Well oiled machine

So yesterday was running out of time to collect my bike which was getting a well deserved service.  I could see an opportunity to skip the 2 hour ride this morning, unfortrunately so could one of my support buddies, dam it!.  So they kindly collected by bike and we did an exchange later that evening.

Wouldn't you know it, I really enjoyed the ride this morning, you know some days (not often) you just feel strong.  I was even a little cheeky today and raced a few folks up a couple of hills (very small and short ones!).  I also tried to stay in touch on the downhills, got up to 60k on some of the short downs.  :) Don't tell Liza.

The bike is going like a dream, clearly in need of it's service!, although dangerous to go to the bike shop too often.  On Tuesday I had to drag Liza out before we ended up buying new tyres, which would have escalated to new wheels and then another cassette .... $$$$$.  Did you know that racing wheels on average are around $2,500 each, so $5,000 + tyres, tubes, cassette for back wheel.  To put it in perspective you can buy a very nice full carbon bike for $3,000 (thats an entire bike) Well Liza didn't know either until I pointed it out, she thought $2,500 covered the lot, which is bad enough in itself.

You know they do say the sport of Triathlon is becoming more popular with the older generation, thats because they are the only ones who can afford it! :)

Yay day off tomorrow, but don't worry I will be packing and readying myself for a huge weekend ride in the Coromandal as we test some hills and decide whether K2 race is something I could do .....

My support network

Monday morning and turned the "data" back on for the blackberry, I stopped watching when it reached more than 300 emails.  Instead I got another coffee and settled in for a busy day!.  No opportunity for a run but happy to get a chuck of work cleared as taking Tuesday off work for Liza's 40th Birthday.

I love my wife, on Tuesday 4.45am I rolled over, planted a kiss and wished happy birthday before slipping out of bed for a 2hour ride with the Quay St guys.  Awesome morning apart from the wind !.  Enjoyed a coffee then headed home for a quick shower then jumped back into bed. :) and to be honest Im not sure Liza even realized I had sneaked away.  A great start to a very special 'relaxing day' of massages and luxury lunch and a lazy afternoon.  Even my bike got a birthday surprise with a service from the local bike shop.  I pick it up today, Wednesday. 


I have realized I am no longer someone who can go train by themselves, I think it is because I am not so contented to be at home.  So lucky me, I have a support team ready to give me a gerry up! People who have a positive look on life and just happy to train with you. So although a took a break whilst on holiday I am back into it without mucking about.  Ride yesterday and today a morning run with the ladies and a blinkin ocean swim today (if I can end my work meetings in time).  Nice one all, Thanks :) 

Would I lie to you?

Enjoying rehidration in Noosa

A busy but enjoyable holiday on the GC (Gold Coast) staying at Mum and Dads apartment in Broadbeach, after a weekend in Sydney.  Check out the views from the apartment in the photos below.  Only a 9 day holiday but it did consume two weekends which traditionally are my key training opportunities with Saturday brick and Sunday long ride.  A total of 11 sessions missed, and I hear a very special brick session where there was a marrige proposal, congrats!!


Now as previously mentioned coach did adjust my training schedule, and I could lie and say I ran everyday during my holiday, but frankly I don't see the point, cos in this week (my first week back) it will be obvious that I have been a slack bum.  But I did do the shopping marathon, when Liza nipped back to NZ for a meeting.  Our friends did a 2 day solid shop from opening to closing.  And to be honest I was buggared!!

I nice break and great to spend time with everyone, and well done to those who secretly joined us and managed to surprise Liza, and special thanks to those who knew but managed to keep the secret.  Nice one!  But now Im back, gosh I need a holiday, a relaxing one .....

