What event are your training for and what is your goal?
Coast to Coast – Longest Day

What it is your motivation for wanting to achieve this?
I want to show my son that anything you set your mind on, you can achieve.

What is your background and how did you get into your sport?
Ironman triathlete who is looking for a change and a new challenge.

What is your favourite event/or training mission so far?
My first team adventure race in April was great fun.

Why?
Tough, but enjoyable and out of the box compared to Ironman.

What is your favourite training ride/run/kayak/swim etc?
I really enjoy the kayak. Being new to adventure racing, I love getting in the kayak in the dark and paddling up the creek while the sun is coming up. Except for the things that move in the murky water next to the boat!

Who is your inspiration?
My wife and son.

Who is your biggest fan?
My son, Penn. He always asked when the next race is and always wants to be there.

Do you have an inspirational quote that you would like to share?
‘Know your why.” – My mate Cheyno told me that, and when you’re deep in the hurt box it keeps you going.

What is your favourite recovery food?
Is beer classed as food?

Any other comments?
If you need to learn how to throw a boomerang, I’m your man.

So it’s been a few weeks since I posted last and things have been good and things have been really not so good. Bad news always better when followed with good news, so lets start there.

Last Thursday after an awesome MTB rogaine I woke to pain again in my side.  I knew immediately that the cancer pain was back, but thought I could grit and bare it until after Spring Challenge. That was the plan anyway.  I had done so much training and felt ready for the Spring Challenge so I was going to let a little bit of cancer get in the way.  Well it turns out Cancer had a different plan and I was admitted to hospital Friday afternoon in excruciating  pain, and begging for morphine.  Now I know a lot people fault our public health system, but when things go wrong they are very quick to act.  within 30mins of turning up at A&E I was given morphine and a CT scan and then admitted to oncology ward.  Where I have been ever since. The primary goal has been to get my pain under control.  Morphine is a wonderful drug for managing pain relief but has some awful side effects, such as nausea (or in my case vomiting) and bowel and bladder issues. So the last few days has been a juggling act between managing pain and managing the side effects.  Yesterday they pretty much gave up and have tried me on a new drug called phenatol. Also an opioid but alot friendlier on the body.  This morning is the best I felt the whole 5 days I’ve been in hospital.

Because of this set back – which was only meant to be a couple of days I finally made the call yesterday that I can’t realistically do the Spring Challenge. I could barely walk to the hospital front doors with out pain and nausea. We did look at other options like dropping to the 3hr, which did look feasible on Sunday but as the week has worn on this has become less and less, with the final call being made yesterday.  Fortunately someone has stepped up to take my place and I can be there as support crew. To be honest I am gutted, I have put in so much training, which I’ve loved and will put in this update.  But sometimes you have to be real and it was unfair on my team mates.

Next thing to discuss is the results of the scan.  The pain has been caused by the tumour on the psoas muscle bleeding.  This is the nature of the disease unfortunately, and the pain should subside when the blood does.  Disappointingly however is the scan also showed the cancer has progressed, meaning it is no longer stable. This has essentially halved my time that we thought we had left, and I have been told to start putting things in order. I am meeting with my oncologist today to talk about options to slow it down which may mean chemo again.  Mentally we are all exhausted and a little numb, yet I have had amazing support from everyone.

So on that low note, here is some of things I have got up to since my last blog and hopefully will be able to do more adventures really soon.  Wanaka Challenge is still on the cards, but we need to reprioritise the memories list and see where that fits. Its not over and out yet for me, just a little blip.

So over the last few weeks, we have hiked up Little Mt Peel, been for some cool mountain bike rides in Bottle lake and done 2 rogaine night navs.  These rogaines were a lot of fun, and the fact that we didnt come last while laughing and not taking it seriously was a bonus.  The one last week involved mountain biking through bottle lake in the dark, well thats an adventure in itself, especially with no head torch and a useless bike light. We got there in the end!  Little Mt Peel was stunning and I recommend the walk to anyone. Lovely views and forest walks, it is a steady walk up but nothing compared to Mt Oxford.  It took us about 4 or so hours return, but we didn’t push ourselves, instead the plan was to take our time, and work out our surroundings. We are now feeling more familiar with the area the spring challenge is going to be.  Ive also been for a couple of swims, which I always enjoy and Im looking forward to starting the ocean swims.

