Iron Jack

I’ve had a nutrition backthrough - or more precisely, a gel breakthrough!

I’ve been feeling really good about my nutrition programme for a while. Rachel Scriven from FoodFX in Tauranga has been sorting me out on this and it has largely been working very well. I know what I’m meant to be eating and drinking and when. As they say, nutrition is actually the fourth discipline in a triathlon so its critical to get it right.

However, there has been one slight issue. An important component of my nutrition plan is gels for quick, easy and effective carbohydrate consumption on the go. They are light and easy to use, and pretty much are a must for the bike and the run.

Except they weren’t working at all well for me.

I suffer badly from IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome). At times in the past it has kept me closeted inside and unable to leave the house. It has also left me very depressed. Specialists had always told me that a good diet, exercise and reducing my stress levels would help my IBS significantly - turns out they were right! I have had minimal problems over the past two years on my journey towards Ironman. The training not only helps my body keep fit and well, it reduces my stress levels as well so its a win-win situation.

The only time I was having a problem during training was with the gels. I was using Leppin which is one of the old Kiwi favourites. My tummy would tolerate them - just - on the bike, but not at all on the run, always leaving me caught out and desperate to find a bathroom. They didn’t agree with me at all.

The Half Ironman was getting closer and something had to be done. I couldn’t run the risk of having a major tummy problem on the bike or the run. It was going to be enough of a struggle as it was, without the added pressure of tummy problems.

So I tried some GU. They are an American product which I started seeing around the shops, and an American friend also recommended them. Perfect. Absolutely no problem - no twinges, no cramps, nothing. I thought it was a fluke, so tried them again, and again. Ever since switching to GU, I haven’t had any problems with my tummy. I couldn’t work out why - surely it couldn’t be this easy? Then I checked the packaging - contains chamomile and ginger - problem solved! When things have been really bad with my tummy, I always turn to ginger and chamomile and it always does the job. GU might only have small amounts in them, but it is clearly enough to do the job for me. It is a huge relief.

I’ve now used them throughout the peak summer training and they have been awesome - I’ll be strapping eight to my bike on the day!

So, do you GU?

Given I started writing about the Ironman Training Camp, I thought I better finish it off with the grand finale!

The final day of Ironman Training Camp (Sunday) was to be the big one - the 180km ride. To say that I was completely petrified about this ride would be the understatement of the year!

I did end up having some great conversations with other like-minded women on the camp about the cycle leg, the fear of not finishing and the Ironman challenge about to be embarked on. They had done Ironman previously and it was completely reassuring to know that I am not alone in my fears and concerns - everything I have been thinking and going through - they have been through before. Those conversations gave me a great deal of comfort and reassurance heading into the penultimate day.

The night before I decided that I should treat the big training ride in the same way I would a big event - with a full race plan - yes the dreaded spreadsheet has already made a comeback and we’re not even in race week!

I took some time out on my own to put a plan together. Essentially I broke the ride up into eight parts - each of approximately 20 to 25km, but based around milestone stages in the ride, as opposed to fixed kilometres. These are:

• Taupo to the bottom of the hills (some climbs out of Taupo but mainly downhills and fast!)
• Bottom of the hills (the plane paddock) to Reporoa
• Reporoa to White Road
• White Road to Taupo
• And twice!

This allowed me t0 not only break the ride up into bite-sized chunks, but also allowed me to plan my nutrition and fuel into these sections. I know I don’t eat or drink much in that mainly downhill section - I’m either climbing the Napier-Taupo hill (where its impossible to refuel) or I’m speeding downhill at 60 km per hour (don’t fall off your chair Mum). Because I am slow going up hills, and only moderate on the flats, I have to make the very most of my “speed for free”! It’s the only time where I have weight on my side!

Breaking the ride up in this way also meant I planned all my stops, including my “special needs” bag stop. After the first 90km loop, our aid station was located on Crown Rd - exactly where it will be on race day. I knew exactly where I was going to stop and what I was going to do - reapply sunblock, reapply chafing cream, refill water and Replace bottles, renew fuel and sandwiches.

