The final blog of the year is coming all the way from Falls Creek...and what a place to bring in the new year! Falls is one of my favourite places on earth. The scenery is something else, the riding amazing and the running awesome.
We have just spent the final day of 2011 doing a stellar ride down the back side of Falls Creek to Omeo and return. A big day in the saddle, and totally worth it...we even got to see some wild brumbies in our travels!
2011 has been a huge year full of travel, training, racing, and most of all good times. I also achieved two of my major goals of the year, one being going back to Uni (even if it is only part-time!), and the other racing my first World Champs race at the pro level. It has also been one tough year learning and observing first hand the amount of hard work, dedication and sacrifice it will take to become a successful athlete. The lessons I have learnt throughout the year and the adventures I have had will stay with me forever.
2012 is looking to be another great year with some exciting races and travel planned. I am so lucky to have the support of family and friends, and so thankful that I can share all of life's adventures with Sam.
It has definitely been an experience doing 52 consecutive weeks of blogging. However, I will make sure to keep the blog alive into 2012 (just not so frequent!).
Until next time,
Happy New Year!
Friday, December 30, 2011
Thursday, December 22, 2011
The (almost) End Of An Adventure
As 2011 is rapidly drawing to a close, so is my epic weekly blogging adventures. As some may recall at the beginning of the year I boldly pronounced "I shall blog every week for the next year!" Oh, why do I always come up with these ideas that seem amazing at the onset...
At the time this seemed like a simple task, however upon reflection it has been exhausting! Thinking of something to write (worth reading) week in week out is like writing an assignment for uni or school over and over again. Now don't get me wrong, I have enjoyed this blogging experience, however I am not the greatest when it comes to sitting and concentrating for a whopping 30 minutes of weekly blog writing. Anyhow, it has been a fun adventure and it will be nice to have a years worth of blogs to read back on in the future when I am bored out of my mind, looking for something to read.
I must say though that I have become increasingly less punctual with my blogging schedule. What was once supposed to be Sunday funday blog day, turned into Monday blog day then Tuesday, Wednesday and now Friday!! However I have not missed a single week in this whole adventure which is truly exciting for me (however, according to my calculations, there is still one more week to go...and anything can happen in a week, so I'm not out of the woods just yet).
Thinking of topics to write about has been the most stressful part of this blogging journey. However, as I have learnt, one can really blog about anything...take now for example, I am blogging about blogging. And as boring as this may seem, there still appears to be something to blog about when blogging about a blog.
I have tried to keep the weekly blog topics varied, from race reports to training updates, photos blogs to recounting the various misadventures I find myself in. Some weeks I find myself grappling for stories to blog about, then at the very last minute right before that moment when I am about give up, and proclaim to the world that "it was just too hard", I walk into the perfect blogging situation...so it is in these instances that I must thank blog worthy topics such as swooping plovers, hungry bears, YouTube, self-obsessed gym junkies, race reports and training adventures.
In conclusion to this riveting blog, it must be noted that deep down I do actually enjoy blogging and as such I will make a concerted effort to continue to keep the blog alive into next year (but maybe just not so frequent!).
However, before the year is out and this adventure is complete, there is still one more blog that must be written on a topic that is yet to be decided but is almost guaranteed to be the most riveting blog of all.
Until then, Merry Christmas!
At the time this seemed like a simple task, however upon reflection it has been exhausting! Thinking of something to write (worth reading) week in week out is like writing an assignment for uni or school over and over again. Now don't get me wrong, I have enjoyed this blogging experience, however I am not the greatest when it comes to sitting and concentrating for a whopping 30 minutes of weekly blog writing. Anyhow, it has been a fun adventure and it will be nice to have a years worth of blogs to read back on in the future when I am bored out of my mind, looking for something to read.
I must say though that I have become increasingly less punctual with my blogging schedule. What was once supposed to be Sunday funday blog day, turned into Monday blog day then Tuesday, Wednesday and now Friday!! However I have not missed a single week in this whole adventure which is truly exciting for me (however, according to my calculations, there is still one more week to go...and anything can happen in a week, so I'm not out of the woods just yet).
