Inspired by real thing at the Mount

By Virginia Winder
Haven't had a great food day and it's made me grumpy.
Had nachos for lunch because everyone else was having it and I was hungry. Not a great excuse, I know, but there it is.
As for dinner, I had a Thai takeaway and it was delicious, but once again I didn't choose the healthiest option from the board.
I'm not perfect, but because I have made such great choices lately I do feel a bit disappointed with myself.
Oh well, tomorrow is a new day.
I begin each morning with untoasted muesli soaked overnight and then throw in blueberries and whatever in-season fruit there is available. At the moment it's strawberries. Then I add yoghurt and some walnuts and get munching.
It's such a great start to the day - natural grains for slow-release energy and blueberries and walnuts for brain food.
On the exercise front, I have been greatly inspired.
At the weekend, Warren and I went to Mt Maunganui to watch the half-ironman.
When we first got there I was completely overwhelmed by all the bikes set up in the transition area. But where were all the athletes?
In the water!
They were already in Pilot Bay, where the men were wearing blue swimming caps; the women wearing pink. A friend says they look like lollies bobbing about and they do.
We watched all the changeovers, saw how people got on and off bikes, put their gear on, how long they took, found out about all the tricks of the triathlon transitions and soaked it all in.
I stood on the sidelines encouraging strangers and telling them how good they looked. "Don't feel it," or "You're lying," were some of the replies.
But they did look great, especially those who had been out there for more than five hours and still had a spring in their steps.
Instead of being put off by watching the race, which I'll be doing next year, I felt buoyed. "I can do this," I said quite often to my sidekick, who is also getting keen on triathlons himself.
There's nothing like watching the real thing to get inspired.
We stayed with our mates Susan and Glenn, who are also tri-hards. That sounds mean, but yes, they too are going through their own midlife exercise, let's-do-it-all phase. I won't call it a crisis like mine because they have always been lean.
My own exercise is going just fine.
Have been walk-running, doing a bit of body-surfing and went for a glorious bike ride today.
Reckon I'll be back in the pool tomorrow, at least doing kick work and drills with my good arm. My left shoulder is coming along, after all I did catch a couple of waves tonight. 
Another great thing has happened, I have stumbled upon an excellent masseur - a Czech man called Jan. I had my first massage on Monday and after he left my feet felt so good it was like walking on cushions.
So, apart from one not so great day of food, this health and fitness quest of mine is going extremely well.
Now I have a confession about the bike. When I went out today, I didn't wear my cleats. I went out wearing running shoes so I wasn't stuck to my bike and I felt much braver and more confident.
Think it will be awhile yet before I venture out clipped on to my bike.
One step at a time, eh? One step at a time...

Today, I:
Slept for 9 hours
Biked for 40 minutes (including a big hill)
Went bodysurfing at Oakura (big waves)
Worked for 2 hours
Drank 2 cups of coffee
Drank some water (but needed more)

Wow - people are amazing

By Virginia Winder
When you're a kid, you have no idea about the road rules.
So the poor boy racing around the corner towards me on his scooter had no idea why a crazy lady on a red bike was screaming: "Go left, go left."
I was committed, you see and knew I'd hit him if he didn't move.
He didn't, so I slammed on my brakes and fell. Again.
I didn't hit him - the mother in me just couldn't do that.
Luckily, this part of the walkway has just been resealed so I fell on smooth concrete. No grazes, just bruises this time.
Why didn't I go right? Because it was a tight turn by the Fitzroy camp ground and while I could see Scooterboy in the mirror that has been so artfully placed to show oncoming traffic, the truth is I panicked. These clip-in bike shoes have got me a bit spooked. OK, I'm terrified.
"You can't keep saying that," my husband Warren says.
So, about three minutes before, I'd been biking along yell-singing out: "I'm brave, I'm fearless."
Don't worry, nobody else was around.
It was bravado of course and then bang, Scooterboy loomed.
He endured a gentle lecture about keeping left, but just stood there looking a bit baffled, probably wondering why the silly lady had fallen anyway. 
After he scooted off, my tough, mean husband made me get back on my bike and keep going.
I was all for going home.
But I got back on my undamaged (yes, pouting again) and oh what a glorious ride it was too!
There were so many people out on the coastal walkway on Tuesday morning - parents and kids on bikes, on tandem bikes, people of all ages wandering, power-walking, running, some with dogs and others pushing mountain buggies. My favourite was a guy on a skateboard with surfboard under his arm.
Last night I went for a fast walk home from The Most (100.4FM) after doing my radio show, Waxing Lyrical, and felt great. Even did a circuitous route via the walkway, energised by my latest favourite exercising song - Lonely Boy by The Black Keys.
The good news is my foot problem has improved greatly and I can walk without pain.
The bad news is that when I went to physio this morning, I immediately switched to shoulder treatment. My first fall before New Year appears to have strained my left rotator cuff because that's the side I fell on.
Annoyingly, that means swimming is out for a wee while, but I'm certain I'll recover incredibly quickly.
I love my swimming, especially with my niece Rebekah!
So that means I just have to focus on my biking and my walking.
That's the beauty of triathlon training; there are options.
Tonight, I walk/ran to Fitzroy Beach along the walkway. I didn't plan to run, but went with Camille, my French daughter, and she has such a fast stride I had to keep running to catch up and then of course I kept running to pass her. Then she'd run to pass me, so then I'd have to catch her up.
"Restraint," I could hear Coach Clint yelling in my head, even louder than The Black Keys, so I let her go in the end. Oh, OK, she cleaned me up!
Now, many of you will know there have been a couple of stories about KCL Property owner Bryce Barnett and myself in the Taranaki Daily News this week. The front page story is about our joint quest to fight obesity in Taranaki by leading from the front.
Since publishing on Tuesday, the response from people has been overwhelmingly supportive.
I have had phonecalls, emails, texts, Facebook messages and posts, comments on this blog and been stopped on the beach and in street.
People are amazing.
Wow.
As this journey progresses, I will do my best to research the answers to all your questions, go to the experts and find out even more information.
So feel free to contact me, ask more questions, tell me about your own journeys and share ideas about people who are doing amazing things.
Then I'll write about as many as I can.
Because, while my personal mission is to become a fit, healthy, athlete, I am firstly a writer, so that will be my gift to you all - my words.