The plan worked perfectly, and it took all the guesswork out of the ride. I knew exactly what I was going to do and where - just like I will on race day.

The first 90km went perfectly. I was riding more conservatively than I did on Friday, but ended up doing about the same time as I had when I was riding more aggressively! An interesting revelation! I had also deployed the “bottom preservation strategy”. A key concerning factor for me was the state of my very very sore and wounded bottom. It had been agony on the 90km ride on the Friday, and I was incredibly apprehensive about how it would hold up on the longer ride. As a result, I decided to protect it as much as possible, deliberately choosing to ride upright on the very rough sealed parts and not on the aero bars. It worked. I remained relatively comfortable (as far as my bum was concerned anyway!) until approximately 140km - and let’s face it, your bum would hurt after six hours in a car so its understandably sore on a bike after that long!

The fifth and sixth stages back out to Reporoa got harder, but were manageable. I was still in good spirits and riding the uphills and the downhills well, and still managing to crank along on the flats - albeit slower than the first lap, but still at a decent speed.

The turnaround at Reporoa was painful and I had my first moments of self-doubt. Could I really ride another 45km (two hours) back to Taupo? I had never ridden that far before and I was sore and tired. Could I do it?

Fortunately, Kathy was at the pitstop to give me a boost.

“Your time doesn’t matter today - the objective is simply to get it done. You will go faster on race day with fresh legs, so the time just doesn’t matter today.”

Okay, I can do it. Let’s go.

So off I went. It was absolutely stinking hot by this stage. I was sore and I was tired. But I was still moving. Loved going up the hills, loved the downhill into Taupo (apart from nearly being collected by a glider!) and loved pulling into the camp house.

I did it. 8h21 - in my dreams I’d hoped for eight hours, but I was thrilled with 8h21. I know I can ride 180km and I know that all going well, I will ride faster than that on the day and will make the cutoff for the bike. A huge confidence boost.

I was shattered, but stoked.

The 180km ride - done!

I’ve seen this a number of times, but Coach Kathy gave it to us in a folder at the weekend and I’ve just cracked up reading it again! Its even more relevant now than it ever has been!

Twenty five ways to tell if you’re a triathlete:

25. One of your goals this year is to be faster at getting out of a wetsuit.

24. You talk about a “hammer” and “brick”, but you’re not referring to construction

23. You spend seven days going to eight stores in four malls before buying a pair of running shoes. But you take one afternoon to go to one car dealership and walk out with a new car four hours later.

22. That charming cologne (or perfume if you’re a girl) you wear to work is chlorine.

21. You have more water bottles than glasses in your cupboard.

20. You have enough pairs of old running shoes sitting in your closet to open your own shoe store.

19. You immediately bow down before someone with the Ironman “m dot” tattoo. (Is it really tragic I’ve got one of those?)

18. You have NO idea what to do with yourself on your off day. You mowed the lawn, cleaned the house, washed the car, and there’s STILL four hours of daylight left! Aarrgghh!

17. You often show up to work in the morning with goggle imprints around your eyes

16. You have so many tan lines you look like a zebra Running socks, bathing suit, jersey, biking shorts, tri shorts, sunglasses, gloves, watch, etc. (This is really nice at the beach.)

15. The first three items on your grocery list are Gatorade, power bars, and gels. (Make that Horley’s Replace, gels and pasta - power bars do not have a good effect on my body.)

14. You get funny looks when putting on Body Glide on your neck because people think it’s deodorant.

13. About half the shirts you own have at least a dozen logos on the back of them.

12. You wait a couple of days to take your car in when the check engine light goes on, but when your bike needs a tune up you take it right away.

11. You refer to the front hall of your house as the “transition area”.

10. The one “suit” you own has ORCA on the chest. (Or Ironman. Though I really, really want one of the new Orca suits.)

09. When you get home from a training session, the newspaper is just being delivered to your house.

08. You consider work regeneration time between training sessions.

07. Your bicycle is in your living room. (Or bedroom.)

06. Your car smells like a locker room - and you are the only one who doesn’t smell it.

05. There’s a separate load of laundry every week that is just your workout clothes. (One load? I should be so lucky. Try three or four.)

