Here she is!

Here she is....the new girl in my life....yes, I got myself a Harley!!! It's a 2010 Dyna Street Bob in vivid black.....brand spanking new! It was a long time coming but I found her and we will be out on the road, in the sun enjoying everything riding has to offer. I am excited and nervous at the same time.

I can't wait to personalise her with little bits of bling and a few modifications....the first thing I am getting done, and that will be done before I get her on Friday, is the forward pegs to accommodate my long legs, the guys are also going to put some Vance & Hines pipes on her.

I promised myself I would get myself a Harley before I was 50 and guess what.......I'm 50 in 2 weeks so I just made it!

It's going to be so good to be riding again...just in time for International Female Ride Day on May 7th!

To all my fellow riders....hey I'm back in the saddle....woo hoo! (Well I will be Friday!)

We did it!

Yep, I finished what I set out to do...I finished the cycle leg of the Mooloolaba Triathlon in under 2 hours which was my goal, infact my time was 1 hr 48 mins! I am pleased with that.

The morning started at 05.30, I had to get into the transition area and orientate the swimmer to where the bike was so she could run to it after her 1.5 km swim. We watched all the other age groups set off and we were getting more nervous by the minute. Eventually it was Jen's turn to head off to the start line for her swim, she's a great swimmer and we had every confidence in her, she finished her leg in 30 mins. As I saw her run into the transition area heading for me I knew there was no turning back for me, we transferred the timing chip to my leg, I got on my bike and I was off.

It was a real test of endurance for me, I found it hard and most times challenging. The weather was the worst during the cycle leg than it was for the whole day! The wind whipped up so we had a head wind going out, the rain set in and it was a torrential downpour, I couldn't see and I was totally soaked, this lasted for about 20 mins. Then the sun came out for a while and then the wind changed and the rain came again and the conditions were the same for the return leg. So many times I just wanted to get off the bike and wait to be picked up by the crew but something inside stopped me from doing that, every time I said to myself I can't do this and thought of stopping something spurred me on.

4 km from the end I got a terrible cramp in my leg and I couldn't push on, I stopped to massage my calf and promptly fell off the bike as I had no strength in my leg to hold it up, I fell to the roadside and just lay there with this awful cramp and a feeling of just wanting to give up. I couldn't believe there was no one around at this time, I was totally alone. I tried to walk with the bike but my leg was so painful that I had to stop again, I kept massaging it and managed to get back on the bike. I had to peddle slowly as I felt the cramp coming back, eventually the feeling subsided and I was able to pick up the pace again, as I turned the corner there was the last big hill I just told myself to do it slowly and get up that hill and finish the race. I managed to get up the hill and down the other side to the waiting crowd. The cheers and atmosphere helped me to dig deep within myself to make it to the end of the race...a total of 41.25 km!

I had no idea I was capable of such a feat, I got into the transition area and the runner took over, my part was over. Claire took off like grease lightening for her 10 km run, she had been raring to go since 05.30!

I took my shoes off and emptied out the water and rung my socks out, the extra water from the rain must have been an extra 1 kg I had to carry!!!! I went off to the first aid tent to get my graze cleaned up, I felt a bit of a fraud as the tent was full of severely dehydrated people receiving intravenous fluids and having broken bones set!

Claire came through the finish line with a big smile on her face and we were all so happy we had achieved something we set out to do.

The human body and the human mind are such incredible things that we seem to abuse and take for granted. Our bodies are capable of almost anything we put our minds to, we need to cherish and respect ourselves and others as we truly are a wonderful species!!

Mooloolaba Triathlon, Mens Elite

Today was the Mens Elite race at the Mooloolaba Triathlon. Participants from all over the world competed in this prestigious event. They had to swim 1.5kms in the ocean, bike 40kms and run 10kms. Those guys were unbelievable, the level of fitness was incredible, most of them completed the WHOLE thing in under 2 hours!!