Thinking of topics to write about has been the most stressful part of this blogging journey. However, as I have learnt, one can really blog about anything...take now for example, I am blogging about blogging. And as boring as this may seem, there still appears to be something to blog about when blogging about a blog.
I have tried to keep the weekly blog topics varied, from race reports to training updates, photos blogs to recounting the various misadventures I find myself in. Some weeks I find myself grappling for stories to blog about, then at the very last minute right before that moment when I am about give up, and proclaim to the world that "it was just too hard", I walk into the perfect blogging situation...so it is in these instances that I must thank blog worthy topics such as swooping plovers, hungry bears, YouTube, self-obsessed gym junkies, race reports and training adventures.
In conclusion to this riveting blog, it must be noted that deep down I do actually enjoy blogging and as such I will make a concerted effort to continue to keep the blog alive into next year (but maybe just not so frequent!).
However, before the year is out and this adventure is complete, there is still one more blog that must be written on a topic that is yet to be decided but is almost guaranteed to be the most riveting blog of all.
Until then, Merry Christmas!
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Gatorade Tri Series Race #2 - Elwood
Yesterday was the 2nd race of the 2011/12 Gatorade Triathlon Series. After sitting out race #1 I was looking forward to getting out there and racing as part of Team Barefoot again. After spending the best part of 8 months racing the half ironman distance, I was really keen to do be doing a shorter local race with less pressure.
Both races in the series so far have been of the duathlon format since the swim has been cancelled...and I was quite happy we weren't getting into the bay yesterday, it was filthy!
As the focus for me is next year I went untapered into this race, so the legs weren't feeling their freshest! The first 1.4km run went out at lightening speed and the pace was on, my Brooks T7 Racers were perfect for the speedy start. I had a good transition in T1 and went out onto the bike in first place with a group of 3 other girls. The wind on the bike made for tough riding, and the tailwind out was complimented by a strong headwind on the return. My new Malvern Star Oppy C7 road bike felt awesome in its first race workout.
The girls behind us rode really well to bridge the gap, and by the time we hit T2 we were a group of 7. Erin Densham motored out of T2 and ran on for the win, I ended up crossing the line in 3rd place elite female.
It was a fun day out and I love racing just 5min down the road from home! Big congrats to Sam on his stellar 2nd place in M25-29.
I am heading home to Tassie at the end of the week for Christmas followed by some good training time up at Falls Creek over new year. Then it's full steam ahead into racing for 2012!
Both races in the series so far have been of the duathlon format since the swim has been cancelled...and I was quite happy we weren't getting into the bay yesterday, it was filthy!
As the focus for me is next year I went untapered into this race, so the legs weren't feeling their freshest! The first 1.4km run went out at lightening speed and the pace was on, my Brooks T7 Racers were perfect for the speedy start. I had a good transition in T1 and went out onto the bike in first place with a group of 3 other girls. The wind on the bike made for tough riding, and the tailwind out was complimented by a strong headwind on the return. My new Malvern Star Oppy C7 road bike felt awesome in its first race workout.
The girls behind us rode really well to bridge the gap, and by the time we hit T2 we were a group of 7. Erin Densham motored out of T2 and ran on for the win, I ended up crossing the line in 3rd place elite female.
It was a fun day out and I love racing just 5min down the road from home! Big congrats to Sam on his stellar 2nd place in M25-29.
I am heading home to Tassie at the end of the week for Christmas followed by some good training time up at Falls Creek over new year. Then it's full steam ahead into racing for 2012!
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Perfect day for the Dandy's!
The sun was shinning, the birds singing and the sky was blue...must be a day for a spin in the Dandenongs. Sam knows all these roads like the back of his hand so I played follow the leader. Great ride!!
Some pretty fields
The leader (Sam)
Another pretty field
View from the top...Melbourne City is out there somewhere
Sam again...as you can see, I spent very little time on the front!
Me and my mate :)
Some pretty fields
The leader (Sam)
Another pretty field
View from the top...Melbourne City is out there somewhere
Sam again...as you can see, I spent very little time on the front!