04. When asked how old you are you answer 35-39.

03. Your first thought when you wake up is how high your rest HR is.

02. Your spouse cried during Terms of Endearment; you cried during the television coverage of the Hawaii Ironman. (Every time. And inspiring triathlon videos.)

01. Most of this list doesn’t seem like a joke to you!

Its a gorgeous day in Taupo - in fact it is stinking hot, I’m a little bit sunburnt and there are now a few white caps on the lake. But its a gorgeous day.

And my “excitrified” feelings have well and truely kicked in. (For a full explanation of excitrified, check out my friend Toni’s blog - http://irongirl101.blogspot.com/2011/02/today-word-of-day-excitrified.html - a new phrase we have coined in an effort to try and describe what we are currently going through in the build-up to Ironman!)

We’re here for a three day Ironman Training camp with Coach Kathy and the Fit Goals team - there are about 10 of us doing Ironman and a support crew of four. Its an awesome team. Fun is a major factor in the programme and we are having lots of it! At the end of day two, it has mainly consisted of highlights:

• A personal best 90km ride from Taupo to Reporoa and return (one lap of full Ironman course)
• An absolutely sensational 12km run off the bike - and I mean sensational - I shouldn’t be able to run like that, I was flying!
• A 4km lake swim this morning - slightly slower than I had hoped, but the general consensus is that the course was slightly long (10 people can’t be wrong - right?!)
• Mini-golf tournament - loads of fun! Lots of laughs and two holes-in-one by me!
• Transition walk- through, lots of photos, questions and able to visualise it all falling into place

The purpose of this weekend (apart from fun) was to gain the confidence that I can really do it. After yesterday’s run off the bike, I am feeling confident about my ability to run well off the bike. So that’s been a definite winner.

But I am still incredibly petrified (not excitrified this time - just petrified) about the dreaded 180km ride. By 7am tomorrow we will be on the road. Hopefully, just over eight hours later it will be done. And the concern - my poor bottom. It gives up well before my legs do.

Fingers crossed.

There are just 32 days to go until Ironman NZ in Taupo and right now my biggest concern and fear is avoiding injury or illness (and making the cutoffs but that’s a whole other story).

The past few weeks have been huge on the training front, clocking up some major kilometres in the pool, on the bike and on my feet. As a quick summary, in short it has been going pretty well. There have been highlights and lowlights. There are days when I am full of positivity and optimism about my ability to complete Ironman within the time limits. And there are days, particularly when the wind is really blowing, that I fall into a complete panic attack about the cutoffs. Largely, if the weather is generally fine or overcast, with some wind (ie. not blowing a gale) I will be able to do it. And if not, well the weather is completely outside my control!

But my major preoccupation at the moment is about injury or illness.

Every day I do a bit of a body check - legs? sore but fine. Quads, tight, need some stretching, but fine. Ankles? all good. Arms? Bit fatigued from swimming, but otherwise fine. So far I am holding up okay. I am trying to take good care of myself - getting lots of rest (well as much as I can with two little boys running around on school holidays), a now-weekly massage with Heidi to make sure my body is as well-tuned as it can be, lots of fresh fruit and vege and watching everything that goes in my mouth and making the right decisions about activities ie. shall I run around the Blue Lake and potentially roll an ankle - no, I don’t think I will thanks, a 5.5km run on smooth footpaths will do instead!

I find I am constantly questioning my health. Is that a sore throat? I feel like I’ve been fighting off a cold since the day before the Taupo Half Ironman to be honest. Again, lots of good food, vitamin C and rest will help.

I’ve also f0und I’ve become a lot more superstitous than usual! I never have been able to walk under ladders, but that’s always been the extent of it. Not so at the moment!

I’ve been wearing a Power Band since about October or November. No I haven’t noticed any major improvement with performance - although it may be helping with recovery. Latest media reports are that the band is completely useless - but I can’t possibly take it off now until after Ironman - something might go wrong without it!!

