironman was great at first. I enjoyed my meat pie, cream donut, wine and camembert cheese (not eaten all at once YUK), but now I'm kinda floating around not sure what to do. I'm still abit tired, but not bad enough to do nothing.

So, this week I have slowly gone back to something:

The GYM yesterday. Got on the Xtrainer for 30mins and then did some weights. I haven't been there in ages so muscles that have long been asleep have been re-awoken!!

Went for a wee swim this morning. Could still do it so that's all good.

Tomorrow I might try a short trot on the dreadmill and some more weights, and maybe even some core stuff - oooooh, serious! Don't normally do core, but decided that this would be the "Year of the Core" (and the "Year of more Weight Loss" and the "Year of STRENGTH") - it's gonna be a tough year.

Yet, funnily enough, when trying to decide what events I might aim for this year, nothing seems as big, or as exciting, or as TOUGH as Ironman. I suppose that's a given unless I wanna do Coast to Coast or something - NOT! So, the only thing left to do is to punish myself like never before while training, and try and go AS FAST AS POSSIBLE at the Rotorua Half Ironman in December, set a PB Half Mary in Taupo in August, and if the strength and weight loss thing has happened, I might even tackle The Legend run in Spetember - 35kms of Arthur Lydiard training hell!!! Sounds like that might do for HARD and CHALLENGE! (some of you long time readers may have noticed my previously announced plan of doing the Gold Coast Half Ironman is missing - we decided my poor kids needed a holiday that didn't have a triathlon in it - bugger the guilts!).

On a more personal note, I wanted to do a big THANK YOU to my coach Barb. She has coached me, listened to me moan, and believed I could do Ironman long before I even did. She reckons she could write a book with all the junk I send her about my training (pity someone else got in first...), but it has been a relationship that has blossomed into a great friendship over the last 2 years, and I thank her and her husband from the bottom of my heart for all they have done for me.

Caoch Barb and I after the Rotorua Half Ironman in Dec 07

Me, The Saint and Coaches hubby Greg - Dec 07

The big goal of losing more weight really needs to start happening or I will just get pi$$ed off. It took me 12 months of training for Ironman to lose 2.5kgs (muscle weighs more than fat blah blah blah - I know all that - I got SMALLER I just didn't get LIGHTER!!!). I FINALLY (after about 15 years of trying) got under 80kgs the week before Ironman - far too heavy to be running marathons really, so the goal is to get to the other end of 70, if not just sneak slightly below it. Now that would be an achievement. I haven't been that weight since I was about 14 years old. My overweightedness has obviously been a life long problem!!! Now that I'm not sucking back barrels of gels and drinking gallons of sweet electrolyte drinks, it should hopefully happen!

So, plans in place (sort of), goals to aim for (getting there), Ironman over (definitely). Life goes on!

Ironman NZ Race Report - PART 2

2008-03-08T13:08:00.000+13:00

RACE DAY

It started pretty early - up at 4am. Mix up my Hammer Perpetuem (bike food), eat breakfast, grab gear and head to the race headquarters for bodymarking at 5am. This was all done fairly quickly, filled my bike with bottles and food and I was done. It was only 5.20am and the race didn't start until 7am, so we decided that maybe it would be better to go home and put my feet up out of the hype. I was struggling to stay composed at that point. I spoke to a guy I had met on the camps and thought I was going to burst into tears, I could hardly speak, so figured it was probably a better idea to just get out of it all.

Chilling with the kids before heading to the race start

So, back home lazing around while I watched the kids and the mothers get organised and then we were back down at the start at 6.15am. By then my whole family had arrived. My Dad and his Wife, my Sister and Brother-in-law, my Aunty, Uncle, Cousins, Nephews and even my 85 year old Grandfather had got up at 4am that morning to be driven down by a friend to watch the race. I certainly was privilaged to have such a great support team with me.

The weather was forcasted to turn bad later in the day, but it was perfect at race start. No wind at all and the lake was like glass. While I was wetsuiting myself the family cameras were snapping, the athletes and there supporters were filing in from everywhere, and the tension was growing. Saying goodbye to the boys was the hardest part. I hugged them long and hard and just about cried again! Then off I went to hit the water. At that point the Maori group was performing the haka, there were crowds of people everywhere and finding the gate into the athletes area was almost impossible. The heart started pounding in my throat and the tears were welling. I was here. I was at the swim start of Ironman. I had stood on this very beach 12 months ago just knowing that I had to do it, and here I was!!!! It was an amazing feeling. Pride, passion, love, fear, anticipation and exhaustion were all mixing around in my heart! I only hoped I could get through the day in one piece.

Just before heading down to swim start - me and the merry band of family supporters

In the water I calmed down a little. I saw some friends in the water looking just as scared as me, and we had last minute hugs and well wishes. Then I had to sort out where to start. There were so many men and so few woman, I didn't want to get mixed up with the aggression of testosterone on the start line, so hung back a bit until the last minute. The lights signalling 3,2,1 minutes to go were going out. The helicopters were whirring above our heads, the canon went off with a big blast, and then the washing machine started. I just sat there waiting, listening to the cheers of the spectators, and slowly started swimming when the water cleared a little ahead. CHILLED...

Waiting for the swim start

The washing machine

I had an absolute ripper of a swim. I was expecting to exit the water in around 1:15 at an easy pace so wasn't overly fussed about pushing it. It was the start of a long day so there was no need to blow up in the swim. I just found a space for myself to swim and when I got a little close to the bouys marking the course, I just swam away from the crowd and found my space again. I tried to keep my heart rate under control. The swim conditions were perfect, the water crystal clear and a lovely temperature. When I exited after what only seemed like about 30mins, I saw 1:09 on the clock and just got so excited. I had blitzed my time. I think that is what set up the rest of my day. I was already doing great!

A very amped me on exiting the swim

It's a long run from the lake to T1, so I just steadily jogged it, mixed in with some fast walking. Lots of people lined the walkway cheering. It was awesome! The volunteers in transition were amazing. They had all your gear there, dressing you, putting stuff in pockets and getting us out the door in lightening time. In fact it was so lightening that all my merry band of supporters missed me going out on the bike as they were still walking from the swim start. Oh well, I wasn't hanging around waiting for them. CHILLED....

The bike was everything I knew it would be. Tough! Part way through the first lap the wind and rain started. The course is 2 laps and we rode into the wind for leg 1 & 3, so at least the final 45kms home was a tail wind. As the ride went on it got stronger and stronger. I just put my head down, concentrated on the road just ahead, and spun it out around 90-95rpm as best I could. Between hours 4 & 5 I got a wicked stomach cramp and had to stop eating and drinking anything but water. I was so worried this would come back to haunt me on the run, but I had to do it to prevent it getting worse. Turns out it may have been my electrolyte tablets as they were getting wet and the casing on them was dissolving. The problem was that they were releasing the "stuff" too early on the way down the food holes and causing me the cramps.