Anyway thats me done. A long blog today, but a lot has happened in the last week.  I really hope that I can post again some more positive and exciting news next week.

Here are some photos from our adventures….sorry tried to insert photos and it wont work.  Ill see if I can do it, from home, when I am out of hospital.

I thought that I would share something that I read the other day that I felt was very good and summed up how we can be managing a busy modern life.  What should we be focussing on to make sure that we fit our weekly training sessions in and do all of the things that we need to do…

“The more that you know what you really want, and where you are really going, the more what everybody else is doing starts to diminish.  The moments when your own path is at it’s most ambiguous, that’s when the voices of others, the distracting chaos in which we live, the social media static start to loom large and become very threatening” (Alain de Botton, 2016)

Be proactive rather than reactive by…

• Checking your messages when you have made time to do so.
• By training during the time that you have set aside.
• By planning your week and making time for the must do things.
• By having a rest day when you have planned.
• By focusing on your race plan rather than following others.

Often we become very reactive by opening that final email before we head out on our training run and subsequently get caught up in the reply. So over the coming work week go remind yourself of your summer goals, get on the front foot and be proactive with your focus and time.

Snow had started to settle on the ground at Bog Roy Station. We got out our maps and had a plan. The night before we had a quick chat as a team and decided we needed to focus on teamwork, going hard and that the results would follow. There was not much gear for this race but a descision was made that mine would split between the three guys, as we knew it would be a quicker race than GodZone. This would be Team Greenhorns’ first race with new team member, Glen.

The horn sounded and we were off. A weather bombshell immediately hit us with strong wind and snow. My legs struggled to warm up in my tri shorts as we slowly ploughed through the snow on our bikes. The race consisted of 3 stages: 50km mountain bike, a 33km trek and a 25km mountain bike(rough distances). Each leg had a number of check points and you could chose the order you did them in and in what order you did the three stages. This meant everyone was doing a mix of stages and for most of the race you couldn’t really tell how you were going.

Cold feet (photo credit all photos – Levi Hibbert)

We started on the 55km mountain bike and made it to the front of that group although that didn’t last long and we were caught and passed by Sneaky Weasel Gang; although this would not be the last we would see of them. We were kind of grateful to have them helping break a trail though the snow that had settled on the ground. The weather was slowly improving, but we were still slowly slogging it up a valley in snow. I was stoked when we reached the hut and cp, which was our turn around point as we would then have fun going down. It was strange on the way back as the snow was starting to melt making the going easier and the scenery different. For the last cp on the leg we had two route choices; either over the hill and drop into it or go around the bottom of the hill and bike up a small valley. The majority of the vote was on going around and this turned out to be quick and efficient and we saw Sneaky Weasel Gang heading out of the cp. All we had left then was to make it back to the transition area.

The plan was to do bike, trek, bike; but we decided that things were going well on the bike and to tag the next bike leg onto it as well. We stopped by the transition area, checked in, restocked on food and then headed out again. By now the weather had improved (although still windy) and our feet had started to warm up. This bike leg had more hills. I jumped on the tow rope for some of the hill climbs. This really helped to keep the pace up as I’m not as quick as the boys on the hills. Tom was a tank with towing on the bike. There were some cool views from up in the hills. There were some ups and downs and it wasn’t long before we were heading back down into the transition area.