Yesterday, I:
Biked about 15km
Walked about 6.5km
Drank 2 cups of coffee
Drank heaps of water
Worked for 1 hour
Ate 3 nutritious meals
Went for 2 swims in the sea (but didn't put any pressure on shoulder!)
Spent time with good friends
Slept, badly, for about 7 hours

Today, I:

Walked for about 30 minutes
Drank 1 cup of coffee
Drank some water (not enough!)
Worked for 3 hours
Ate 3 healthy meals
Went for 1 swim in the sea
Slept well for 8 hours

Bubbles of mirth and aching bones

By Virginia Winder
Life has got in the way of my blogging.
Blame training, end-of-year-celebrations and being way too laidback. Add tiredness, a series of annoying headaches and a few computer malfunctions into the mix and well, you've got all the "dog ate my homework" excuses. We can't blame Xena though - she is an angel.
So big apologies for being slack.
Let's go back to Wednesday, when I went for a ride on the Pink Beast. Went to the port and back, which is a few kilometres, but not many.
I enjoy biking, but am a bit useless with the gears. Clunk, clunk, clunk they go. I never seem to get the right pedal speed - it's either too easy or too hard. This is obviously an IQ test; one I'm failing.
Got up a sweat though and felt some burn in my thighs, so all is good.
On Thursday I went swimming and realised I am way too social.
Although I meet interesting people like Cathy the doctor, Maureen the ocean swimmer and Slope the former lifeguard who has a hankering to write, my chats slow me down.
And being one who loves to find out everything about people and what drives them, my chinwags last too long.
Or sometimes I am misunderstood.
There is this woman I've met who has been doing fartlek swimming training. Fartlek is Swedish for "speedplay" and includes aerobic swimming for endurance interspersed with faster lengths.
"How's your fartlek swimming going?" I asked a young woman who joined my lane.
She looked at me aghast.
"You are the woman doing fartlek aren't you?" I ventured.
"I don't know what you're talking about - I hardly ever come swimming," she said.
I apologised for getting the wrong person, explaining that when people have swimming caps and goggles on, they all kind of look similar. Don't they?
I took off for a couple of lengths and when I returned to the western end, she had disappeared. Then I got to thinking, perhaps she thought I was accusing her of farting in the pool.
Then I started to giggle. Swimming and laughing - not a good combination - but the mirth just bubbled from me.
On Friday, I got hit by a blinding headache in the middle of the day, so headed home for a quick kip before a bunch of journalism students turned up for an end-of-year barbecue. The first arrived around 4.30pm and the last left about 1am. We sat outside for most of it, with the stereo on the outdoor speakers and the chimenea fired up.
Yesterday, I flagged training because I had another headache and ached all over. Now, I'm sure you may think that was because I had been drinking, but I had little alcohol - only four glasses over eight hours and lots of water.
As yesterday progressed, so did my aching and, wisely, I headed for bed.
Still aching today, but will go for a wee walk to see how I feel. I may add a swim in too, but only if I'm feeling OK. It's incredibly important to listen to your body.
For those concerned that I'm not drinking enough water, I have been downing heaps.
But when you've gone from doing no exercise to heaps, plus eating much less and losing weight, it must take a toll on your body. Will research this and get back to you.

