A couple of friends have suggested that I expand in more depth my background and specific challenges that I have to tackle. So here we go with some probably boring story of my journey to this spot.

I was fairly sporty back in my teens and early twenties - then took up being a couch potato which I perfected pretty well. Then in my thirties I moved to Auckland and met Mike (who I married) and he was the opposite of a couch potato. He was the most energetic, lively, on the go person I have ever met.

Well, in 2001, after Mike had completed his first NZ Ironman in 12 hrs 30 mins, we went back to the finish chute at 11pm to cheer in the remaining competitors. When the last person crossed the line, and being in tears with the hugh emotions that Ironman has, I turned to Mike and said the following without thinking of the consequences - "If they can do Ironman, I can do something." Before the last word spurted from my mouth, Mike found energy to jump up in the air and say "Yes, you can do the Taupo Half Marathon in August!" I knew I was doomed and to remember to think carefully before ever making any such statements in the future!!!

So when we got back to Auckland, Mike had me at Shoe Science for running shoes, and wrote me up my running programme to get me to my first Half Marathon. I won't bore you with the details of my training then - but there was a lot of swearing and cursing, complaining about sore bits that had never been sore before, but I did get to the finish line.

So since I had started on the running phase, I soon got a little bored, and blurted out that I might like to take up cycling as well - again Mike didn't waste time for me to change my mind, so off we went to buy my bike.

Things progressed well on both fronts, until early 2004 when I ruptured my disc between L5/S1 - which resulted in me having a spinal fusion in December 2004.

In February 2005, I was advised by my surgeon and physio that swimming would be a good thing to do. So, despite my fear of deep water and not being able to swim found a coach to teach me. I persevered for several months not making much progress - then went back to work and never got back in the pool again. I slowly got back into cycling, then running again instead.

Then, after Mike died in January 2006, and while taking time out in Europe I kept thinking about Ironman and the journey of getting there. For the 7 weeks I was away, it was a daily thought and I just knew that it was something that I wanted to do - if my body would hold up.

So upon getting back to Auckland, I told people of my intentions - which started the commitment - then put the plan into action.

Now I had to tackle the biggest problem of swimming. I only managed to struggle to do 100m freestyle when I gave up swimming in 2005 and here I was planning on doing a 3.8km swim in an Ironman event. Just a bit of a gap I think.

With the encouragement of my coach Tony O'Hagan, and my swim coach Liz Goer they took me on and were confident they could get me to the start line.

So putting my 'fear' of swimming out of my mind, and getting into the pool I am determined to get there.

In January I started on my swimming again and I could only do 1 length of the 25m pool and had to rest for 1-2 minutes before attempting another one. I tried not to "think" too much about the Ironman distance, and instead just focussed on what Liz + Tony had put in my programme for that session. It is easier to visualise and achieve small steps. The end goal is a little daunting at the beginning (and still is!). For the first month, I was lucky to get through 500-700 metres in a session.

Things have progressed, and to date my longest session has been 2.85km but this is due to be overtaken as have a 3km target for this week and next in my longest swim sessions.

Now, you are probably thinking that I have this sussed - but there are a few details that you do not know about. I have a huge fear of deep water. The minute I go into deep water above my head, I panic and can't swim. I am slowly working on this by swimming at the Tepid Baths which only has a short distance in deep water. My next step is to move to Newmarket pool which is a 50m pool, of which 25m of it is DEEP! Stay tuned on that one.

Then of course, I have to venture out into the sea - oh boy - I am trying not to think about that just yet. More fears - deep water, tidal currents, salt water, waves, things in the water ... the list could go on forever. But, once I get there in early Summer, I will be much more confident with my swimming, and a wetsuit will make a huge difference. So the power of positive thinking will get me through (and the help from lots of friends who know of my fears).

Now you know what the challenges of the swimming section of Ironman are for me. If I can do this at the age of 45, then so can you. I am completely outside my comfort zone, trying to overcome life-long fears, but the power of the mind is incredible and if you set your mind to it you can achieve whatever you want. Dream it, visualise it, then act on it.

On that note, I have a swimming session to do shortly - yes my 3km swim.