I’ve been taking Olive Leaf extract for about a year. Again, I’m not completely confident that it’s actually doing anything for me, but everytime I run out I get a cold, so after realising I had run out again, a late night trip to the supermarket was in order to make sure the regime wasn’t interrupted!

Yes I have lucky togs, goggles, socks and cycle pants. I won’t travel without my Maori bone carving either around my neck or in my toilet bag. And yes, if I haven’t freshly painted my toenails before an event, I simply won’t perform!

Whether these things physically help or not - they certainly help the head. So I’m going to keep on with them until after March 5 - after all, they can’t make me go any slower can they?!

This is getting a bit back to front, with my race report for the Taupo Half Ironman done before the Tinman I did last weekend - but this is the most recent and of course, the most significant! I thought I’d get the race report done now, and try and write about how I’m feeling about it all later. Suffice to say, words nearly can’t describe how proud I am of my achievement - nor how sore I am today. I am proud and delighted with yesterday’s effort, and very very grateful for all my supporters everywhere - friends, family, colleagues, Facebook and Twitter friends - you have all played such an invaluable role in getting me to the finish line. Thank you. And now, the really hard work begins - the NZ Ironman is just 12 weeks away!

So, to the race report (its a bit long):

Set alarm for 4:15am in the end. Up and eating by 4:30am, was worried about getting my tummy sorted and getting the car packed and away on my own! Also had a sudden panic about whether I’d be able to get into the road by the Police Station. Just drove around cones. Sorted! Was in transition by 5:05am – very early but knew that I would have everything sorted in loads of time.

All went well. Laid everything out in order. Food packs with each set of gear. Pumped tyres to just over 100. Didn’t think it was going to be a stinking hot day but didn’t want to take any chances!

Left all my Leppin at transition! Realised I needed one for just before swim so had to go back. Pleased I had loads of time.

Found a Police colleague from Palmerston North by the Police Station so had a good, distracting chat while I got my wetsuit on. It was good!

Went into water and listened to briefing in water – didn’t put my head under just yet though – was a bit cold! After briefing, got into it, did some swimming. Was really happy with the way the wetsuit was feeling on my arms. Swam out to race start.

Start seemed to take a long time to come, I got quite cold. Was just waiting and waiting! Cracked up at the national anthem – didn’t quite feel like standing at attention to sing! Was happy with position.

Race started, started watch and got underway. Not too much like a washing machine, managed to hang onto loads of people’s feet! Realised very very quickly that there were lots of people at my level in the swim – or slower – was a nice feeling. Passed lots of people. Was feeling incredibly comfortable. Arms working well, breathing going well. Absolutely loving the swim. Got to the first buoy in no time, still feeling really comfortable, never needed to stop to breaststroke for a breather. Am really really happy with the swim. Room for improvement time-wise, but very happy.

Got out of water and started slow jogging along the carpet – and felt good! I passed people! Wasn’t a difficult run at all. Unzipped wetsuit along carpet, but didn’t pull out arms until going up the steps. I was ahead of time.

Got out of wetsuit, pulled up my change towel and very easily got out of my bikini bottoms and into cycle pants – didn’t take as long as I thought it would – I had been a bit worried because I hadn’t practised it! Even got the chafing cream on okay! Got my top on, shoved a peanut butter sandwich in my mouth while I carried on getting ready. Sort of dried feet, pulled on socks and shoes, sunglasses (put lens’ in my back pocket in case my contacts played up), put on my helmet. Put on my race number. Left. Walked out – rolled my ankle in a hole just before the bike mount! Grrr! Hoped that wouldn’t come back to bite me later!

First quarter of bike: Wow, feel GREAT on the bike. Very comfortable. Pants feel good. Was a bit worried about Napier-Taupo Highway. And it was absolutely fine – didn’t even need to stand to get up it! Couldn’t believe it! The slight uphill to the ETA seemed to take absolutely forever! Only a few people passed me at this point. Got onto ETA, slugged back some drink. Nice smooth road – loved it! Something metal pinged off my bike – WTF was that? Slight panic while I tried to make sure it wasn’t a wheel pin or something! Realised it was my CO2 canister which had flicked out of the rear bottle holder. Talk about a fright!

