Sea swimming update .... Christmas morning I was roped into a sea swim with my Ironman coach - Tony, my swim coach - Liz (my coach's partner) and my nephew Troy and his wife Monique. I did try to get out of it, but Liz wasn't having any of my usual excuses, and I had to do it.

So 7.30am Christmas morning I made my way to the Takapuna boat ramp and unfortunately all the others turned up to! I was really hoping they were kidding!!

The weather forecast had not been great, so I was amazed that it was a pleasant morning with no wind. Somehow I think Mike was looking after me and giving me some of his wonderful encouragement he used to dish out - boy, I do miss you Mike - I can only imagine what you would be saying if you could see me now! Laughing your head off, I am sure, as you knew how much I HATE the sea!

The tide was one of the biggest I have seen at Takapuna and it was choppy - great! (My stomach didn't have butterflies, it had stampedeing reindeer!!)

After some encouragement, we wandered into the water - which was actually not too bad - quite warm in fact, and that is saying something from me.

Tony decided we would swim parallel to the shore for a while, to get me used to being in the sea. Well, that's what we did, but I stopped every 50 metres or less breathing very hard due to being in a slight panic. Afer about 500 metres, Tony then said we were going out to the white buoy - oh no!!! My biggest fear - deep sea water. Unbelievably after many stops and panic attacks I got to the white buoy and punched it with sheer joy - or was that frustration? We stayed a short time at the buoy so I could get used to bobbing in the sea and using my wetsuit to keep me afloat. I certainly wasn't relaxed at all which didn't help one bit - but to cut a long story short, I eventually made it back to the beach again. I did it! I survived the deep sea water.

There was no way I thought that I would have been able to get out to the white buoy at 7.30am - but I was pleased I got pushed into it. My Christmas dinner tasted all the better for that - I am sure I used up 100x more calories than normal due to nervous energy.

But, it didn't stop there. Liz told me I was meeting her same place, same time tomorrow (Boxing Day) - oh no! So, that's what we did this morning. Troy + Monique also joined us to support me.

Now, today's effort was 100% better than yesterday. Again, a big tide (so I have more swimming to do to get to the damn buoy) but we swam straight out to it instead of swimming along the beach. The water was also flatter than yesterday, thankfully. Although not totally happy about being in the sea, I was much more relaxed than yesterday (which wasn't hard, I can tell you). Then when we got to the white buoy, Liz made me go beyond it!!!! Wow, I was out in the deep water and still alive - yay!

Then the swim back which was much better than yesterday. For some reason yesterday on my way back I had some major panic attacks, but today only a couple of minor incidents.

I certainly feel that I will be able to survive the Tauranga swim now, especially if I do the sea swims most days until the Half Ironman in Tauranga. I know that it is going to be slow, but it will be my first ever swim and my first ever triathlon, so all I want to do is survive it.

I feel much more confident and in a pretty good place at the moment (a big turnaround) - so a HUGE thanks to Tony, Liz, Troy + Monique - you are my rocks. Thank you for the wonderful support and encouragement you give me - I do really appreciate it, even though I do moan at the time!!! Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Tauranga, here I come ....

Hi there everyone - yes I am still alive!!

I am writing this feeling as if my body has been in a car crash. The last couple of weeks have been fairly hard and the body is feeling an accumulated fatigue feeling.

Yesterday morning, the alarm went off early in order I could get up and ready to meet the bunch ride. Well, getting out of bed with the legs fighting with me all the way to the bathroom, I knew that the long ride was going to be HARD!

But off I went, across the bridge to meet the group in Parnell, however the girls bunch was not there, so headed off with Tony's group of guys who are fast. I just resigned myself to the fact that I would do a solo ride, but that's ok, as I don't mind riding by myself.

But, one of the boys always came back for me when we got to a hill and got me up back with them, and then when we got to Sandstone, Paul and Dene stayed back with me, and let the group go on to Clevedon (via Ardmore) without us. That was really lovely of them, so I had company and assistance through to Clevedon (via Twilight). So we just bet the other bunch to Clevedon by going via Twilight Road!

As the boys were in the shop in Clevedon buying Powerade and Coke, I decided to buy some coke to try on the way back. Today I needed everything possible, as the body was soooo tired. So poured the coke into one of my empty drink bottles. I must say that I think it really helped. I have always wanted to try it to see if it helped, and pleased I did. Will definitely have to do that again, for sure.

On the way back a few more of the boys stayed with me so I had 5 of them - I think I was a convenient excuse to have an easier ride!!! But as the wind came up and was pretty gusty, it was great having them when we got through to Botany Road, as it really hit us there - otherwise, it wasn't too bad.

So a big thanks to Paul, Dene, Troy, Stanley, and sorry, I've forgotten your name.

My long runs of 2 hours each during the past 2 weeks have been enjoyable which has been great, as I used to enjoy them, but having been having more unenjoyable ones before that, so am loving them at the moment. Short ones seem to hurt more!

Swimming - well, in the pool things are going well. After a few bad episodes, I had a great swim last week of 4km which really helped. It felt good. Now, swimming in the sea is another story. I haven't overcome my fear of it yet. Time is ticking very fast to Tauranga, so not sure what I am going to do .... extreme panic is not an option. Stay tuned.

Merry Christmas to everyone, and enjoy the break off work. I hope that Father Xmas is kind and brings lots of pressies. Take care, and see you in the New Year!

Well, another week down. Last week all went pretty well thankfully, and it is good to be back running again even though I forgot to put my sunblock on before my long run last week - it was overcast when I left home, but then became clear and very sunny - so of course got some sunburn! Lesson learnt! At least it was only a little sunburn and didn't cause any trouble - I am so fair skinned that I can burn pretty well, so told myself off for this little lapse in attention.

Swimming remains and will until the event my main challenge. Sea swimming especially, as I hate swimming in the sea. Lots of people tell me that swimming in Lake Taupo is easier than the sea, so am holding onto that hope! Mind over matter they say - well, you try and tell my mind that! But am staying positive, and am DETERMINED to overcome my fear as I do not want to be ruled by it.

I do love my new bike .... sorry don't have any photos yet. With having no budding photographer on hand like Kathy, you will have to wait a little longer to see it.

Well - that is about all - nothing specifically to chat about.

Fantastic effort to Dene Coleman in Busselton yesterday (Ironman Western Australia) - great race, and I even managed to be watching via Ironmanlive when you finished - congratulations!