Last weekend, I headed to Taupo with many thousands of others. I decided on the Friday to not ride the 160kms and let my leg fully recover. Instead, I rode a lap (90kms) of the Ironman course - to Reporoa and back.

The weather was perfect - overcast and more importantly no wind. There were about 20-30 others who were doing what I did, so it wasn't too lonely out there, but I must say that it is one of the most boring rides I have ever done. There is not a lot to see on this ride, and Broadlands Road just seems to go on and on and on. Contrary to many people's description of the course - IT IS NOT FLAT! But it doesn't have the hills of the Round Taupo cycle, which is what I didn't want to put my leg through just at the moment.

Thanks also for the roading contractors for digging up part of the road just before Reporoa!

I must admit that I did have a period of time coming back that I threw a little mental wobbly (as my right leg has lost a lot of strength with the quad strain) but once I got back into Taupo, I soon forgot about all that, and enjoyed actually riding the course. It took me 3:11 which I was pleased with as I took it very easy, and I still haven't put aerobars on my new bike.

Of all the years I have been going to Taupo for the cycle event, this weekend was the best weather they have had - not too hot, and not cold or windy. Sunday morning was a cloudless, sunny, no wind day - even better than Sunday - but there would have been an awful lot of very sunburnt people if that was the weather on Saturday. So thank you Taupo for the glorious weather last weekend.

Now it is back to the grind of the weekly training regime ... swimming, biking, running ...

Well, the physio has given me the green light to do some easy, controlled running - YAY! Just need to ensure I don't stride out too much - short stride, high cadence (she must have been speaking to my podiatrist!!!).

So, a bike and a run planned tomorrow - all out in the glorious sunshine that is forecasted this week - Summer is here! Lots of sunblock required for my fair skin, and have just bought new stocks thankfully.

Ok, another week down, with some ups and downs.

Monday I had the running session at Millenium Institute with NHTC and during one of the last drills, I suffered a quad strain on my right leg - ouch! It hurt a lot and didn't feel good at the time. So with a physio working on it, and resting it from running and heavy loads on the bike, hopefully it will come right quickly.

So, that left swimming and windtrainer sessions to tackle. I had a few sessions at Parnell Pool which is still very cold, but I am now able to relax more in the deep water, and get the swimming going OK, as per the nice heated indoor pools. The wetsuit makes a huge difference and I really love swimming with it on. My longest session I did in Takapuna pool, which was 3.8km - my arms felt like falling off by the end of the session! It was fairly slow (1:39) but at least I did the distance .... phew! Another step there.

On the swimming theme, I did my first ever experience of sea swimming today at Takapuna beach. Unfortunately the sea wasn't flat like a mill pond which it was on Saturday - instead we had chop and a swell - oh great! The water was VERY murky - struggled to even see my arm in the water below me so there was no way of seeing any "fish" in there!!! Not much swimming went on, as I need to overcome some major fears with swimming in the sea - mainly just the moving water and it being "DEEP" ... but I am determined to overcome these.

A big thank you to Monique and Emily who accompanied me today at Takapuna beach - and good luck Monique in next week's Harbour Crossing swim - go girl!

With most of the biking being on the WT this week - I haven't used my new bike much. Did a short easy ride today and must say that it is very smooth to ride. Obviously technology changes over the years, and although my old bike is carbon, the new one is lighter, and more carbon components - all making a difference. The true test will be on the long rides.

I am down for doing the Taupo Cycle Challenge although whether I actually do it or not, rests with what happens with my quad. My physio warns me that I can easily go from a minor injury to a major one if I push it ... oh great! So on hearing that, I am not wanting to push it. I'll decide next Saturday morning. I'm heading to Taupo anyway as the weekend away will be good. Fingers crossed it holds up and I can ride it - even if I take it slowly, it will be nice to do a really long ride and the weather report so far looks good (YAY!).

This week the weather looks fantastic, so am looking forward to getting out in it. Roll on Summer.

Well a bit of a mixture this week. It has been a fairly steady week, and my body decided to give up on me today - having a revolt I think. Which is a shame, as this morning there was a fantastic sunrise which I looked at briefly when my alarm went off at 5.30am - but I felt awful and couldn't wake myself up - so how was I going to keep up with the bunch ride for 4-5 hours??

I went back to sleep and woke again at 11am! My body was in shut down mode in a big way. Thanks Hamish for phoning me at 7am to check I wasn't running late .... hope you enjoyed the ride in the lovely sun.

Saturday my coach told us we were doing the waterfront time trial (run by AvantiPlus, Mt Eden every Saturday morning at 7am). I was very nervous as have never done one before. I was praying for the weather to pack in so we didn't have to do it - but it was a perfect morning ... so off I went. I had my new bike, and it was only the second time on it (1 hour on Friday testing it), no aerobars on it yet, and feeling rather lethargic from the week's training. I am not sure of the distance (around 15kms I think) and will need to check that out - but my time was 30:17 which was slow and I am sure I can do a lot better.

The bike ... well it is lovely to ride and looking forward to doing a long ride on it. It is very light and I do notice the difference on hills - so let's hope it helps me out where I need it most! Photos will no doubt appear in due course when I get organised.