The rest of this first quarter went superbly well and exactly to plan. I ripped down the hills and was rocking on the flats. Way ahead of time. I was stoked. Had a Leppin in the first quarter. New Cyclezone cycle jersey is just awesome – first time I haven’t been constantly tugging a jersey down!

Second quarter also went superbly well – seemed to take forever to get to Reporoa – but it always does on this bit. Average of 27 – absolutely stoked. On the aero bars or drops most of the way. Fuelled and hydrated along the way. Still way ahead of time. Got to Reporoa (first time I’d seen Mike since Friday!) in under 1h45. Very very happy. Got off and went to the toilet. Bottom already very sore in the new spot.

A few people passed me, but I just kept thinking – I beat you in the swim! Started eating jet planes. I was very happy with this leg, and knew that I could push it over 90km – which admittedly, I don’t do in training.

Third quarter of the bike: Suck. Absolutely suck. The headwind was worse than any I have trained in, and I have trained in some bad wind. Constant head wind, right from the turn around. The goal was to maintain 22 to the bottom of the hills, but just couldn’t – could barely keep it above 12. It was just awful. I nearly got blown off my bike on one corner, and was going backwards in some places. It was just suck. I just hadn’t planned a contingency around wind – or that sort of wind. Had a peanut butter sandwich at some point. Also started on the protein bar. Replaced water at the aid station.

Fourth quarter of bike: Couldn’t wait to get to the hills! Who would have thought I would say that! And they were absolutely fine. I got out of the saddle for them, mainly to rest my bum. Actually enjoyed them! Had hoped they would give me a reprieve from the wind but sadly they didn’t. Focused on eating jet planes and protein bar and taking on fluid. Sped down the hills to get into town, but didn’t get as fast as I’d hoped due to the wind factor.

Completely gutted with the time. I’d done 3h55 on a bad bottom day previously and had been hoping for 3h45. Disappointed and a bit worried about how much the wind had taken out of my legs for the run. Ended up with an overall average speed of 22.5. Gutted.

Stuffed another sandwich down my mouth. Pulled out my change towel and managed to get out of bib shorts and into tri shorts pretty easy. Took off cycletop and put on fuel belt (which rocks by the way!) Was a bit worried about using it when I hadn’t trialled it in training but it was just awesome. Fluffed around a bit trying to decide what fuel to take. My tummy doesn’t like running very much so I was a bit worried about how that would go. In the end took a sandwich and another bag of jetplanes and protein bar squares and a Leppin. Can’t remember whether I jogged out of transition or not!

First quarter of run: Ouch. Left knee started hurting straight off the bike. Something I need to get sorted! I hurt absolutely everywhere! I absolutely didn’t think I could do it. Mike told me I could! Even though I was gutted about the wind on the bike, I was thankful for the conditions on the run because it wasn’t too hot – I actually felt cold at some points! Couldn’t go any faster than 130 heart rate – legs just dead. Focused on keeping moving, steady pace, taking on water. Walked hill up to turnaround.

Second quarter of run: Actually managed to get heart rate up into 140 for most of the rest of the run so was reasonably happy with that. Focused on taking on fluid. Realised I had only brought one Leppin with me which was a bit of a concern. At the first fuel stop they told me they had run out, but managed to grab a couple of extra gels on the way back. Still hurting but still moving which gave me a big boost! Had a Leppin at some point on the way back into town – and immediately my tummy starting getting upset. First time the whole day. I definitely need to fuel up on the bike because my system doesn’t like it on the run. With superb timing, my friend Nina appeared out of nowhere and gave me some Gastrosoothe – five minutes later problem gone. Fantastic and awesome learning for next time! Went to the toilet at the harbour. Walked the hill up to the transition area.