It was now time to take on the trek. The team had been working really well together and helping each other out. Some of the boys were bringing trekking poles along. I hadn’t used poles on a shorter race before, but since they were I decided to bring my two poles along too, which was awesome for the climbs. We started the trek with a steady running pace. I got offered the tow line early in on this leg to help and it was then used a lot. I had never been on a running tow before but it turned out to be pretty cool. Glen turned out to be a really strong runner so was happy to offer to tow. My legs got shredded as we spent some time sidling around and navigating our way through Rose hip, which is a spiky plant that I have added to the list of plants I don’t like. Eventually we had to climb up from the lake to the hill for the final two cps. I was starting to get a bit worried about the amount of time left, as we had to be back to the finish line within 12 hours. The presure was on as ran along the ridge to get the second to last control, and then we were also running to the final control. We smashed it up the final climb to the last control. As we climbed, I knocked back a final Gel to help me get to the finish line. It was then a race down the hill to make sure we made it back in time. This was exciting as it was dark. We made it to the finish line with 20min to spare. The boys and I were all tired from an awesome race and finish. The race went really well with us coming together well as a team. Everyone looked after each other and helped each other out. This resulted in us taking out 1st place in the Mixed Teams category and 2nd place overall behind the Sneaky Weasel Gang Men’s team. This was a fantastic opportunity to practice as a team as we are entered for GodZone Pure next year.

You can check out what the Greenhorns team gets up to at https://www.facebook.com/GreenhornsAR/

From a very young age we participate in the movement of running. It generally comes naturally and is something we do with little thought about how we execute the motion.

As we develop and progress through life, we continue running the way we always have, often unaware of our style and technique. We simply lace up the shoes and head out the door for any number of reasons; the benefit of the exercise, to clear the head, to get fit, to train for an event, plus many others.

Generally we just run, complete our session then carry on with our day. Some running days can be better than others and our enthusiasm can differ according to how we felt during and after our run.

Imagine though if you treated running more as a skill and gave yourself the opportunity to learn more about how and why you run the way you do, why some muscles tire more quickly than others, why although you are fitter it isn’t feeling any easier or you’re not getting any faster.

To help answer these frustrations, consider having your technique assessed to learn how to be more efficient when running, reduce the risk of injury and allow yourself to feel as comfortable as you can when pounding the pavement or trails, so you enjoy the experience even more.

An assessment with a Team CP Coach will take approx. 45mins and will analyze your posture, form and technique. You will receive advice and tips unique to your style and goals to help you enjoy a more positive running experience each time you head out the door.

So as summer approaches and you look ahead to the events you have entered, or want to participate in, add “Running Technique Assessment” to your list of personal development activities.

It is amazing what a few small adjustments can do to enhance your overall running experience.

Click here for further information.

So when I left off I had just started to get back into training, and was finally feeling reasonably normal again.  I am pleased to report that my health is still considered healthy and I am well and truly back into the swing of training.

With only 4 or so weeks till Spring Challenge, the training has really ramped up, with mountain bike rides and a few mountains climbed. In the last 3 weeks I have climbed both Mt Richardson and Mt Oxford.  This was the first time we had been up Mt Richardson and it was stunning. It is a great loop which although hard work in some bits is quite doable. The track climbs through forest but has some great views over the plains as you climb. I also got to see snow!!   It was also a great opportunity to remind myself about eating every 45mins or so. Something I havent really done since Coast to Coast.

Mt Oxford however, wasnt quite as enjoyable and my legs are really paying for it now. Although this is the third time I have climbed this mountain, I always forget how long and steep the climb actually, and although the views at the top were rewarding, the howling wind and the slippery snow wasnt and those I was defeated.  I of course decided to run back down – great fun at the time, but probably why I am walking like I’ve ridden a horse for a week.

Along with the great mountain hikes I have really enjoyed my mountain biking and my confidence has really increased, where I am now looking for the sloped corners and not braking on the downhills nearly as much.  We have all agreed that this part of the Spring Challenge could be a weakest so I definitely need all the confidence I can get.  At the moment we have been sticking to McLeans Island although a few hill rides have been ordered by the coach. – I am sure Ive mentioned in previous blogs how much I hate hills.

