On course for Taranaki

By Virginia Winder
There's been a change of venue for my half-ironman dream next year.
It's home and hills I want - so I will be tackling the Wells New Plymouth half-ironman in February. Can't yet find the date online, but will be writing it down in ink and telling you all when it's announced.
The other day I had lunch with Irena Brooks, who's done the Mt Maunganui race (my original aim), and she said riding 90km on a straight flat course meant no respite for the leg muscles.
My favourite parts of any biking course are the hills and, believe it or not, the ups. I just love the hard work, the gutsy power of it, the digging deep and the achievement when you get to the top. It's beyond these mantras I tell you about; it just taps into the core of my being.
Now I'll be able to constantly train in reality - not a distant place and a distant dream.This is solid ground stuff. I have to bike 90km, so now I can map out the course and aim to do 30km of it, then 40km, then 50km, then 60km - you get the idea.
Also love the idea of training at Ngamotu Beach from spring through to tri-time in the place I'll be racing.
In between all that, I'll be training for the Taranaki Daily News half-marathon.
Idelle Hiestand is one of my main inspirations for doing the home-grown race because she talked to me about supporting local. She also did the race and did it well, so I know it's possible for me.
Had lunch with my sponsor and co-conspirator Bryce Barnett yesterday and he's all for the switch in venue, so am feeling buoyed about it now and can put plans into action.
Yahoo!
However, I am heading away for an event soon - the last Tri-Woman race of the season. That will be at Pt Chevalier on April 22 and I'll be heading there with my niece Rebecca and daughter Clementine, who will be a team. I'll be doing the whole thing again, but this time I'll be running, not walking!
Back to Irena - she put me on the spot about my weight, asking why I haven't updated my blog for months. That's because I've been hovering between 90kg and 91kg and I wanted to write that I'd made it to 80-something and make a big splash.
She reminded me that back when I was teering on the edge of 100kg, she said I just had to relax and let go and the weight dropped and it did.
So this is it, I'm saying out loud, well in writing, "I'm letting go!"
Let's see if that works.
Other changes - I won't be having cafe lunch dates with friends during the week.
Don't be annoyed or sad. You can still see me - at the weekends or come for a "walking meeting" with me. I'll still have time for a coffee on a Monday too, but other times I need to have shortened lunch breaks to finish work early to get to training, or meet on the move with you, which will produce energetic, creative thoughts and great conversations. Naturally, I'll make exceptions for injuries or if it's snowing.
Yes, I'm starting to sound rather militaristic. These new moves are for me because I need discipline to achieve what I aim to do, because these are big goals.
Because, as you know, I've just got 2 do it!

Dance of the awkward elephant

By Virginia Winder
Just in case you think I've turned into an athletic goddess overnight, I've got news for you.
Went to my first Dance FX class at the gym tonight and discovered I was seriously out-of-step. The 2011 version of aerobics is a lot more sophisticated and choreographed than the good old side-to-side, back-and-forward steps of old.
As I stumbled, missed moves, failed to twirl-jump or pump parts of my body I vaguely remember using, ever, I yearned for those simple days of sweat bands and lycra.
Instead, I felt like an awkward elephant among a troupe of ballet fairies. But I'll go back, because I'm certain my antics made everybody else in the class feel co-ordinated, fit and in control. Good to support others, eh?
Met a mate at the supermarket the other night and he did the "I should" speech about following my example into fitness, balance and health.
But I told him not to compare himself with me - or anyone.
The truth is everyone has to come to their own moment of change and that can only be self-driven. I have absolutely no interest in making people feel guilty about themselves.
Inspire people yes, but not make them feel bad.
Also, you can't compare yourself with others or you'd never do anything.
Taranaki ultra-distance runner Lisa Tamati is one of my greatest inspirations.
She makes me push myself, because I think: "If Lisa can do this for 24 hours, then I can push myself for one hour."
Another woman who I admire hugely is Irena Brooks, the editor of Live Magazine, because she is everything - a supportive, loving mother, a businesswoman, journalist, encouraging friend and a shining example of fitness. She's completed a half ironman and is my No 1 reason for having a go myself.
My sister, Felicity, who never has never stopped exercising, my nieces, Rebekah, who swims massive distances, and Sarah, who's always seeking new knowledge, are other major influences to help keep me going.
Another woman who has affected me greatly is journalist Michelle Sutton, who survived a serious brain injury and came back better, stronger, more powerful than before. Yeah, she's my Bionic Woman, and one who showed determination and guts on a par with Lisa Tamati. The difference though, was Michelle was fighting to regain her life, mind and body - and she did.
Interestingly, the essence of her, the core of her being, was so strong it was never lost and always shone through and still does.
As for me, my achievement today was a tiny one, but I won't compare.
Well, not really... but I do dream of the day when I'm a ballerina fairy, actually a kick-arse one with attitude, and possibly a sneer.

Today I:
Slept for 7.5 hours
Worked for 8 hours
Ate three delicious nutritious meals
Survived a Dance FX class at the gym

Still need to drink more water!