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

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!