A training update and HAPPY NEW YEAR

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.