Me and my mate :)
Thursday, December 1, 2011
People Watching
Racing back-to-back Australian and US seasons is tough going. From what I have learnt over the past few months is that for long-term success it is crucial to have some down time and to make sure an off-season is incorporated into training. As such, I am currently in the midst of my off-season (which definitely feels a little odd considering I would normally be coming into top fitness at this time of year).
However, this is a great opportunity to work some other areas of fitness into my training cycle, including gym work. The majority of top athletes I race against hit up the gym. It really is that crucial 4th aspect of training that is so important in injury prevention and building strength, and as such I can't ignore it for any longer! So gym it is.
It has been quite a few years since I last stepped into a gym to work my ab and get big (never going to happen!), so it has been great to do training that is little different to the norm and to add variety to the program.
The first challenge in the whole exercise was to find a gym that was a). cheap and b). close to home. So you can imagine my excitement when I stumbled across the local PCYC gym...three buks an entry! However, one does get what one pays for...which is a gym on the smaller side of small, full of very sweaty men with very big muscles and copious amounts of testosterone floating around the place.
It's safe to say that over the past 2 weeks I would have stumbled across 3, possibly 4 people of the female variety in this gym, so it's no wonder that I get some seriously strange looks when I trot into the gym in my shorty shorts and swinging pony tail. However it does have its advantages, like getting first dibs on a machine if there's a queue (ladies first!) and prompt assistance if I am struggling with a weight.
Two of the main things I have noticed in going to the gym is 1). it bloody hurts! and 2). it is a hilarious place to people watch (and I do love some good people watching). The majority of men in this gym are pumping some serious iron, whilst doing some serious self-viewing in the many mirrors plastered around the place. Seriously, I have never seen so many people so obsessed with their own image in the mirror before!
However, I must say that this self-obsession does add to the people watching entertainment. Nothing is more entertaining than watching someone who is watching them self in a mirror thinking that nobody else is watching them, when actually they are being watched. Considering that going to the gym is quite boring, it is the smallest things like people watching that are quite amusing and help to pass the time.
However, one must be extremely cautious not to be spotted people watching as this has the potential to result in a number of consequences...and by the size of some of those biceps I'd rather not find out!
Well I'm just people watching
The other people watching me
And we're all people watching
The other people watching we - Jack Johnson
However, this is a great opportunity to work some other areas of fitness into my training cycle, including gym work. The majority of top athletes I race against hit up the gym. It really is that crucial 4th aspect of training that is so important in injury prevention and building strength, and as such I can't ignore it for any longer! So gym it is.
It has been quite a few years since I last stepped into a gym to work my ab and get big (never going to happen!), so it has been great to do training that is little different to the norm and to add variety to the program.
The first challenge in the whole exercise was to find a gym that was a). cheap and b). close to home. So you can imagine my excitement when I stumbled across the local PCYC gym...three buks an entry! However, one does get what one pays for...which is a gym on the smaller side of small, full of very sweaty men with very big muscles and copious amounts of testosterone floating around the place.
It's safe to say that over the past 2 weeks I would have stumbled across 3, possibly 4 people of the female variety in this gym, so it's no wonder that I get some seriously strange looks when I trot into the gym in my shorty shorts and swinging pony tail. However it does have its advantages, like getting first dibs on a machine if there's a queue (ladies first!) and prompt assistance if I am struggling with a weight.
Two of the main things I have noticed in going to the gym is 1). it bloody hurts! and 2). it is a hilarious place to people watch (and I do love some good people watching). The majority of men in this gym are pumping some serious iron, whilst doing some serious self-viewing in the many mirrors plastered around the place. Seriously, I have never seen so many people so obsessed with their own image in the mirror before!
However, I must say that this self-obsession does add to the people watching entertainment. Nothing is more entertaining than watching someone who is watching them self in a mirror thinking that nobody else is watching them, when actually they are being watched. Considering that going to the gym is quite boring, it is the smallest things like people watching that are quite amusing and help to pass the time.
However, one must be extremely cautious not to be spotted people watching as this has the potential to result in a number of consequences...and by the size of some of those biceps I'd rather not find out!
