I have a SPRING

In my step - and yes because SPRING has finally arrived and not a moment too soon. I also have sooooo many new adventures in the wings that I am not quite sure which way to turn - and in a good way.

The Cycling Cerebellums is moving forward. We have our first meeting this Sunday and have a few things in the woodwork - much to my excitement. My folder is getting nice and full with information. It's mostly just random thoughts of what could potentially be needed for the ride, however I am sure that when we get to our meet-up this Sunday that there will be a bookload of info I didn't even consider. Am looking forward to picking everyone's brains - as there are a few who have actually done these EPIC long rides for other fundraising charities. So far everything is pointing in the right direction and looking very promising indeed.

I have also had the opportunity to do a ride with my GoPro HD Hero Helmet Cam. The photos are amazing and the quality of the video camera is second to none. That camera is so tiny, yet its capabilities are AMAZING. Should you happen to be asked "What do you want for Christmas or your Birthday" then please, don't go past the Go Pro HD Hero Helmet Cam.

Check out the footage:

We have also held our first Give-a-away and Mr Warry is the proud owner of 5 Satchets of Chamois Butt'r. Congratulations - this stuff is MAGIC.

I also have another Triathlete of the Month scoop for you: To have a read, press on this Triathlete's name.

TIM.

Tim is also fundraising for the John Maclean Foundation during his training for the Hawaii Ironman. The foundation raises funds to help improve the quality of life for young underprivileged wheelies. Should you wish to donate - please press here.

I have also managed to go out for a bit of a run today. Believe me, it was nothing to write home about, but gees it felt nice to be out and about on a beautiful Spring Day.

Panthers Tri Club - Part C

If you have ever thought about doing a 70.3 in another country, then read Sean's

Thailand account here:

Sean.

Read how Kylie attempts another 70.3 not long after her first and conquers some

pretty tough conditions here:

Kylie.

If you choose to read Louise's account of her Memorial Triathlon

at Holbrook, then please press here:

Louise.

Want to read about James' PR doing the M7 Marathon with his

PTC buddy. Then press here:

James.

Read all about Corey here and why he misses PTC and PIS

so much here:

Corey.

Panthers Tri Club - Part B - Race Reports

To read all about Fiona's Ironman Journey

press here:

Fiona

To experience Luke's Great North Walks

press here:

Luke

To enjoy Sarah's trials at the TriShave Womens Triathlon, press here:

Sarah

Want to experience Port Macquarie Half through the eyes of the Andrew, then press here:

Andrew

Stay tuned tomorrow for more Race Reports.

Hope your all enjoying the read.

Panthers Triathlon Club - Part A - Triathlete of the Months.

I guess everyone knows how much I love my club - that's no secret. And if it is to some of you then please let me shout it out from the roof tops. I LOVE PTC. As part of my role within the club as Media and Public Relations Director I pick people to take part in our Triathlete of the Month segment as well as our Race Report segment. I want to share some with you. This will be a regular feature of my blog as I gain permission from the recipients. So drum roll please :

Number 1: Bob

Number 2: Kristy

Number 3: Rommel

Number 4: DaveNumber 5: Jen

Please make my friends feel welcome into the land of BlogVille. I am so proud to call them my friends. Make sure you leave a little comment on my blog making them feel welcomed. And stay tuned tomorrow. There will be a stack of race reports to follow.

Click on each segment and you should be able to enlarge each picture enough to read. Enjoy what PTC has to offer.

Thanks for the photo Kate.

To dream.

"A series of images, ideas, emotions, and sensations occurring involuntarily in the mind during certain stages of sleep"

Or is it your minds way of playing tricks on you, a way for it to make you question that which is real to that which is nonsensical. I don't know how many times I have awoken to a dream of having won millions of dollars only to realise that this is not to be.

Last night's dream was different.And not sure why I dreamed it. Maybe I have some left over angst from Yeppoon, whatever it was - the dream was ODD. It's not like I'm training for anything at the moment. Or maybe I'm just tired and being up most nights for the last week with sick kids has made me loopy.

