S2K lovin'

 

Midweek glow

Everyday we spend time fighting our thoughts. We hold back on so much because we think about all the things that could go wrong as opposed to what could go right. No one wants to risk anything anymore, we've become so cynical, so careful, so concerned... and for what? For whom? Each day we do this... we take away from living. A day free of risk is a day free of reward..... # living in the moment

Slightly bigger steps..... in the kitchen

It's been a long week at work this past week, and today was the first time I had all the ingredients, time and desire to put it together.... So I did and they came out just as I had hoped - aMAZEballs. :) Apple Cake in caramel sauce and Apricot-filled Jam Muffins.. needless today, today was pretty sweet......

Baby steps

Why not??

Was what I said when I was asked to be a part of the next beach event this month... The Zsports 3 beaches took place on Sunday (mostretardedcolddayeverrrr) Basically Kirsty was swimming 1.6km from Pollock to Hobie beach, out and back in to Humewood beach - 0.8km, and out and back in to finish up and Kings beach where she'd tag me and I'd run 3km's back to Pollock from the shore - up onto the cyclist's path. It was chillo's but really... I had the easiest thing to do ever, so I was fine, but the sea swim was a nightmare. People were finishing the event with looks that resembled the Ironman finish. They had to swim in total 3.5kms AGAINST the current and the wind and temperature and so many factors apparently made for a seriously tough, shitty swim. One woman pulled out.. .Funnily enough she'd done the Ironman the weekend before, so she was pretty confident in rank to say "I don't need to put myself through this shit" She pulled out after the first leg swearing her head off. So kudos to the rest who did it. I'd never in my life.................. ever... did I say ever? So then anyway I ran back to Pollock, once Kirst was out - easiest run of my life, My running's ok at the moment. Better than it's ever been really. Not sure how it happened, but for short distances I've managed to get my vibe right. Cool I guess.

Trying to keep up with a lot of different things to pass the time, spend the time, use the time?? Who knows, (as usual) hahaha. But Saturday was my first actual 'ride' - 27km down to charlo - sardinia and back through walmer heights and home, it felt really cool. It's always fun when you're nervous about doing something and when you get into it, it's cooler than you actually imagined it to be. So that's kind of where my mind's at, at the moment, and as you can see (or hear), haha.... it seems to be working out :) Here's to more of those vibes... couple pics from Sunday on the beach :)

This weekend...

Barney logic

Honda

dream the impossible dream...

Swim.Ride.Run

Alarm went off at 5am, and you know that feeling where you go, oh flip, no more sleeps, it's happening today.... it's happening now. I had that. So of course along with that feeling comes the excited nerves I guess.  It was still dark when we left home at 6am, no idea why we can't do this thing earlier in the year dammit! Winter outdoor sports are for the obsessive I think, which, on most days I can be.... but anyway for now I was still freaking out at being on the beach this early in the cold winter morning chill. We arrived and pushed our bikes to transition and racked them in the individual section and you can't even begin to imagine how beautiful the sunrise was at that very moment... There were few places I'd rather have been once I was there, which made me feel cool to know I was a part of it.

So it was time to 'suit up' and holy crap it was chilly. Ice cold feet walking around on the paving - they went pretty numb, and I soon got over it. Next was the dip in the ocean to regulate our body temp's to the water. Well, haha, it was 14 degrees Celsius. So I'd like you to imagine how I felt.... The difference I felt though, was that when it's super cold outside, the water isn't that much of a shock to the system when you get in. Sunday's session when it was a gorgeous day out - I couldn't even breath while in the water it was so cold and it was a degree warmer. So we got out and waited for the waves of teams to go out. We were scheduled for 8:20am, and the time got a little sweeter because I found my friends in the crowd who came to wish me luck before I started. 