Parnell Pool hasn't got any warmer yet ... did a short swim yesterday late afternoon in the sunshine. But after a few lengths, it does get better - although I am sure it will be a lot nicer just a degree or two warmer! I do like the wetsuit though - it makes it so much easier with your body position and of course the buoyancy is great.

Well - that's all from me - sorry for the lack of excitement as feeling very tired still - just hoping that today's forced rest will allow my body the rest it needs and bounce back tomorrow.

Just thought I would let you know that I passed another milestone with my swimming today - my first wetsuit swim. My coach met me at Parnell Pools to help ease my nerves. This pool is 60m long and DEEP the whole length - two big fears - especially deep water. Also, it was raining, cold and the water is unheated, so was very cold too! I really did want to chicken out, but didn't.

It was only a short session, as we were getting very cold, and I needed some encouragement the first time. I was not totally comfortable in the deep water, but was probably better than I thought I would be. With a few more swims there, I think my nerves will settle down, and I'll forget about the depth of the water (here's hoping).

I intend to now use this as my regular training pool (hope it warms up though!). Today with the winterlike conditions, there were only 3 others there swimming in wetsuits during the whole time we were at Parnell - in a population of 1 million people, it shows just how crazy we are! Not many people had swimming in Parnell pool on their list of "to do" things today.

I must confess - in the pool, I live for my pull bouy (much to my coach's dismay) and it remains glued to my thighs. I have always been stronger in my upper body, so it suits me just fine. I have also used the argument that wearing a wetsuit is like a pull buoy, so why bother trying to kick in a pool? (Remember I am a beginner swimmer) So I was hoping like hell that today's swim in the wetsuit lived up to all expectations of buoyancy .... and it did - PHEW !!! And I even pointed out to her that I actually kicked today - a miracle in itself too!

So - another small baby step towards the open water swim ....

Right - the first full week of training was successfully achieved - so onwards and upwards (I hope!).

Surprisingly my legs felt pretty good from the Half Marathon last Sunday, and actually did another long run on Thursday (1:45), so was pretty pleased with that.

Today the weather mostly behaved, and we got in a 4 hour ride from Parnell to Clevedon and back. It did try to rain at times, but held off with just being overcast, and not too windy. The forecast was pretty nasty, so we were expecting it to pack it in anytime, but thankfully it didn't.

Swimming is going ok with a 3.5km session achieved during the week. This week though, I start at Parnell pool in my wetsuit. A little scary, but I am hoping that the wetsuit will help me in the deep water and longer pool (both of which I am not comfortable with). But considering I couldn't swim at the beginning of the year, I suppose I have come a long way - just have a long way to go yet!! Baby steps though ...

I am crossing my fingers that my new bike arrives this week. I think it will give me a big boost and I will want to hit the road more ... well here's hoping!

Well, that is about all - nothing of great interest happened this week, other than I am back into my programme fully again ... yay!

I must apologise for the slackening off in my blogs - I just don't know where time goes! So to all my readers - I will try to get back to weekly blurbs on my training escapades.

Today, I lined up with an awful lot of people in Devonport for the Auckland Half Marathon. I had been in the past week or two, considering not doing it, and letting someone else use my entry due to my lack of running training, thanks to the long lingering virus. But, then I decided I will do it, but take it easy, and see how I go.

The past week I have not been able to run continuously for more than 10-15 minutes, before having to do 2-3 minutes of walking - then another 10+ minutes running etc. So expectations were very low - my goal was to just survive.

Well, survive I did. I decided to start jogging slowly, and just keep going until my body decided it could take no more. My heart rate was relaxed as I put no prior pressure on myself - this helped immensely I think.

I kept running along, and along and felt quite good (remarkable I thought). Then the bridge came up, and I took a short stint of walking on the uphill section - but then got back to running and kept going until the end. Noone was more amazed than me that I was able to keep up the running! It has done wonders for my headspace - as this journey is such a mental one.

The time was really slow - 2:17 on my watch - but hey, when I was contemplating walking most of it before the race started, I am very pleased with this. Now I can get back into my running training seriously again! Yay! I'm a happy little bunny again.

The rest of the training regime is going well. I have purchased a second hand wetsuit to use for training, so am looking forward to getting into the Parnell openair 60m salt water pool when it opens (believe it can't be far away). I have never swam in a wetsuit before, so want to get used to it. I plan on getting a new wetsuit in due course - but don't want to have all the worry of a lovely new wetsuit while learning how to get in and out - and not getting my fingernails through it!.

The other exciting thing on the horizon is my new bike. I have ordered it and hopefully arrives early November. It is a 2008 Specialised S-Works Ruby (women's specific). I can't wait for it to arrive and get a really good ride on it. Hopefully I can get used to it in time for the Taupo Cycle Challenge (160km) on 24 November. Stay tuned, as no doubt there will more on this in future blogs (I hope I won't brag too much about my new toy - but it doesn't matter how old you are, a new bike is always exciting!).

Well that is about all from me this week - looking forward to a lovely soak in the bath tonight to rest my weary body before next week's training begins.