Whatever it was, my dream landed me "smack dab in the middle of transition" at Port. I was laying out my stuff and realised I had no drink bottles, my runners had laces, I had no High 5 gels and my rear tyre was flat. Needless to say I was a complete wreck in my dream. All I could scrounge up were 4 GU Gels (not my cup of tea) and one drink bottle that didn't even sit in my drink cage properly. As for the rear tyre I changed it with tears pouring down my face constantly repeating to myself "what were you thinking, you practised time and time again, how could you get this so wrong". Needless to say, I awoke in the midst of and anguished cry and couldn't stop at about 2am. Really, what were the chances of something like this happening - ZERO, but somehow my brain thought it a catastrophic enough event to have me go through it in the safety of a dream.

I guess if I was to take this dream to an expert they could pick it to bits and it would cost me a fortune for the appointment. I know what this is saying about me, I need to learn to go with the flow. That life is going to throw massive curve balls at you and you just need to adapt. It ain't that big a deal. Use each moment that does not go according to plan as a moment to learn, to grow, to analyse and move on. To not stay stagnant in one's thought's - patterns but to find ways to challenge yourself.

But most of all to know that This too shall pass. That nothing bad lasts forever. What have you overcome?

Here's an idea.

I want to ride from Penrith to Melbourne - thats over 900km. Why? Well, it was an idea floating around mine and Elissa's cranium for a bit- like me she was super excited and couldn't wait to get cracking on it. Well that was some month's ago - and with training for Port and Yeppoon the idea was put on the back burner.

Well, now that I have no massive races apart from Nepean to focus, it is the perfect time to start organising this momentous ride with Elissa.

First things first - we wanted to fundraise for a worthy cause. Well, that was easy. But I can't disclose it yet till we get the approval on our submission. Just know that it has to do with Neurology. This is something near and dear to my heart and couldn't think of a better place I would like the fundraising money to go to.

Secondly - the name. This was slightly tougher to come up with. But it still only took a matter of 10 or so minutes to decide with Elissa. So basically there is a part of our brain that deals with fine movement, equilibrium, posture and motor learning. Without this part of our brain - our one passion and ability to do this ride - cycling - would be impaired. This part of our brain is known as the Cerebellum. So we thought it appropriate to be known as the "Cycling Cerebellums".

Now it's time to try and piece it all together. So much to think of. Route, accomodation, pit crew, nutrition, medical supplies and appropriate person for the job, sponsors, ABN, equipment, making appropriate authorities aware of the task at hand. I'm sure there are a squizillion things to think of and we will continue to write them down as they crop up.

But in the meantime, Elissa has been getting arty and drawing up some awesome designs for our cycling shirts. I think you are all really going to like these.

We have also started our own FB page - aptly named "The Cycling Cerebellums". If you are on FB please check out the page - HERE. I would love to have as many of you following this adventure as possible. And hoping that when we announce our fundraising cause - you might find it in you to sponsor us on this EPIC ride. Not matter how big or small it will be greatly appreciated.

In between all of this I am really enjoying getting crafty in the kitchen. Kind of nice to have time to spend thinking up yummy dinners.

WANT SOME?

Membership Day Enticer Duathlon

I am so glad I did this even though it hurt more than words could explain. It hurt far more than my 70.3 in May and any of the hills going through Cobbitty - but in all honesty, I couldn't have cared less because I got to race and have fun in the process. And it also opened my eyes as to where my preferences lied in respect to distances. And I am 100% confident that my body likes the longer, slower kind. It has time to adapt and adjust and settle into a steadier rhythm, whereas with these short ones - it's on for young and old - literally.

I'm not sure I could contain my happiness about racing. It was really needed to help me overcome my sadness about Yeppoon. My legs were itching so bad to get racing - and I think most of my friends, if not absolutely everyone there could notice it too. I could never make a good poker player - my facial expressions totally give me away.