Looking up to Surfers Paradise

Looking out over the reserve to the beach

Holiday guilts

6am sitting in bed with a coffee and listening to the waves crashing into the beach, contemplating a run but continuing to stay in bed..... A good week last week although slipped a little in the final few days as I focused on getting work to a state where I didn't have to take the work laptop. Other than my honeymoon it will be the first holiday for this to happen in the sometime.  Instead poor Liza took hers and has had to race back to NZ for a meeting today.

A normal weeks training session at this stage consists of ...
Monday - 50min run, drills and core
Tuesday - 2hr road ride, 60min swim
Wednesday - 60 - 80 min run
Thursday - repeat Tuesday's effort
Friday - day off
Saturday - normal brick session, 60min of each swim, bike, run
Sunday - long bike ride 5hours +

This week coach has been kind and amended my training plan to include alternative swim, run days just to keep me moving but also to let me enjoy the holiday.  I know when I get back I will be back in line ASAP as I have some training buddies who won't let me slack off.

Another good start ..

Off to a great start for the week yay!....

Monday and again a mate popped in after work so I had no choice but to go running!, even Liza was able to join us.  We headed to a discrete local park for some running drills.  Not only do you look like a bit of an egg, hence the need for a discrete location, but they are actually harder than you think.  One of us (Liza) is not so coordinated :) hence looked more of an egg than some hehe.  Although in her defence it was her first time and we have looked like eggs for much longer than her.  The run was a good hit out, I was feeling awesome on the first half so sprinted to the turn around point, but well, not so cool as they both kicked by butt in the run for home.  I was the sad sack out the back. Buggar!

This morning (Tuesday) back on the bike for a 5.30am start (2 hour bike).  A few of us started earlier and raced out to pick up some ks, but duh we didn't realise we had a tail wind until we headed back to meet the rest of the group at 6am.  Huge head wind!!!!  Anyway a great ride, thought it would hurt more after Sundays effort, but once I was warmed up, not so bad. We knocked off a steady 45k yah!  Celebrated with a egg on toast at the Quay St Cafe.

Now about to slip into the togs for a 60min swim..... I see a 8pm bedtime coming on ......

First 100K + on a bike

NZ-Cyclists Sunday Riders - Im in Blue

It's Sunday, on the training calendar is a long ride.  So a mate and I are looking to join the nz-cyclists again this week, but unlike last week we plan to stick with them for the full ride.  A hilly 110k!

I was worried about Albany Hill but it seems that was the easy bit !!! Lots of undulating hills, take a look at the elevation below.  Happy to report I wasn't first but I certainly wasn't last - all the time anyway :)  Struggled the last 20k, I think Ridge Road was a nasty surpirse towards the end. Unfortunately even the Albany downhill was difficult with the gusty wind but still managed to reach 60K +, PS don't tell Liza she will only worry. 

Now one trick to having a fancy Garmin, don't forget to restart the timer if you happen to stop duh!!! So if you read the stats below it says 106K, but the agreed consensus is 110K in 5hours 8mins.  Based on the average of everyones Garmin.  I swear !

Was planning for a afternoon on the couch, but not possible today so it's 8.30pm and yes Im about to head to bed ....zzz..............

The Prequel

Like every good triology i.e. Star Wars and Star Trek, mid flow some smart ass decides to add in a "prequel" which shows the background to the main story.  This is my "prequel", I am motivated to share this story as it reveals what drives me and I feel it is important for those who are supporting my journey.

Myself, in a different life

Once upon a time in another life, I was a different person caught in the vicious cycle of yoyo diets, eventually just giving them up all together.  In my peak I got to 154 kilo and finally I had enough of feeling uncomfortable and terribly unhappy.  I decided to make a life changing decision, one that I don't regret but certainly one that I hope people won't judge me on and previously (and perhaps still) one I don't like to share or talk about.  With medical intervention I was able to control the amount of food I can consume, it is amazing how little food your body actually needs.  And with diet alone i.e no or limited exercise, you can lose a significant amount of weight.  In 12 months of food portion control I lost an amazing 70+ kilos, almost 50% of my previous weight.