Along with the Spring challenge training, I am back in the pool.  This in preparation for the ocean swims starting this summer and then of course my next challenge – Wanaka Challenge.  My first few swims felt terrible, gammy, slow and awkward. I had to go back to the plan from Dan.  It seems to have worked and my stroke is starting to feel more natural, I do however feel another lesson maybe in order to tidy up some old habits, I feel i have reverted back to.

In summary, I am feeling great, fit and healthy again.  It is amazing how much you appreciate normal when you dont have it.  I love being back in the swing of training and although my legs are screaming I am also enjoying the adventures in the mountains.   It was great to be out with the TeamCP crew at the bunch ride on Sunday, I loved meeting all the new people and had some great conversations.

Next week will be another adventure somewhere and a lot more mountain biking.  

On Sunday 5^th August I took on the Lake Hood half-marathon near Ashburton. This was something completely different from what I am use to; flat and fast. Earlier in year, when Richard and I were planning out races he suggested the Christchurch half as something different as we were planning to work on improving my running for Coast to Coast. I never would have thought about doing it otherwise, as I’m more into trail running. It didn’t work out doing the Christchurch half-marathon as I ended up racing in China; so here was another chance to give it a try.

I was up early on Sunday morning and enjoyed some breakfast before getting picked up by Vicki (also team CP) and joined by another mate heading out to Lake Hood. This was good as it kept me calm and relaxed before the race and I got to enjoy a social drive. I often have problems with nerves before racing, so it was a nice change to be feeling more relaxed than normal. I had gone over my race plan the night before and was feeling ok. I didn’t feel quite as fresh as I would have liked, but I knew it would be ok once I got started.

We picked up our race packs and before I knew it we were lining up to start. Then we were off! I took off quite quickly and was feeling pretty good. I realized that I probably needed to settle the pace down a bit or I would burn out. This was only the 3^rd half-marathon I had run and the first one that was flat and not on trails. I slowly settled the pace down so I was not too comfortable, but comfortable enough to maintain pace. For me this race was about getting out there and giving it a good crack to try for a time of 1hr 45min. It was about just racing my own race and I think this helped prevent me from getting as nervous as normal; as it was really just a training session.

The course involved three laps around Lake Hood. The first lap went pretty well and I was happy and feeling pretty good. I was focusing on maintaining good posture as this then helps me to keep a shorter running stride and overall better running technique. What I didn’t like was when I discovered that one section had a really strong head wind which you had to push though…this was some type 3 fun (not fun at the time and not fun to talk about afterwards).

On to the second lap I was still feeling pretty good to start with. Mentally it was good to have ticked off one lap (7km). My hydration strategy was not going so well, I was attempting to drink going though the aid stations but 95% of it was ending up on me or on the ground once I gave up trying to drink it. I had never tried racing and drinking from cups before, and decided that my bladder is much easier. I was trying to keep the pace up in this lap but it was slowly dropping off as fatigue started to set in. I smashed back a gel to help keep the energy levels up and just keep focusing on myself. I fought through more wind and was happy to have finally made it to the last lap, only 7km to go.

Around the 15km mark things slowly started to fall apart. I was struggling to hold my posture now and my form was slowly falling apart, my pace was dropping. I kept trying to pick it up but it just wasn’t happening. I had thought that my pacing had been ok and I had been on track with my plan most of the way. I just focused on moving forward and counting down the kms. With only roughly 3km normally I would tell myself that that was nothing and to try and pick up the pace, but that didn’t quite happen today, at that point it felt like 3km was still a long way to go. With 2km or less to go I tried to just focus on using everything left in the tank and just get to the finish. It was a struggle to keep it up but next thing I knew there was the finish line, I crossed it happy to be done and then decided to acquaint myself with the ground. I didn’t quite mange to hit 1hr 45min, which I was a bit disappointed with, but was still happy to have given it a good crack and achieve a PB of 1hr 48min.