Third quarter of run: Mike was waiting opposite KFC on the lakefront with our friend Ben. I had run out of water by this stage so he ran off to get more. I was worried the fuel stations would run out by the time I got there – I already knew that the bike had set me back and my run was much slower than anticipated so I was worried about being allowed to finish. I also knew I wasn’t going to go under eight hours which was disappointing, but not a deal breaker. Just kept going. Mike and Ben then jumpfrogged the rest of the bike course, waiting for me every few kilometres and helping me keep going. They were awesome. Still running at this point! Couldn’t quite believe it! Very focused on taking on fluid because I knew I wasn’t going to try and eat anything else. Had Balance electrolytes at the aid station – fortunately that didn’t muck me up too much. Decided to walk the hills and run in between.

Fourth quarter of run: Man this was tough. Still running though which I just found unbelievable! Mike and Ben still there the whole way. Kept focusing on what Kathy had said – work out how to get through right now – what will get me through the next 100metres, 500 metres. Starting counting rubbish bins, flags and power poles!! More fluid at every stop. Walking up the hills. People in front of me had walked the whole of the second lap so was trying to catch them. Just got there and they started running! And then finally got to the boat harbour and on the last stretch. Walked up the hill and then ran around the corner and into the finish! Although I hurt everywhere, I still felt very okay about everything!

I was so stoked to finish. Everyone was so supportive and happy. I was so happy. And very proud. I hadn’t thought the Half Ironman would be the achievement it was, mainly because I knew it wasn’t the main goal, but I am so pleased to have done it. It was a huge achievement. If it hadn’t been for that wind on the return lap of the bike, my race plan would have gone nearly perfectly to plan. Everything else did, and in the end, the run wasn’t as bad as I thought it was going to be either.

Swim was sensational.

First part of bike was fantastic.

Second part of the bike sucked.

And the run just had to be done.

Taupo Half Ironman…DONE!

I have often compared Ironman training and childbirth - usually when I’m slogging my way up some hill in Waikite Valley. Most of the time I’m swearing black and blue that childbirth is easier!

And today I can confirm that some of the aftermath and recovery from a big bike ride are exactly the same!

Today I finally rode the Taupo Half Ironman route. The Taupo Half Ironman is now less than two weeks away. I’m completely petrified. But that’s another story.

Another 5:30am start saw me breakfasted and collecting today’s riding buddy, Deborah, just after 6am. Rather than drive all the way to Taupo, we parked at Reporoa and road the route in reverse, down Broadlands Rd to Taupo and back again. This is also the full Ironman route - albeitthe full route takes in two laps. I had tried to ride this route once before with Mike - it didn’t end well!

So it was with some trepidation that I set off this morning. First and biggest mistake today - trialling some new chafing cream. I’m out of Bodyglide, but have also found some other cream that is doing the job even better. I’d run out, they don’t sell it at my bike shop and so I tried a new one - highly recommended by my bike shop and many others. And our club legend Jamie (who rode the Extreme Enduro 8x laps of Lake Taupo non-stop last week!!) swears by it.

But it didn’t work for me. We’d only done an hour and my bottom was absolutely burning. I was really worried I was going to open up my wound it was so sore.

I managed to put it to the back of my mind into Taupo - got off the bike for a toilet stop and actually felt pretty comfortable and more than capable of riding the 45km back. We set off again - this time to tackle the Napier-Taupo Highway hill. This hill keeps me awake at night. When I first left Auckland to take up my first journalism job at age 21, I flatted just off the Highway - and I recalled many a late night stumbling up or down the hill or my way to or from the pub. Today, I got up it no problem. It wasn’t a speedy climb, but it was fine, and nowhere near as bad as some of the hills we’ve been climbing in the Waikite Valley! So that was a big mental achievement.

Next were a series of quite quick downhills, managed to catch up a lot of speed and increase my average. Very happy. And then, with about 20km to go, all on the flat, my bottom really let me down. Every pedal stroke was an absolute burn. It was agony. I literally crawled my way home.

On the plus side, I did it, quicker than I thought - even with crawling the last 20km. My average speed was better than ever before. I know I can ride up the Napier-Taupo Highway hill and I have ridden the Taupo Half Ironman route. On the down side, a sore bum is just the pits and can ruin the ride - and your speed.

