One spill, two to go...

By Virginia Winder
Had my first spill off the bike today.
Coach Clint and Chris (need to come up with an exciting name for him) predicted I'd have three falls, so I can notch one off.
Just grazed an elbow and my left knee, so no major damage, mainly because I fell from a stationary position. The bike was completely unscratched.
It was my first outing wearing my clip-in shoes and was going up and down Gaine St practising stopping and starting. Stopped behind a car and was starting off again when I fell.
My pedals were in the wrong position, so I went to put my foot down but it had already clicked in. Bang, down I went. I lay there feeling pretty pathetic, twisting in vain to get my shoe off the pedal.
Husband Warren sped to my aid, undid my shoe and picked up bike and then me.
I limped to the pavement and asked: "Can we go home now?"
"No, you are getting back on your bike, now," he said. "You are going to do this."
Pouting slightly, I got back on my bike and kept practising.
I can now say I have mastered the click-in, click-out business and can easily stop at intersections.
And I only yelled at one car driver; a woman who opened her car door just as I was passing. Luckily, I second-guessed her move and went wide, but she got the message.
Oh dear, I could be a terror on the roads, but I will do my best to be polite, honest.
I have a new red helmet too, a Christmas gift (thanks Barbara and Graeme), so I now look like a red flame or a fiery chilli. I think the latter would be most appropriate in this household, since Warren has a large collection of chilli sauces from around the world.
Went for a great power walk on Tuesday evening and my foot felt good. Came home, did some routine stretches and iced my foot using a frozen water bottle.
Yesterday, I went swimming, but only did 20 lengths. The reason was another swimming outfit - a long halter top and short shorts. They didn't work. Won't go into specifics, but the top was not aerodynamic or supportive and was abrasive in sensitive places. Painful.
Earlier yesterday, I interviewed a master runner about gardening. He's a guy called Gerald Dravitzki, who's run 50 marathons.
Yes, we talked about blueberries, cranberries, feijoas and more, but our conversation also turned to running. "The big thing is that it takes time," he said. "If you've got that will and determination, anybody can do it."
To make the transition from walking to running, he recommends starting off by running from one power pole to another then walking between the next two, then running to the next one, then walking again...
After our long garden tour, we finished on the run.
Gerald had me jogging down up and down his driveway, checking out my style and arm movement.
On the phone today he told me: "You've got a good forward momentum. In six months' time you'll be running as fast as a robber's dog."
High praise indeed... but then I went for that bike ride.
What's that old saying about pride and falls?

Today, I:
Went for shoe click-in, click-out bike training session
Worked for 5 hours
Slept for 7 hours
Ate three healthy meals
Pigged out on blueberries (courtesy of Gerald)
Drank 3 cups of coffee
Drank little water

Yesterday, I:
Swam 20 lengths (1km)
Worked for 4 hours
Swam in the sea
Slept for 8 hours
Ate two healthy meals (ran out of time for breakfast and felt lethargic)
Drank lots of water
Drank 1 cup of coffee

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

Spongebob says it best

By Virginia Winder

As Spongebob sings: "It's the best day ever."

Yep, today was a good one.

The sun was out, we put the tent up in the backyard, went for a swim at Back Beach and, afterwards, Camille and I headed to the aquatic centre to do some lengths.

I powered through 40 without stopping at all and then did another 10 doing drag and using my paddles.

Afterwards, we had Mexican food for dinner out on the deck and then Warren and I went off to The Most to do our radio shows.
My show, called Waxing Lyrical, was a bit eclectic tonight, to say the least. I started off with Monty Python's Always Look on The Bright Side, threw in songs by Alabama 3, Fred Dagg, Helen Reddy, Gorillaz, Manic Street Preachers and that rock star, Spongebob Squarepants.
Yes, I destroyed my street cred by playing Spongebob on the show and then completely ruined my cool persona by finishing off with a deep and meaningful yuletide song about the insanity of war.
Yes, you've guessed it ... I played Snoopy's Christmas.
At lunchtime I was stood up by a bunch of blokes.
Still, one did turn up although he had no idea I was going to.
Poor fella.
It turns out that Vaughan, from my college days, was the perfect lunch partner. You see he's an ironman and had heaps of valuable advice to pass on about nutrition and listening to your body's needs.
Also went to the physio today and she fitted my shoes with supportive insoles instead of taping me up. Annoyingly, I'm terribly allergic to the tape and the skin on my foot has peeled off. Forgot to get the moonboot for sleeping, so will pop over tomorrow (the physio is across the road from home).
I know that for some time I have been hinting at big news on the horizon, well the news will be released in the new year.
When it is, please know these things about me:
A. I am constantly humbled by the goodness of people.
B. I reckon I'm one of the most fortunate people on the planet.
C. I'm absolutely terrified to put myself out there, but am doing it for a cause greater than myself.
D. It still feels weird to write about myself and I constantly ask myself, if I'm doing the right thing.
E. I still find other people's stories way more interesting and inspiring than my own.

