Liza's Day in the Sun!

The Artists, Caitlin (left) and Amelia

What a wonderful day (Sunday 28th Oct), light breeze, sun shinning, a great day for a 42k run ... after all the support Liza has given me and will give me, today was her day! The Auckland Marathon.

The alarm starts screaming at a crazy 4am, time for Liza to stuff down some breaky and begin preparations for her day ahead.  Apply the vaseline, blister plasters .... oh and bring me a coffee in bed as I try to steal another 20mins of sleep.  Drop Liza down at the birkenhead ferry at 4.50am, for her cruise to the start line at Devonport.

The Banner, "Go Aunty Liza!"

I raced off to put up the banner (which the girls made yesterday) somewhere on the last leg on the course.  Surely being so early, this would be easy ??? but NO race organizers already have the course layed out and roads closed off.  The short story, I had to drive long and far to get to the back of Mission Bay, then leave the car and go for a jog in the dark to find a suitable spot.


By the time I got back home, I had to through the bike on the back of the car and other essentials (like a first aid kit!, water and dinasour lollies) and head back down to the course.  Ditched the car down bottom on Onewa, and started to bike the route looking for my girl.  She was crusing down Lake Road at a good steady pace!  I met her again on Quay St, see photo, she was in a good space, nice and steady run.  I was able to ride on the cycle path all the way down to St Heliers and back, hence was able to provide text updates to her adoring fans :).  Around the 27k so hooked up with another racer and they managed to help get each other around the course, sweet!

At 24k and still running

A bit of a hard grind especially when she hit the normal 30k wall and had to revert to a bit of a walk, but as I say as long as you keep moving forward it is all good.  I skipped away for the final few ks to wait at the finish line, but seems she got a burst of speed as the announcer called her name as she crossed the line, I had to ditch the bike and run!.

A mere 6hours and 9mins :) and as some say you have a goal to bet next year hehe.  But for now, enjoy in the victory and finishers medal.  Well done my love xx

Yay the finisher medal!

Brick with Iron Maori

Another Saturday, and the perfect morning for a dip in the ocean and a few hours on a bike.  A leisurely 7am kick off, so down at Takapuna beach by 6.30 to allow enough time to stuff yourself within your wetsuit and register, if your extra keen some warm stretches with Brent Foster.  Although must admit moving and stretching within a snug rubber suit is not so easy or I expect glamorous to watch.

Anton showing off, throwing in a few push ups

Today's swim session was better executed this morning as everyone was split into four different groups to match your swimming ability, meaning each group had a coach and you focused on learning skills specific for you.  I was a Baraacuda, rather than a Dolphin, perhaps this describes my swimming ability ? aggressive ??  Today we learn't about drafting and swimming on the hips of others, I can tell you it works and swimming is easier.  But if the person your drafting is not used to swimming in a straight line you can end up all over the place.  Today I think we spent more time swimming over top of each other.

The ride was good, meet up with the Iron Maori team, only a few more weeks before their Half Ironman in Napier so everyone was up for a 80k ride after their swim and perhaps a run off the bike.  We all got our butts round the course, only a few breaks :) to be had.  Back at the car at 1.30pm, so after a 7am kick off I needed to make tracks home as we had the girls coming over.  So buggar, no opportunity for a quick run.

Thanks all!!

Taking a break at Silverdale

The reward

The perfect poached egg :)

Another great day for a ride with the Quay St Gang, the hardcore (me and one other) kicked off with a 5.30am start and we met up with a few others at 6am. Another awesome ride and an opportunity to grill some of the experienced guys about the Taupo Cycle Challenge, it seems we may have a dedicated group who want to ride the entire 160k together and utilize each others energy and skills to drag us all around the course.  Suites me as I have no idea what Im in for !  But I am told I need to get out there for a lot more long rides, thanks for the advice camp mother!.


Liza went for a run and met us at the cafe later.  mmm perfectly poached eggs on toast and a long black, the reward for the 4.50am alarm. :) and Mrs J loves to score the extra slice of 5 grain bread, your welcome.

Liza (in red) and the Quay St Gang

Blame it on the flashy car

So true story I swear!  Yesterday I was dressed in my togs bout to run out the door for swim squad, when Liza pulled up in her car.  Planning to save time she climbed out and I jumped in.  Got to the pool, when I stopped, the dam car died. 

