The Cycling Cerebellums

To the right of my page you will notice a pretty cool looking logo. I can hear all the cogs ticking over in your minds about what it stands for.

Let me explain.

Over a year ago in the lowlands of Richmond on a training ride, Elissa and I decided we would like to do a big ride for a cause. With all the different charity rides there are around we wanted one that had a personal connection to one of us. So it was decided that we would fundraise for the ward I used to work on.

The Commercial Travellers Ward

at

The Children's Hospital at Westmead.

The Commercial Travellers Ward is a Neuromedical/Neurosurgical Ward that deals with a group of pretty special children and their families. Within those walls alot of care and love is given but also alot of pain and heartache is felt too.

It's truly amazing how this ride and it's cause were embraced. It quickly went from 2 friends with a thought to a total of now 17 friends with a complete dream.

The Cycling Cerebellums aims to fundraise a minimum of $10,000 for the ward and hope to bring a little brightness to the lives of the children, families and staff. With the help of the community, friends and families we know this goal is achievable. All we ask is that you spread the news. And if you are able to - DONATE.

Below are all our pages for you to peruse through and like, follow, tweet about.

• The Cycling Cerebellums Blog
• The Cycling Cerebellums FB page
• The Cycling Cerebellums website

We would love nothing more than to have you following us. Go on, you know you want to check it out. We are nothing more than a click away.

Working my way back.

It's hard to know where to start. So much has transpired in the last 6 weeks that I kind of feel like it has all gone by in a blur. Probably good in a way - the mind has an innate way of shutting down to let you heal and look after yourself. It slows all processes down and gives you time to assess, prioritise, time to search and find yourself, time to feel and be again.

It is quite safe to say that even though during this time I was cared for immensely by family and friends for which I cannot even begin to find words that describe the magnitude of gratitude, I really felt quite alone. I wanted nothing more than to find me again and switch on the old me and get rid of that sadness and how low I was feeling but in the darkness I couldn't find the switch.

Eventually I felt hands grabbing hold of mine and leading me to that switch. And although the darkness was at first overpowering the light, the light has since started to shine again. Everyday that light gets stronger and stronger and everyday I am able to see a little more of me again.

There is still a lot to work on and I am ready to battle it out. I am clawing my way back - I deserve to smile again and with feeling. Not just a vacant smile but a smile that resonates from the bottom of my soul. A smile that truly displays and connects the mind, body and soul. I deserve to be me for me and my family.

And so it is here I find myself, back in my beloved Blog land. Looking after me and doing that which truly makes happy - writing, expressing, feeling, sharing. And I will get back to the sport I love - Triathlons, but in the meantime I have signed up for an 1km Ocean Swim this Sunday at Coogee.

So get ready to see me back. Hope you haven't missed me too much.

• Beyond Blue - click HERE
• Black Dog Institute - click HERE

TriShave Womens Triathlon 2011

What a day. And what an awesome place for the TriShave event to be held. Welcome to the Sydney International Regatta Centre. So beautiful and serene at 6:30 in the morning. Absolutely flawless. And so was the day. I think PTC had about 20 of it's finest female Triathletes competing across all the distances and a large number of volunteers as well. We did our club really proud. Not only did our members all finish with a massive smile on their faces because of their amazing accomplishment but some of our girls even placed and won overall. I could hear the letters "PTC" being whispered everywhere as I walked around supporting our girls and being the Promotions Girl for TriShave.

My job on the day was to help promote a product I strongly believe in. From my very first TriShave Race I did last year I have been using the products. It saw me through all my training for Port 70.3 as well as Yeppoon 70.3. So it wasn't hard to speak about something I really love. Everyone, both female and males alike were receptive to what I had to say. I spoke to Naomi W's husband and he has been using the Males product for a year and absolutely swears by it. Says he hasn't had that post shaving rash since using it. When I used him as an example to the other men you could see them really focus on the product. Thanks Robert.

I really liked hearing how receptive people were to the texture of the UV body defense post shave moisturiser. I know how light and non-greasy it is but seeing people's face's light up when they applied it was priceless. I think when you tell people it has sunscreen protection in it they automatically think "GREASY & THICK" - but not this one. Not only is it well absorbed you get the great UVA & UVB filters protecting you. Great for protection against our Aussie sun. Combine this with the TriShave 3in1 Shave Creme and you will have beautiful skin all year round. Thankyou Larisa for giving me this opportunity and I look forward to many more days working alongside you.