Today, I:
Swam 50 lengths of a 50m pool
Went for a swim in the sea
Worked for 30 minutes
Slept for 9 hours
Drank some water (still not enough!)
Had 2 cups of coffee
Ate fantastically well all day
Hung out with family
Went to physio to get treatment for my plantar fasciitis

Taking the high jump for fun

By Virginia Winder
Sometimes it's OK to dive into a bit of fun.
This windy and, at times, wet weekend my exercise has been all about swimming.
Clocked up 30 lengths yesterday and would have done more but ran out of time and was distracted by my teenagers and French daughter. They were playing about in the diving pool and then a bloke swimming next to me headed over to perform a double backwards flip off the top board.
He made it look easy, so I thought I'd jump right in. Then I got out there, teetered on the end of the board, and was overcome with fear.
I walked back to safety.
Standing on the landing, I watched the backflipper do another spectacular display, so this time I walked straight out there, with out thinking and jumped. How easy was that!
Then I executed a few graceful(ish) dives from the low board and got back into the main pool for training.
See how easily distracted I am!
But it was so much fun.
Today, I bought new swimming togs (a one-piece bathing suit) and it was size 18! That's much smaller than the size 24 togs I was wearing and I'm sure I swam much faster today because I was more streamlined. The old togs are baggy and getting holes in them, but a good back up.
Did 42 lengths freestyle today and did walked two more to slowly stretch my calves.
I have been doing a lot more stretching and it feels great, almost like quenching a thirst in my muscles.
My sore foot seems to be getting better, but I'm not pushing it. The night splint isn't working though because I wake up in the morning and it's off. Will have to ask for a moonboot and might ask for a double to help my left achilles at the same time.
May as well make the most of rest time, though I am craving to go for a fast walk with my headphones on.
But as Coach Clint says - restraint, restraint, restraint.
Yeah, and a little patience.
Sigh.

This weekend, I:
Swam 72 lengths (of a 50m pool)
Worked for a few hours only
Had an afternoon nap today
Drank a lot of water
Drank five coffees
Drank two glasses of pinot gris
Ate wonderful, healthy seasonal food - cherries, strawberries, salads, steamed artichoke, asparagus, tomatoes, peaches, blueberries...mmm.
Spent time with friends and family
Decorated the Christmas tree

Love, health and rock 'n' roll

By Virginia Winder


French daughter: Camille is back in the fold and has already
started swimming training - of her own accord.

A week is a long time in the life of a wannabe triathlete.

Too long - so apologies for no posts, especially to my naggy niece in Perth, who sent me these words: Blog, blog, blog, blog!