I was very pleased with my final ride time of 7:38. The time seemed to go by really quickly which was odd for me as I usual count down the kilometres. I had been expecting well in excess of 8 hours, and given the crap conditions we had, it was a pretty fantastic ride. I felt good right until the last 30kms, when I started to tire heading back through the forest to town. I could tell as I wasn't riding very fast even though I had a massive tail wind. This was progress for me, because normally 110kms and I've had enough! But, I have to say that all those horrible rides we went on in winter that turned to custard because of the weather, sure paid off on this day. I could see loads of people really really struggling with the wind! I'm glad that my mantra this year was to ride in any conditions as it sure saved my ass from being kicked!

Finally I can get off the bike

By the time the ride finished it was bucketing down with rain. My family had been there the whole time, they cheered me into T2 like I was winning the thing. I gave my bike to a very friendly volunteer and told him to do with it what he wanted, I didn't want to see it again! Into the T2 tent and I just had to sit for a minute and get my breath and gather my thoughts. At that point the day had been great. I had swam and biked like my life depended on it, and I could only hope the run would be the same. Another bunch of wonderful ladies helping us change and sending us on our way. Out of the tent and straight into an aid station. I stopped, had a drink, grabbed an orange, and had a chat to the volunteers. Abit of delay tactics really, but I got on with it in the end. CHILLED....

We had to climb over a big walkway above the road to get onto the run course. It was steep and slippery and raining, so I took this easy and started slowly running once on the other side. I felt fine! No sore bits, no niggles, just ready to run. The crowds were awesome despite the fact that it was hosing down! The run is also 2 laps, and you have to run past the finish line after about 2kms, and then again at the start of the 2nd lap. On my first run past, the womans leader was just coming behind me. Paul took the opportunity to snap a picture of me with the lead female bike! PRICELESS! Jo Lawn won and she ran past me like I was going backwards. Amazing athletisism!

Only time I'll ever be 1st Female

My aim was to run the first 10kms, see how I felt, and decide from there what my run/walk strategy would be for the rest of it. My lack of nutrition on the bike didn't seem to be bothering me in any way thank goodness. I walked through the aid stations and pretty much had just coke and oranges right from the start. The contents of my fuel belt was barely touched at the end! So much for being flexible with nutrition. I changed it completely! Not what you're meant to do, but luckily it seeemd to work ok.

Starting the last lap of the run

My family were staying at a house that was right at the far end turnaround on the run course. This is normally the worst part of the run for everybody as there isn't as many people out there, and it's a long way from home, but for me it was fantastic. They were all there cheering and yelling. I told them I'd be back in about 3 hours so they better still be waiting! The 2nd & 4th legs of the run were straight into a head wind. This was tough! I managed to run for 35kms pretty much only walking the aid stations! I was absolutely blown away by this. I had only run for a max of 3hrs/ 28kms in training, and here I was running 95% of 35kms! UNBELIEVABLE. Between 35-36kms the head wind just got too hard to push through. I feel pretty sure that had it not been so windy I would have been able to plod my way through to the finish, but my legs were just too tired to push through it any more. The bottom of my feet were burning, my shins were aching, my neck and shoulders were tired, and I simply couldn't run. I moved onto what I hoped was a fast walk, and did this right through to the last km.

My coach was out there in the dark, the coaches from the camps were out in the dark, friends and family were popping out of the darkness all along the run course. There were athletes I knew from home and the camps out there saying hi. It was pitch black, raining, blowing a gale, and I was doing Ironman. I had run most of a marathon after a 180km bike and a 3.8km swim. There were times on that last leg home that I got teary. The Saint was riding ahead of me on his bike until the last 5kms when he left me to it and went to the finish line. There weren't many people around in the last 5kms. The athletes were now all behind me plodding along in the darkness. The weather had sent most of the roadside spectators home. Apart from beeps of passing cars and people yelling from balconies, it was kind of lonely. But it was nice. It was a good time for me to reflect on what I had done. The effort, the hours, the money, the support from my family. It was all about to come to an end in 5kms. It was actually kind of sad!

The darkness!

I got to the last km and knew I had to run. The crowd was appearing again, the cheering was loud, you could hear the music at the finish line, and all of a sudden my body just took over. My legs suddenly felt great, I felt excited to be there. My kids and The Saint were waiting for me at the start of the finish chute and I finished with the boys on either side of me, and The Saint running behind me. My family were there in the pouring rain screaming and yelling. The stands were full of people who were all banging plastic blow up sticks and screaming. It was sooooo loud I almost missed the most important line of all. The line that I had dreamed about for 12months....

YOU ARE AN IRONMAN KATHY!!!!!!!!!!!!

Getting organised to run the finish chute

I had done it. I was sooooooo excited. I really thought the finish line would make me cry like a baby, but I guess I had had those moments out in the dark on my own. The whole day had gone so well, that there was nothing to cry about. I had executed my perfect race. I was well. I had a beautiful swim, a super bike, and an amazing run, so there was no need to cry. It was time to celebrate as I had had the best day I have ever had. I was surrounded by my super duper family and friends who had cheered me on all day in miserable conditions. I had my finishers medal and Tshirt. My kids and dear husband had been there when I finished. I had done the race in 14hrs 48mins - this was way above my expectations. I thought maybe I might get 15hrs at a push, but probably closer to 16hrs, so I was walking on air!

IT WAS THE MOST JOYOUS, PROUDEST MOMENT OF MY LIFE......

Me.... an Ironman?
Me.... run a marathon?
Me.... exercise for 15 hours non stop?
Me.... an Ironman??????

UNBELIEVABLE but it's TRUUUUUUE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The job is done!

POST RACE

There is still alot to say here too, but I guess I should leave something for the sponsor to put in the book. (btw they were great supporters out there too - thanks so much to the Alpe Gear team - you ROCK).

The day after the race trying to get out of bed was hard. I have never had such pain in my legs in all my life. Once I was up and moving around though it seemed to get better. Climbing and decending stairs was hard, but otherwise I felt great.

It all seems to be a dream now - it's kind of like your wedding day. So much preparation goes into it, and then in a blink of an eye it's gone. I had dreamed of having a great day and I had it, but there's a small part of me that wished it had been awful, because then I wouldn't have been bitten by the Ironman Bug! I WILL do another one, of that I am certain.

For now, my planned month off has been downgraded to a week. I'm not touching the bike for that time, but I am itching to get going again doing something. The plan is to sort that bike bit out over the next 2 winters and be back at Ironman NZ 2010, stronger and faster.

In all this there has been one person who believed in me 100%, and if it weren't for him I would never have made it. A mother training for Ironman has to have someone to pick up the slack, and The Saint has done this and more. He has guided me, coached me, comforted me, trained me, watered and fed me. He tried to take the load off me and supported our family while I went and did Ironman. I may have done the training and finished the race, but he got me there. Without him I would not have made it. I love you heaps Paul, and will never forget what you have done to make my dream come true.

Also to all my family and friends (and my blog friends too - SUB6 you should be a photographer!) - thanks so much for everything. You made me feel GREAT! If I can do it - THEN YOU CAN TOO.....