The decision I made is one that I can never reverse, but it has helped me to maintain a steady weight since.  Funny thing is I am stoked to be a steady ~ 80 kilo, but it makes me sad as when I was previously at this weight I was doing one of those well advertised weight programs and at the time I was made to feel crap because I was still considered too big as I was 20 kilo above my ideal weight!.  Well what a load of ..... unfortunately that did not enspire me to continue and hence I gave up.


You know when something big is happening in your life it seems that relevant stuff appears everywhere, well for me it is around the time that mini triathlon and duathlon series were popping up.  I started off with a few Real Woman and Contact Tri's, I then began to set a goal of one event per month for 12 months.  I loved the atmosphere and the focus of these events to just get people moving.  Perfect for me !!! 

Hamner Fun Run

Real Womans

Thats me on the podium, 3rd spot

Finish line - 1st half marathon

Now Im no 'rockstar' and I will never be the fastest, although I did get a podium finish in a contact duathlon, lucky they didn't reveal how many folks were in the race :) hehe.  My goal is to pick events where the challenge is finishing, and with that I made a goal to run my first half marathon.  Which I did, and I cried like a baby when I finally crossed the line.  A cold and wet Christchurch day, the real motivator to keep running was my brother - he came out to support me and would pop up along the course unexpectly to cheer me on.  I was worried he was going to catch me walking!

Ticked that one off so decided on a half ironman, November 2010 at Lake Hood.  Convinced by brother to be my coach and hence I became a 'sponsored' athlete - cantab style.  Sister in law lent me her old road bike, shoes and other bits and bobs.  At the time the thought of swimming 2k was fine, but then a 90k ride (yeah right!) then a 21k run (what the??) almost seemed impossible and how was I going to do this within the 7 hours time restriction.  But I am stubborn and the more some folks told me I couldn't do it, the more I was going to... in fact I got tired of hearing NO so I simply cut those people out of my life and made friends with people who said I could. What a difference ..... hence to say I crossed the line in a sweet 6hrs and 45 mins.


After crossing the blue mat I believed if I want it I can achieve anything !  For the last few years I have been distracted with love, and marriage to my beautiful.  But always in the back of my mind the next challenge, a full IRONMAN.

You know losing such a lot of weight doesn't come without its side effects, thank goodness for granny support underwear !! And although I have investigated in having the excess skin removed (awaiting that lotto win) I think it is appropriate to take this body to the Ironman and finish a journey which I started in a different life.

And the journey begins...

Break out the red shoes

Another Saturday brick session done and dusted :) Good swim this morning, coach had us doing tri sprints at the end , where everyone leaves the wall at the same time.  It means we all fight for some clear water and it "sort of" replicates race starts in the ocean.  A good opportunity to get pay back for any cross arms etc.. during the session, managed to knock a mate in the head and smack someone with my elbow, but I got swam over and pulled under and got a kick in the side.  So fair all round I reckon, I gave what I got :)

Unfortunately wind trainer session today, but it does represent an opportunity to break out those flashy shoes I won, you know the red bike shoes worth $500+.  Im too embarrassed to wear them in public, in case someone gets the wrong idea and thinks Im really good or a plonker pants who buys all the gears but has no glues!

The small run off the bike was followed by a 'bike skills' session down at Chelsea Sugar carpark.  A riding mate offered to give Liza a few lessons on the bike and I thought I would tag along.  Needless to say the rule, "what goes on tour stays on tour" applies, but did anyone see that dog ????? :)

But we did get attacked by these cute baby ducks .....

A perfect day

So had a relapse on Wednesday by missing the run, seems I need a group/or someone to spur me on, I can no longer rely on my own motivation.  How sad!!!

But I feel I somewhat redeemed myself today with a 2hour this morning, again kicking off at 5.30am.  Then finished the day with swim squad.  Kicking back on the couch as I await the missies to get home.

