A Father Christmas called Bryce

First outing: KCL Properties bought Virginia this new bike,
which she rides home along New Plymouth's coastal walkway.

By Virginia Winder
This year my Father Christmas didn't have a white beard or a red suit.
He didn't have a belly either.
But he was definitely jolly and incredibly generous.
His name is Bryce Barnett and he gave me a new bike for Christmas. A beautiful red Specialised road bike from Mitchell's Cycles and I love it.
Bryce is the owner of KCL Property and his company is my sponsor. Our full story will be told in the Taranaki Daily News next Tuesday (January 3), but I'll tell you a little bit about it here, right now.
A while back, I went to interview Bryce about an unrelated story and took one look at the trim man before me and declared: "Bryce, you look amazing, what have you done?"
He'd not long had a stomach stapling operation and told me about it.
My reply was: "Well that's amazing, because my doctor just recommended I do that but have chosen not to. I'd rather go to Paris."
I was talking about the money I'd spend on the operation, but Bryce was adamant it was the best money anybody would ever spend and I should add to the mortgage on my house to do so.
But then I explained I had thought about it, seriously, but had decided to try to lose weight through good nutrition (not dieting), education and best of all, to become an athlete again. I told him about my goal to do the half-ironman at Tauranga in 2013 and how I was even writing a blog about my journey to wellness.
For a couple of seconds Bryce paused, looked at his wife Delwyn and then said: "I'll sponsor you. Yes, KCL Properties will sponsor you. We'll buy you a bike and pay your entry into the race."
I was gobsmacked.
For a second I paused, which is not like me, and then I replied with profound words: "Wow. That's amazing. Really?"
Since then everything has gone full speed ahead and I have been embraced by the KCL Property juggernaut and Barnett family.
Every day since, I have woken up and grinned at the wonder at it all.
You see, with the sponsorships has come Coach Clint (Sullivan), the KCL general manager, Swim Coach (Chris Rudd), the KCL finance and investment manager, and Bryce's son-in-law Mick McBeth, an osteopath, who is working with the Olympic triathlon team and... me.
For those who might have missed an earlier blog, Clint is an age group triathlete, who has captained the New Zealand team for a couple of age group World Triathlon Champs.
Chris is a Fitzroy clubbie and has a long pedigree as a top surf lifesaver and competitive swimmer.
Mick has a Bachelor degree in Science and Human Biology and a Masters in Osteopathy. His thesis was on managing cycling discomfort.
As you can see, I am truly blessed.
Now I just have to do the work, which for me is the greatest joy of all.
But yesterday, I almost passed out in the swimming pool.
Don't worry or feel sorry for me. Shake your head and roll your eyes (I know Clint and Chris will).
I had a coffee meeting with them last week and they set me a swimming programme that dumped the paddles and the pull boys (too much pressure on the shoulders at this stage) and introduced ladders and something exciting call hypoxic breathing.
The latter is to increase my lung capacity and is akin to altitude training.
The idea is that you do 10 lengths without stopping but alternate the number of times you breathe. You do:
1) 1 length breathing every third stroke
2) 1 length breathing every fifth stroke
3) 1 length breathing every seventh stroke
4) 1 length breathing every third stroke
5) 1 length breathing every fifth stroke
6) 1 length breathing every seventh stroke
7) 1 length breathing every third stroke
8) 1 length breathing every fifth stroke
9) 1 length breathing every seventh stroke
10) 1 length breathing every third stroke

The first two were easy. But the breathe-every-seventh-stroke option... well you try it in a 50-metre pool.
Clint said I might not be able to do it first up.
"Well that was like a red rag to a bull," said my husband when I later explained why I started getting spots in front of my eyes while training.
OK, so when someone says I might not be able to do something I do become a wee bit determined. Alright, teeth-gritting, lung-burning, red-mist determined, which is how I started this quest in the beginning.
But I do admit that when I was half-way through my second go (I succeeded at the first but got the spots, remember), self-preservation did take over and a wee voice piped up: "Virginia, don't be so bloody stupid, breathe! You can build up to this."
So I did.
See, once a lifeguard, always a lifeguard. I saved myself.
Now, the bike.
Oh it's beautiful to ride. I glide along, but I do need to get the claw thingies put into my shoes so they fit into pedals so I don't slip off. Not good when you're hitting a hill.
There will be daily biking reports from now on.
Walking... well that's going a bit slower.
My foot injury is still niggling a bit, but am still able to get out there, but now powering it the same as before (yet!).
As for food, I have learnt a lot about myself in the past few days.
The main thing is I can't bear over-eating.
On Christmas Eve and Day, I allowed myself to eat anything, no holding back. So I ate blue cheese, croissants, turkey, foie gras, home-made pizza, pastries, pate, potatoes, chocolate, ham, lamb, bruschetta, salmon, prawns... you get the picture. Even so, I had small helpings of most things.
Well, I felt hideous.
I had reflux, was bloated, lethargic and felt blah.
On Boxing Day my stomach felt so terrible I couldn't eat at all until dinner time, although I did have a protein shake half an hour before swimming.
Even now, my stomach is protesting.
Wow, what a revelation!
I've got a gut feeling I'm on the right track.
And with the generosity of Bryce and the KCL crew behind me, a flash red bike to speed along on and a troupe of loving supporters (that's you guys!), I reckon the future is looking as bright as my shocking-pink swimming cap.
Happy Days to you all! xxxx

Yesterday, I:
Swam 50 lengths of a 50m pool
Ate little, but well
Drank lots of water
Worked for six hours
Drank 1 cup of coffee