Ironman NZ Race Report - PART 1

2008-03-07T16:17:00.000+13:00

FINALLY - In Taupo for IRONMAN NZ 2008

I have no idea where to start with this report as there are so many things to say, so I guess I'll just start at the beginning and keep going until I'm done....

PRE RACE
We arrived in Taupo late Wednesday night, so after another nervous nights sleep, we headed to the swim start first thing Thursday morning. I was keen to check out the sighting to the other end of the swim course, and just get in the lake and relax!! Well, about 300 other athletes were all there doing the same thing. God it was exciting! Buff bodies, shaved legs, flash bikes on the back of cars, and lots of neoprene. I was so wound up I put my leg in the wrong hole trying to get my suit on, and then on the second go with the right leg in the right hole, was politely informed by a fellow athlete that I still had my shorts on. First embarassing situation down... now just breathe deeply.....

Me after my early morning dip

The swim was hard work actually. My heart rate was up and I just felt uncomfortable. The lake was gorgeous and clear, but I was working too hard to keep calm. Over anxious I suppose, so I just did a quick 500mtrs and I was out again.

I was keen to register early and put my feet up. So, home for breakfast and then back to town to join the queues of athletes in finishers shirts from races all over the world. Got the wetsuit dipped by Didymo Dave (he was a CRACK UP - NZ's own Crocodile Hunter). It was kind of a farse really as I had already been in the lake for a swim, but it was supposed to be about educating the athletes as well about the "things & weeds" that are invading our fresh water lakes and rivers. Then to the registration to get my official "athlete" band. Boy was I proud of that bright yellow piece of plastic. I waved it around to make sure everbody knew it was me doing Ironman, not The Saint as everyone was pressuming up until that point.

Nothing to do after that but check out the awesome gear at the Expo (no I didn't buy anything), and then home for abit of chilling!

Before the Carbo party we met with the sponsors and the other sponsored athletes. It was great to see them again, and we got given bright red supporters shirts with our names and race numbers on the front. A few of us went to the Carbo party together. It was neat to see around 1000 athletes scoffing pasta, telling stories, being entertained by the Maori Culture Group, and hearing the top seeds talk about their race to come. It sure got the spine tingling when Mike Reilly talked - everytime he said "IRONMAN" it was like ringing in my ears. It got me super hyped up as well as a bit nervous. Unfortunately it was upset a little when we got a phone call half way through the evening saying that my mother-in-law was lost in Taupo and couldn't find the house. She had our boys and had been driving all over the place until it got dark. By the time we got home we had very tired hungry kids, and one upset mother-in-law. Abit of stress to go with the already heightened nerves, and one more sleepless night on Thursday.

Friday morning was just the BOMB. My programme had one of those annoying little bricks the day before a race - I know they are important, but most of the time they are pain. Today I was itching to get out there. I was meeting up with some of the people and coaches from the camps I attended, so that was something to look forward to too. Off to the lake bright and early again. It was absolutely stunning! Perfect temp, crystal clear - AWESOME. I had a great swim of about 500mtrs then got on my bike and rode with literally hundreds of others for about 20mins. Off the bike and into a 15min run with just as many athletes (mostly those I had just seen on the bike). It was fantastic. I was here - I was at Ironman - I couldn't help but get an adrenaline kick from all these people training and preparing for the race the following day.

Beautiful conditions on Lake Taupo

I had been so nervous about coming to Taupo and not fitting in. I had been worried I would not look right, not have the right bike, or the flashest wetsuit, or be able to keep up. But I knew I had done all the hard work just as much as any of the other athletes that were out there that day. I was proud of my big number on my helmet when I rode my bike. I showed off that athlete band and made sure they all knew I WAS doing the race. And I also decided that it was time I looked at myself differently. Maybe through this whole experience I have finally become an athlete. I'm still not one of those buff skinny types, but I'm not the obese extremely overweight person I once was either. I belonged here - I had worked hard to get here - and I was going to damn well enjoy being here and being part of an amazing event!

After the small brick it was time for the race briefing. God this made me nervous!!! There was so much to remember, so much that could happen to me. Times to be in by, aid stations to get stuff at, drafting rules to remember. I left there kind of pent up and got home a little tense. The Saint took the mother-in-law and kids away so that I could pack my race bags in peace. I wasn't handling the company of family too well that morning! I was so sure I was going to forget something vital. Packing those race bags and handing them in was definitely the most stressful part of the weekend! (btw - I did forget something - food/ drink for between the swim & bike - thankfully there is a table laden with food at the bike transition!)

With the bags packed and the bike in the car, I headed into town to a seminar being run by Jon Ackland. He is a top coach here in NZ and is very motivating to listen to. He was FANTASTIC. I'm so glad I went. He made it all seem so easy.

The basic rules were:
start at the pace you can finish at
CHILL
make sure you are flexible with nutrition - listen to your body
CHILL
keep the effort controlled
CHILL

So, I walked out with CHILL!!!!

By the time I got out of there I was once again relaxed and really really looking forward to racing. Somewhere in the last week the mind set changed from "lets get this thing over with" to "I'm really looking forward to the race". That's a good thing believe me....

By the time I got back to the car the family had hunted me out - with my Aunty, Uncle and cousins in tow. The cameras started flashing while I walked my bike into the trasition area. I felt like a celeb! It was so nerve racking - I tried not to look at the other bikes, but man there are some primo machines at Ironman! I was drooling! A great volunteer showed me through the swim to bike transition and made it all look too easy. Next was bag check in and I was done!

Bike & Race Bag check in

The rellies wanted to check out the expo so we went in there again - this time though we lost a child! So, afew anxious minutes while everybody split up to find him - thankfully he had been a good boy and sat down outside when he realised he was lost. Not what I needed that afternoon!

Outside the expo before 1 child went walkies!

We got back to the house at 3.30pm and I realised I had had no lunch - not the best nutrition plan the day before Ironman, so some catch up was needed! Then mum turned up, people were texting wishing me luck, and I had to organise myself for the morning. It all just flew by, and before you knew it, it was time for lights out. And guess what - it was probably the best nights sleep I have had in weeks. I was so worried about my sleep deprivation leading into it, and I knew the night before the race was going to be a battle, but for some reason I just gave away all the stress and nerves and whatever else has been going on subconsiously, and went to sleep! When I woke the next morning I have never been so relieved to have a good nights sleep!

Next post I might get around to talking about THE RACE!!!!!

"YOU ARE AN IRONMAN....

2008-03-03T11:49:00.000+13:00

Yes you are Kathy...."

That was Mike Reilly on the microphone - although it was bloody hard to hear him with all the screaming going on. I ran down the chute with my boys on either side and The Saint was right behind me. The finishers photo has us all in it which is fantastic!

I had a great day, the weather was absolutely shocking, but I became an Ironman anyway. Check out SUB6 website for a sneak preview of photos

Thanks to everybody for supporting me. I ended up doing 14:48 which was well under what my expectations were. The legs are hammered now, I am tired, but it was soooo worth it.

