Uplifting cheers from friends and whanau worth gold

The Crew: Daughter Clementine (left), me (VW) and Rebekah
wearing our pretty pink triathlon medals. Photo: Warren Smart

By Virginia Winder

First goal ticked off.

Completed the Contact TriWoman New Plymouth Triathlon this morning and the pink medal is now hanging beside my desk.
I didn't do brilliantly, mainly because of my slow running, but I did what I said I was going to do.
My swim time says 12 minutes something, but actually, I was eighth out of the water.
But 37 women passed me in the transition from beach to bike.

Never mind, because I succeeded in my goal to stay on my trusty red steed going up the hills into a westerly wind. I passed a few women pushing bikes up those steep rises, but there was no way I was going to allow myself to walk. No reflection on those other women, honestly, I don't blame them at all, but my personal goal was to ride all the way.

So I gritted my teeth and began self talk: "I love hills, I love head winds, I am strong and powerful."

There was one part there, I was dry retching but I pushed through it.

Then came the run/walk.

I mostly walked, but did a bit of jogging, just like in my Pukekura Park training.
Yes, the inner runner in me was frustrated, but the word "restraint" screamed in my head every time I thought about pushing it. I'm not ready to do that yet, am still too heavy to stride out like in the old days and don't want to end up snapping an Achilles tendon.
So I got through the triathlon uninjured, but not unscathed.

"You didn't do yourself any favours by doing it," the doctor at Phoenix told me after looking down my throat. 

"So working and training last week wouldn't have helped much either?" I said meekly.
 He agreed.

"Drink lots of fluid and get lots of rest," he said kindly, but sternly, handing me a certificate for two days off work and a script for antibiotics for a nasty throat infection.

But I had to quickly write this before heading to bed (for two days) because I want to say a big "wow" to some of the amazing women in the race.

There were others who managed greater feats than mine, who reached personal goals, who gutsed it out on those gruelling hills up Centennial Drive past Paritutu and down and up past the tank farm and towards Omata and back again.

One of those was my daughter, Clementine, who did the bike section in a team with my niece Rebekah, who did an amazing swim time and great run. Clementine just kept going and going, despite having a bike that wasn't built for racing. She showed true determination.

Another was the woman who was last to cross the line after finishing her duathlon. We go to Contours gym together and she is the most upbeat, energetic and supportive person imaginable.  

It was also great to have people cheer me on, say "well done" and "keep going" and to be uplifted by my personal champions, husband Warren, French daughter Camille, the wonderful Irena Brooks (this is sounding like an Oscar speech now isn't it?), dear friend Cheryl with Sam and Evie, Clementine and Rebekah and Coach Clint holding son Finn.  

When I finished, I felt like I'd just won a gold medal.

It's so important to celebrate and think, "Yeah, I did it."

Now it's time to rest - and drink lots of fluid.

Today, I:

Completed the Contact TriWoman New Plymouth Triathlon

Lane rage and raising funds

By Virginia Winder
You've heard of road rage, well tonight I seethed with the aquatic equivalent.
Let's call it lane rage.
There's an unspoken swimming pool etiquette, similar to the good manners that should be shown on road passing lanes.
Well, I was swimming quite happily at my own pace, when a new woman joined my lane.
Good on her for getting out and exercising - always great to see - but please learn the rules.
She was slower than me, which meant that I lapped her and needed to pass. But when we got to the end of the pool, she didn't stop to let me go in front; she just pushed on.
That meant I had to do a dangerous pass, which could have caused a head-on collision with another swimmer if one joined our lane unnoticed.
Not good for any poor unsuspecting freestyler and certainly not good for me, especially because I have a precarious neck problem that could be seriously damaged through impact.
This failure to giveway happened a few times, until she switched lanes.
I never said anything to her about etiquette, mainly because I didn't want to be aggressive or scare her off from swimming. Perhaps I should have, so she'd understand why I was gently tickling her toes.
Let's get this straight here - I am no speedster. The blokes in the next lane were zipping past me like sharks chasing prey. I'm just a plodder who needs a style overhaul.
Great thing was a good mate joined my lane and I asked her to chase me in sprints. She certainly tickled my toes! We swapped places and I didn't reach her feet. There's always next time...
As a rule, I'm a bit of solo trainer and always have been. I love geting lost in my own thoughts, or better still, emptying my mind.
But I enjoyed doing a spot of training with my fit young friend tonight and last night, it was great walking with a friend and chatting.
In fact, I love the idea of this whole team thing for both training and competing.
So if anyone wants to join my team, JustGot2DoIt, for the January 29 triathlon here in New Plymouth, New Zealand - just do it!
I've registered my team as a fundraiser for breast cancer research too.
You can register of the event by going to Contact TriWoman Series.
Hey, I'm going to get cerise T-shirts printed for people too, but you will have to buy them.

These shirts will be cheap though, cos I only want to cover my costs!

Best of all, my daughter, Clementine, will be creating a beautiful design for the team shirts.
I suppose I'd better tell/ask her...

Today, I:
Ate 3 healthy meals, but it was a bit tough at a barbecue tonight
Swam 62 lengths
Slept 6 hours
Worked for 12 hours
Didn't drink enough water

Pedalling towards first goal

By Virginia Winder
Got on the Pink Petal today and biked from home to East End and back.
According to my daughter's "Map My Run" app on her phone, that's about 7km (4.3 miles).
Took to the Coastal Walkway, which was a bit nerve-wracking because of the number of people using it.
I'm not so confident on the bike yet, but know that will come with lots of rides. Feel bad though because I accidentally hit the back of a walker's heel on a narrow part of the walkway. I apologised and checked to see if she was OK and she nodded, yes, but was a little grumpy. I don't blame her.
During the ride, I felt my thighs working hard and had that heavy feeling in my legs when I got off the bike.
This evening, I registered for the Contact TriWoman Series race in New Plymouth on January 29. It entails a 300m swim, a 9km bike and a 3km run or walk. I'm hoping that by then I'll be running. It's great to have a first goal to aim for.
To help me, I'm thinking of joining a gym. Checked one out yesterday and will probably sign up. I used to love aerobics and there's a version of that available, along with spin classes, boxing and yoga. Before I commit though, I will look at other gym offers and memberships.
Day by day, I'm getting even more committed to being fit and healthy, having a good work-life balance and being peaceful.
The exercise is hard, but damn satisfying and that time out on the bike, in the pool or pounding the streets is thinking time, dreaming time or listening time. But most of all, it's time out.
When I'm fitter, it could also become a social time if I join a group to train with.
Also went to the Puke Ariki library to get out a book on sport nutrition and also borrowed a whole bunch of triathlon magazines. I'm such an information geek!
But as a fledgling in this area, I want to make wise choices and learn on the way.

Today, I:
Biked 7kg
Drank lots of water
Worked for 4 hours (inspiring interviews)
Ate three incredibly healthy meals
Turned down beautiful home-baking, because I was full!
Entered the Contact TriWoman Series race in New Plymouth
Hung out with my family