Well I'm just people watching
The other people watching me
And we're all people watching
The other people watching we - Jack Johnson
Saturday, November 19, 2011
From the Sidelines
If I have learnt one thing today, it is that spectating is exhausting.
I am currently flat out on the couch after a morning down at the local Gatorade Triathlon...and no I wasn't even racing! My body needed a little extra time to recover after last weeks half ironman at Shepparton, so for a change I was the one on the sideline and Sam was the triathlete.
I never realised how stressful it actually is being a spectator. So many questions! What to wear? When to arrive? Where to park? Where to stand? How loud to cheer? When to cheer? When to clap? How many claps (apparently this is very important...too many is over eager, too few shows dis-interest)? Camera or no camera?
It is so much easier being the racer, the only thing I have to worry about when racing is being on the start line by the time the gun goes.
Getting down to the race on time and finding the impossible parking spot in St Kilda was the first of the challenges. Then there was the stress of trying to find the racer before the start. Thinking I was running late I made a bee line to the start line where I was hoping to see Sam to wish him adios, but I couldn't find him anywhere...which was very stressful in itself as I was wondering if he was actually at there at all?? However, two minutes before the gun went I finally spotted him on the start line and was just about to run up and give him a big good luck hug...until commonsense prevailed and I stayed in my appropriate position on the sideline.
I had now found my perfect cheering vantage point and yelled my little lungs out as he went on by. So I had seen the start...check. Then it was straight over to transition to watch the him get his bike...check. Then up to the bike course...check. Then trying to keep count of what number lap he was on (one would think this wouldn't be too hard considering it was a 2 lap race, but apparently it is)...check. Then back to transition...check. Then to the finish line...check. (I decided it was just too hard to get out onto the run course...and besides, I was getting exhausted from all this cheering). Then when I thought it was all over, there's the hanging around after the race waiting to get the bike back, and then walking back to the car at the impossible parking spot in St Kilda.
By the time we got home and had some food (I did need a feast from all of my energy expended) it was well and truly time for one mighty nap!
So to Mum, Dad, Sam and everyone else who has cheered me on in a race, thank you! I now understand it is more stressful and more work than the race itself. Not only do you have to get up early, stand around for hours on end and say all the right things (at the right time, in the right volume with the appropriate number of claps), you also have to deal with my often unpredictable post-race moods ranging from excitement to disappointment, happiness to frustration.
*Also, congrats to my big sister Laura for running 21.1km up mountain today...apparently it is the hardest half marathon in the world. Personally I would stick to the flat, but whatever works! So good job.
I am currently flat out on the couch after a morning down at the local Gatorade Triathlon...and no I wasn't even racing! My body needed a little extra time to recover after last weeks half ironman at Shepparton, so for a change I was the one on the sideline and Sam was the triathlete.
I never realised how stressful it actually is being a spectator. So many questions! What to wear? When to arrive? Where to park? Where to stand? How loud to cheer? When to cheer? When to clap? How many claps (apparently this is very important...too many is over eager, too few shows dis-interest)? Camera or no camera?
It is so much easier being the racer, the only thing I have to worry about when racing is being on the start line by the time the gun goes.
Getting down to the race on time and finding the impossible parking spot in St Kilda was the first of the challenges. Then there was the stress of trying to find the racer before the start. Thinking I was running late I made a bee line to the start line where I was hoping to see Sam to wish him adios, but I couldn't find him anywhere...which was very stressful in itself as I was wondering if he was actually at there at all?? However, two minutes before the gun went I finally spotted him on the start line and was just about to run up and give him a big good luck hug...until commonsense prevailed and I stayed in my appropriate position on the sideline.
I had now found my perfect cheering vantage point and yelled my little lungs out as he went on by. So I had seen the start...check. Then it was straight over to transition to watch the him get his bike...check. Then up to the bike course...check. Then trying to keep count of what number lap he was on (one would think this wouldn't be too hard considering it was a 2 lap race, but apparently it is)...check. Then back to transition...check. Then to the finish line...check. (I decided it was just too hard to get out onto the run course...and besides, I was getting exhausted from all this cheering). Then when I thought it was all over, there's the hanging around after the race waiting to get the bike back, and then walking back to the car at the impossible parking spot in St Kilda.