I can't wait to write it all down and share the experience, but for now we need some family time.

Catch up with you soon

It's time to go become an IRONMAN

2008-02-27T13:50:00.000+13:00

Tomorrow I leave my house for a week, and will come home an Ironman (I keep saying "hopefully", so this time I'm not gonna).

The packing is ENORMOUS - gotta make sure you have everything in case of all those "wot-ifs", so that makes for lots of stuff. Plus, when you take The Saint and the kiddly winks, that just multiplies it all ten fold!

So, details as follows:

Race Day: Saturday 1st March
Race Number: 483
Name: Kathy Miller
Race: Ironman New Zealand
Start Time: 7am (no idea what time that is anywhere else in the world, you'll all have to figure that out)
Website: www.ironman.co.nz
Follow the race on: www.ironmanlive.com (I think it will be there anyway)

We are having a wee family break after the race, so unfortunately you are going to have to wait a few days for the very looooong race report (you know I'm going to tell you every little detail, right down to how many toilet stops I had, so be prepared).

I will however find a cyber cafe and let you all know that I at least made it!!

Thanks to everyone for their support and best wishes. I am very lucky to have soooo many people who are still encouraging me even when they are simply SICK OF HEARING ABOUT IRONMAN (that's really a note to my non-tri friends). So, ciow for now, see you on the other side!!!!

OH.... MY.... GOD....

2008-02-26T08:49:00.000+13:00

It is now sooooo close it is getting scary, frightening, and exciting all at once. I seem to be handling it all ok though - most of the time I am relatively calm, I only start to get wound up when I think about the race day, the finish line and the hard work that has gone into this for 12 months - the "wot if's" that pop into my head are annoying, so I quickly try and shut them out....

Wot if... it rains all day
Wot if... it is really really windy
Wot if... I get bad blisters on the run
Wot if... I keep puncturing on the bike
Wot if... I miss the bike cut off
Wot if... I just can't handle the pain on the run
Wot if... I just want to lie down and sleep for awhile
Wot if... I muck up my nutrition and end up in the loo for most of the run leg

So many unknowns going into it is quite frightening, but they are all out of my control, and the only thing that matters is how I will handle it IF these things happen on my race day, and to be prepared to change my plan if the original one I had isn't working!

Yesterday was probably one of the biggest break through days of my whole year of training (apart from actually DOING the full 180km cycle course - that was a great day!!). The weather was crap, I had new race tyres that had never seen ashphalt, and I simply HAD to ride on them outside. I spent the entire day waiting for it to clear up. Pottering around, started packing, cleaning up, pacing the lounge looking out the window... all the while getting more and more tense because the weather just was not breaking! So, at 3pm The Saint decided to drive 30mins over the Kaimai Hill and see if it was clear on the other side (may sound weird, but it is usually a different climate over there). And wadda ya know, it was (well at least not AS bad as home). So home he came again, and off I went. At 5pm I finally started riding. In the rain at times, in the wind all the time, and going REALLY REALLY FAST (for me) on those fantastic tyres and wheels.

I was singing PINK out loud, riding aero and having a blast! I did my full 2:30, did 64kms, avg of 25.5kms/hr, it was getting dark, I had been riding in the middle if NOWHERE on a Sunday night (my nice quiet country road that got overtaken by motorbikes last week). It was soooo crazy it was nuts, it was great, it was fantastic mental training, and it was something I would never have done before Ironman. I was proud of myself for doing it, it was pitch dark and raining cats and dogs trying to drive back over the hill, but I was so amped up!!! Dinner at 8.30pm, up at the hot pools at 9:00pm for a well deserved soak, bed by 10:00pm, still awake at 11:30pm - BUGGER. There's that not sleeping thing again!!!!

5 more sleeps to go....

And finally.... the last "this time next week" post

2008-02-25T07:24:00.000+13:00

......I will finally be an IRONMAN (hopefully!?), and will probably be hobbling around if I even manage to get out of bed!

The weather gods haven't been playing nice this weekend though, and now the winds that were here yesterday have been replaced by RAIN and less of a wind! Hopefully that means that next weekend will be brilliant weather!!!

This morning I have been packing and organising, making lists, writing down where I have to be on what day doing what for the 2 days prior to Ironman. It is very frustrating watching the gloominess outside, but on the plus side I am now alot more ready for our trip on Wednesday, which is quite a nice feeling.

I really really need to get outside and ride my new race tyres, so fingers crossed the weather clears up this afternoon (like it is supposed to), and I will go out then for my last 50kms - then I am going to get The Saint and the kids to meet me at the Mount hot pools for a well deserved soak in the spa!!!! My body actually feels surprisingly good and rested considering that my so called taper week ended up being around 12hours!! Every session this week has felt good, and the coming weeks complete drop off in volume will now add to that hopefully, so that come race day I am jumping out of my skin to get going!!! That's the plan anyway.

Race week has a 2km swim and a 30min run tomorrow, a 45min easy spin on Tues (another chance to ride on the tyres), and a 1.5km swim and a 20min run on Wed. Thurs is rest and registration day, but I am going to jump in the lake at the race start, at race start time, to check out the sighting for the long long swim down to the other end of the lake. Fri is a short brick of a 500m swim (will get in at the turnaround point to check out sighting to the finish), a 20min spin and a 20min run. This is apparently to tell the body what it needs to do the following morning - wake it up abit and get it all geared up to go. Half the time I find them annoying as they are so small, but they are good, they get you abit more amped up, and it will be fun being out there with all the other athletes who are no doubt going to be doing the same thing.

So, that is my race week. We leave for Taupo on Wednesday night, and I will post a final blog before we leave with all race info for you people at home trying to figure out if I have made it or not!!!!

Ciow for now.

Another "this time next week" post

2008-02-24T11:49:00.000+13:00

This time next week I will (hopefully) be nailing that bike ride!!!!!!! What with my new race tyres and wheels, I must be gonna fly......

Today saw me do my final brick session (well not completely final but you can't really count the piddly one the day before the race!). The weather was crap, so I had to settle for another 4km continuous swim in the pool. Went to the outdoor pool which has been having trouble all season with the temperature of the water - and it was FREEEEZING. I spent the first 20mins swimming with goose bumps while the guy in the lane next to me had his wetsuit on!!! Now I wish I'd thought of that!

So, a long transition while I dried, changed and drove home to my bike waiting on the wind trainer - It was blowing a gale outside, so whimped out and sat in the lounge watching a DVD about 4 elite athletes training towards the Hawaii world champs in 2005 - pretty motivating stuff. 45 mins of easy spinning, and then I was out the door for a 45min hilly run.

It was great - I seemed to pick hills with the wind behind me for an extra push up, and then ran the flats and downhills into the wind - honest I didn't purposely do it that way, it just so happened to be. Got abit excited though and went too far, so ended up doing an extra 5mins to get home. It was a great run - still feeling good in the legs thank goodness. When I saw this weeks programme I did have doubts about how much was actually on it, but I seem to be ok for it, so I just have to trust that the coach knows what she's doing.