So lesson learnt, stick to the chafing cream I know and love!

Which brings me to childbirth.

When I came home from hospital with Oli nearly six years ago, my sister-n-law presented me with a tupperware container containing a pad which had been frozen in a tea tree oil and water solution. Just the trick for sore, tender bottoms apparently.

And it was! Absolutely bliss, numbs the area and the tea tree oil helps take care of any bacteria that might be hanging around.

So here I am, back to the beginning. And I can confirm, that an old wives tale for soothing sore tender bits after childbirth is just the best thing ever for a numb, sore bumb after a long bike ride! Thanks Sarah!

I had my own special spot on Radio NZ this afternoon, sharing my version of the “Best Song Ever Written” on Afternoons with Jim Mora.

Being the news junkie that I am, I’ve been addicted to listening to Radio NZ National for over 10 years. In the car, at work, when I’m working at home, its always in the background to keep me company - and up to date with all the latest news and current affairs here and around the world. Its my news fix!

And I always manage to find myself in the car, just after 1pm, many days a week - just in time to listen to other people’s nominations for the “Best Song Ever Written”. And they’ve had everything - jazz, rock, Sinatra, the works. Mike and I both have a pretty diverse taste in music so I’ve enjoyed nearly all of them - apart from Bob Dylan, sorry just don’t like him!

And every day I drive along thinking “I really must nominate a song one of these days”.

That day came last Thursday. I had travelled to Auckland on my day off ahead of some meetings on Friday. Having mucked up my long run the day before, I took the opportunity to get for a run around Cornwall Park - or One Tree Hill - in the centre of Auckland. Mike and I used to walk around there before we were married, and then with the dog before we had kids, and then with the dog and the buggy! But I hadn’t been there for years and had forgotten how gorgeous it is. Three and a half laps around Cornwall Park later and my long run was done. And an hour and a half of music from my MP3 player reminded me that I really had to make that nomination.

So I sent off my email with two nominations - one The Boxer, by Simon and Garfunkel, and the second, Lightning Crashes, by Live (and that’s a whole other story!). And they came back the next day asking me to be on the programme today! The Boxer it was to be.

So at 1:05pm today I found myself lined up and next on the show. I had a wonderful interview with Jim Mora - of course I can’t talk more than five seconds without getting onto my favourite topic - Ironman - but it is also a topic that’s very relevant to The Boxer. I’ve loved this song for years and years. My parents had lots of LPs so I grew up with them, and this song always struck a chord (no pun intended), with me. Its about a boxer, fighting to survive the long, harsh winter on the streets in New York - and its about never giving up. Which is what I think about all day, every day - never giving up on achieving my Ironman.

Every time the song comes on my MP3 while I’m out training, I replay it three or four times before I let the music move on. Its completely inspiring and it helps me get through.

Its definitely my Best Song Ever Written - and its helping me achieve my journey as well.

I’m having problems loading the interview into this blog post, but here’s the link to the website where you should be able to pick it up! If the post moves, you could search for Jacky James.

http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/afternoons

I’m moving a bit gingerly today - and no that is not a pun about the colour of my hair!

Yesterday, a group of us (including Coach Kathy) headed out for a big bike ride aimed at simulating the Taupo Half Ironman and Ironman course. We had originally intended to ride the actual course, however, this was stymied by some major roadworks just by Broadlands School!

So instead, I headed off early from Ngongotaha to meet the Tauranga group on the Old Te Aroha Rd, just outside Matamata. The forecast was for fine, warm weather, however it was misty, drizzly and cold when I joined the group. Once the tyres were pumped and the fuel loaded, we were off.

The initial route was a bit hilly, but then we were on long undulating flats - very similar to the Taupo course. It was a great chance to practice a number of aspects. I spent a lot of time on the aerobars - Jamie’s words ringing in my ears about trying to spend as much time as possible on the aerobars, including for hill climbs. It was great practice and I came away with a lot more confidence on them. I was also trying out my new riding glasses - with prescription lens’ inside - and some new Specialized riding gloves - sorry Clay, not sold on them yet!