This past week, I:
Swam twice
Walked twice
Biked once
Did one gym workout
Slept badly most nights (racing thoughts!)
Worked 38 hours
Drank heaps of water
Had 4 alcoholic drinks
Drank about a dozen coffees
Mostly ate wonderfully well - low carbos, lots of low-fat protein and fresh fruit and vegetables

For the love of endorphins

When I was out walking tonight I realised four things.
1. Even though I might train and train at swimming, it is unlikely to be my best discipline. However, I need to work harder at it, because I don't want to be useless out there in the sea. I think, from now on, I'm going to have to swim every second day.
2. To perform well in a triathlon, I need to play to my strengths - both of them. Yes, I'm talking about my legs. Despite initially having some trepidation about biking, I have realised that it could well be my strongest discipline in these triathlons.
3. I need to get running. To do this, I need to lose another 10kg and I'm keen to do this as quickly as possible, but still without dieting. I'd like to be jogging by the end of November. I have started by running downhill, in a relaxed and slow manner, plus I'm doing my Bionic Woman slow-motion running the pool.
4. Help, I need new music! I love my playlist, but it's getting a bit too familiar. I need some surprises in there, so if anybody has any suggestions for uplifting music with a fast beat, I want to hear from you. I like rock, alternative everything, some hip-hop and even pop. I love great lyrics too, but most important of all is a fast beat.
Had my day off yesterday and gosh I needed it. I was so tired, probably because of those double-dose sessions. Am still going to do more of them, because exercise is so good for me.
When I'm going to the gym, walking or cycling, those wonderful endorphins make me feel happy.
Swimming is a different story. That's when a get a big boost of endolphins.
Don't start grabbing for your dictionary - my friend Callie coined that word and I think it's cute and clever.
But what are endorphins (or endolphins)?
A quick internet search reveals they are neurotransmitters that interact with the opiate receptors in the brain to reduce our perception of pain and make us feel good. Endorphins act in a similar way to drugs like morphine and codeine and are believed to be responsible for the runner's high. Exercise, sex, chocolate, acupuncture, massage therapy, meditation and hot chillies all trigger the release of endorphins.
That explains why chilli and chocolate is my favourite food combination.
Gotta love that natural high.

Today, I:
Worked for 3 hours
Slept for 8 hours (badly)
Had 3 nutritious meals
Went for a 6.1km power walk
Drank lots of water
Drank 2 cups of coffee

Turtle comes out of shell in search of air

By Virginia Winder
Finally got on my bike.
But it wasn't a fun ride with views of the sea; it was an inner-city outing looking for a petrol station with free air to pump up bike tyres.
Not my pink beast, but my husband's purple bike. For some reason he thought it was OK to head out with flat tyres, believing the nearest servo would do the trick. But no, BP and Shell both failed - their air machines had crosses over wee pictures of bicycles.
So they both get the thumbs down for their lack of support for human-powered transport.
Caltex, however, get the big tick for cycles.
Out on my today bike, I learnt a couple of things.
1. I need wing mirrors to see behind me. You can get that grin off your face - I know you're doing it because my husband gave me the same look. The truth is I can't turn my neck to see what's coming up behind me. I'm sure this is some sort of karmic payback for teasing my Dad about how he couldn't turn his neck properly while driving. He always looked like an awkward turtle. Now I'm the turtle.
2. I'm more bike fit than I thought, but it could just be a comparison thing. When you do normal, out-in-the-open-air pedalling, it's a doddle compared with spin class. I could pedal up the hill past the Taranaki Daily News with relative ease and that surprised me. For those not from New Plymouth, it's a bit of a climb, but not too strenuous.
3. Intersections scare me, especially when faced with a standing start.
4. When you're in the bike lanes, cars whizz past and they feel incredibly close.
5. The biggest surprise was that I enjoyed biking. When I was a teenager I biked everywhere and raced the boys home from high school. They were on 10-speeds and I was on a bike with no gears and I often used to beat them. My body is starting to remember that.
So there you have it - I'm back in the saddle for real and it feels damn good.