I enjoyed the race and it created some good learning. It was challenging running a flat course where you had to maintain quick pace throughout. I found that over the three laps my pace slowly dropped. I have improved my running posture a lot, but it still needs work to be able to maintain it over a long period of time. It was fun and I wouldn’t mind doing another some time. My next race is the Spring Challenge 9hr event which I am looking forward too. The training that I’m doing at the moment is also helping me to build up for the two day Coast to Coast and GodZone Pure next year.

The simplicity of running a bath at home and taking 20mins to soak and relax often is too much to fit into our busy day and lifestyle. “We don’t have time”. So the concept of taking an hour and a half out of our day to “Float” for many of us would seem unnecessary and unrealistic.

Let me tell you now…it is not. It is the best thing you could possibly do for yourself this year.

Not often do we get the opportunity to actually float. 100% relaxed. 0% active. More often than not, when we are in water we are active, either showering or exercising. And because we are there for a purpose we don’t often stop and think about the sensation of the water on our body or the benefits of relaxing in water.

However there are many, and my appreciation for allowing myself to take time out of my day to escape my ‘To Do List’ was heightened when recently I visited Cloud 9 Float Club.

The Experience

From my first contact of making a booking, through to walking back out the door into the cold rainy evening, my experience was just as you would expect from a Therapy Centre aiming to provide the ultimate relaxation experience. Welcoming, easy and so relaxing.

From the moment I walked into reception I felt a sense of calm and tranquility. Whatever was on my mind was left at the door, because while in these four walls I didn’t need to concern myself with anything but me.

I was shown to a beautifully appointed private room and given a full brief about how to make the most of my Float, and then I was left to enjoy. After showering, I climbed into the Pod and closed the lid.
Yes, you are fully enclosed. Prior to going along for my session, I thought there is no way I would close the lid, that would be too claustrophobic! But this wasn’t the case. The Pod is roomy and comforting. So I lay down and starting floating. For the first 10mins gentle music played and during this time I found it hard to 100% let go and allow my body to simply float. I felt like I should be holding myself up or needed to tense my neck muscles to keep my head up, but I soon trusted that I didn’t need to do this – the water literally had my back.

As the music faded out, I choose to reach for the button to turn off the light. Plunging myself into complete darkness while inside a closed Pod wasn’t something I felt very comfortable about. But through the use of my breath and focusing my thoughts on the sensation of floating, I pushed any fear aside, knowing I was now embracing the full experience. Throughout the next 45mins my mind and body passed through different emotions, feelings, states of consciousness and thought patterns. And I simply let them come and go as I floated through ‘space’.

When the music faded back in to gently bring me back to Earth, I switched on the light and wiggled my fingers and toes to see if they were still attached! It may be hard to believe, but you actually become part of the water. With the only sensation of where my skin met the water, I felt around my face.

Once out of the Pod I had another shower, enjoying the beautiful skin products on offer, then got dressed and stepped out of my escape back into reality.

The Benefits

For the rest of the evening I literally felt on Cloud 9! Incredibly relaxed, and I noticed how soft my skin felt. But the benefits didn’t stop there. I slept like a baby that night, woke relaxed and calm the next morning with no sore muscles from my training session the day before, and had heightened focus and productivity towards my work. And even after a few days, I was still noticing all these things. From simply giving myself just 1.5hrs, I was enjoying many days (not just hours) of positives.

Spending an hour soaking in Epsom Salts is great way to recover from training; actively assisting the repairing of our muscles, flushing of toxins and reduction of inflammation. Plus the absorption of the salts is beautiful for our skin and our body as a whole, with amazing internal effects. It also reminds us that training isn’t just about being out ‘doing’, recovery is a vital component to achieving our fitness goals. I can also see this being a great place for developing mental skills and visualization techniques in preparation for an event.

Plus of course, it is so relaxing! And is great for lowering stress levels and providing clarity, putting everyday life back into perspective.

The Why

We expect a lot from our body and are often guilty of not always giving back what it deserves in order to allow us to continue enjoying life 100% healthy and at full speed.