Pity my eyes were closed, but anyway it's the only shot I had, and we were wearing very overcompensated smiles.... haha, yip nerves! Never in my life did I ever imagine I'd be in a photo in a wetsuit with a swimming cap on the beach, and this is the first of quite a few I'm sure. We waited for the gun to go off, went running into the ocean and started swimming, or as I like to think of it - not drowning. There was serious swell. Most of the swimmers said it wasn't ideal, but at least they know how to get passed that. I didn't feel very comfortable with the swell - it just tired me a LOT more than I needed it to. But anyway, out the water and off to the bikes, now the cool part starts :)

Transition - what a mini nightmare.... I was still choking back all the salt water I had swallowed and decided if I want to enjoy my ride and not feel sick I needed to sort some shit out! So I gargled water, and couldnt swallow it, haha, then had a bite or 2 of my nougat bar, blew my nose - coz that was pretty water clogged too. Sorry - there's nothing pretty bout sea water face. Haha. But then I only started changing. All went well til my number popped off with the safety pins. I didnt need that... But anyway I got it on, slipped on my socks and shoes (over beach sand and all), helmet clipped on and made my way out to the mount line. This pic above was me bout to mount the bike for what was a really cool ride. I enjoyed it so much so, that I actually just need to get better at it. A little "push" went a long way on the way back and I managed to do a pretty decent time - on just the ride (transition aside). I jumped off my bike and started to run and push it into transition, then...... I stopped running and did weird little walk hop jumps, because - no shock here - I hadn't trained from ride to run. Well let me tell you... you can't just run straight off the bike. Jelly legs. Helmet off, bike racked, grabbed my nougat and ran out...

That's my run-wave move, hahaaha. It really was probably one of the coolest parts of it for me - seeing the faces I know throughout it all that cheered me on as I passed. It's funny, the distances aren't big, but it's such a challenging thing to do nonetheless when you're trying to manage the 3 disciplines and when you're trying to do it as best you can. They often say shorter distances can take it out of you more coz you push more than you pace. Either way, I know that the run was my best... I was happy with the time and mainly becuase I know I could have been running faster actually - coz it felt too easy. I just didn't wanna push too hard and have to walk or something silly in the last leg of it all. After all was said and done - I came in at 1:29:54 (talk about touch and go) I came 82nd in my category out of 158. Not bad for first one, but I know where I can find time, where I need to train more - water; where I can improve - ride; what I can perfect - run. Transition must get sorted - wasting time... and then I should have a good chance at doing well. we'll see.. it's only next year. It's still long way away.

Lessons learned this week

. . . Riding a bicycle along the beachfront in the evening in that insane cold front and wind:
     - is for the birds
     - makes me have the reddest nose on the planet
     - almost pushed me off my bike...... three times
     - almost had my helmet do a runaway into a nearby drain
     - numbed my fingers and toes
     - showed me how gears come in handy :)

. . . MMA class in the middle of outdoor training week:
     - is probably not the best idea physically
     - made me realise how much better i am on the bag with my gloves - good shouting comments from  
       Andrew and just knowing myself overall
     - showed me that 'no news is good news' isn't always the case... sometimes news can be 'hopeful' news
     - reaffirmed me why I now prefer body training to dancing - look good feel good :)

. . . Swimming 380m in the corporate route in the sea yesterday after work:
      - left me SUPER chuffed
      - was effing freezing
      - made me realise how awesome wetsuits are
      - instilled confidence in the ocean
      - was cool coz my mom came to watch - mainly to make sure I don't drown, hahahaha

                    

If you want it perfect, do it right...

Ask Magnus... he knows all about it. Quirkiest guy under the sun. Quirky mainly because beyond the mad look, his passion is so intense, you don't want to stop listening to his story. I watched a documentary on his story the other night, and while I was there watching, I couldn't help feel how little we do to ensure things are done right. We hope a lot... and act so little... It was just cool to watch someone believing in one thing and then acting on that same thing... Anyway, just somebody else's story :) regardless, the porsche 911 is a beautiful car and like all good stories, people, concepts and dreams... there are always some incredibly perfect photos to bring it to life............

Oh and he has a blog: magnuswalker911.com/  - its always nice to read when proper people write, if that makes any sense.. there's so little of it out there I suppose. So go check it out...................................

Corporate What?