I have to say that I got abit emotional on the run as I had another "this time next week" moment. I was just visualising that I felt this good on the day, that I was running strong and smooth. I also imagined the finish chute!!! This is the bit that makes it all worth while at the end of the day - bummer really that I have to do 15hrs+ of exercise to get that buzz!!!

This time next week.....

2008-02-23T06:37:00.000+13:00

I will be PACKING MYSELF!!!! But for the last few days at least, I seem to have calmed down enough to get in some good sleep.

A friend that The Saint works with has lent me his wheels for race day, so I took them for a spin on Wednesday night. They look racey, they are really light, and I LOVED them. After 1:30 of easy hill repeats, I was about 1.5kms/hr faster than normal over hills, so pretty happy with that. This weekend I will add my race tyres to them and take them out for my final ride on Sunday. It's ONLY 2:30 but includes 2x 30min race pace intervals, so looking forward to rolling them out and seeing what I can do. Have also been into the bike shop for the official bike check, had to have a chain replaced, and some bearings in the cranks were shot, so have had that fixed to. The thing should be running nice and smoothly for race day next week.

Had my last longer run yesterday. That was great also - really it has just been a fantastic training week (maybe because I know it's my last one). I did 1:20 including some easy undulations and ran the fastest run I've had for AGES. I felt really strong, the legs felt rested, and it felt like I was running easy. I didn't include any walk breaks, just kept running!

I have already started on "The List" of things to do before we leave for Taupo, so it will be a busy weekend. Then I can relax hopefully for the next few days before the race.

The sponsor has added the book we have been contributing towards on the website. Take a look and order one - should be a good read if you are thinking about Ironman for the future.

Single Digits

2008-02-21T09:50:00.000+13:00

aaaaaarrrrrr

My countdown just entered single digits - where did 365 days go?????

And guess what - today I did my first ever CONTINUOUS 4km swim - have swum that distance mega times at swim squad, but not without stopping!!!!! God I thought my arms were gonna fall off... 160 lengths of a 25 metre pool is ALOT. I tried not to cheat and push off the end of the wall too much. I started out doing tumble turns, but everytime I did one I felt my heart rate go up, so stopped those and just tried to do a turn that didn't involve giving me a break!!!

Anyway, the new race goggles are great (I can see again), the arms managed, the legs followed along behind, and apart from a wee bit of stitch around 3kms, it was pretty uneventful. I did the 2nd 2kms in the same speed as the 1st 2kms - soooooo that means I paced myself well (which is what dis is all about right - pacing!). Also, this is the only part of the race I am willing to put a time on:

So, my predicted Ironman swim time is 1hr 15mins - The rest of it is all subject to weather, nutrition, capabilities and mental state!!!! So long as I am off the bike by 5.30pm, and in from the run before midnight, I will have achieved my goal - TO FINISH!!!!!

Are we there yet????

2008-02-19T11:15:00.000+13:00

OH.... MY.... GOD.... I can now say that Ironman is NEXT WEEK - that is sooooo exciting (if not a little scary too I might add).

I have to say that I was looking forward to the Taper Week, but it turns out there is still abit to do over the next 7 days, and the Race Week is more like what I was looking for... 20mins, here, 30mins there.... That is what I thought taper was all about. Oh well, gotta keep going - I've done so well keeping up with it all, I'm not going to drop the load now. Still, at least there are no 100km+ rides to deal with - THANK GOODNESS because I've had enough of those bum numbing experiences!

I had a brick session on Saturday of 3kms sea swim, 1.5hr cycle and a 30min run. I was soooo hungry during the swim that I had to eat my recovery food in between the swim and bike legs.... then I found a mate out on the ride that I cycled and chatted with while tackling the head wind, so that was great - a good way to take the mind of it all. After a pretty slow transition, quick chat to another couple of tri friends, I was off for a run around the Mount base track. It started to blow a gale and rain - it was the BEST run I've had in ages. Absolutely loved it. Then off home for some more food before I ate me own arm off....

Sunday was a 100km ride - I was really looking forward to this, as it would be the smallest Sunday ride I've done in about 2 months, and I was gonna nail it!! Well, it ended up being the crappiest ride I'd done in ages too. To start with I had boils and blisters in unmentionable places that required my blister plasters (usually for the FEET), to be placed in strategic positions on the buttox. This also meant that due to "pain" in varying degrees while sitting, I had one painless spot that I had to sit in for the whole 100kms - this then lead to stiffness everywhere else because, as many a long distance cyclist will know, you need to move around a fair bit to avoid getting stiff!!!!! Oh well, deal with that and move on.

Next problem was where I had chosen to ride this week. It is normally a lovely, quiet, country road, where barely anybody goes!!! Well, that is if there isn't a MOTORBIKE STREET RACE IN THE TOWN AT THE END OF THAT ROAD...... (The Saint failed me miserably in this regard, because he KNEW about it and didn't even THINK I might need to change my ride for that day - see, he's not perfect). So, I was joined on my lovely, peaceful, country road, by hundreds of roaring, fast, motorbike petrol heads, plus the ones who don't own bikes so drove there by car!!!! My God it did my head in. I couldn't do much about it as I was 50kms from my car at this point with no other way to get back but from where I had come. The VROOOM VROOOM VROOOM of loud bikes just about drove me crazy!!!! Plus they do stupid overtaking manouvres that make you close your eyes and hope you don't get hit in the fallout of it all. Just a horrible horrible way to spend 100kms!

Add to this if you will the fact that the Waikato (like the rest of NZ), is severely dried up, no green grass to be seen for miles, so the farmers have started feeding cows the roadside stuff - they keep them off the road by one little stretch of line between stakes along the road - my pushbike is obviously foreign to them, so everytime I came across a group of cows meandering along the roadside, they would scare themselves silly and go thundering down the road beside me (never mind the screaming motorikes, but I'm scary....). Do cows actually jump???? was my first thought - I know they can't jump over the moon, but that stupid little makeshift fence ain't gonna hold stampeding cattle in....

So, I did my 100kms, albeit badly, but I did it just the same. I had a pretty stiff head wind all the way back, and really I was just counting down the KM's until I could get off the bloody thing, but I still managed a 21.3km average which is good for me (especially when riding on my own). A short run off the bike and I was done - home to eat again before I ate the other arm off..... (boy I've been hungry this weekend).

I amazed even myself this morning by getting on the windtrainer for an easy 1hr spin, and I have a 30min run at 8pm this evening (apparently I need to do a late one...). It still works out to be a total of 11hrs approx this week, but everything is just small and often to keep things ticking over. I'm afraid if I stop now I might not start again. The last few weeks of bad sleeping has finally caught up with me and I look and feel shattered. Thankfully sleep seems to have returned, so I might just catch up before race week, to then go back to sleepless nights before the big day - oh well, I can have a week of sleep afterwards!