It was also a fantastic opportunity to keep testing my nutrition for these big sessions. I was fully equipped with:

• 5 Leppins (only used two in the end)
• 10 jet planes (gummy lollies)
• 2 peanut butter sandwiches (only had one)
• 1 banana
• 1 bottle of water
• 1 bottle of Replace (which was Replaced - every pun intended - at Te Aroha)
• 1 Ballance protein bar - chocolate berry - yum!

When I first started eating on the bike I found it really hard, but now have a lot more confidence and am much more practised at remembering to stuff the food in. I actually found I was quite full at the end of the ride, and after a recovery protein drink, I didn’t actually need anything else for a few hours. I certainly had the energy I needed to get through the ride.

My war wound also held up okay. It was a bit niggly at times, but largely survived.

So, back to the ride. It was a long way on very long flats and in very misty conditions. We didn’t ride as a bunch ride, but more so that everyone got the quality training session they needed to do. Once again I was tail end Charlie, but tried not to let that get to me and instead focused on maintaining the average speed I needed to.

I did quite well heading out to Te Aroha (a gorgeous little town that I never thought would arrive!) and went just a bit further than there to get my time and kms up. I turned around and headed back for Te Aroha and to refuel my bottles.

Then the really hard yards started. It did feel like it was quicker heading back then going out, but I had underestimated how much extra distance I had gone and ended up riding for longer than I thought I would be. Then I hit the hills which signified the last 10km stretch before the cars. I never thought I would be so glad to see hills as I was then - the flats had really taken it out of me. I managed the hills pretty well, right up until the last killer - I rode the whole way up, but I did suffer from a combination of feeling like I was going to fall off and fainting!

Fortunately, I managed to survive and finally made it back to the car. It was a hugely challenging - but incredibly satisfying - ride, with a great group of people. Thanks everyone.

And the stats…93km in 4h20.

Yes, with just six months to go until NZ Ironman 2011, I have made an incredibly big and gut-wrenching decision which is to change coach. This is a massive decision that has not been taken lightly.

Lawrence is a sensational coach. He coaches a number of very fit and fast people and they are doing exceptionally well under his leadership and guidance.

But I wasn’t.

In short, I am a mum, a wife and an employee and those things all come first and always will. I have a sensational boss who has agreed to let me work four days a week until after Ironman so that I can accommodate all those things even better in my life, particularly training. That extra day a week has made a massive difference and I think I’ll always be grateful to him for his support. But, at the end of the day, if our toddler has been rushed to hospital with suspected pneumonia - I’m not going to be training.

I hadn’t been seeing much improvement for a while, which was proving incredibly frustrating for us both, and I was losing my motivation. Something had to change.

Around this same time I read an amazing book called Inspired Novice to Ironman Finisher. Its about five people who did Ironman in 2008. When I read the first chapter about Tauranga woman Kathy Miller, I felt like I was reading a book about my life. Her experience, thoughts and challenges were so similar to mine it was almost spooky! I got to the end and I knew that if she could do it, I could do it too. She’s so passionate about triathlon and helping other people achieve their goals, that she’s had a career change and is now a Tri NZ certified coach.

As very fortunate luck would have it, one of my training friends, Alison, had her number. I met her for coffee in Tauranga and immediately claimed back some of my inspiration and motivation. It took several more weeks to make the final decision - simply because it was such a big decision to make. But at the end of the day, I’m the one who has to swim, bike and run across the finish line, so the training had to be right.

Its now been seven weeks - can’t believe its been that long - and training is going incredibly well. I’ve had a wee hiccup with my war wound on my bottom (see previous posts!), but I’ve seen major improvements in all areas - swim, run and most importantly, the bike. Full credit to Lawrence, some of that improvement is due to him and the time he  invested in me this year. But a big chunk has been about my head and getting it sorted with Kathy’s help and support. And almost most importantly (for me) is that her philosophy is about having fun!

I’m excited to be training every day. I’m devestated when I’m not. I’m working hard and I’m seeing the results. I think we have the mix right and its working. Just as well…only 142 days to go!