The truth is I have been end-of-year tired, had a dozen stories to write and been away to see The Foofighters in Auckland.
It's here that I feel the need to slump and slip into the teen venacular: "Dave Grohl is the shit."
Apologies, but he is a rock star. Totally.
So is Jack Black, the lead singer of Tenacious D, the supporting act on a drizzly night at Western Springs.
Don't ever let bad weather put you off from attending a concert; just wear coats or plastic ponchos and go for it. Two of my top three concerts - REM at the Bowl of Brooklands and now the Foofighters - were in the rain. The other brilliant show was Green Day at Vector Arena last year, but that was under cover.
There is a tentative link between concerts and my triathlon-training regime - even when it's grotty out there, you just need to cover up and get going.
There's nothing like going for a run or walk in the rain by a wild west coast sea, salt spray mingling with rain. It's exhilarating.
Swimming in the rain is also joyous.
Once, my whanau, sister Felicity and I, were bodysurfing at Fitzroy Beach when a massive rainstorm hit. I used to think the smell of a summer downpour came from drops hitting hot tarmac, but that day the sweet almost-chemical smell came from out at sea.
When the huge drops hit, many people fled the water, but we stayed and frolicked in the waves, our heads bent back, mouths open to drink from the sky. It was glorious and I remember being drenched in an eerie yellow light and feeling of great joy.
In Auckland, we also picked up our French daughter, Camille, who was our exchange student in 2006. It's so wonderful having her back in the fold. It feels so right, so normal, like our family is complete. However, it would be even better if our Swiss daughter Jeannie, was here too.
Anyway, on Thursday evening, Camille and I went swimming in the rain at the aquatic centre. At one stage all the lanes in the outside pool were full. "What a hardy bunch we are," I said to a grinning swimmer beside me, obviously feeling just as happy.
So, don't be put off by wet weather - just make sure your towel is under cover and enjoy the pock pock on bare arms as they roll over for another stroke.
I'm not so keen on getting out on the bike in wind or on slippery roads, but there's always the gym for those days.
Now, I have two pieces of good news.
The first is my foot is getting better. It's strapped up and, because of wise words from my rugby coach brother, Mark, I am sleeping with a foot splint on.
When you're in bed, your foot relaxes and heals in that position. The next morning, you wake up, take a step and bang, you're back to square one.
But if you sleep with your foot in the standing position, you won't be re-straining your foot every time you take that first step. The same goes for Achillies tendon injuries.
Luckily, my open-minded physio was most impressed at the moonboot or night-splint idea and readily gave me one to use.
Because of this, and the recuperation regime he emailed through to me, I am exceptionally hopeful of being able to at least walk the 2.5km of the triathlon taster here in New Plymouth on January 29.
Yay!!!
The other great news is that I'm now in double figures. Yes, my weight is now down to 99kg, which means I have lost 21kg. Must say, I am pretty rapt about this, because I'm feeling healthier, fitter, don't puff walking up stairs and have got rid of all the horrible health issues I was struggling with.
The worst was terrible reflux, which I know, from past episodes and tests, is caused by a hiatus hernia. I'm lucky because when my weight is down the hernia disappears.
With it goes the reflux, which is extremely painful and mimics heart pains. It also goes into my back and I don't know what to do with  myself. It's this pain that was part of the catalyst for this quest I'm now on.
If you remember, my wake-up call was sparked by a day spent in the emergency department of the hospital being treated for a possible heart attack. Thankfully it was reflux.
Then came the stern talk from my doctor and my decision not to have a stomach operation, but to change my eating habits and exercise, exercise and exercise.
So, hernia gone, reflux disappeared and any chances of developing diabetes are also heading for the hills.
As well has becoming healthy, I'm morphing into a sportswoman again.
But the best thing of all is the love of people.
My beautiful family and true friends are supporting me 100% and I'm meeting wonderful new people on the way.
Yep, life is good.

This week, I:

Swam 4 times

Went to the gym once

Went to the physio once

Went to the Foofighters concert (and fast-walked a long way to Western Springs and back to car, which hurt my foot, but gosh did I feel fit!)

Worked 25 hours nearly straight through (had a 2.5 hour sleep in-between - bad, bad, bad time management!)

Had two nights of little sleep (7 hours in total)

Discovered I am down to 99kg

Time to refocus on swimming, biking

By Virginia Winder
Sometimes life is a pain in the foot.
Yesterday, the physio diagnosed me with plantar fasciitis, which is inflammation of the tissue underneath my food and arch.
I told her about the sudden pain while doing a step-up at the gym, how it's got worse in the past week and keeps going into spasm. She pushed, poked and prodded, then gave me the PF news.
"You've definitely strained it," she said. "It's quite inflamed."
Tentatively, I asked that dreaded question - how long will it take to mend?
"About 12 weeks," she replied.
"Oh no," I said, thinking of the Tri-Women triathlon I've signed up for in New Plymouth on January 29.
She thinks I could possibly walk it, but didn't sound too hopeful.
The good news is I can swim to my heart's content, without flippers, and I can bike, but at this stage only on the flat, so I might need someone to do the run for me.
As life would have it, the physio has done the swimming section of the Tauranga half-ironman (my 2013 goal), so we talked all about it and she gave me training tips.
When I told her about how I had just started to run, she gave me a website to look up. It's a programme of how to get off the couch and up to running 5kms in nine weeks, hence the name of the site: c25k.
I'm not going to dwell on what I can't do now, but instead focus on what I can - swim, bike and bodysurf.
Summer is here and a sore foot isn't going to hold me back.
The Tasman Sea is calling...