Today, I:
Biked for 20 minutes (a start!)
Worked for 12.5 hours
Slept for 6 hours
Drank not enough water
Drank 3 cups of coffee
Drank 2 glasses of pinot gris
Ate two healthy meals and one that was a bit rich, but delicious (went out for dinner with the witches - you'll meet them soon enough)

No back-pedalling on bike training

By Virginia Winder
Went into a spin this morning.
Rose early to head off to a 6.15am spin cycle class at the gym and discovered I am not bike fit, in the slightest.
I know, I've said I'll starting biking, but have been avoiding it. To do this triathlon and start my long haul towards the half ironman, I just have to get back in the saddle, so to speak.
The spin class was a good start and a moment of truth.
The women around me could do all the moves, like stand-up pedalling, back-pedalling and sprinting with bums off the seat. I wobbled about, my thighs burning and had to sit down heaps.
It appears I'm going to have to go into training to do a spin class. My bike is going to be getting lots of use (unless it's monsoon-like out there).
Just been talking to my niece and she shared a saying that's on the wall of her boxing club: "Pain is weakness leaving the body."
That's an excellent sentiment to focus on and I must have a lot of weakness. The opposite of course is strength!
Tomorrow morning I have an improve-my-style swimming so am heading to bed early. Watched the final of True Blood last night (OMG!), so didn't get enough sleep - again.
So I'll head off, and think about today's big lesson - trainee triathletes have to work on their weakest disciplines.

Today, I:
Did a spin cycle class
Ate 3 meals (2 of them extremly healthy, and 1 lovely, but not so good)

Drank some water, but probably not enough (any tips to drink more?)

Drank 2 cups of coffee
Drank 1 chai latte

Slept for 6 hours

Worked for 9 hours

Fast walk with Michael Franti

By Virginia Winder
Had a slow day but a brisk walk invigorated me.
Listened to Michael Franti and Spearhead as I strode along the walkway.
Great beat for walking! Felt so energised afterwards.
This is a short post because it's half time in the France vs England quarterfinal of World Cup. The earlier quarterinal was tough because I wanted both to win. Poor Ireland, good on ya Wales.
It's OK to have a slow day, my husband keeps telling me.
He cooked a fantastic fish curry for tea tonight. He's such a master.
I ate well, rested, made plans, read, dreamt and finally tidied my terribly messy bedroom.
You would think that I'd have moved on from my teenage untidiness, but every now and then I digress. Badly.
I like the idea of decuttering for 15 minutes every day, so will have a go at that tomorrow.
Also, I've been slack at biking, which is my weakest discipline for this upcoming triathlon.
All the books I've been reading say you should focus on your weakest link. To be honest, it should be my strongest because I've got strong legs.
So tomorrow, will get on the bike.
Back to the rugby...

Today, I:
Ate three healthy meals and am cutting back on my carbohydrates
Had 1 coffee
Drank more water
Drank 2 glasses of pinot gris
Walked for 50 minutes listening to music
Worked for 2 hours
Slept for 8.5 hours overnight

Friends, supporters and All Blacks - a love story

By Virginia Winder
Yay the All Blacks!
Some people have been moaning about the Rugby World Cup, but not me.
I love it, especially when the Men in Black win games like tonight's clash with the French. The final score was 37-17. Allez le noir!
Captain Richie McCaw just played his 100th test for the All Blacks - the first to do so.
My feats today were miniscule in comparison.
Biked to town and back and it was so easy - on the way there.
It was a bonus not having to pay parking fees, but the wee hills on the way home were a tad tough. Haven't mastered my gears yet and don't feel particularly confident on the roads, but still it was a great feeling of freedom using self-powered transport.
Wore a bright orange hoodie and a colourful backpack, so at least I was highly visible.
Went to the supermarket later on and met two woman who were extremely encouraging about my quest for health, fitness and life balance. Both said they are reading my blog.
Even better, more women are considering joining me in the Tri-Women triathlon on January 29. Rebekah, Cheryl, Chrissy... I'm outing you.
Met another woman on a similar quest to me and she is doing fantastically! It's so inspiring hearing other people's stories.
One mate has come up with some great book recommendations - Younger Next Year: A Guide to living like 50 Until You’re 80 and Beyond by Chris Crowley and Henry S. Lodge. I've read a lot of this and these men pull no punches. The upshot is that you have to trick your body into believing it's still growing, rather than decaying and the only way you can do that is by exercising six times a week (four aerobic and two strength).
My friend also says Body For Life by Bill Phillips is a great read.
Went for a 40-minute walk tonight too and am now tackling hills. Strangely, it's going downhill that I find most difficult.
Have had an up and down food day.
For breakfast I had a raspberry brioche from Petit Paris and a coffee. I was still out at lunchtime so went to another cafe with my daughter, niece and mate. I ordered an open chicken sandwich and when it came the meat was fried, like KFC. Barely ate any of that.
But for dinner, Warren (my live-in nutritionist) created an incredible salad topped with scallops. His meals are so healthy and delicious, he's soon going to start the Just Got 2 Do It! recipe blog.
That's it for tonight - have I mentioned I love the All Blacks?!

Today, I:
Biked 2km
Walked for 40 mins
Ate one healthy meal
Drank lots of water
Didn't work at all
Hung out with my niece, daughter and best mate
Got heaps of support from people
Watched the All Blacks beat France!

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