My first walk/run back in forever.

Walked up to the chemist and back to get my Emla patches for my cortisone injections this afternoon. Two kilometres is all I did and apart from twinges in my back, my legs feel great.

What a glorious day.

Today just couldn't get any more magnificent - blue skies, slight breeze, deliciously warm sun and the beckoning of the M7 bike track - which of course I heeded. How could I pass up an opportunity to ride, on what I can only be classed as the best Winter's day ever. Mel and I decided to just ride with no particular destination only that at the 45 minute mark we were to turnaround and head back.

So off we set chatting along the way and when some of the hills required less talk that is what we did too. It's not that the hills are hugely steep they are just a constant gradual incline to the point that your wondering when you will finally reach the top. The good thing is that once you reach the top there is always a decline, and boy - do I let it rip. I love the feeling of freedom I get as the wind is whooshing past my ears, I feel so alive. But I am sure those thoughts could quickly change should I get the wobbles.

As I pedalled strongly, I continued to play with the gears up hill and down hill to get a really good feel of all the different ranges this beautiful Aliyah has. And even though I felt some of those inclines in my quads - I know I would have felt them more on my flat bar roadie. Clicking in and out of the cleats feels like second nature, I don't even find myself thinking of it as I come to a stop. So in my mind this means this bike and I were meant to be.

The one thing I can't find myself getting used to is the pain in the nether regions. At what point is this meant to feel better? Any ideas of time frame would be much appreciated. I keep hearing the more time spent in the saddle the easier it will get, but heck - it hurts.

But I won't complain too much, today was a great day. We covered 26km - so not a great distance but this was Mel's first time of the bike track. Next time we go for longer - can't wait.

Memorable.

Yesterday was a day that I will remember forever for many reasons. Firstly I got to have my first short ride with 'Aliyah'. I must admit I was extremely nervous, and if I had to pinpoint the reasons why, I think it was because:

1. She is brand spanking new.
2. I was taking her out the road.
3. What happens if I couldn't clip out of my pedals on time.
4. The whole gear thing is new to me
5. What if, what if, what if........

So the only way I know to get rid of nerves is to just stop procrastinating and just do it. So on went the shoes and out the door I stepped for my first momentous ride. I clipped my right foot in and started on my merry way and found that the left foot found it's position really easily - I didn't even get the 'death wobbles' in the process. And as I continued to pedal away, I quickly realised that this bike was awesome. Even on my bumpy bitumen road she was smooth - or maybe I was just so enamored that I just didn't pay attention, highly likely.

As I continued on the 8km home loop I once again was faced with the infamous hill and knew that at some point I was going to have to figure out my gears - so I probably had about 500m to do so. I remember Macca at Panther's Cycles saying "be confident when changing gears, give them a good tap", which is what I did and I got it mastered - no probs. The hill still felt challenging but I don't know, something made me feel invincible, and even though I was panting harder than any canine I know, I made it up the hill with Aliyah.

On the home stretch I decided to go and vote so I stopped by home and thought to myself I will just get dressed and drive back up. What was I thinking? I have a brand new bike that is beckoning to be ridden, so I got back on and rode up only to realise half way that I forgot my ID - so back home I went. Back up the hill I went and to the local public school to vote in Australia's most messed up election ever - well that's my opinion. When I got to the school I felt like a movie star - 4 volunteers (guys) where drooling over Aliyah. I couldn't take her in with me so I entrusted her to one - but made sure I gave him the look of you 'touch you suffer serious consequences'.

All in all as I was riding home I kept thinking, this has got to be the best bike ever made. The colour's are to die for, she is so light and I can't hear anything that is out of place. Just silence. She is awesome.

Today was also memorable because I got to meet Amanda, misszippy and her gorgeous family after her 35km bush run in the mountains. I wouldn't have missed this opportunity for anything in the world.
As Amanda ran passed me I yelled out "Go Amanda" so she could see I was right there, cheering her on. When she finished and had her timing chip taken off and she had a drink , she walked over and I gave her a big hug to welcome her to Australia, for finishing such a tough race, and for being a great bloggersphere friend.

We had a great afternoon spent chatting over some yummy coffee's and hot chocolates, whilst our kids - who got on like a house on fire, enjoyed hot chocolates and spiders (like a root beer float). This will be forever etched in my mind as a wonderful memory. Can't wait to do it all again, only next time I will be in the States. I hope you have a wonderful and safe trip back home Amanda and family.
What a day. I am happy.

My eyes are dry.

Why I here you ask? Well, I cannot peel my eyes away from staring at my new baby. Everything about it screams style, speed, endurance and performance. I even woke up last night to a thump in the still of night, and had to check on the bike to make sure it was still there and not being knocked off by some Cannondale enthusiast. And once awake do you think I could go back to sleep - not a chance. I lay awake for the next hour rolling over names in my head that would give my baby justice.

