Recovery week.

It's always nice to step back in your training program. And the one thing I notice is how refreshed I feel when I get out for a swim, bike, run. I have to be on the constant alert to slow down and make it just that - an easy aerobic, recovery session.

So yesterday at windtrainer session with TopNotch Performance and Health, my recovery week session entailed no run off the bike at the end. The session however, was no walk in the park but I do believe it is all starting to feel easier. I am no longer cringing and contorting my face in the efforts - I am now totally focused on maintaining a really steady cadence of between 94-96 during the efforts.

Session last night was:

• 4 x 10min efforts at just above race pace.
• 5 min recovery in between
• And then whilst everyone ran off the bike I sat and spun.

I really focused on trying to use both quads and hammies whilst riding and making it an even revolution. And "By George, I think I got it". Mind you this morning my legs did tell me that I had found a new unworked muscle. Legs were slightly tight but otherwise no pain in my ITB or knee upon waking.

Then as I headed out for my run this morning on a cool, drizzly, overcast morning my left knee started to make me aware of it's presence. Not in a painful sort of way just a weird clickey kind of way. So I just continued on my way and thought if it starts to hurt I will stop - but it didn't. So with a pleasant morning for running I knocked out 10.16kms in 57 mins. I felt so good on this run and once again had to tell myself to slow down because it was meant to be an aerobic run.

I even made time to get a photo of the Clydesdale's just up the road - wished they were closer to the fence.

How did everyone fair during Valentines? I got spoilt. I am absolutely in love with the store DUSK. I want to own my own store just to always have an endless supply of these candles. Look at what I got for Valentines Day. Thankyou and love you Stephen.

The box didn't say Christmas on it though. If you could smell these candles you would know what I mean. Dusk describes this one as :

Vienna

"Create all the romance of an evening in Vienna with the delicate scent of vanilla infused with cranberry. This wonderful combination will take you away to the historic streets of this wonderful city"

Check out their website.

Cobbitty Greendale - SAWEET.

Well not really, but it is definitely feeling easier. There was nothing in my head today that said - GO ON - GIVE UP. It was just all about doing this loop and nailing it from start to end. The two hills that normally challenge me the most were met with a fervent desire to get to the top and before I knew it I had done just that. Mind you, they still challenged me physically - I was up and out of the saddle and then sitting back down more times than I would like to count but IT STILL GOT DONE.

The last hill coming out of Werrombi is this long slow seemingly innocuous climb. It has almost had me at tears trying to get to the top the first couple of times I attempted it. The final part of the climb just kicks up for about 100m's and I could swear you go cross eyed trying to make it to the top after grinding away for what seems like forever. But this time I dug deep and squashed those mind game demons to bits. And before I knew it Cobbitty was done.

There had been a couple of flats along the way which got changed quite promptly and poor Renee took a fall. Her chain dropped out and before she new it she fell. Tally of war wounds - Bruises and Scratches. The one thing that came out unscathed - her Cannondale Slice - much to her delight. My gears were playing silly buggers and Lance and adjusted them just before the ride so I could atleast enjoy it.

Ruth another fellow cyclist tackled Cobbitty for the first time today and totally smashed it to bits. Her smile never left her face - GREAT JOB Ruth.

On the way back home I had to rush back - didn't realise the time and I had Mum at home. She was okay with me going for the ride this morning but I felt bad that I wasn't there when she woke up. Anyway, when I got home I had explained to Mum that my gears were playing up as I had had the cables changed a few days before and the tension had loosened. And being the ever supportive Mum that she is said "take it to the bike shop now, I will stay with the kids while you go". So I flew in and back without to much delay - got lunch on the way round and came back home.

I was unable to ride with the FlashPoints as the extension tubing seal was out and I had a slow leak - so because I didn't have the proper inner tubes to replace it should I flat I chose to not risk it. So off to my local hangout. I am so thankful for Panther Cycles - nothing is ever too much. Everytime I go in there I am greeted with a smile and prompt service - thanks guys.

Yesterday was just the best day - I got to meet up with the Sydney Daily Milers Jaydub, Andrew, Kirsten, Adrian, Kris, Rod, Jo, Kevin (popped in for quick Hello) Kunaal and Lisa from New Zealand who was on holidays here. We ran around Blackwattle Bay and over the Anzac Bridge and did a total of almost 5.5km. I have never run in the city and it is such a unique experience. Kirsten who was unable to run supplied us with a post run feed that was fit for a king - oh and queens as well. Check out the spread: I absolutely loved the water bottles and have kept two and put them in my cabinet - on display.

~Thankyou Kirsten~

Meeting up with everyone was so cool. So nice to finally put voices to images. It was such a surreal experience all round.