Realized that Liza's flash car has a keyless option, meaning you don't need the key in the ignition but you do need it near by ..... Yup you go it! Still in Liza's handbag at home.  Couldn't lock the car, start the car ... a big fat nothing !!!!!  By the time I had put out the emergency call for Liza to bring the keys, the swim session only had 20 mins left, so I flagged it.

Good intentions....ruined by a flashy car!

Do you like my new Coffee Table Centre Piece?

I promise to polish it everyday, whilst in my care :)

Who's a little competitive?

After a great weekend with family in town, today was back on the bike and back into the training routine.  Rather than the normal 5.30am start we kicked off at a leisurely 6am :).  The weather has been dreadful and I suspect this is why only four of us showed.  But was a great wee group, and today I really enjoyed the bursts of competiveness to the top of each hill and then along the back straights on the way home.  Always a giggle when you think you got someone beat then they peg you at the last minute dam it!!

Learned about 'stomping' today, it refers to when you stomp on the pedals to get that burst of speed when racing out of corners or latching onto a passing bunch.  Had to put it into practice a few times to keep up with those cheeky buggars trying to sneak ahead when everyone is slowing for the corner.

Interesting story (for me anyway), my brother who happens to do a bit of riding himself was having a laugh at some of my previous posts, one inparticular related to the wearing of fluro.  It seems he was fully aware of the unwritten rule, regular riders do not wear fluro, however it seems he forgot to mention this in any previous discussions we have had on riding.  His comment was, "it was appropriate that I wore fluro as it showed my novice status".  Cheeky sod, I thought family was mean't to give you the heads up, inside word, that type of thing .....

Over this past week I have been quietly debating (internally) whether or not I could pull off a double whammy with regards to events.  Since opting out of K2 and listening to people talk about the Taupo Cycle Challenge (160k), it is something that I would be quite keen to knock off the list.  Unfortunately the timing is not ideal, only 2 weeks before the Taupo Half Ironman, will 2 weeks be enough recovery time?????

Yesterday I had a word with coach and in her calming words, "I am happy for you to to do Taupo cycle just means we won't taper for taupo half and that's cool as we want you peaking at March and doing two big events back to back means you can then have a good couple of weeks EASY.....I always say you must do what you enjoy doing and if your loving the cycling then go for it :)"

So just sorting a couple of logistics, but looks like Im in ! ..... it will either do two things 

1) remind me how far 180k is and hence scare me into more training, as I struggle to do 160k, or 

2) remind me that somewhere deep inside I do have the mental toughness and Im on track for March 2nd.

Personally Im picking it is more likely to be point 1.

Here is the Taupo Cycle race ....

Look who I met on the Street

World Series Podium, Andrea in 3rd

Yes it has been a few days since my last post, and yes that means the training has been a little lite and work has been overwhelming.  In short I have a project needing fulltime attention and on top I am now supporting a speedy QA, UA and Field Test, all within the next 7 weeks. A sweet combination for a perfect storm, therefore need to put focus on it now, hence early morning finishes and early morning wake ups.

However, what a awesome distraction to have family up to stay this long weekend. And it happens to be the ITU World Series Race in Auckland. :). Managed to sneak away yesterday for an unexpected ride with a buddy, we only had 1.5 hours approx, so we headed towards Albany and did some hill repeats up Albany hill.  Gee, never thought I would say that given 6 weeks ago I had been too scared to even contemplate riding up this hill. Just reminds you how far you have come.  Shhh but managed to beat my previous downhill record, 63.3kph, don't tell Liza..... :)

Me, Andrea and Liza

Yesterday we all (including family) went to watch the Elite Womans Race of the ITU Grand Final, and wouldn't you know it ! We bumped into Andrea Hewitt on the street, see photo.  She had just been crowned no. 3 in the world, see the other podium picture.  Nice work !!!

This morning was mean't to be another ride, but decided to hang this morning with the kids and watch Ben 10, Scooby Doo and other exciting programs :) whilst the rest of the family slept.  Thanks to my regular early morning starts I was wide awake by 6am, so it was kinda cool to have the kids to hang with ...... I promise to go for a run later.... promise.