Now folks have said I need more pictures so here you go, a stunning photo of the Quay St riders after this mornings effort.

And just to prove we did actually bike, here are our bikes.

Sponsored Athlete - Cantab Style

Its Tuesday and its been a good day on the training front.  A near 2 hour ride on the road this morning with the Quay St guys and then an hour swim this evening with the Tri Club.  Not to mention yesterday for the first time in about 3 weeks I completed my 50min run, only because Liza dobbed on me, in the last blog entry, I got an email from a mate about 30sec later said I better be in my running gear by 5pm as she was popping round and we were heading out for a run.  So thanks ! I was dreading it but it was great :)

Funny story bout the same mate, it seems Jafas class 'sponsored riders' as being professionals, where as us cantabs merely refer to being a 'sponsored rider' if you managed to score your sister inlaws old road bike and bits and pieces.  So when I said jokingly one day I was a 'sponsored rider' it seems they assumed the Jafa interpretation !!!! I wonder what they must have been thinking when they saw me ride for the first time ???

Just to be clear Im a riding novice, in fact Im really an exercise novice !!!  It's been a 5 year journey ... stay tuned for my next entry ...

Bonked

Monday morning and can't see further than a few metres due to the heavy rain and it's windy.  Sucks!  Lucky this mornings session can be done indoors on the treadmill with some core exercises.  Better clear up before tomorrow morning or that will really suck especially now we have agreed to ride for an extra 30min. i.e. 2 hours.

So promised to talk about 'half wheeling', here is my understanding and observation ......

Where you ride with your wheel overlapping the person in front, they don't know you are there but if they move sideways to avoid a pot hole, you will take them out as well as yourself and likely a any other rider near by .... if you are further ahead i.e. passing, then at least you and they can fend off with shoulders etc.. but still hold your line and hence can keep riding.

If you search 'half wheeling' on google it seems this is not 100% correct ...

Some folks say half wheeling is when riding in pairs and the person next to you always wants to be a half wheel in front, hence you speed up to keep up and then they move another half wheel ahead, then before you know it everyone is sprinting.  Apparently a cure is to ride them hard until they bonk.  Which I assume means until they are tired and hit the wall then you leave them for dust.

I think the key message is DONT DO IT! The last thing you want is to get bonked by the team, he he :)

New group ride

6am Sunday morning, time to get up for the pending group ride.  Meeting at 7am for a 7.15 departure.  To bad I have spent the last hour coughing up my lungs!.  Poor Liza, no sunday sleep in this weekend, although I had planned to sneak out of the house, seems all the family (who came to stay for weekend, sweet) got up also.  Oops. 

New ride group this morning with nz-cyclists and I gotta say everyone was great and very supportive.  Unfortunately the other two trainee buddies weren't in top form either, one decide to knock off a quick 80k+ on Saturday and the other hard gone hard out all week and had to play a semi final hockey Sunday afternoon.  So... sick and sore we excused ourselves from the group, but only after we promised to return the following week :)  Then rather than the planned 100k+ us sad sacks managed to knock out a good 40k, with hills!!!   See below.....

Now we are not completely slack bums as we agreed to ride a bit further on Tuesday and Thursdays so meeting at 5.30am, rather than 6am.  I think that is commitment!.

Going soft!

It's Saturday morning and I should be hardout training in the normal brick class but today I have taken the soft route and my excuse is a head cold which I eluded too in the last installment.

Im really keen to do the 100-120k ride tomorrow so thought to take one extra day to recover.  Besides the sister in law and 2 out of the 3 kids have come to Auckland for an impromtu visit, heading to the airport to collect them in a few minutes.... Yay!!!!!

Just got an email from the Ironman NZ folks promoting their 30th anniversary for the 2014 race.  Apparently all entries in 2013 are guaranteed a spot in the anniversary race.  I wonder how my wife would feel about this, since I promised to only do such things every second year.......