I also want to give a shout out to my husband. Stephen has decided to get back into Tennis after quite some time. He is a really good player and am so glad he has finally realised that his gift was going to waste. Proud of you.

Brace yourselves.

These are my new set of Flash Point 60's. I didn't think I could love my bike anymore - that was until I added these new babies to the mix. I was SO LUCKY to pick these up off my friend Elissa who has only just upgraded to a pair of ZIPP after a holiday to the States.

So things that I love (language used will be girly and really unprofessional):

• The colour - they match perfectly with my Cannondale - Red, Black, Grey and White - these were made for my bike.
• The spokes - totally bad ass - flat and silver and just look like they mean business.
• The actual tyres are black and red.
• My back tyre makes a cool clickey sound when you stop pedalling. I sound all pro like.

Fingers crossed the weather behaves tomorrow for my first ride with these gems. I am hoping it's not too windy as I think it may make it a tough ride and I will then have to put my other wheels back on.

I love my bike.

What a climb

As part of my application for DailyMile Ambassador I had to make a video showing why I loved DM so much and what I had gotten from it. My first video is one of me talking so I thought I won't post that one here but this second video show's just how far I have come since starting my weightloss and wellness journey back in mid 2009. So 18mths on and as I look back on this I can't help but feel a little proud of me.

I always used to think when I was a child that I was always going to be fit and healthy and that nothing was ever going to change that. Fast forward some years and a few rocky roads and you realise that life is made up of challenges and poignant moments in one's lives that make you sometimes question your ability to rise above them.

‎~Life's challenges are not supposed to paralyze you, they're supposed to help you discover who you are.~

~Bernice Johnson Reagon~

When your in the thick of it it sometimes seem so overwhelming, like the forest closes in from every angle. But I have realised that in order to get through the forest you need to hack away one tree at a time, and eventually that small little clearing around you turns into an open field, with opportunities in abundance.

I now take every opportunity that is thrown my way with both hands and hang of for dear life. Life is great.

And before I forget I want to say that my running is coming along nicely. Between Tuesday's long run and my track session on Wednesday I ran a total of 23km. This seemed like such a distant dream when I first started running many months ago - but look where I am now. Too cool.

Cole Classic finishers photo.

Courtesy Marathon-Photos.com

I tried to upload my photo with the time attached but it wouldn't do it so here the abridged version a la Barbie.

Busy, busy, busy.

Life has been so busy lately, not that I would have it any other way really - however, I have just been so flat chat. With the kids being back at school I thought time would be in abundance but those school hours just seem to fly by ever so quickly. I wish I could do a "Samantha" from Bewitched and wriggle my nose and hey presto the housework is complete.

But that is not to be.

So as I traipse through the house and do what needs to be done, I have also been contending with another huge surprise that came in the form of an email a few days ago. I am sure you are all aware that I log my training in a forum known as DailyMile for over a year now. Being on DM has given me the much needed motivation to continue with my training. When I am feeling down or have had a crappy session there is always someone on the other side giving me much needed works of encouragement.

So the huge surprise is that I got asked to apply as an Ambassador for DM for 2011. When I first received the email I was really quite shocked. There is nothing special about Barb, I just get up everyday and do what I love - LIVE LIFE. I believe in taking every opportunity that is given to me and running with it. Which is why I decided to apply for the position. Things come into your life for a reason - whether they be good or bad - there is a lesson to be learnt from each and every one.

So for the last couple of days I had been putting a video together trying to show what it is I had gone through over the last 2 years with my back illness and how far I had come. I didn't want it to come across as a sob story but rather a triumph. I look at how far I have come and what I have achieved and can't help but feel proud of myself - not in a love myself kind of way but rather I didn't let it beat me kind of way.

So with the video submitted it is now in the hands of everyone else on Daily Mile. Whatever the outcome, I will be happy. I will still continue to train, still continue to log my km's in and still continue to live life. I will still continue to be the best Mum I can be and show my kids that anything is possible as long as you believe in yourself.

I have also made it into the 220Triathlon Australian Magazine as an age grouper story. When I submitted that piece a while ago after discussion with our Club President I never in my wildest dreams thought it would be even looked at - but hey - it did and how amazingly cool is that. I also have another article *fingers crossed* going in about our club, PTC and the lead-up to Port Macquarie IM and 70.3.

Life has been great and I really can't stop smiling.

"I will! I am! I can! I will actualize my dream. I will press ahead. I will settle down and see it through. I will solve the problems. I will pay the price. I will never walk away from my dream until I see my dream walk away: Alert! Alive! Achieved!"
Robert Schuller

Cole Classic - Race Report.

I did it, and what a totally awesome experience. One that I shall keep in the memory bank till the day I die. And to tell you the truth I don't even know what I was stressing about.