Felt odd setting my bike area up for a Duathlon, I felt like I was missing a whole heap of stuff. It was just my bike shoes, bike, PTC visor and helmet. I kept looking back at it thinking I was missing something - but I hadn't, just used to setting up for a Tri. I want to thank Andy from Panther Cycles for loaning me his cycling shoes as silly me lost mine at Yeppoon. Not sure where but I wasn't all with it after the race so where they have ended up is anyone's guess. So thankyou very much Andy, I am positive those babies made me cycle faster - your the best.

Pretty soon it was time to line up for the start, we got a group photo and then it was time to go. Having never done one - I was not sure of what to expect other than I knew it would hurt. But the speed at which everyone took off in left me in full sprint mod and when my Garmin clicked over for the first 1km - I nailed it in 4:42. WOW, I was running fast and having a blast at the same time. Boy, have we got a fast club.

Then on the second 1km it was time to slow it down a bit and I did that in 5:05 with a total time for the 2km - 9:47. I had no other option to slow down as my stitch that keeps haunting me at every run returned. It hits me right under my right rib and leaves me feeling bruised for days. More on that later.

Then it was time for a quick change into my cycling shoes, helmet on, grab my bike and GO. I was so glad to get on that bike. Can you tell?

I love my bike. And am liking more the fact that I am feeling somewhat stronger on it. It's a cool feeling when you see your speedometer not drop below the 30km/hr and still feel like you could push harder. Which I did, but then upon remembering I had to run again off the bike I laid of the accelerator a bit. As I was coming through the back stretch I hear this familiar voice "Hey Barb, how ya feelin". It was Paul. Boy does he make cycling look easy. His legs are like pistons and they make him move so fast. So as he sped off I tried to hang on but alas had to drop off - it's like trying to catch a Ferrari. So with 10km done my time was 19:46 and that was with both transitions involved.

Then it was back on with the runners and out for another 2km run. What was I thinking..... I think my heart rate didn't fall below 180 the whole way on this Duathlon.

The last 2km felt great apart from a pastie mouth. I had forgotten to have even one sip of my drink during the race and mouth felt like I had swallowed a bottle of Talcum powder. I was glad to see the finish and quite happy with my second 2km's at 9:43. Total time for Enticer Duathlon - 38.36. WooHoo. Not too shabby for my first one and potentially my only one.

After the race the club put on a massive feed and all the kiddies enjoyed face painting. There were also membership bags and cards given out to everyone who turned up. Absolutely awesome event. Glad I didn't miss it. I love catching up with everyone.

Thanks to everyone who took photos of me racing. It was much appreciated and I hope one day to be able to repay you all for such beautiful pics.

Then Monday I had to get a few things looked into. We get so caught up with trying to get fit and train for events that sometimes we either overlook a pain or chose to ignore it because you don't seem to have time to fit a visit to the Doc's in. Well, with no training at the moment there was to be no more excuses. So first thing was a little hernia that I noticed last Thursday at Core Class. Just above my belly button and a bit firm to touch. Doc wants that and my upper right abdomen pain that I keep getting everytime I run Ultrasound. Not sure if there is a relationship between the two but best to get them checked I say.

It was also time to get my sinuses checked into. I have had sinus issues for years due to allergies but this year they have been exceptionally bad. Always have cheek pain and forehead pain and headaches, so enough already. Lets get this body running in tip top condition. So antibiotics it is and an Xray. With these things in the process of getting checked out, that is another thing ticked off in my down time.

Then yesterday I went to visit a friends from the Tri Club's brother-in-law and brother at a place called Technogym. I have been looking into getting myself a treadmill for use here at home. And boy have I spotted the one I want in the future. It is so sleek looking and the quality of it really is beyond anything I have seen. It wasn't even the treddie that was beautiful, it was all of their equipment. Loved it.

Then after that I went to visit Jennie and Paul. And to my utter surprise I got spoilt to my hair being done and to a card that had the most beautiful of words written inside of it.

There are no words I can find to convey my true feelings about your gesture of love and kindness to me. You have made me feel so very special and I will never ever forget it. Just know that it is felt right down to the bottom of my heart. THANKYOU. And I love love love my hair. Thanks for a great day yesterday.

I have the best friends and family ever. Have I told you all that lately?