How far have I come?

2008-02-14T16:41:00.000+13:00

At the end of the last camp we were told to spend some time before the "big day" reflecting on our experience, and how far we had come to get to the point that we are ready for an Ironman.

If you are a regular reader of my blog then you will know that there have been a few entries of moaning, whinging, wahing and the such like. At the beginning of this process 12 months ago I don't think I actually believed I could and would do Ironman - I wanted to give it a damn good try, but I think that in the back of my mind I figured I would eventually quit. There have certainly been plenty of times when it has got really really tough for me, but there has not been one time at all where I thought I wanted to quit.

I have worked hard to get to Ironman. People have worked hard to get me to Ironman. I'm not a natural athlete and never have been. I've been overweight since I was a kid!

I have sacrificed time with the kids, husband, friends and family. I have not had much of a social life.

Have I had fun? - you bet...

Have I had really bad moments of fear and frustration? - absolutely...

Have I ever wanted to give up? - NO WAY...

I want to be an Ironman so badly that it is all I have thought about for 12 months.

Last August my husband and I rode 1 lap of the Ironman cycle course - there is a 60km marker on the road on the return trip of that lap - at that point in the ride I broke down and lost the plot. I was a gonna. There was no way I could ever contemplate riding 180kms as I couldn't even get to 60kms. Paul kindly reminded me that I didn't need to ride 180kms that day, just 90kms. On the weekend at the camp I road over that marker 3 times - every time it gave me goosebumps. I had done it. I had made it to 180kms, and it had happened so gradually that I didn't even notice. I don't remember when riding 100kms became easy.

I have never had such roller coaster emotions as I have had training for Ironman. One minute you're on top of the world and pumped after an awesome training session, the next you're in a snivelling heap on the side of the road because that day is turning out to be tough.

I wanted to be stronger, push myself harder, and really give it everything at every training session, but I was afraid I wouldn't be able to get up the next day and cope. I guess I have tiptoed my way through the training a little bit - been too scared to push it too hard, to go right to the edge, to find the wizard, to lose control. After all, I have got kids that need a cetain amount of looking after, I have a job that I have to hold down, and a husband who gets sick of my lack of confidence in myself. For me ticking off the miles became more important - if I were to do it again I would do it differently. I know now I am capable of more, but for this Ironman I am happy that I made it through uninjured and still married!

I wouldn't change any of it!

I will never say I regretted doing it. Even if for some reason I don't finish the race, I got to the start line and that is huge in itself (would still be bummed to DNF though...)

I will never tell someone not to do an Ironman or put them off the idea

I will never say I won't do another one, but I can promise you it won't be soon

I am looking forward to this being over, but I know it is going to leave a gaping hole in my life afterwards

I still have fear about the day - my biggest run to date has only been 26kms (3hours), so that is 16kms I have to find out on the run course on race day. But I won't give up, and I will make it to the finish line by putting one foot in front of the other and moving forward - it may not be fast or pretty, but I will be doing it regardless.

Before I started doing triathlons I was an overweight, 105kg mother of 2, who was a pile of misery. My first triathlon was a 300mtr swim, a 10km bike and a 3km run - and I was soooo stuffed afterwards, but oh so elated. My first sprint tri I was petrified I wouldn't be able to run 5kms. I thought I was going to die, it seemed so far! Now I can ride a bike for 180kms, I can run 26kms, I can swim 152 lengths of a 25mtr pool without stopping. I can do an 18hour training week and still live to write about it. I'm a bloody legend!!!!

I still don't look like the athlete I dreamed about becoming, but who said you have to look like one to be one anyway? What's the point in waiting until I'm skinny before I do things? Who said I can't be an Ironman just because I wear mens running clothes? What rule book said I had to be a certain weight, look a certain way, or wear certain things? NONE, so get off your chuff and just do it anyway. I have, and the people I have met, the places I have been, and the achievemnts I've had along the way, are worth every inch of sweat and pounded pavement.

Even though sometimes it may SEEM like I don't enjoy it, I REALLY REALLY DO..... and in the words of that very famous and inspiring New Zealander who recently passed away (Sir Edmund Hillary), lets go "KNOCK THE BASTARD OFF"......

I'm ready - BRING IT ON

2008-02-12T06:27:00.000+13:00

This is gonna be long, so grab a coffee, and READ!

This weekend was another camp for me in Taupo - host city to my NZ Ironman campaign! So, a good chance to check out the course (again), and really push through the last hard week of training, before this weeks slightly less hard training!!!??? and then finally TAPER - looking forward to that baby!

It didn't realy start too well with my mental attitude being shot. I have not been sleeping well, this camp started the day the boys went back to school for the new school year, so I had to drop them at there new class, new teacher, new kids, and LEAVE. It really sucked that I wasn't there when they got home. My mum rang while I was in Taupo and I just had the hugest cry I've had in ages. I was just really really sad, lonely and fed up. The weekends training (especially the cycling), was massive and I just didn't think I was up to it - I HAD HAD ENOUGH! After my cry baby effort, I actually felt better. Spoke to the kids who told me nothing exciting about the first day of school, and decided I just better get on with the training - LAST BIG WEEKEND, JUST DO IT.

Friday was a 100km ride (well actually 96kms, but what's a couple of kms between friends), including the first lap of the Ironman cycle course. It was rather cold considering the very warm weather we've been having, and in the forest it got even colder! Arm warmers are a must, and I wore a poly prop and a wind vest. All eventually got discarded, but it wouldn't be nice being out there frozen - tip for race morning - dress for the cool forest conditions!

We had one fright out riding when a big truck went past us at 100kms/hr without moving over - we were on the road edge as far as possible and he sucked us right into him which was absolutely terrifying. One of the girls in front of me went off the road and into the gravel - she did fairly well staying upright until she tried to get back on the road and tumbled off. The 2 of us that were just behind her stopped and helped her up, while another 2 in our group came riding up and slowed to check if we were ok - the one in the back was looking at us and not watching the guy in front and she crashed into the back of him and they both ended up on the road too - it was a bloody nightmare really, and considering we had only ridden for about 40mins, it was like a bad omen trying to tell us something. We all got back up, a couple were patched up at the turnaround point by the coaches, and everyone finished the session - well done Michelle - it took guts to carry on after a fright like that.

A while ago a friend of ours lent me his race tyres to try out (I can't afford race wheels and this is the next best thing apparently). I must admit to being abit skeptical that they would actually make a differnce to my miserable speed, but I decided I should try them out, so after much swapping of tyres on Thursday, I rode on them on Friday. Well I fell in love and never want to take them off! I managed to average 25kms/hr until the final 15kms where it slowly goes uphill through the forest and back up to Taupo, and ended up finishing on 24.4kms/hr. That is REALLY REALLY fast for me - for someone expecting to take 9hrs to do the Ironman bike at an avg of only 20kms/hr, I was stoked to do 96kms in just under 4hours!