The day started out much like every other race morning - me trying to stomach breakfast. Bit hard to try and eat 3 Weetbix when your stomach feels like a bag of wriggly worms. After a few failed attempts I gave up and ate some toast with butter and Vegemite. That seemed to hit the spot and not make me feel queezy.

Sarah and I decided to make our way in together early and allow our husbands and kids to come in a bit later. Thank goodness for Sarah, I totally suck at city driving so she was my NavMan - and what a great job she did. Trying to find parking once we were in there was a totally different ball game altogether. Lucky we spotted one gentleman loaded up with grocery bags and we honed in on him and "voila", his spot became ours.

As we made our way to The Gatorade stand to meet Tim I could feel my nerves becoming more and more and I think I starting walking faster and faster too, cause I could feel myself inching ahead of Sarah and had to tell myself to slow down. As we found Tim, he kindly allowed us to leave our bags with him whilst we did our race as he manned the Gatorade station at the finishing line.

The walk to Shelley Beach from Manly Beach was nerve wracking. Sarah and I had joined the entourage to the starting line and it was interesting to see the many different faces and emotions plaguing each and everyone in such a different way. Looking out upon the ocean near the start line I started to get an overwhelming feeling of exactly what it was I was about to embark on.

We caught up with some familiar faces - Ruth and Louise at Shelley Beach had some chit chat and then it was game on. The starter gave us some instructions about the course but I couldn't hear a thing - not sure if was the loud chit chat from everyone around me or the fact that all I could hear was blah, blah, blah because I was so nervous. But before I knew it I was in the line near the front ready to go. As I looked to my right I saw another familiar face - one of the girls who I competed against in my first ever Sprint Tri. I wished Sarah all the best and said "should we lose sight of eachother, will meet you at the Gatorade stand" and with that we both gave eachother a knowing smile of GOODLUCK and the gun went off.

As I ran to the water and dove in the first thing I noticed was how clear the water was, I was now officially swimming with real life ocean fishies. Everytime I put my arm down and stroked under water there was a multitude of fish staring back at me wondering what it was I was doing. The ocean wasn't that choppy coming into the first bouy so it was easy to spot the mass of swimmers to my right as I made my way to it and made the sharp right. By that stage the lead pack of 4-5 girls I could just make out in the distance and I and 2 other girls seemed to keep good pace with eachother.

Making my way into the second bouy we had to swim out past the breakers which were being caused by rocks at the tip of Shelley Beach. It felt odd to be swimming and riding the swell up and down - a totally unique experience and quite a challenging one too. From the sharp left turn on the second bouy I realised the girl in front of me had obviously done open water swimming before - here navigational skills were awesome and I would have been silly not to take advantage of it - so I hung onto her feet and followed the mass of bubbles. There was one other lady doing the same thing behind me as I could feel her tapping my toes every so often.

At about the 1km mark I swallowed a mouthful of salt water - I was coughing and spluttering and feeling slightly spewy and had to do some breastroke to regain my composure - I think I kicked someone at that point - SORRY. It was probably at the next bouy I started to pass some swimmers from the previous wave - and I knew that I was more than half way there. As I lifted my head to spot a bouy I heard "Hi Barb". I was like "What the" who could possibly know me in the middle of the ocean. It was Ruth - she later told me that the TriSuit was hard to miss in the ocean....too funny. I said Hi Ruth we smiled and then continued to swim.

As I kept swimming I noticed that keeping track of my navigation girl was getting harder and harder as we became more entrenched in the previous wave - I was now beginning to run into swimmers and their legs - so I was starting to have to lift my head more often to keep track of her purple cap in amongst the sea of orange caps. It was at that point I noticed a tell tale sting on my right upper arm. I quickly wiped my arm and new I had been stung by a blue bottle and I then got really scared. I didn't really want to swim through a mass of these buggers so I just crossed my fingers and wished for the best.

The way back in was fun - I could start to feel the waves pulling me into shore. The most fun was looking behind and trying to catch a wave back in. Kind of felt like I was a little kid again. I made sure I continued to swim until I could feel the sand with my fingertips and I then got straight up and ran for the finish line.

I really wanted to find the lady with the purple cap to thank her but I lost her in the sea of faces at the end. Unfortunately my family were unable to see me finish, the poor things couldn't find a parking and they all looked so visibly distressed when they all turned up later. I think though they were happy to see I had finished and was okay.

At the Gatorade stand I caught back up with Sarah, Kristy, Joey, Tim, Lance, Ruth, Louise and Andrew. Everyone was happy with all their efforts. I couldn't stop smiling.

Then this morning my smile has been replaced by the hugest grin. Check this out:

I came 5th in my age group. Not bad for my first Ocean Swim.

Can't wait to do it again. I am so happy - actually I think the word I am looking for is ECSTATIC.