Go Taupo Ironman competitors!

I'm really excited. Tomorrow night I leave for Taupo to watch the Ironman race. I'm hoping to catch up with some fellow bloggers, and some shopping - of course!
I'm battling a nasty late summer 'flu, which seems to have everyone around here laid out too! I can't believe how sick I've been since I've stopped the long hours of training! Once I'm better I'm back into it!

Just read this article though, which is slightly depressing, but I can see the truth in it:

MOVE IT TO LOSE IT - Runners World Feb. 2008

It doesn't seem fair, but those who are battling the bulge will have to exercise up to twice as much to maintain their desired weight than those who have always been physically blessed. According to Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, current public recommendations call for a 30-60 minutes a day of physical activity to avoid weight gain, and 60-90 minutes a day to avoid weight regain after having shed some kilos. In the trial, researchers found the majority of successful weight maintainers (who had lost at least 30 kilograms and kept it off for an average of 14 years) had to work out intensely for more than 60 minutes a day. Despite their higher physical activity duration and intensity, the maintainers group's average BMI of 22 was higher than the normal group, whose average BMI was 21.1.

I'll let you know next week whether I decide to tackle IMNZ 2009 or not!!!

Cheers,

Yee Hah Rain

This is my farming coming out - we desperately need rain to keep the grass growing, as in New Zealand our cows rely on basically a grass only based diet. They are outside all year round due to our ideal climate. We had good rain last night, we just need some more rain now.....are we ever happy? - Well yes I guess we are happy, we had a great holiday at the beach, the weather was fantastic, and next week is the National Big Game Fishing contest. I orginally got fit to be able to handle catching big fish, so I can't wait! The official weight for marlin is over 90 kg, so I wanted to be lighter than any I weighed in! Last year my fish was 137 kg, luckily I never have weighed more than that! But I have been well over 90 kg!

Went for a run in the heat today - 35 minutes jog after a 10 minute walk (wondering whether I should run or not for 10 minutes).

Yes Kathy and SUB6, might target the Huntly Half - more realistic target.

Kids Weetbix Tryathlon

On Sunday Celine completed the Weetbix Tryathlon in Hamilton. It was held at Waikato University, and involved swimming 100m, Biking 4 km, and running 1.5 km. Celine did very well, completing it and getting her medal.

The tryathlon is very well organised, there were 1500 kids aged from 8 to 15, and things appeared to go very well. We had to be there at 8.30, and Celine didn't start until just after 11. So it was a bit boring to start with!

In the photo, Celine is the one with the bike helmet on.

My training has been slow, I'm starting to think the Rotorua marathon may need to be cut. My main aim is to lose weight, and having a goal like the marathon in only 12 weeks time, may make losing weight hard, I'm better to concentrate on a weekly 10 to 15 km run consistantly, than try and build up to full marathon training. Maybe next year?

Owwie!

Went back to my first Pump class on Thursday. I purposely used low weights, but made sure I did the exercises correctly. I'm still very sore!!!!! Yesterday was a rest day.
This morning I went for a one hour run, then shot into Paeroa to try a Wilpowa RPM class - felt a bit strange being on a stationary bike! I must admit I struggled. I'll blame my vein operation, surely I've got a few more days I can use it as an excuse on!!! Actually it is still swollen, but the bruising has improved.
Now I'm finding it hard to walk. I still haven't entered the Rotorua Marathon yet, might give it another week of running to see how I feel.
The Speights Coast to Coast is on this weekend - now that would be a REAL challenge. NO FORGET IT JULIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Slowly but surely!

Went for a really slow jog around the farm last night. Brian suggested I check to see how much grass we had! Wow it is really short and brown. The cows still looked OK though.
Anyway back to the jog. My leg is still quite tender, and it's weird running with a compression stocking on one leg! I managed over an hour of steady jogging, so was pretty happy.
For the marathon I should be running for 2 hours at the moment (long run), and am hoping to do that on Saturday. If I manage it I'll definitely enter Rotorua.
Portion control is under good management, I'm back to keeping a food diary. I haven't weighed myself as my leg is still quite swollen.
Interestingly, I decided to wear my heart rate monitor last night, haven't for ages. My heart rate stayed around 135 to 140 for most of the run, which seems quite high for a slow jog, but have put it down to being sick in the weekend (my temperature was 38.7!).
I might wear it for a few more runs to see how I go. I'd love to get one of those GPS ones - but don't think I can justify it.

What plans have come out of having a day to think....

Ultimate goal - reach 65 kg in weight - present weight unknown, as I'm still too scared to get on the scales.

Next few weeks - game fishing and a few little triathlons.
April 26th - Autumn Challenge with 2 other girls. White water rafting, mountain biking and treking.
May 3rd - Rotorua Marathon - OK sounds scary - but should be achievable.
November 1 - K2? or K1? -See how bike training goes through the winter.
December sometime - Rotorua Half Ironman.

Training for the above, some good will power, and wilpowa (my trainer for pump), should help me to reach my goal. Running seems to be the best way for me to burn excess calories.

Today's story - major self pity!

Currently I'm having a sicky - after feeling good about the vein laser treatment, I woke up feeling ghastly on Sunday morning, and ended up in bed most of the day. Ella (2 and a half) entertained herself by pulling out all my magazines and makeup, jumping on me etc. Fortunately Brian came back from the beach in time to save everything and cook dinner.
I went to the afterhours doctor, and have a very infected throat, just as well I went, as he said he wouldn't have liked the bacteria to travel into my leg!
SOOO still walking.

Back into it - well sort of

I went for a 30 minute walk this morning - WALK - yes. I have had a bad varicose vein on my leg and promised myself if I lost weight I would get it treated. So yesterday I went to Hamilton and had Unilateral Endovenous laser treatment. Quite an amazing experience - and no major problems - I could drive home straight after, and should be back running in a couple of days!
The vein was a real bulgy one, and was really noticable with my cycling toned legs.
I was able to claim the operation on medical insurance - a real bonus!
The same clinic also does tummy tucks etc - but that comes with a MAJOR price tag! I am going to lose some more weight and see what happens. The fact that I have lost weight slowly, and maintained my current weight for a while may help with the surplus skin issue.