Off the bike and onto the run for 1.5hrs out on the run course towards 5 Mile Bay. By this stage it was roasting hot. I drank everything in my fuel belt, plus a refil from the coaches out on the course. As the morning cycling had been so cold, I didn't drink nearly as much on the bike as normal, so just got terribly thirsty for the run. I wasn't lacking in electrolytes as I take these in tablet form, but being majorly thirsty on a hot run is horrible - you drink to much and SLOSH! Was glad to finish the run and actually managed to do 12kms in 1hr 25mins, averaging 8.5kms/hr - was very pleased with this as it included walk periods and I really thought that after my "speedy" ride, I would struggle - so, I went home after that session feeling pretty damn pleased - next purchase this week is definitely some race tyres, plus the friend who lent us the tyres has even offered his race wheels - look out, I might crack 25kms/hr for the whole thing!!!!! Now that WOULD be exciting!

Saturday morning we were up early and in the Lake for a 4km swim at 7am. It was warmer in it than out of it, and we had a really good session. We were split into groups and made to swim right next to each other, hit each other, over each other if possible. Our group was a little mismatched with some faster and some slower, but it was a fun swim - the coaches were out in the water on kayaks at each turnaround point offering advice, and it was just really nice to be in fresh water rather than the sea. The sun coming up is going to be a real problem on race morning trying to sight, so that is just something to look out for, but otherwise I am really looking forward to the swim leg - it's the only part that I am putting a time to, the rest is all a guessing game!!!

Refueling after the swim

YAY - we've finished

Swim - Bike transition run through

The rest of Saturday was spent sleeping, eating and sleeping again until late afternoon when we had a walk through of the swim to bike transition and a seminar about the Ironman day/ preparation etc... It was really really helpful. Lots of tips, lots of ideas, lots of experience helping us out. The distance from the swim to bike is quite long, including a set of steps - by the time we all got up them were puffing - so much for Ironmen!!! So, a walk for me or at most a very slow jog is required for that transition! Then we had a group dinner and a slide show of photos from the day - the aid stations are incredible! HEAPS of food! You won't go hungry!

Saturday night was spent not sleeping, getting quite stressed about not sleeping, and waking on Sunday morning to more tears of frustration about how I was ever going to manage the full Ironman ride of 180kms. I was not happy, not ready, not wanting to be there at all. The slower ones were starting at 6.30am, while the faster ones were off at 7.00am. This was quite nice as it meant we didn't have all these people just ride away from the get go - it can be very demoralising! So off we went on our "horses" as one coach called them, and out for a very long day in the saddle again.

I got left to the back fairly quickly. Then the fast guys came by looking like they were just cruising (which is of course what we were supposed to be doing, but I still find it HARD). By the end of the first 90kms I'd had enough - a quick stop for drink top ups and I was off again. It was nice to have the coaches out there giving us encouragement, but the bit between 90kms and 120kms just sucked - riding away from town, into a reasonably strong head wind at that point, it was raining, we were miserable and fed up. A few choice words, getting angry at myself and I decided I just had to hammer it down, forget the butt pain, and just get the job done - so I did. Maybe I should use anger instead of frustration - it made me ride faster! At the turnaround I knew I was going home, so I just went for it - I wanted to get there as fast as possible. I had been abit naughty and not taken off the race tyres like I was meant to, so I was still able to ride fairly quickly thank god. In the end I did 175kms (we had to miss out the private road section of the course, that's why it is short) in 7hrs 35mins, avg speed of 23kms/hr! I was soooo buzzing when I finished it. I had done it, I had done it in less than 8hours which was HUUUUGE, and I felt like I could have got off and run - I didn't have to drag myself off the bike and lie down which is normally what happens.

So, this weekend has made me realise that without a doubt I am ready for Ironman. I have ridden the full course, so I know I can do it. I have swum 4kms regularly for ages, so that is no issue (and I loooove the lake), and I just have to survive the run by moving forward one step at a time - by the time I get that far there is no option of giving up.

BRING IT ON - I'M SOOOOOO READY TO DO THIS!

Going through the motions

2008-02-07T03:38:00.000+13:00

This week I feel like I am plodding through training, doing what I'm meant to do, ticking it off and moving on - well sort of. I've re-shuffled, re-designed, and re-allocated my training all week and it's only WEDNESDAY.

Mondays swim got moved to Tues (at which I did 1km continuous with hand paddles - my biggest EVA).

Tuesdays 1hr hill rep bike got changed to a 1hr, slow, why bother, kind of ride on the windtrainer

Wednesdays 1.5hr flat easy ride, is now a hill rep ride with some flat and easy thrown in on the end

I have a swim today too, and I am working on not moving that, because tomorrow is a rest day before the camp. If I don't do it today, it won't be done!

I guess it's getting that close that sometimes I think "what's an hour cycle gonna do to me now..." - BAD AYE. I just want to get the long stuff out of the way so I can taper!!!

I was watching last years Ironman Australia on the TV while I spun my legs on the windtrainer last night. I have watched it a few times, but for some reason when it got near the end and they start showing the non-athletes finishing, I got really emotional. I suppose because I know, without a doubt (and there have been MANY), that I WILL be out there in 24 days, that I WILL do my very best to make sure I get back before the bike cutoff time, that I WILL withdraw every ounce of training I have done over the last 12months and use it to become an Ironman - I am ready (I can't believe I just said that).

The Saint and I then got talking about our mid winter rides, where there were afew bad days of him having to cajole me up a hill while I cried my eyes out because 60kms was HARD, and how the hell was I going to do 180kms. Well now I have done 180kms, and 60kms is EASY. You wonder how, you wonder why, you wonder if it will ever get any easier, and then suddenly it did! I'm still slow, but I get there in the end. Slow and steady like the tortoise (although, sometimes I dreeeeeam of being the hare).

I leave tomorrow for another weekend of living like a professional athlete. Luckily we have a public holiday today in NZ so I can use it to pack all the gear that is required (and there is ALOT!). Another big weekend of training is in store, and no doubt some more frustrated times on the bike, but I can and will handle it - only 12 more days to go until I get to TAPER........

Oh yeah, almost forgot - my race number for the day is 483 - that isn't the original number they posted though. It was 477 which I liked better as I have twin boys who are 7, so there was one 7 each. Oh well, will have to come up with a reason why 483 is lucky!

Cycling is like childbirth....

2008-02-05T13:28:00.000+13:00

WHAT????? you may be thinking.

Think of it like this (you mums out there will know what I'm talking about anyway). There is this huge sense of excitement around the whole thing of having a baby. A new being, made by you, growing in you, soon to meet you.

But behind all the excitement is this dread of the pain that you have to go through before you get to meet your wee bundle!! The idea of having to push that bowling ball out just scares the living bejesus out of you, and yet you count down the days just torturing yourself with a mixture of fear and anticipation.

That is what I find my long Sunday rides to be like. I dread Sunday - from the minute I hop off my bike one Sunday, I am already dreading the next Sunday. I am still on a wicked high from actually doing the bloody thing in the first place, I am sore and tired and cursing never to ride a bike again, but next Sunday I hop back on it, hoping that this time it won't hurt so much.

