Heart Rate Monitors

I bought an expensive heart rate monitor about 4 years ago, when I started trying to lose weight. It was good when I was walking, as it told me I needed to work harder as I got fitter.

I haven't been using it at all in my training this past year. I put it on yesterday to go for a bike/run brick session. Unfortunately it wasn't working properly on my bike, but I managed to get a maximum heart rate. On the run it worked well. My heart rate bounds up quite fast when running, my resting heart rate is 48. It started off around 145 to 150, then I had to go a little faster for 10 minutes (in hot weather). It got as high as 163 and then settled around 160. Interestingly, it stayed at 160 even when I slowed the pace down.

This is 92% of my maximum heart rate. I went a lot faster than I normally go, but don't think I could sustain that heart rate for a whole 21.1 km run. I might save up for a new heart rate monitor, one that does laps and splits and things that mine doesn't. Now that I'm a bit more experienced and fitter, I can see that it will be a good tool to use to 'push' myself harder. I think I might be a little bit chicken and not pushing myself too hard.

Rotorua Half Ironman Photos

Photos taken by Arthur H - for free! Thanks Arthur H!!

Finally finishing the Rotorua Half Ironman.

Leaving Hooksie speechless. The downside of this - standing in front of skinny triathletes!

This is the email I got back from Hooksie, I emailed him to say it was me, as I wasn't too sure what his reaction to my skit was.

Juls.

You were the star of the show, no doubt. It was without a doubt one of
the funniest moments of improptu humour at a prize giving ever. It was
like Flight of the Conchords funny. Fantastic.

i had to tell people, I didn't script it.

Loved it and good for you.

Cheers

Hooksie.

Feeling the pain, head games and shag shooting

Back home again, and feeling good, a little sore, but good. I even did a pump class today - with warm up weights the whole session, but I did it!

After dropping off the kids on Friday, I drove to Rotorua, grateful to be able to crank up the car stereo and cruise down to Rotorua. I dropped my stuff off at the camping ground - a really neat one - and went to the Blue Lake. There were a few people having a practice swim. I was a bit early, so got in and went for a swim before the other bloggers arrived. It was great - not too cold at all!

Met up with the other bloggers, and grabbed our timing chips and bits and pieces. I was starving, so looked for something to eat - settled on pizza and a salad from Hells Pizza's (country bumpkins have to go out for tea when they go away!)

I got all my gear together and got to bed. I slept well, I'd set two alarms, so knew I'd be right. Still managed to wake up at 2.30 am though!

I headed out to the lake at around 5.15 and racked my bike with the other bloggers. Mucked around, got into my wetsuit and headed to the start.

The men went first, and the women 5 minutes later. I felt fine. Then the whistle went and the heart rate soared! I felt quite uncomfortable for at least 10 minutes. I was near the end, and a lady in a green cap beside me started swimming backstroke. I was determined not to be beaten by someone doing Backstroke, so kept on going. I rounded the 900 m buoy in 22 minutes, which is good for me. The swim back to the shore was good, the team swimmers didn't catch me until near the end, which surprised me. I got out of the water in 50 minutes - right on target!

Fortunately I decided to put my top on after the swim, so I wouldn't stay cold. The water temperature was 21 degrees C, which was warmer than the air!

My transition was good - 5mins. Off on the bike - ouch! The first thing you are doing is biking uphill, my quads hurt, I was thirsty, and tired already! The head games started - how am I going to make it up the other hills, if I'm struggling already!!!!

Seemed all I needed was to warm up, have something to eat and drink, and all was good. Made 75 km/hr down Tarawera hill - yahoo! The ride went well, watched the front riders fly past in the opposite direction FAST!!!

I made it back to the lake without walking up any hills! Was stoked about that, as plenty of people were walking!

A quick change into my running shoes, and off again. I was feeling tired at this stage, and it was getting hot!

The feeling of wanting to walk came about 500m into the run. So I listened to my body, and walked up the hills and ran on the flats and downhill. I was cramping up, and fairly uncomfortable most of the time. I felt a lot better when I got onto the road and saw most people walking up the hills!!!

At the first distance marker (4 km) I had already taken 35 minutes - I was shocked - it was going to be a 3 hour half marathon!

I got caught up later in the race by 72 year old Garth Barfoot, we walked together and had a chat, a nice bloke - then he said 'well if I don't get past you now, I never will' and went running up the hill - good on him!
'Age before beauty' I told him as he carried on!

I felt better on the second lap of the lake, and managed to pass a couple of other stragglers.