There are many wellness opportunities, therapies and theories available to us in todays’ world, and we can’t try them all. However Floating Therapy is definitely one to consider. I’ve tried it for you and I highly recommend you make time one week to take 1.5hrs out for yourself to rest and repair.

When considering when to fit this into your day, choose a time of day that will allow you to fully relax. Carefully choose a time that means you aren’t rushing to or from the session, and if you don’t have anything pressing to do after the session, even better. This will allow your mind to truly escape, rather than be thinking about ‘all the other things you should be doing right now’.

This was my first float, but it won’t be my last. As a first time experience I was a little uncertain, didn’t know what to expect and wasn’t sure how I’d feel. But I loved it! So I want to go back so I can build on the first time benefits.

I get the feeling no two floats will be the same.

Penelope Watson
Team CP Coach
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Choosing the Velothon Sunshine Coast as my main event for 2017 was an awesome decision, for so many reasons.

The past five months have been filled with fun, satisfaction, adventures and gratitude, and I am still buzzing from the whole experience.

The Challenge was Superb!
Having never completed a stage race before this was an event that sat slightly outside my comfort zone. The km’s were long and the climbing was big, and while I had participated in events that included cycling, I hadn’t done a dedicated cycle event before. So when lining up on that start line, especially on Day One, I was feeling slightly nervous about the unknown…
Had I done enough? Where would I sit in the field? What was today really going to be like?!

However as soon as we set off, got into a rhythm and the km’s starting ticking over, the nerves disappeared and instead I was on a high. I was feeling confident and strong, I had completed the challenge of the training. Now I just wanted to enjoy the challenge of riding for three days in a row.

The Roads were Brilliant!
Each day provided something different. Day One for me provided the best views. I am so pleased I made sure I looked around and appreciated the scenery, because it was simply stunning. This is what I had trained hard for and I was feeling on top of the world.

Day Two was fast and furious, and fun! After so much climbing on Day One, the first half of Day Twos ride provided the opportunity to really spin the legs out and enjoy some fast bunch riding. And during the initial 60km of fast riding, and plenty of surging, I reflected on the training rides I had done at Winter Worlds, which had helped prepare me well for this morning. Also knocking off 90km in under 3hrs was a real highlight!

The final day presented the challenge of the Obi Obi – the much talked about and highly anticipated hill climb. And I am very proud to say I rode it! Despite rounding a corner and seeing about 10 people ahead of me pushing their bikes, I dug deep and kept turning those pedals. I drove this hill a couple of days prior so I could mentally prepare for the grind – this was the best decision. It allowed me to set a goal of where I wanted to get to at least before having stop (if necessary), which kept me pushing, and also meant I could break the hill down in my mind and complete it in sections. It was then the amazing support and motivation of the spectators at the top of the last pinch that saw me complete the climb!

Not only was the riding good, but the weather was amazing! Sunny days with beautiful temperatures and riding conditions, plus the beach right there to relax on before, during and after the event  – it was the perfect active winter escape.

The Glory was a Bonus!
For me this event was more about completing my first stage race and enjoying the challenge of a reasonably tough three days of riding, over what my result was.

However after checking out the results at the end of Day One, and seeing where I was sitting, my competitive streak was ignited and I had added motivation for the next two days, inspired to see if I could break into the Top 5 in my category. My final placing was 6^th in the Open Female category and 10^th Female Overall. And while I didn’t get inside the top 5, I did crack the top 10, a result I am absolutely thrilled with. This placing, completing the three days so strongly, plus riding the Obi Obi, was all the ‘glory’ I needed.

The Banter was Great!
This element of the event I was looking forward to, knowing that there was real potential for friendships to be made and a camaraderie developed that made the event even more special.