Today, I:
Worked for 8 hours
Slept for 8 hours
Ate three healthy meals
Drank 3 coffees
Drank 2 glasses of pinot gris
Drank some water (got to get over this camel-like hump!)
Did no exercise (food strapped, so am giving it a bit of rest - back into swimming tomorrow)

Help, there's an alien in my instep

By Virginia Winder
The weight's still falling off, but my training has hit a hurdle.
Have injured the instep of my right foot and it hurts to walk. I did it doing step-ups at the gym and it's been getting worse and worse.
It's quite painful most of the time and feels like my foot is constantly cramping. When I put it up, you can see it going into spasms like an alien creature is growing in my instep.
Luckily, it's fine when I'm swimming, but I do get cramp in my feet and my calves when I'm doing lengths.
Have been doing a bit of research (hallelujah for Google) and have found out that cramp in the far-flung bits of my body could be caused by three things:
1. Dehydration. Yes, drinking water has been an ongoing challenge for me. I think I'll need to write notes around the house, saying, "Drink water", "Water is good for me", "Go with the flow - get hydrated", "Time to go for H2O". Sounds like a scene out of Alice in Wonderland - drink me...
2. Lack of vitamins. Apparently, I could have depleted levels of phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, sodium and potassium. Will find out what's unbalanced about my diet and how I could be missing some of those vitamins. More Alice - eat me...
3. Overdoing it. It's possible I might not be getting enough rest and recovery. "Restraint," says Coach Clint. I need to nap like Alice and go off for adventures while I'm sleeping... can you get fit dreaming?
Sigh. I'm sitting here with a glum face and pouty lips. I am too impatient for setbacks!
So, I've been forced to slow down, but will focus on my swimming and maybe my biking (will see how I feel), until I'm better.
Yes, and I will make an appointment with the physio - just paused to write the note.
It's late now and I need my rest.
Time to head down the rabbit hole...

Today, I:
Worked for 6 hours (all interviews)
Hosted two radio shows (3 hours)
Slept for 8 hours (fitfully)
Ate moderately well (Warren's away... say no more)
Did no exercise (glum face)
Drank 3 glasses of water (terrible!!!)
Drank 1 cup of coffee (what was I thinking?!)

Bubbles of mirth and aching bones

By Virginia Winder
Life has got in the way of my blogging.
Blame training, end-of-year-celebrations and being way too laidback. Add tiredness, a series of annoying headaches and a few computer malfunctions into the mix and well, you've got all the "dog ate my homework" excuses. We can't blame Xena though - she is an angel.
So big apologies for being slack.
Let's go back to Wednesday, when I went for a ride on the Pink Beast. Went to the port and back, which is a few kilometres, but not many.
I enjoy biking, but am a bit useless with the gears. Clunk, clunk, clunk they go. I never seem to get the right pedal speed - it's either too easy or too hard. This is obviously an IQ test; one I'm failing.
Got up a sweat though and felt some burn in my thighs, so all is good.
On Thursday I went swimming and realised I am way too social.
Although I meet interesting people like Cathy the doctor, Maureen the ocean swimmer and Slope the former lifeguard who has a hankering to write, my chats slow me down.
And being one who loves to find out everything about people and what drives them, my chinwags last too long.
Or sometimes I am misunderstood.
There is this woman I've met who has been doing fartlek swimming training. Fartlek is Swedish for "speedplay" and includes aerobic swimming for endurance interspersed with faster lengths.
"How's your fartlek swimming going?" I asked a young woman who joined my lane.
She looked at me aghast.
"You are the woman doing fartlek aren't you?" I ventured.
"I don't know what you're talking about - I hardly ever come swimming," she said.
I apologised for getting the wrong person, explaining that when people have swimming caps and goggles on, they all kind of look similar. Don't they?
I took off for a couple of lengths and when I returned to the western end, she had disappeared. Then I got to thinking, perhaps she thought I was accusing her of farting in the pool.
Then I started to giggle. Swimming and laughing - not a good combination - but the mirth just bubbled from me.
On Friday, I got hit by a blinding headache in the middle of the day, so headed home for a quick kip before a bunch of journalism students turned up for an end-of-year barbecue. The first arrived around 4.30pm and the last left about 1am. We sat outside for most of it, with the stereo on the outdoor speakers and the chimenea fired up.
Yesterday, I flagged training because I had another headache and ached all over. Now, I'm sure you may think that was because I had been drinking, but I had little alcohol - only four glasses over eight hours and lots of water.
As yesterday progressed, so did my aching and, wisely, I headed for bed.
Still aching today, but will go for a wee walk to see how I feel. I may add a swim in too, but only if I'm feeling OK. It's incredibly important to listen to your body.
For those concerned that I'm not drinking enough water, I have been downing heaps.
But when you've gone from doing no exercise to heaps, plus eating much less and losing weight, it must take a toll on your body. Will research this and get back to you.

This past week, I:
Swam twice
Walked twice
Biked once
Did one gym workout
Slept badly most nights (racing thoughts!)
Worked 38 hours
Drank heaps of water
Had 4 alcoholic drinks
Drank about a dozen coffees
Mostly ate wonderfully well - low carbos, lots of low-fat protein and fresh fruit and vegetables