See, much like child birth - we go through the pain of giving birth, swearing never to have another child, get the joy and satisfaction of seeing our baby for the first time, and then forget about it enough to go back for more kids (however I guess in my case, I only had half an hour to get over it before I had the next one, and then I DEFINITELY wasn't going back for more)!

Apparently if you really want to accomplish something in life, you have to work hard for it, make sacrifices, take the good times with the bad, and the end result is one to be proud of, knowing you gave it your all - all the blood, sweat and tears you had are in that final result. So it is with child birth and Ironman - when I cross that finish line, it will be the single biggest accomplishment in my life, right behind having my 2 gorgeous boys!

And then once the pain wears off, the sleepless nights diminish, and life returns to normal (whatever that is), the idea pops into your head that maybe that wasn't so bad after all - lets do/ have another..... if anyone even hears me utter one single word about doing another Ironman - SLAP ME HARD

So, this Sunday I went out there determined to be positive. I did the first 75kms and absolutely enjoyed it. Had an average speed of 22.2 kms/ hr (oooooh, you may say, but this is SUPER fast for me), and decided I felt that good that I would negative split the ride home - hahahaha who was I kidding. Around 100kms the wheels started to fall off again (not literally thank goodness).

My butt hurt, I was in/ out/ up/ down/ around/ on/ off the seat like I had ants in my pants. My feet were absolutely burning hot sore (what's that about???), the wind was getting up, the temperature was soaring, and for once I couldn't wait for the hilly part as it meant I could stand up and spend some time not sitting!!! Ended up doing 157kms, 7hrs 20mins (15mins of stopping this week), avg speed of 21.4kms, lost 1.3kgs (oops). All on my lonesome, another proud day and accomplishment, but after food and a shower, I simply couldn't handle anymore, and went to bed! Are there beds in T2 for a quick nap if required before the marathon???

So, now onto the week of dread. I'm at another camp on the weekend - this time in Taupo and we will be training on the course. 120km ride with a 90min run off the bike on Friday. 4km lake swim on Saturday, and then 180km ride (full course) on Sunday. It takes my butt at least 3 days to recover from a ride over 100kms, so you do the math on how good I'm gonna be by the end of Sunday....

Felt terrible when I woke up this morning, and wasn't particularly sure if I could handle the scheduled 45min run, but I went out and actually managed it ok - didn't break no land speed record or anything, but I did it and survived.

So anyway, other news is that the family came home from their holiday. I went up to the beach on Saturday and did my 4km swim - it was lovely too. The only creatures to be seen were starfish, and them I can handle. Caught up on the boys new boogey boarding skills which was great. Just look at them go.

"HOME" during the summer holidays

Waihi Beach, where the family have been for the last 2 weeks

Anzac Bay - my 4km swim was done in here

Liam riding the wave in

Look mum - no hands

DOUBLE TROUBLE

Another week down, another sleep closer to the day (or not sleeping in my case - boy I'm getting tired..). Need to go for a swim tonight, but that not looking too promising due to eyes that are struggling to stay open. Might have a wee power nap and then see what happens after that.

Training update.....

2008-02-02T06:54:00.000+13:00

Today I have decided to focus on my training, instead of wahing and moaning. An update on how things are ACTUALLY going is long overdue.

SWIMMING
I have to say that lately I have been neglecting this a bit. It started when I had to dump the masters swim squad due to a lack of funds. The last few months have been tough on the wallet what with Xmas, the nutrition I motor through while training, plus all the food I chow through while recovering, so something had to give. Seeing as my swimming is the least of my concerns in this race, I ditched that expense. The idea was to go to the pool on my own and just do the stuff we do at squad. But, over time, you get a little lazier, there isn't someone on your tail pushing you faster, it's easier to shorten the session, plus the critters in the sea have put me off open water swimming.

So, this week I have been determined to swim. The 4km swim at the training camp really showed me how tiring it is when you're not pushing off a wall every 25 metres and resting all the time. 4kms of constant arm turning (worked out for me at around 3800 revolutions!) is very tiring on the shoulders! This week I have been to the pool 2 times (4kms), swum in the sea once (1km), and tomorrow I have a 4km open water swim planned. And I WILL do it all!!! No cutting it short - it's time to get tough on myself and be a bit more disciplined!

There has been one positive this week in regards to the swim portion. My current wetsuit has become so big, that when I stand up it billows out at the legs, and the top part just fills with water and bunches terribly around the back and up my neck. I bought a second hand one some time ago, same Ironman brand suit, just one size smaller. I couldn't even get it up over my thighs! So, into the cupboard it went in hope of weight loss. It came out a few months back, and my husband managed to squish me into it, but I couldn't breathe and my arms bobbed around as it was so tight I couldn't put them down at my sides. Back into the cupboard it went with rather a lot of pressure on for it to fit before Ironman - well the other day it came back out. I managed to get it on all by myself, my arms were at my side, I could breathe, and I even swam in it for 1km! What an awesome moment that was!!!!!!!!!!!!! So, with a new wetsuit purchase avoided, I am one very happy camper!

RUNNING
After our 3 hour run on Monday (which I'm still buzzing about - I really think I could have done the marathon that day - of course I hadn't done a 180km ride beforehand, but it's positive all the same), I have only had 1 mid week run of 45mins, which I did on Wednesday. Boy it hurt too. Just very tired after Mon I guess, so I just pushed through it and chalked it up to one of those sessions that you just forget about.

BIKING
I had a 1 hour bike to do on Tuesday, which actually went surprisingly well after my big weekend of training. I did 3 x 5 min high RPM sets on a flat road, using the aerobars. I was trying to focus on keeping my head down so my neck won't get so sore, and only looking up every so often to check the road ahead. This was pointed out to me at the camp, as the coaches noticed I ride with my head too high, and I have to say it seems to be making me less wobbly while riding too. I am concentrating on the small piece of road I can see below me, and riding in more of a straight line. Obviously this is hard when you are around lots of houses and parked cars!!! but it will be good for the open road of the Ironman race. As mentioned in my last post, I ditched the 1 hour ride I was supposed to do yesterday, in favour of eating chocolate and watching telly (I didn't eat the fish 'n chips though - I'm saving that little treat for after Ironman). I did however watch the NZ Ironman race from last year, and it really was worth it!

THE WEEKEND
This weekend sees me do my 4km open water swim tomorrow, followed by a 1 hour flat run. I'm going up to the beach where the family is as there aren't as many sea critters in that bit of water, then I can spend the day with them before they come home on Sunday.

Sunday I am doing a 150km ride - will go from home, over the Welcome Bay Hills, ride to Matata (nice flat easy riding after the hills - time to practice that head positioning again), then home the same way. Another long day in the saddle, but it is the 3rd to last one, so I need to keep positive, focused on nutrition and pedal stroke, while ignoring painful butt areas! Easier said than done, but I will try I promise.