By Virginia Winder
Just biked through my first movie on a wind trainer.
My normal bike was set up in the lounge on a secure gadget that allows me to cycle normally, without moving. So I sat there watching Source Code, a 93-minute sci-fi thriller reminiscent of Ground Hog Day without the humour.
What a great way to train! I can choose whatever I want to watch because none of the family will want to be in there with me because of the noise.
Once again, it's the generosity of the extended Barnett family that's allowing me to do this. Bryce's son-in-law, Mick McBeth, has lent the wind trainer to me.
He gave me a free osteopath treatment last week too, before heading to the Olympics to look after the NZ triathlon team. I know it sounds like name dropping, but honestly, I'm still gobsmacked at the luck I've had on the way.
But it's all hard work from this end from now on.
Coach Clint has given me my training schedule and it is daunting, but doable, especially with the wind trainer and Contours gym at hand.
It's the dark, not the bad weather that's the problem. Biking is a bit scary because cars might not see me and I'm a bit paranoid about turning an ankle in a pothole or on a stone.
"Why don't you get night vision goggles, Mum?" suggested my helpful son. It's a thought. They wouldn't look any more ridiculous than the Batwoman sunglasses.
People are so helpful on this journey.
"You didn't mention sports bras for women in your story about running gear for half marathons," said Kelvin from Frontrunner on the phone. "We sell the best in the world."
Then he asked about my shoes. I mentioned about having plantar fasciitis and he said: "Bring in your old shoes and your new shoes, and we'll have a look."
He also said he'd look at my running style too.
Today I went to Lauren Hann for a sports massage and she was so inspiring. Not only is she a great therapist, she is also an ironwoman, who had so much advice to share.
We have already met actually and I mentioned her in an earlier blog. We chatted at the pool and I found her so encouraging, but I didn't know who she was then.
Lauren's advice today was that to reach a goal like a half ironman you have to be consistent with training and just keep going, steadily, regularly, day after day.
So I am.
Monday, May 28, 2012
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Saturday night dreaming
By Virginia Winder
The aquatic centre is a fine place for dreaming on Saturday nights.
While people are getting ready for social events, the lanes are relatively free you see.
I have no idea how many lengths I did tonight because I was in dream mode. That's when I go to a far away place, well only to the Bay of Plenty, and imagine what could be.
While I was swimming, I was actually racing in the Tinman. In my head, I was running around the Mount, and heading for the finish line. I was striding out, feeling fantastic and even smiling.
When I'm swimming, I often do this because there's nothing else to look at.
I also focus on style and tonight I had a bit of a chat with a South African bloke, a '63 baby like me, about remembering to bend arms and try different strokes. He also recommended looking up Total Immersion swimming on the internet for some good tips.
All up, I swam for about 65 minutes and felt fantastic.
Now, for those who don't know, I didn't do the TriWoman's race at Pt Chevalier last month. Unfortunately, I ended up with vertigo, which is a horrible illness that affects balance, so swimming or riding a bike was out. Am fine now.
In fact, I'm great. Have eaten exceptionally well today too, fruit (yes, those feijoas again), sugar-free bircher muesli, poached eggs on one slice of grainy toast with no butter, three coffees (barely any sugar now), baked salmon, brown rice salad and broccoli.
All so virtuous, but when it comes down to it, I won't be remembered for eating well. Or for being slim or even larger than life as I was before.
I hope that my legacy will be about showing that personal change is possible and living it. For having a goal and going for it. For speaking out about what matters and not staying quiet when that would be so easy to do...
Who knows, I won't be writing my own eulogy!
Went to a funeral this afternoon, which was a wonderful celebration of a man's life. It began with a clip from the Topp Twins TV series featuring this man of the land and it ended with his family honouring him and Frank Sinatra singing My Way.
It got me thinking of course, as funerals do, about legacies, love and life.
What if I could be a ghost and could pass on just three pieces of advice to people at my own funeral, what would I say?
It might sound macabre, but it's actually quite uplifting.
Today, these are mine:
Be kind to everyone, always...
Be open-minded about everything, so you keep learning, listening, growing, always...
Keep adding to your bucket list... don't ever get to the stage you've done everything, because you need to have the next goal, the next dream, always...
What would yours be?
The aquatic centre is a fine place for dreaming on Saturday nights.
While people are getting ready for social events, the lanes are relatively free you see.
I have no idea how many lengths I did tonight because I was in dream mode. That's when I go to a far away place, well only to the Bay of Plenty, and imagine what could be.
While I was swimming, I was actually racing in the Tinman. In my head, I was running around the Mount, and heading for the finish line. I was striding out, feeling fantastic and even smiling.
When I'm swimming, I often do this because there's nothing else to look at.