And I wasn’t disappointed; enjoying the friendliness of the riders, the welcome from the event staff and volunteers, and the overall relaxed vibe throughout the three days. While out on the roads, it was really enjoyable chatting to fellow riders and hearing about what had brought them to the event. Then relaxing in the bean bags back at the Clubhouse throughout the afternoon was a great way to chill out and recover. With the finish lines on Days One and Two being off site from the clubhouse area, it did mean this opportunity to chill out and mingle with others wasn’t fully embraced, which is unfortunate because the set up was fantastic. However Day Three did see all riders finish on location and the vibe and buzz was brilliant, as riders shared stories and celebrated their achievements. If this feeling and atmosphere can be captured on all three days next year, “The Banter” element will definitely come to life more.

It has now been three weeks since I crossed the finish line and I have really enjoyed some time off from training, and the opportunity to do some other activities that were pushed to the side while my focus on was 100% on my event.

I am really happy with where I have got to with my cycling now and am keen to continue to and maintain my current level of fitness, with a view to complete a couple of events between now and the end of the year.

This Velothon journey has been hugely satisfying and rewarding, developing me both personally and professionally. Now I look forward to what the next 6 months of training brings…

Penelope Watson
Team CP Coach
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So I will apologise now for the lengthy gaps between blogs,  I have no real excuse.  I had a good few weeks of training, although this weekend has definitely been the best, but I’ll get to that.  I think when I left off I was still recovering from a chest infection and we were about to start the school holidays.  The chest infection stuck around for quite some time and somewhere between then and now also developed a sinus infection, it is nice to say that after two rounds of antibiotics I am finally starting to feel my old self again.  I haven’t really felt like that since before radiation.

Anyway the holidays started off well with 2 mountain bike rides through Mcleans Island.  I am really enjoying the thrill of mountain biking, and although I think I am more of a natural road biker, mountain biking definitely has its place.  It has been great to train with my Spring Challenge team mates as well.  So far, touch wood, I havent fallen on my bike yet either.  During the first week we also managed a hike around Godley Heads, this was the  first time we, as a team of 3, had been altogether. It was great fun and we chatted the whole way round.  I was impressed at how well my lungs held up.  I was a little sore the next day however, which, I guess when you haven’t really done much for 10 weeks is to be expected.  It did feel good to be out training again.  The first week also consisted of short gym exercises and a  couple of wind training sessions. Great indoor exercises, consider how miserable the weather was.

The second week came round and I jet setted off to a warmer climate.  I headed to Sydney for a long overdue catch-up with my little sister, while there I managed to convince her to do the Challenge Wanaka with me, so this will become my focus after Spring Challenge.  I am really excited about this, as not only do I get to compete with my sister (who by the way is a great runner) I get to do the fun bits of the Challenge without having to train for the run! If you haven’t guessed I have a strong dislike of running, ironic considering how many half marathons Ive done.  I think I blame TeamCP for introducing me to other sports. Anyway, my sister is currently training for a half marathon in a few weeks so we went out for a few longer walks, I never noticed how hilly Sydney was until now!!!

So we are now into the first week back to school, I have almost finished my antibiotics and Im feeling the best I have felt in 12 weeks! I have managed to turn all my training peak exercises (training programme used) to green which is even more exciting. This week I’ve cycled, swam and hiked, with this weekend being the biggest weekend since April, according to strava.  Yesterday I did a 30km bike ride out to Sumner. I truly loved being back on the bike, and with no major breeze and a cool temperature it was ideal and today my Spring Challenge team bagged a couple of peaks.  We started at the bottom of the Mt Vernon track carpark and walked our way to the top (took the the obligatory photo) and then continued around the crater rim to sugar loaf and then down Harry Ells. Wow, we really do live in a beautiful part of the country! I had never walked the Mt Vernon track or that part of Crater rim, and both are stunning, with the views over the city and lyttelton breathtaking.

9 weeks till Spring Challenge and I have a lot to do. This week is similar to last week, and we have decided to try bowenvale track next week.  Im looking forward to it already.  PS I also had my first go at flipout, I think that is probably the hardest workout of the lot!