Time to be the tortoise

By Virginia Winder
Restraint and endurance are my new key words.
These come from Coach Clint, who is doing his best to contain my over-zealous enthusiasm for aerobic training.
Both words are aimed at preventing me from injuring myself, plus endurance will help me build up stamina and muscle condition.
In other words I have to be the tortoise, not the hare, which is a major personality switch for me. 
I did practise restraint today.
My left Achilles tendon is niggling a little, so I refrained from running this evening and instead did a power walk. Or should a say a power dance.
When I have those earphones in, pumping arms and legs like a maniac, I get lost in my own world. I imagine finish lines and passing people, and often, like tonight, I replay concerts.
Tonight I relived last year's Green Day gig in Auckland by walk-dancing to Holiday. Then I pounded the pavement to Resistance by Muse (BDO last year) and got a little bit of rhythm via Michael Franti and Spearhead (Power Station 2009).
Earlier, I swam 40 lengths with my niece, Rebekah.
I felt slow in the pool tonight, but I kept going, pulling through the water saying "endurance" to myself over and over.
Did some tough arm-weight exercises at the gym last night, but don't think I'm ready for those yet.
Coach Clint wants me to stop doing weights until July, when I move on to strength.
Because I've committed to the gym for a year, we've come to an agreement. I need to strengthen my core and do more stretching, so the gym's combined Pilates-yoga class will be ideal for this. I'm also sure I'll head to the gym on bike-training days when it's too windy to be safe outside.
Let me tell you why Clint is worth listening to.
He's been doing triathlons since 1993 and has represented and also captained New Zealand at a couple of World Triathlon Age Group Championships in Lausanne (Switzerland) and Hawaii. His first degree was in physiology and he has lectured PE students.
He's positive and practical, insightful and inspiring, and best of all he understands why trying to be a career woman and dedicated mother didn't leave much time for exercising. Add my ridiculous drive into the mix and you have a recipe for poor physical and mental health, leading to burnout. Hi, I'm Virginia and I'm a workaholic... you know the story.
Anyway, after chatting with Clint today, I feel confident that I will be able to conquer this half-ironwoman race in 13 months' time.
But I have to repeat my new mantra - endurance and restraint, endurance and restraint...

Today, I:
Swam 40 lengths of a 25m pool
Ran four lengths of the pool
Walked 3.6km in 38 minutes (I now have Map My Run ap)
Drank 2 cups of coffee
Had a good breakfast, didn't do so well at a morning tea shout, had a good lunch and healthy dinner.
Worked for 5 hours (see, I am getting balance!!!)
Drank some water, but not enough

Uphill battles of life and legs

By Virginia Winder
When I was young, I loved hill sprints.
Standing at the bottom of Calvert Rd, a steep hill round the corner from home, I'd psyche myself up and then go for it; pumping my legs and arms as fast as they'd go.
Sometimes I'd put on my spikes and sprint the grassy hills in the school behind our house.
As I powered uphill, I'd hear my Dad's words in my head.
"Go, go, go," he'd yell at the end of our jogs through Pukekura Park and I'd fly around the terraces of the cricket ground.
It was such a joy to push myself so hard, to sweat and feel the energy flowing through my body.
A few decades on, I still love those steep slopes and the feeling of speed.
Tonight I walked up the Morley St hill and it wasn't too hard at all.
Then I did stair sprints.
There's this great set by the old Barrett St hospital, so with Michael Franti singing in my ears, I went up those steps lickety split.
What's so good about doing stair sprints is they don't hurt my Achilles tendon, which is still a bit niggly. Raced up three times, which is a good start, and then headed around and up Churchill Heights.
What's amazing to me is that a few weeks ago, hills took my breath away, but not now.
Workwise, I've had a quiet day, mainly because I had other things planned.
However, didn't even do those because am still feeling down and it's taking its toll a bit.
Don't really want to talk too much about the ups and downs of my life here, but just know there are times when I struggle. Now is one of those times.
Thank goodness for those wonderful exercise endorphins and my wonderful, crazy, funny whanau.

Today, I:
Worked for 1.5 hours
Barely slept (someone was intermittently letting off fireworks - even at 4am!)
Drank 2 cups of coffee
Drank 1 chai latte
Ate 3 great meals - muesli with blueberries, grated apple and Bio-farm yoghurt, a chicken salad and spaghetti bolognaise (small portion) and lots of green salad
Upped my water intake - thanks Irena!

Dan, downsizing and advice from the Laude

By Virginia Winder
Felt like crying today.
Not for me, but for Dan Carter. Imagine being so close to the Holy Grail of rugby and getting injured.
OK, so I did have a few tears watching the national anthem and the haka. Kept putting myself in Dan's boots.
But a team is not just one man and the All Blacks looked magnificent against Canada - especially Jerome Kaino and Zac Guildford.
Now I'm sitting here with the laptop watching the NRL final. Go the Warriors!
Haven't been sitting around watching TV all day.
Went for a 55-minute walk tonight and my pace has improved greatly. However, my left Achilles tendon is niggling me. Thought about jogging a couple of times, but pleased I didn't! Don't want to snap the jolly thing.
Tried on some jeans today that I haven't been able to wear for two years! They fit just fine.
Put on another pair and they were way too big for me.
They will go into my pass-on pile - I'm not keeping any clothing that is too large for me.
There was another period in my life when I lost some weight. Just hovered around the 100kg mark, but never got lower. That time I kept my bigger clothes - just in case.
This time there will be no going back and I look forward to ceremoniously discarding.
Always to a good cause - anybody who wants them or to the Taranaki Hospice Shop. Hey, and my clothes are pretty cool, so if you're keen, make contact. I'm giving away only (not selling).
Had an offer of some smaller clothes from a friend who has also down-sized herself. So good to have some in-betweens until I get to my goal weight.
Have no idea what size clothes I'll end up wearing. Started off at size 22 or 2xl, so will keep you posted. Got some 24, 26 and 3xl in there too, so if you're keen...
The only clothing I'm allowed to buy now are bras, undies (necessities, that I won't buy second-hand), sports shoes and socks.
Size 20 and 18 hand-me-downs in other clothing will be gratefully accepted!
So were some words of wisdom from Fred Laude, the owner of Petit Paris.
"You know why French woman don't put on weight, don't you?" he asked today, while I was buying bread.
"No," I shook my head.
"It's because we start a meal with a green salad that lines the stomach and gets the enzymes working."
Must investigate that, but will give it a go.
Fred also recommends finishing with cheese and a bite of something sweet.
Will give the cheese a miss (that was one of my greatest downfalls), but a square of chocolate works for me.
Always.

Today, I:
Walked for 55 minutes
Discarded 3 pairs of jeans
Worked for 30 minutes
Hung out with whanau
Slept for 8.5 hours
Ate three great meals, but discovered I don't like polenta
Drank 3 cups of coffee
Drank lots of water
Drank 1 chai latte