An eventfully long day.

This is the AWESOME tag I was greeted with opening up my DailyMile account. I have officially been branded and I love it. I shall wear this badge with honour and try to do the position justice.

Training yesterday was great - even though it's a recovery week I still managed to get alot done in my day. The bike ride felt good - I really tried to focus on good form and kept repeating my head what Eliza told me on Monday "use your hammies and quads, don't just push but pull up as well". So with that in mind for an hour and forty minutes that is what I did.

It definitely feels different and you know when you are doing it properly as I can all of a sudden feel my hammies and glutes start to work. It doesn't hurt it just makes it feel more powerful. You get propelled forward at a much faster rate with less exertion.

Then after riding 46km in that time frame I ran off the bike for 20mins. Felt good too, my legs felt fresh and were just rolling over nicely. Normally I get off and run like I have done a doody in my pants for a km or so but not yesterday. It finally just felt natural.

Then yesterday afternoon after picking up the kids from school we made our way to the Regatta Centre for the Club Race. I did not compete but I did volunteer - as a Paddler. Where else would I be but in the water. Totally unique being on the other side of the fence so to speak. I love feeding off everyone's pre race vibes but more so love seeing their faces when they have finished. Everyone looks tired but stoked that they have competed.

So too all of you who competed in the "Production Automotive Tune up Triathlon" - well done. The race was capped off with a yummy pizza dinner for all. I have never seen so much pizza get cleaned up the way it - we had some hungry triathletes.

Then this morning I headed off to the courts with Stephen and the kids for their lessons. I am so proud of them and glad the kids took after their father in their tennis genes. Check out these shots:

Wimbledon - here we come.

I swear I can't.

Just when I think things can't get any better - they do. I feel like I am living someone else's life, like all this good fortune belongs to someone else. The feeling is just so overwhelming.

Let me explain. Last night at track would have to have been one of my biggest highlights since starting training for my 70.3. Four months ago I was only running 2kms at any given time and running probably at a 6min/km pace if not slower and needing walk breaks. Fast forward those 4 mths and I am now running at my longest run - 14km and averaging on those long runs a 5:30min/km pace. But with all of this forward progress that 25min - 5km was still an elusive dream.

Well, let me tell you - last night I reached that 25min mark. Granted it was 25:18 which made it a 5:03 min/km but it was still in the 25min mark. I have only ever run a 5min/km pace once way back when - before I got injured and it was only for 3km and on a road. So to do this at track, on grass, whilst raining and to tackle mentally the thought of running 12.5 laps of a round oval was just so exciting. But I can't say I did this all on my own.

We all started out together - good for me as I paced myself of off some of the faster runners. But bad for me as well as they were doing a 3km TT. Those first 3km's were done at a 4:50min/km pace. It was about that time that Chris's words started to resonate in my head "start at a reasonable pace and progressively speed up". Well, did I do that "NO". I went at it like a bat out of hell and then had to try and stick it out.

It was at that point that each and everyone of my team mates one by one decided to run a lap with me. Some even ran two. I cannot begin to put into words how grateful I was for all their words of encouragement during those last 5 laps. I have never been a part of such support - when your swimming you really never hear anything. You have to gun it alone. But last night was a momentous moment for me - one I will never forget.

Then this morning I woke up to another surprise. I have been selected to represent Daily Mile as a 2011 Ambassador.

"Congratulations, you've been voted by the dailymile community to be a member of the 2011 dailymile team! We're so excited to welcome you, and even more excited to kick off a great year for dailymile! "

I have never been elected for anything let alone Ambassador. This is such an honour and one I hope I can give justice too. I will be made aware of my role in the next couple of days and look forward to the challenge. If I can inspire atleast one person to strive for something in which they thought was impossible then I will be one happy little Vegemite.

Life is a series of surprises.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Physio Update.

Well, today was a good day at physio apart from the usual - me writhing around in pain on the bed whilst Steve massages and gets my ITB nice and soft again. He said he can definitely see improvement and to continue doing what I am doing at home in terms of stretching and rolling the ITB.

I spoke to him about this tight fluid like feeling under the Patella and he said I have a little bit of inflammation happening there but not to worry. He is just going to keep me under close observation and manage it as we go. The beauty of my physiotherapist is that he is going through his Ironman training as I am going through my 70.3 training so we are constantly exchanging thoughts and pain stories. He has done Ironman many times over so it is nice to have someone with that kind of experience to throw my thoughts off of. He has such a calm and placid demeanour so nothing seems to phase him when I am babbling on the way I always do.

After all the painful stuff I got to relax with a heat pack on my leg and I found myself drifting off into a nana nap. I had the worst night's sleep last night - just couldn't get settled and then woke up about 11pm feeling nauseous. I was in and out of sleep till about 3 with that feeling and then it passed - not sure what that was but this morning my stomach feels okay, just a bit distended. I mean I can't be feeling too bad because I am cooking a delicious Vegetable and Osso Bucco soup for dinner. I added some Barley in there too for safe measures - after all it does contain eight essential amino acids - and eating whole grain Barley can regulate blood sugar for up to 10 hours after consumption compared to white or even whole-grain wheat. But I will have to wait to come home from track tonight before I can eat it.

As a result of last night's mystery illness I gave swim a miss this morning and thought best just to hydrate and rest and make the most of track tonight.

I want to give a shout out to a Blogger buddy Jen from Miles, Muscles and Mommyhood. She is truly a remarkable woman who has gone through such a transformation - what an awesome journey she has had. She is doing a Valentine's Day giveaway, and the winner comes away with this:

I have entered and so should you.

Whilst your at it - become a follower of her blog.

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.