By the time we got home and had some food (I did need a feast from all of my energy expended) it was well and truly time for one mighty nap!
So to Mum, Dad, Sam and everyone else who has cheered me on in a race, thank you! I now understand it is more stressful and more work than the race itself. Not only do you have to get up early, stand around for hours on end and say all the right things (at the right time, in the right volume with the appropriate number of claps), you also have to deal with my often unpredictable post-race moods ranging from excitement to disappointment, happiness to frustration.
*Also, congrats to my big sister Laura for running 21.1km up mountain today...apparently it is the hardest half marathon in the world. Personally I would stick to the flat, but whatever works! So good job.
Monday, November 14, 2011
Shepparton 70.3 Race Report
It's never much fun writing a race report on a disappointing race, however it's all part of the game and must be done! After returning home from the US I had 3 weeks off from training, followed by a short prep of 4 weeks for Shepparton 70.3. For me, it was a big ask to get race fit again in a month, however I love to race and especially love racing at home in Australia, so I was really keen to get into the best shape I could for Sunday's race at Shep. Whilst a few extra weeks of training up my sleeve would've been handy, I was still feeling positive, fit and ready to go before race day.
Ideal conditions greeted us on race morning, the sun was shinning, the birds were singing and I had friends and family cheering me on both on and off course (well the family were definitely off course, but cheering nonetheless!).
At 7am we were set on our way for the 1.9km swim, 90km ride and 21.1km run. Early on into the swim, I knew that it was going to be a long day. While my day wasn't a total shocker, I just never got going and wasn't firing like my usual self. I didn't have one particular leg that was horrendous, rather I was just a little off in all three.
I was disappointed after crossing the finish line, every race I go into I put so much expectation on myself to race well and get results, so when I fall short of this it is shattering and I feel I have let myself and my supporters down. However, it is all part of being an athlete. The highs are high, and the lows are low. It is how I respond to the lows, learn from them and try to limit the bad days that is important and all part of the roller coaster ride that is racing.
Although the day didn't pan out as I had hoped, I still had fun out on course and loved racing in such a great event with fantastic race day support from the many volunteers and supporters. Congratulations to all other competitors out there racing and especially to the girls that I lined up against, it looked like a hard fought battle at the pointy end!
Thanks to Mum and Dad for making the trek over to the big island to watch me race, to Sam for the support and awesome photos, and to my sponsors Malvern Star, Peak Bike Hub, Brooks, Giro, Selle SMP and Team Barefoot.
For now it's time to knuckle down and get my mojo back!!
Ideal conditions greeted us on race morning, the sun was shinning, the birds were singing and I had friends and family cheering me on both on and off course (well the family were definitely off course, but cheering nonetheless!).
At 7am we were set on our way for the 1.9km swim, 90km ride and 21.1km run. Early on into the swim, I knew that it was going to be a long day. While my day wasn't a total shocker, I just never got going and wasn't firing like my usual self. I didn't have one particular leg that was horrendous, rather I was just a little off in all three.
I was disappointed after crossing the finish line, every race I go into I put so much expectation on myself to race well and get results, so when I fall short of this it is shattering and I feel I have let myself and my supporters down. However, it is all part of being an athlete. The highs are high, and the lows are low. It is how I respond to the lows, learn from them and try to limit the bad days that is important and all part of the roller coaster ride that is racing.
Although the day didn't pan out as I had hoped, I still had fun out on course and loved racing in such a great event with fantastic race day support from the many volunteers and supporters. Congratulations to all other competitors out there racing and especially to the girls that I lined up against, it looked like a hard fought battle at the pointy end!
Thanks to Mum and Dad for making the trek over to the big island to watch me race, to Sam for the support and awesome photos, and to my sponsors Malvern Star, Peak Bike Hub, Brooks, Giro, Selle SMP and Team Barefoot.
For now it's time to knuckle down and get my mojo back!!
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