Throughout all of my walking around and chatting with everyone I was able to see nearly all of my friends cross the line and give them a BIG hug on their AWESOME accomplishment. When the photos get posted on the TriShave page I will make sure to add them here for you all to see.

Yesterday was also a great day because a few of our other PTC members when to Huskisson for the Triathlon Festival down there. They all did amazing. WOW. Couldn't be prouder of them. They all accomplished an amazing thing and nearly all placed. How cool do they all look, so chuffed and rightfully so.

Their smiles say it all.

Your going to hear it again - PTC ROCKS. We really do. The club and everyone in it really are just something special to me.

Braveheart

WOW, can't believe it has been that long since I last posted, and so much has gone on it is hard to know where to start. And I would love nothing more than to write about it all - heck I could get it all off my chest, but just at this present moment, whilst I am working through it all I think it better to just say that it got a bit DARK and HAIRY. And you have all probably noticed how I retreated, which seems to be my norm when I feel emotionally inept. But sometimes smiling when you feel so down is really hard work - so I hide.

So enough of that, and as I climb my way back to being BARBS, I have learnt a great deal of things. Mostly I have to listen to me and what my body and soul are telling me. And when it is getting stressed I need to stop and focus on me and do things that I haven't done in ages - or EVER. Things I have wanted to do and have never done for a barrage of reasons. Things that will nurture the soul and bring ME back. I think it necessary that we all get a chance to do that.

So, last week and this week I went into Bondi. Home of the BONDI RESCUE, and home of BONDI FIT. To say that I wasn't apprehensive would have been the biggest fib this side of the Southern Hemisphere. However, having been informed of Spot's knowledge and ability I have since felt so much better. I found out Spot won the Nepean Triathlon in 1988 alongside Louise Mackinley - then Bonham. To know that I am surrounded by such talented individuals is really humbling. Everytime I get around them I am learning a multitude of skills and tricks of the trade. My brain is soaking it all in.

Last week I think I was much more worried then I was this week. This week, I put my absolute faith, heart and soul into Spot's every word. And in doing so I swam so far into deep water that the only time I got really scared was when one of the surfer's looked at me and said "Oooooo, shark bait". I was like "You can't say that to me. Do you have any idea how much courage it has taken to make it this far". They all kind of smirked, but I then could not let my feet dangle 'just in case' some shark thought me a tasty morsel.

I got to see a pod of dolphins and a teeny weeny Port Jackson Shark and I also got to swim in swell up near the south end of Bondi that nearly made my hair stand on end. I am sure it was not that big BUT I found myself a few times having to pull out from catching a wave back into shore because I was scared it was going to dump me into the sand. YES, I am a chicken.

I also learnt how to dolphin dive well - check this out.

I'm so proud of me.

Last week there were a few more people who attended - Elissa and Clare from the club as well as others. But this week there was only myself and Barry as well as Alison and Alan who came to the beach with me to watch. Thanks so much for the company. It meant a great deal both times.

Then as I was heading back to see Alison and Alan after washing my wetsuit off in the ocean, Alison was like "What have you got on you". She said "Your dripping colour". Oh bloody hell, my hair dye was running even though I had washed it last night and I looked like I was dripping Orange Gatorade out of my head. It was hilarious. I was wondering why people were staring at me...... Spot probably didn't know where to stare whilst we walked from one end of Bondi to the other. Thats too funny. Here I thought it was because I looked fit....hahahaha.

I can't wait to go back. This is just what my soul needs. I am going to be an awesome ocean swimmer. I will not give in and I will learn to tackle anything mother nature throws at me. Barb will prevail.

Glad to be back.

Boy was I glad to be back. It was hard to motivate myself to get back there, but thanks to Paul and one phone call, I made my way there and was so glad to see everyone. There were many new faces which was good to see and then there were the regulars who I missed so much. They made my return so much easier, felt like I had never left.

There were a few reasons why I stopped going. Firstly I needed a rest - nearly a solid year of training and I was toast - physically and emotionally. Then came the foot issue - something which made me stop dead in my tracks for a bit but most of all I think I was just lacking the drive. With the issues I needed sorting and the fact that I was going to use the remainder of the year to get them all fixed I couldn't really see why I still needed to get out there all the time.

