You gotta follow this.

I have met a really good friend Patrick via this blogger world and would love for all of my readers to follow not only his blog "The Road [A Multi-Sport Blog]" but also his new athletic apparel company "Endurance Athlete Project" aimed at the endurance athlete - hence the name.

Both Patrick and his business partner Big Daddy Riley aim to produce garments such as Triathlon suits both one and two piece, running gear, cycling gear, swimsuits, performance wear and casual wear. The company is still in the early design process but I look forward to seeing the release of their garments and being one of the first to purchase some items from them.

I did win a shirt via Patrick's blog and I must say I wear it all the time. I love what it stands for. Check it out:
So if and when you are surfing the internet world and come across the logo - remember my friend Patrick owns it. This company will be huge. I know it.

Nailed it.

I have just come back from yet another fantastic workout. I spoke in the last entry about having entered in a virtual triathlon challenge through Daily Mile. Basically you can only proceed through to the next leg if your one of the top 6 - I think. Anyway my aim was to just swim the 1500m as a bit of a TT to see where I am at in regards to times for the longer distances. I haven't timed myself for a 1500m so I was happy to just complete it in about 30 minutes and maintain my form throughout the whole process.

So I got in the water feeling pretty good, water temp was nice - possibly a bit warm but who's complaining, it's winter in Australia. I set my stop watch and I was off. The first 500m felt a bit slow, arms felt a bit heavy and my breathing was a bit laboured. I also had to contend with some lady who decided that my lane was the one she wanted to do side stroke in and flap around in. My only other choice had 3 other women doing pretty much the same. Argh, this was supremely annoying.

Soon after she left and my swim became alot smoother. I settled into a really good pattern of breathing every 3 strokes and each of my strokes became really long and effortless. I was gliding, gees it felt good. I finished up not breathless at all and I had to do a triple take of my time. I did my 1500m in 22min 48 secs. I could not believe it - at this rate I could see myself doing my 1.9km for my Half in under 30mins, give or take a couple of minutes due to weather, nerves, people, water currents. But still, having not swum this distance in one hit like this since I was a child, I was really happy with my time.

This could potentially get me at the front of the pack for exiting the water and entering T1. Which I think is a total bonus - I can find my bike easier, have less people bowling me over, exit on my bike without a million other wheels all doing the same thing. I am liking how this all sounds.

Am I sounding slightly competitive?

Take 2 on the run.

Today was another brilliant day. Brilliant because it was another glorious pain free running day. I find it amazing how I have healed up. I thought this was going to be a more drawn out process and that my body would struggle with the return back to running but this old gal is holding strong. I still stuck to the 6 x 1 minute runs with a 4 minute walk period inbetween and I did a total of 5km in about 37 minutes.

My route is a mix of flats and some inclines which off course is followed by declines but there is always something beautiful to look at near home. Country living is awesome. The air is always so crisp and clean and the sounds of cows, goats, dogs barking in the distance (oh wait - are they my dogs?) is always a welcome distraction. As for traffic, not too bad really. Maybe one car every couple of minutes drives past, that is until I hit the busier more used road at the top and then it's like "watch yourself".

But once again I finished up feeling nice and strong, a little tight but nothing my usual stretching wouldn't help. Then last night I did my usual strength workout.

• 20 back swings both legs
• 20 side swings both legs
• 20 backward lunges both legs
• 20 butt raises

3 x 15 of each with 3kg dumbells:

• Lateral raises
• Bicep curls
• Shoulder press
• Tricep extensions

3 x 20 of each:

• ab crunches
• bicycle crunches
• sit ups with 3kg dumbell

Then 3 x 1min plank.

It s a great workout and I finish feel totally had, but I love it. Tomorrow is pool time. Will go with the kids again and whilst they play I want to get in a 1500m straight swim. I have entered a virtual Triathlon and step one is to do a 1500m swim in the fastest time possible. Here goes.

When life gave me lemons, I made lemonade.

I woke up this morning feeling awesome after my first run/walk yesterday. Nothing, and I mean NOTHING hurt. I didn't even have any tightness which I was half expecting. I had been given a fairly big hurdle and I overcame it. My persistence in taking it so very slow has paid off and I cannot wait to get back into it. The feeling I got after yesterdays run was "too much" for words. I remember saying to Susan yesterday that most people would have given up by now with everything that I have gone through in the last year, but I have come way too far to give up.

I am consistent with my stretches, even thought they still hurt like crazy. I religiously take my Neway's supplements because I know they are helping me with my energy and muscle repair. I try with all my might to maintain a positive frame of mind and look at every obstacle that I overcome as nothing more than that "an obstacle". It does not define who I am or what will be instore for me in the future.

Exercising everyday is my life and now that I can mix it up again and get back into my proper training I will do so with so much excitement but also with a little bit more restraint. And no two consecutive days of running or cycling. Atleast for now.

So today I cycled on the trainer and felt great. I didn't go hard and I increased the time by another 10 minutes. So I rode for 40minutes and did 15.3km. Nice and easy and it felt good. The last 2 days have been awesome.

