Time to refocus on swimming, biking

By Virginia Winder
Sometimes life is a pain in the foot.
Yesterday, the physio diagnosed me with plantar fasciitis, which is inflammation of the tissue underneath my food and arch.
I told her about the sudden pain while doing a step-up at the gym, how it's got worse in the past week and keeps going into spasm. She pushed, poked and prodded, then gave me the PF news.
"You've definitely strained it," she said. "It's quite inflamed."
Tentatively, I asked that dreaded question - how long will it take to mend?
"About 12 weeks," she replied.
"Oh no," I said, thinking of the Tri-Women triathlon I've signed up for in New Plymouth on January 29.
She thinks I could possibly walk it, but didn't sound too hopeful.
The good news is I can swim to my heart's content, without flippers, and I can bike, but at this stage only on the flat, so I might need someone to do the run for me.
As life would have it, the physio has done the swimming section of the Tauranga half-ironman (my 2013 goal), so we talked all about it and she gave me training tips.
When I told her about how I had just started to run, she gave me a website to look up. It's a programme of how to get off the couch and up to running 5kms in nine weeks, hence the name of the site: c25k.
I'm not going to dwell on what I can't do now, but instead focus on what I can - swim, bike and bodysurf.
Summer is here and a sore foot isn't going to hold me back.
The Tasman Sea is calling...

Today, I:
Worked for 8 hours
Slept for 8 hours
Ate three healthy meals
Drank 3 coffees
Drank 2 glasses of pinot gris
Drank some water (got to get over this camel-like hump!)
Did no exercise (food strapped, so am giving it a bit of rest - back into swimming tomorrow)

Living on Back Beach time

By Virginia Winder
After three days fighting a virus, my body has won the battle.That means I'm back to good health and feeling vibrant!
To be honest, being sick is downright boring and a waste of time. Begone illnesses - there is no place for you in my exciting life. Good health, you are welcome and I embrace you.
See that - a positive affirmation slipped in there.
It was pretty easy being positive today.
What glorious weather. No clouds, no wind, just golden sunshine as brilliant as daffodils, or a Canteen bandana. They were being sold on the streets today and there's a cool four square man one and a bright green one designed with help from Lisa Tamati. Good for keeping the sun off my neck while biking and walking.
Went for an amazing walk down Back Beach this afternoon. The waves were perfect for surfing and the bottom carpark was full, but there weren't many people wandering towards Tapuae.
Warren, Xena and I walked to Mum and Dad's rock and then over into the next bay. Warren climbed among the rock pools and I strode to the end of the next point.
It was one of those days when you just soak in the beauty of nature and just be - right here, right now - and feel full of serene joy. Cue angel choir singing and all that.
As I'm writing this, Warren is out cooking the first barbecue of the season, The Rapture is on the stereo, there's a glass of cold pinot gris beside me and I've already made the first Greek salad of the summer (well it feels like it!).
This has been a full day of meeting people, talking to friends, gathering stories and just loving life.
Hey, and good news - I've now lost more than 10kg!

Today, I:

Ate two tiny mouthfuls of Petit Paris tarts (blueberry and hazelnut) and inwardly thanked Fred Laude for making such tiny guilt-free treats!
Drank two Ozone coffees today (mmm)
Drank two glasses of pinot gris
Dranks lots of water
Ate two nutritious, low-fat meals (soon will have)
Walked for 40 minutes on black sand
Slept for 4 hours (couldn't get to sleep)
Worked for 6 hours