But the truth of the matter is, it is so important and needed for my mental health to be out training, socialising. I get such a high from being healthy and out in the fresh air, it's not something I can compromise on. And sure there are hiccups along the way but I can still cycle and swim that is atleast until I get my hernia repaired and then I will have to stop altogether for a few weeks. But surgeon reckons I will be back out there cycling within 3 weeks which is great news, so I can stay focused on the task at hand for my bike ride to Melbourne.

And when the New Year starts I will start running again slowly. Things happen for a reason. I am a firm believer in this. Life has a way of making things happen.

So with last nights return to windtrainer it was interesting to say the least about how quickly one loses their stamina and endurance. Not only were my legs hurting so was my undercarriage. I couldn't help lift my bottom off that seat. It was on fire. I need more saddle time to get used to that feeling again. Either that or have a baby fire extinguisher at the ready.

Definition of Inspirational

PTC Boys in KONA.

Never before have I been glued to a screen before for a sport. Ask my brothers and now my husband - whenever sport comes on - I'm gone. I think it's because as a child, and being the youngest - I never really got a say. It was always rugby league, rugby union, cricket or anything else that took their fancy. And with only one TV in the household it was either sit there and watch or make a compromise. And mine was if you make me a yummy salad I promise to sit quietly or otherwise I will pester you to till the cows come home - I was good at that.

Now as an adult I thank my lucky stars we have another TV or computer that I can submerse my head into for my husbands sake. I still don't really find those sports interesting. BUT, Ironman - now that's a totally different kettle of fish. And the fact that you can stream it live from Ironmanlive.com is even better still. You feel like you are there - in amongst all the hustle and bustle of activity and excitement. My dream is to hopefully one day be there - if not as a competitor - which I don't ever think I could qualify but to atleast be a part of that amazing day.

So after my bike ride yesterday morning - when I got home, it was time for a quick shower and then earphones in and eyes stuck on the computer to watch our boys cross that line. My heart was pounding so hard. I can only begin to imagine what their families were feeling and how excited and nervous they all were waiting to see them come through that FINISHERS shute.

I didn't get to see the Pro guys finish, but have since seen the photos and with a 1-2 finish for Australia Crowie/Jacobs - I cannot stop bursting into tears everytime I see this photo.

photo from Australian TriMag on FB

We also scored a 3rd Aussie male in the Top 10 with Luke McKenzie. Awesome work guys. We are all so proud of you here back at home.

Onto the women our very own Mirinda Carfrae fought like a true warrior to make up ground and came in a very close second to Chrissie Wellington. Again out came the Kleenex as I was a blubbering mess watching those 2 inspirational women hug at the finish line. If I was there I would have hugged them too - just for being the kind of women that they are.

But the proudest moment of all, for all of us back here at home was watching our 5 guys cross that finish line. All of them came in 10hrs and under. I am in AWE. Actually I think all of our home town did a little jig and drank a few beers on their behalf. You guys totally rocked it. It is now time to put your feet up and bask in the glory of what you have all achieved. And when you guys get back home I am sure there will be a party or two or more to commemorate the day you all raced in the HAWAIIAN IRONMAN.

Pick your time

When to use pencil or pen. Sound weird? Here's my take. At the end of my last/first Tri season I went through the upcoming season - dates of proposed races and placed them into my diary in pen. If my last/first season was anything to go by, I was going to have a complete cracker. It's not that I was cockey, but when things go so good it's hard to see into the future and that things could go wrong or change for want of a better word.

That first season was everything I could have hoped for and more. Not just in terms of the races but training as well. Everything went smoothly apart from the occasional hiccups. So consequently I thought this following season would be an exact duplicate and I then went and placed all my races in pen throughout my diary.

What I am learning is that although this can make you very excited as you skim through your diary, it can also leave you feeling very flat when things aren't going as planned. Why? Well as things can/do change throughout the course of one's life - this neat little penmanship can turn into a big fat scribble as you have to start changing or deleting them completely from your diary. It leaves me feeling sad as I am missing out on things that I have so badly wanted to do. And have not been able to get to for one reason or another.

So my thoughts on this are that from now on I shall use pencil to update my diary knowing full well that things can and do change. If they are accomplished - I will do them over in indelible ink so they are forever etched in Barb's hall of fame. But those that are not attained shall stay in my diary marked in pencil. No scratching or erasing required - it is left in there for my next season to attempt and acquire and hopefully to one day be re-written in ink.