Hello people!! Here I am! Still alive and more importantly ,I am still the swim, bike, run Mum!
The journey continues and it is a good journey – a really good journey. I am struggling with the fact that almost two months have passed since I blogged. How did that happen? I really thought I could train and blog; reality – I train (often at 5.30 am) then chase my tail for the rest of the day and the day turns into weeks and then months…… so for the foreseeable future I shall chase my tail like our mad spotty dog does!!
Trying to think of the high points of my training; there have been many. Not least doing regular 30km-plus runs, long bikes and ocean swimming. I have definitely moved to the next level of fitness and it feels GOOD!!! The high points are also all the people who join you on your journey, from those who actually train with you, to those who enquire at the school gate about how you are getting on, through to the ever-supportive Grant who sends me random surprise texts telling me how proud he is of me and how good I am going. People who you really don’t think will join you on your journey DO. A time of new friendships and for me – bonus!
We had two weeks of school holidays. In the end we decided to stay at home and just enjoy the Bay and do some much needed work on the garden and it looks great. We have such busy lives with activities we all really enjoyed the break from the routine of having to clock watch and rush. The lovely Leo went on a South Island adventure; golly I felt quite emotional at the airport saying goodbye to him for ten days…..what the heck will I be like come January!? Leo had a fantastic time, he did lots of amazing stuff – lucky boy. We all missed him. Surf season started and Henry started back at Oceans training – his happy place on the water on a board with his friends. Our summer house, aka the surf club, is open for business!!! Thank goodness for carpooling with friends as it makes the weeks slightly easier to negotiate! The weather was utterly fantastic over the holidays, beach days – strangely warm. We were inundated by the Manawatu Mitchells! A full full house and fun days. I loved having everyone here and watching the kids all interacting; particularly Patrick – he was utterly besotted by his big cousin, Dayna. It was so cute as he just gazed at her in adoration. I understand why, she is gorgeous, fun, happy and took such good care of Paddy when they were playing spotlight. Some members of the family enjoyed a few wines too lol!! Fun times. I was so lucky as Lynda is a masseur and she brought bed up to the apartment they had rented in the Mount. I was truly spoilt and my body loved it. Lynda is a fantastic masseur – shame she lives so far away. The day after I had my legs worked on I was the fastest thing on two legs – TRUE! Or that is how I felt, hehehe! A big thank you for your time and massages. We all climbed the Mount together, fun day and all the kids were swimming.

We enjoyed a Mitchell/Marshall family day in the Redwoods, it was fantastic. Man I love that place. Great company and great biking – the kids were amazing. Even Freddie and Benny were up on the Challenger. I used the Redwoods as my bike training and it was so HARD…..the Redwoods reminded me that I am not as strong as I think. I had Paddy on the front of my bike, so balancing the weight was a trick and he kept standing up and screaming, ‘Go faster, Mummy!’ We are so lucky to have the Redwoods on our doorstep, now we need more time to do it! We had a post bike bbq at the Marshall’s and the kids were thrilled to feed the lambs – good ole NZ spring days.
The school holidays came and went and now we are in Term 4 – the end of the school year is on its way and so are the BIG training sessions.
On the last day of the holidays Leanne (who is an Ironman and an inspiration and mentor to me) and I had a wee road trip to the Karangahake Gorge and we did an off road half marathon. We knew what we in were in for as we have done it before – but it was still a surprise as to how TOUGH it was! It was stunningly beautiful too, running through DOC land and, of course, I had great company. The run took us a long time……….worth it. On our way home we soaked our weary bodies in the Athenree hot pools and had a feast on delicious oranges that they were selling at the side of the road – best oranges EVER! Below is us just having finished the race.

There is no doubt the body is getting stronger and used to the abuse! I have really noticed a big difference in my training when it is hot – woah! I take in heaps more fluid, I have my water refill stops for my bike route and run – so I have that covered. My main whinge is sun screen in my eyes……shame! How could I forget the wind, OMFG!! The wind, it is awful – Il Nino is here and it is windy, head winds everywhere you go – makes for a tough, tiring and sometimes miserable bike. As in the song, when the going gets tough ,the tough get going, so I just keep on going!! Summer =I no longer need to go to Otumoetai pool – yay!!! I have a strong dislike for that pool – it is miserable. My local outdoor pool is open for the season and the ocean is warm enough too – yippee! Although there are jellys – scary! Charlotte and I have been ocean swimming together on Thursday nights, I am so proud of my girl.
My two youngest Freddie and Patrick had tonsillectomies and the works month ago. It was a big day for our family. Granny came up to look after us all. Thank you universe for super Grans that love to look after us all. It was a long two/three weeks recovery and the boys were brilliant. There was a lot of sleep deprivation – it was exhausting for everyone. Freddie struggled and I really struggled watching him in pain. We were looked after well by our surgeon and both boys are now as good as gold. I was secretly delighted as over that terrible two week period and training weeks hard and very hard I only missed one swim. I patted my own back. As always our friends were amazing and there for us, helping drive kids places, food and love parcels etc etc…..
Nurse Mummy with her charges!
Last week my “baby” turned four, how the heck did that happen. He choose his cake and his birthday and didn’t want a party – only a family one (yay). We enjoyed helping our boy turn four.

Paddy with his pirate cake.
A week of celebrations……Freddie decided he wanted a party – he was feeling ripped off as his birthday is December 27th, right in the middle of school summer holidays and Christmas. He had a party-his first one ever! It was a rugby party with Grant as the ref. The cake was amazing and made lots of little boys very happy 🙂 I can’t claim the cake……..my talents have limits! My friend Sue made it – yes I know she should be in business!

There we have it, my overdue blog! Now I must train on – you don’t become an Ironman by sitting on your chuff!
Over and out, the athlete x
P.S I can’t end my blog without saying wahoo the mighty ABs! Thanks for the Levis early morning screening and breakfast parties………
WhyWeTri has lots of neat pictures and quotes – this one resonated with me.

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