Yesterday was a day I will always remember and I am sure the guys at Panther's Cycles will also remember it too, for much different reasons. I had been waiting to get my bike for months and my anxiety over to having to wait and finally reaching this day was probably more than I could handle. I was like Mt Vesuvius - ready to explode (actually I think I did). The guys were in front row seats for my spectacular show and could hardly believe their eyes - I'm sure. My pupils became fixed and dilated and I could feel a massive rush of adrenalin course through my body. I was finally touching my bike, MY BIKE. This had no-one else's name on it apart from mine.

As the adrenalin dissipated and my normal bubbly self returned and manic Barb left the building, I was able to finally get focused on the task at hand. Getting fitted - and stupid me forgot to take my bike shorts in. So, much to Macca's dismay, I was going to have to be fitted in my jeans. It worked, I just rolled my jeans up, excused my hairy legs (it's winter) and we got started. First the seat, then the bars and everything else. I got a workshop on how to change a flat, take off my back wheel and put it back on again, how to use the gears and how to sit on my saddle properly. 90 minutes later and I was good to go.

Few things have to added and changed - like my saddle, the white one is a male specific seat and I have my female specific SelleItalia, so I will be getting that changed today. My son will get the white one on the GIANT. I am also going to get a bike kit with all the little bit n pieces should I get a flat out on my many road rides which I will now be definately doing.

So back to naming my baby - the first thing I did this morning was start searching for names, and I came across a name which resonated immensely within me. It is a name that not only demonstrates courage to stand alone and be brave, but it also describes the journey that I have been on. So it is with great honour I present to you:

Aliyah.
(Hebrew - to ascend, to rise up).

I look forward to a wonderful journey with Aliyah. A true bond which will only grow over the years and the paths we share together.

My baby has arrived.

I think it's impossible to describe how excited I am. Words elude me right now. Will have a post very shortly describing the buzz.

Thoughts.

Surround yourself with
those who believe in you
and who will help you
achieve your goals.

"Lisa Marie Yost"

Since I started writing my blog at the beginning of the year, I have always wanted to turn it into a hard copy to one day possibly, hopefully inspire others to maybe undertake the same path that I have in reaching their dreams. Yes, maybe helping them get to their first ever 70.3 or hopefully encouraging them to look at any goal they have set and just going out and getting it. I mean really - we are the master of our own destiny and sometimes all we need is just the words of a mere human being to make us realise that we too can do it.

My friends always say to me that I have courage, I think of it more as "if I don't make the step myself who else is going to take it for me". I believe in putting it out there and the universe will take it on board and help you to reach your goal. So that's what I am doing. Good things will happen, I know they will. It may not be today or tomorrow - I mean I haven't reached the conclusion to my blog yet, but if I make the necessary connections now, things will come good.

I have learnt so much so far and know that there is still so much to learn, but I hope to impart some of this knowledge to others who feel that either it's too hard or that they are not worth it. Everyone is worth it and everyone has it in them to do good and strive to the best of their ability.

I look forward to this journey with great enthusiasm.

Gotta see where your going?

I never thought much about sighting before I started focusing on Triathlon training. Actually, that implies I thought about it atleast once, when the actual truth is that I never thought about it at all. I mean really what was the need, I had goggles and the pool water in which I trained and competed in was always crystal clear. And I think the few times I did do open water swimming as a child, I always just stuck close to my brothers and they guided the way. Now as an adult and having competed in an open water competition and having done my first triathlon I see the importance of learning correct sighting technique whilst still maintaining efficient forward momentum.

The aim of the game is to still move forward right! But unfortunately what I noticed when I first started trying to use this technique in the Tri Club squad sessions, was that my lower limbs dropped slightly in the water and I felt like I slowed down heaps. I also fatigued quickly as it it not an easy thing to perfect and when I got tired my arm stretch started to shorten to - totally ineffective. We would do sets of 100m with the first 25m consisting totally of swimming with our head out of the water and the remaining 75m being Fr/s. I also noticed when I would swim at the other pool that the water polo squads also used this technique so I have been making sure that I try to incorporate this type of swimming regularly.

I think I have gotten better at it. I don't feel fatigued and I tend to maintain the same head height throughout the 25 m. I was also reading in an article today from active.com about the differences they have found in beginner triathletes and elite swimmers when using the sighting technique. My aim will be to mimic the elite swimmers technique so as to maintain a much more proficient style in the water over the course of my 1.9km swim course in the 70.3 next year.

So even though this was never a blip on my radar, sighting now holds a whole new meaning. Do you use sighting techniques in your training?