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.