Ok, so I have 3 full days left before I make use of all my body's muscles to endure 3 disciplines in one event. It's going to be interesting given that I have only ever done running in events.... and to date have completed one cycling event so to speak. (It was more leisurely than competitive) - Also I was unfit and on a single speed... Nevermind that... I have never swum in the ocean, or competed in a swimming event except for maybe primary school galas, and 2 guesses how long ago that was. Haha. So while the distances are short for the team members who are accustomed to their leg of the race... for an individual I think it's quite a cool challenge, because who paces themselves for short distance? No one... haha. So in theory - we're all going to be going flatout in the water - tired - to try go flatout on the bike - tired - to go flatout on the run - buggered. So I guess what I'm aiming for is fun... and praying to the weather Gods that it's a windless day. I don't need choppy ocean and ride resistance. Though this time I am coming to the party with more than one gear, so I'm assuming that wind won't be the craziest issue on the ride. Let's see...........

I was at the beach Sunday morning hoping to get a feel for what the water challenge would be like with a swim out to the buoy and back. Well...........if I had balls, lets just say I'd have frozen them off! My nerves - it was 16 degrees Celsius and quite possibly the coldest water I have ever had the displeasure of being submerged in...... Ever! I realised that I was going numb when my limbs started feeling warm. Yip... warm. So I started swimming. It was cool. Chest was freaking out because my breaths were still far too short to practice swimming with how the cold was stealing from my air capacity. What a nightmare. So I realised a suit was necessary. Got an awesome pink and black Ripcurl shorty. Also a long sleeve rashvest - coz I need to actually figure out my attire for this whole thing.. Transition period is going to a breathing blessing, but I don't wanna get my heart racing trying to undress and dress coz I don't have time for all the changing. So i'm gonna see whether Tri shorts are available and maybe use the rashy instead of the suit. Not sure yet.

I have my bike too - courtesy of someone who knows someone who knows someone. They have Shimano race shifters - which I quickly learned aren't the same gears I had on my mountain bike in High School. Haha. Anyway what's youtube for if not to find out 'how-to'. So I'm hoping to go out and try that tonight, in fact - I WILL be going wind and all - good practice I guess.... Bleak mostly about not being able to swim. Severe rough seas warnings for today and into the eve.... So unfortunately it's a no-no for the water today. I'm guessing I'll be ok on the day (Weather God prayer: Repeat) as I'll be pretty pumped to get in and out.. some body temp regulation in the sea after the briefing will be totally needed for me before the swim... And best news ever: They're releasing swimmers in waves. (excuse the pun) Yeeeeeaaah. No millions of bodies piling in at the same time. First wave 230 teams, second wave - other 230 teams, third wave - individual men and fourth wave (me) - individual women. So, so happy about that. So only 230 "women" jumping in the sea when we start which is at 8:20am :)

The ride I'm not worried about, neither am I about the run... Only because I know exactly what to expect - maybe not after each transition for sure... But I know I can control my pace depending how i feel. I just hope that all goes well with the bike, no issues on chains and tyres and whatnot - coz I sure as hell don't know how to change a tyre. I've seen how it's done by those who make everything look easy... :) but I'm no pro on how to sort stuff out in such a short race, I'd sooner push the bike back the whole way! I'm also super keen to wear my new helmet - I'm so silly in those ways, but yeah.... it's pretty amazing... so yeah, hopefully i look ok doing all of this :/

So much rambling... but I have a lot of unused conversation.. so I'm just plastering it all on here... I'll have a write up after the event too... So whoever reads this... hold thumbs for me and that the report back is one of a good tone :)

Fortitude

Dad's new ride

Triumph Bonneville America

Sincere sentiments of my sober state

If you trust in the divine..... the divine will happen........ Leave your life in the hands of the power you trust, and the power of a good life with be left in your hands.

It's never too late to start over in the mind... the heart will follow and then take the lead once again in the right place.

Embrace the signs that are from a good force, shut out the ones that aren't..

To be patient for a phenomenal journey is all in the self discipline of your mind... let go.... good things come to those who wait... and great things come to those who do it gracefully