I was really pleased to finish, and grateful to Paul and Kathy who stayed to cheer me on - Thanks guys!

I got my medal (Hooksie borrowed one off someone else) and soaked my legs in the lake (in hindsight I think this was good)

Final time - 7 hours 52 minutes 59 seconds! So REALLY slow, but hey - I finished.

I went back to the cabin, had a shower, and a nana nap! Kathy, Paul and I then had some great pizza and wedges for dinner.

The prize giving wasn't as good as last year, the accoustics in the hall weren't great, and it was HOT.

My surprise was to dress up when Hooksie asked for the 4th leggers to come up - (On the website it says the 4th leg is shag-swim-bike-run. I dressed up as a duck shooter, and protested that the others had no evidence. I pulled out a toy 'shag' and a pukeko, and said that I had been busy shooting them before the race. Hooksie was actually speechless, it took him a while to realise I was taking the piss I think!

I had been planning this for a week or so, but you never know how it will come across. It was definitely something I've never done before, but I've decided you need to do something completely out of character sometimes!! It's good for the soul.

We went home early, which was good, as I had a great sleep. I got up early, grabbed a coffee at McCafe, then met my coach (who finished first in my age group!) She gave me a programme to work with, and showed me some drills for running and swimming. (I'm worried about this coach thing - I'm going to have to work harder!!!) She looked at my swimming, and I'm pleased to say there's nothing wrong with my basic swimming, so she showed me drills to do to improve my speed.

I'm sitting here typing this, a little disappointed I didn't go under 7 and a half hours, but satisfied that I'm still in one piece, not injured, and that I did my stunt at the prize giving.

I'm now in a more positive mood about Tauranga!

Cheers.

I'm off to Vegas

Well Rotovegas anyway!

Looking forward to meeting up with the fellow bloggers. I've got no other support there, so hopefully they'll be able to wait around until I finish the race tomorrow.

I feel ready, taking into account that this really a 'B' race. The Port of Tauranga Half is the 'A' race, and a lot more pressure due to the crowds, and lots of people I know will be there!

The Rotorua Half is great, as it's a real tribute to the 'sloggers'. On Sportzhub, there have been a number of people commenting on how they have overcome various obsticles to be able to complete this length of race.

I'm leaving the house in a mess, Brian is going to have to sort out his own meals (he'll be fine), and I am once again grateful to my parents for looking after our girls.

I've got my mother-in-laws 65th birthday party to face on Sunday (I'm not really complaining, but I think I'll be tired and sore - and only feel like sleeping).

I'll get a race report up when I finally get home. I've got a surprise up my sleeve, let's see if I have the courage to go ahead with my plan!

3 More Sleeps

Last night, I went to put away my cycling shoes, to discover there was only one there! Ahhh Mac! Mac is our new farm dog, a bearded collie. He is a great big loveable fellow, but he has still got the puppy habit of collecting things. My shoe ended up under the clothes line, with all the clothes he had 'hunted' off the line.

My cycle shoes now stink, I think he has wee'd on them! More washing and drying to do.

I've just got a swim and short run to do today, so should be able to get some of my other chores done. The weather has been hot and quite energy sapping, it's been nice to get some rain and cooler temperatures.

Five more sleeps

Five more sleeps to the Rotorua Half Ironman - and what do I do - Enter something else of course! This one involves shooting and rope work as well - so likely to take me right out of my comfort zone.

I'm feeling really tired, I was meant to swim 2500 m in an hour today, I thought I'd done it, but when I got home and checked my watch, it was only 2100m GRR.

6 Sleeps to go

***************************Six*********************
Only 6 more sleeps until the Rotorua Half Ironman. It's quite exciting this year, there's a group of bloggers who have entered, and comparing notes on training, and offering advice (most of it tongue in cheek). The only real worry is that Taniwha in the Blue Lake.



I have done a solid 6 weeks training block. Before that I was busy on the farm, and couldn't put the hours on the bike in. I know I can finish the event, but I'm a little worried about making the final cutoff time.

I'm pleased to have the support of my fellow bloggers, as I'll be there by myself. Brian's family have organised his mum's birthday party on the Sunday - was originally planned for the Saturday. I'm a little bit hacked off about it, as I've had the Half Ironman pencilled in for many months!

I'm pleased to say I've lost some weight. I've been trying really hard, and it's paying off. I have enlisted a coach for this, and for setting up a training programme for the Half Ironman and Adventure races I have.

I have a crazy idea of doing a multisport race called the Lake to Lighthouse. It's really crazy, because it will be HARD.