"A little ray of sunshine"

I woke up this morning with unbelievable excitement, today was my first day back running. I went to bed last night thinking that I was going to have to postpone as rain had been predicted for the whole of Sunday. But as the skies started to lighten, I realised that there were patches of clear sky and the sun was shining through. This was definately a good omen, or atleast that's what I was telling myself.
The clouds were still looming as I approached the run site but I knew they would hold out for me. Today was my day and the rain god's were going to hold out for me, I could feel it in my bones "no pun intended". I was quietly having words with my hip and groin, my shins and my knees and telling them to behave. For them to cut me some slack, I have been behaving and now it was their turn to reciprocate some niceness. After all I have been looking after them like a new born baby.

Susan and I started off with a nice 5 minute warm up walk, so far so good. I know, what's a 5 minute walk and why is she saying so far so good! But I was reading into everything today, looking at how I walked, placement of feet, torso and core and making sure I was doing everything right. As I took off for my first 1 minute run I had this brief thought flit across my mind of picking up the tempo from where I left off. WRONG. This had to be slow, very slow even though my body felt good.
As we ran along the dirt track I was amazed at how smoothly I was running. And as a result of not feeling any pain I got to admire the scenery along the way. I love this track, its quiet except for the chirping of birds, ducks and water hens. Oh and of course the incessant chatter of two women. This track is exceptionally beautiful in the summer, all the trees shade this path and it makes for the most magical run ever.
Anyway I finished up having done 6 x 1min runs at a very slow pace and the remainder of the distance we just walked. What a great way to start my Sunday. As we finished the clouds came over and it started to rain. I had been blessed today, not only because of the sun that shone while I ran, the good company I had, the beautiful scenery but also because I finished with absolutely nothing hurting at all. My hip and groin feel fantastic.

I got home stretched and iced everything and now its just a waiting game to see if all pulls up okay overnight. But so far so good.

What are some of your pet peevs?

I do alot of reading. Heck, the one thing I have learn't since becoming a member of the Triathlon world is that "the more you learn, the easier things will become for you and others around you". There is always a wealth of information at your fingertips in cyberspace, some things that are useful and other things that are down right ridiculous.

Whilst on FB this morning I came across an article posted by active.com in regards to Triathlon Etiquette. The Top 10 list is awesome, simplistic yet so common sense it's not funny. The Triathlon I competed in in March was by no means a massive event and so I did not experience the flailing arms and elbows in the swim component - mind you I am lucky enough to be a good swimmer so I was out the front. But it got me thinking about when I was younger and doing open water swims with the Surf Life Saving Clubs and how it used to get a bit aggressive in the water. My strategy was to swim on the outskirts even if it meant swimming a little extra. It did save me a black eye, squashed nose, cracked rib.

I can understand how things get a bit CRAZY in the water. There could potentially be 100's of people all hoping to get prime position, clusters of people who have the same swimming ability, a swarm of arms and legs all moving in the same direction trying to get to the one exit point. But after listening to one of my friends who is a middle of the pack swimmer say she was struggling to get air as she was systematically grabbed at and dragged under - I think some people just don't think about their fellow competitors welfare. I am all for trying to do well but not at someone's expense.

SO, I would have to say that even though I am a total novice, my one pet peev would be unsporstman like behaviour. When I was doing the bike leg I was smiling at everyone, encouraging, letting people know I was going to pass them. I feel better knowing I have gotten to the finish line without having intentionally hurt anyone along the way.

Whats your PET PEEV?

For the past couple of months my husband has complained on/off of not feeling too crash hot. But like most men he just put off going to the doctors. For one reason or another it was not really a blip on his radar to get it looked into. I love my husband dearly but working is his number one priority (apart from us) as is bringing home the "bacon" so we can all enjoy life. Like I said, I had been on his case for months about getting a blood test. Well he finally succumbed to my constant ranting and raving and thank goodness for that, his cholesterol is through the roof.

I have somehow taken this as a bit of an attack on my expertise in the kitchen. I know, silly, but I am the one that cooks in our house. I always thought I cooked healthy food. I only use olive oil - and sparingly at that, I don't cook with salt, I only ever buy wholegrain bread and brown rice. I need to sit down and go right over the household menus and go right through the pantry with a fine toothed comb as the doctor said he has 3 months to try and lower it. Time to get supremely focused.

If it does not lower then possibly it is genetics. I think his grandfather passed away from a heartattack and I don't want the same thing happening to my husband. So, if medication is what he needs than so be it, but first things first - DIET. And exercise - yes, he will get cracking on some exercise. Daily, regardless of the whinging and whineing, I will get him walking or running, intervals on my bike trainer - whatever it takes. At the end of these 3 months if it hasn't budged, it has not been through lack of effort.

Yesterday my daughter woke up with an inflammed right middle knuckle - sore to touch. She hasn't hit it, knocked it, there are no bites on it - nothing I could see. So I took her to the GP today and he is testing her for Rheumatoid Factor due to my history with arthritis. He is not sure what it is and feels it could have been a bite from something, but just to be on the safe side he ordered bloods to be taken. I have just about everything crossed on my body for it to just be nothing. My heart would just break into pieces if it shows up with something. My kids are my absolute life.

Anyway some news just given from physio is that I can get back into walk/running. I will start this Sunday as my introduction into getting ready for this Half Marathon. I can't wait - but believe me I will go into this with the reigns on. No sprinting, or galavanting around like a prancing pony. Nice and slow it will be.

I CANT WAIT