I also focus on style and tonight I had a bit of a chat with a South African bloke, a '63 baby like me, about remembering to bend arms and try different strokes. He also recommended looking up Total Immersion swimming on the internet for some good tips.
All up, I swam for about 65 minutes and felt fantastic.
Now, for those who don't know, I didn't do the TriWoman's race at Pt Chevalier last month. Unfortunately, I ended up with vertigo, which is a horrible illness that affects balance, so swimming or riding a bike was out. Am fine now.
In fact, I'm great. Have eaten exceptionally well today too, fruit (yes, those feijoas again), sugar-free bircher muesli, poached eggs on one slice of grainy toast with no butter, three coffees (barely any sugar now), baked salmon, brown rice salad and broccoli.
All so virtuous, but when it comes down to it, I won't be remembered for eating well. Or for being slim or even larger than life as I was before.
I hope that my legacy will be about showing that personal change is possible and living it. For having a goal and going for it. For speaking out about what matters and not staying quiet when that would be so easy to do...
Who knows, I won't be writing my own eulogy!
Went to a funeral this afternoon, which was a wonderful celebration of a man's life. It began with a clip from the Topp Twins TV series featuring this man of the land and it ended with his family honouring him and Frank Sinatra singing My Way.
It got me thinking of course, as funerals do, about legacies, love and life.
What if I could be a ghost and could pass on just three pieces of advice to people at my own funeral, what would I say?
It might sound macabre, but it's actually quite uplifting.
Today, these are mine:
Be kind to everyone, always...
Be open-minded about everything, so you keep learning, listening, growing, always...
Keep adding to your bucket list... don't ever get to the stage you've done everything, because you need to have the next goal, the next dream, always...
What would yours be?
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Queen of Shorts gets smaller, busier
By Virginia Winder
My daughter in Wellington and her friend in Auckland have been missing my blogs.
"Why don't you just write something short, Mum, like 'I went for a run and ate a carrot'. They don't all have to be masterpieces," Clementine said on the phone tonight.
"I suppose you're right," I said wondering, who would want to read about carrots, but it did get me thinking about briefs.
Not the type you wear, but snippets.
I could be the mistress of them - the Queen of Shorts.
"I'm under 90kg now," I said.
"Really?"
"Yes, I'm in the 80s, I've made it! I'm actually 88kg."
It happened so fast.
I can thank those egg-shaped green fruit - feijoas - cutting out alcohol and added sugar. I no longer have it in flat whites!
Alas, I haven't been balanced in the world of work, so aim to do better in regards to efficiency, focus and self-discipline.
Same goes for training.
It's high-endurance, no-excuses, this-is-it time. It's about long bike rides, pounding roads, length after length in the pool.
Races have been entered and paid for by Bryce Barnett and his wonderful team at KCL Properties - I am entered in the Tinman on December 2 this year and the Port of Tauranga Half Ironman on January 5, 2013.
Coach Clint sat me down and said I should stick to my original aim, so I am. But also plan to do the Wells half-ironman six weeks later in Taranaki.
Before that is the Taranaki Daily News half marathon on October 7 - just five months away! The Tinman is seven months away, the half-ironman eight months.
Training is everything.
Life? This is my life!
See why blogs need to be short?!
Thanks wise child.
My daughter in Wellington and her friend in Auckland have been missing my blogs.
"Why don't you just write something short, Mum, like 'I went for a run and ate a carrot'. They don't all have to be masterpieces," Clementine said on the phone tonight.
"I suppose you're right," I said wondering, who would want to read about carrots, but it did get me thinking about briefs.
Not the type you wear, but snippets.
I could be the mistress of them - the Queen of Shorts.
"I'm under 90kg now," I said.
"Really?"
"Yes, I'm in the 80s, I've made it! I'm actually 88kg."
It happened so fast.
I can thank those egg-shaped green fruit - feijoas - cutting out alcohol and added sugar. I no longer have it in flat whites!
Alas, I haven't been balanced in the world of work, so aim to do better in regards to efficiency, focus and self-discipline.
Same goes for training.
It's high-endurance, no-excuses, this-is-it time. It's about long bike rides, pounding roads, length after length in the pool.
Races have been entered and paid for by Bryce Barnett and his wonderful team at KCL Properties - I am entered in the Tinman on December 2 this year and the Port of Tauranga Half Ironman on January 5, 2013.
Coach Clint sat me down and said I should stick to my original aim, so I am. But also plan to do the Wells half-ironman six weeks later in Taranaki.
Before that is the Taranaki Daily News half marathon on October 7 - just five months away! The Tinman is seven months away, the half-ironman eight months.
Training is everything.
Life? This is my life!
See why blogs need to be short?!
Thanks wise child.
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