Tomorrow its my turn.....to cycle the 40kms, I hoping I do that in 2 hours. Watching the men today inspired me as well as made me a bit nervous, I will think of those men tomorrow when I am struggling to complete my leg, it will inspire me to keep going.

The conditions today for the mens race were perfect, a very light breeze and the ocean was a nice temperature, their race started at 3pm so it was getting a little cooler from the 29 degrees it was earlier in the day. I hope we have similar conditions tomorrow.

Mooloolaba Triathlon

The butterflies have set in!!!

I took a walk up to the esplanade this afternoon for a bit of exercise and a look at the surf. Preparations are underway for the triathlon, the grandstand is going up and there are a lot of international athletes wandering around, the place has a buzz about it. The Chinese team were wandering on the beach, the Italian team were doing a bit of window shopping, the Japanese team were taking photos of everything...the place has a very international feel to it!

I am starting to get nervous and pumped at the same time, its a very exciting time for me as I have never competed in a triathlon before!

The big question is.....will I finish it.....or will it finish me??????

Live Strong!

Alright, so here's an update on the training for the triathlon. Phew, 40kms is a long way especially when the course is described as undulating....those little hills seem like mountains, with tired legs!

I haven't been training as much as I should have, I have just 10 days to go but I am not going to panic and I am going to keep my training sessions constant and not push to be quicker. I just want to finish the distance and be proud of what I achieve....maybe next year I will push my time!!

I am settling in very well on the Sunshine Coast and it is certainly agreeing with my physical health and state of mind! It is a healthy place to live, everyone is health conscious and enjoy the outdoors, especially the beach. I have found myself among a great community of people who I enjoy being with, we work hard and play hard.....a healthy balance.

As I think of my life I remember some of the fantastic people who have come into my life. I am so appreciative of their friendship over the years whether they were in my life for a short time, long time or are still in my life. I hope I have been the friend you have all been to me.

ST PATRICK'S DAY

Celebrate responsibly!

update...

Its been ages since I updated my blog that most of you must have thought it has become obsolete!

I have been so busy trying to fit in so many things. I think the biggest issue is the fact that I travel for work Monday through Friday and spend the weekends washing and preparing for the upcoming week....I manage to get a run in and some exercise but thats about it...oh, and search for the elusive property which I just cant find!

My personal training course is going well, despite having to squeeze in a few sessions at 5am on a Monday before driving to my place of work for that week. I always feel pumped and in a really good mood when I have my sessions with my mentor, its a great way to start the week! I am looking forward to completing the course and getting my qualification so that I can have my own clients and help them with their health and fitness goals.

My health and fitness has gone a bit by the way side due to my work commitments so I have set myself a goal......I am going to ride the cycle leg, 40 kms, in the Mooloolaba Triathlon in Queensland. Myself and 2 other girls have formed a team and entered this prestigious event, it will give me something to work towards and my bike work needs a bit of a boost!! I will keep you all informed!

We have had some monsoonal downpours here with flash flooding in Brisbane and the surrounding suburbs...the world weather is going crazy...just take a look at weather in different parts of the world..record snowfalls, record rainfalls, hottest temperatures on record, tsunamis etc etc, I think we need to be alot gentler with mother earth, at this rate she wont last much longer!

A friend of mine recently wrote on his blog about taking things for granted, it was a gentle reminder to us all how we need to be appreciative of what we have because we will certainly miss it when its gone......that applies to the world we live in and mother earth!

Adelaide, SA

Well I just got back from Adelaide in South Australia, I went down for a sales conference for 3 days. My company flew the therapy consultants from Queensland and all the other states to Adelaide so we could have our 2010 'kick off' meeting. It was a full on 3 days, we worked hard and played hard, the hotel we stayed at was very nice, it was close to Flinders University where I went for my morning runs in amongst the beautiful buildings and playing fields. The weather was warm in the day but got cold at night and in the morning......it was a bit of a shock being cold again!!! I am so spoiled here in Queensland, I believe we have the best weather in the whole world!! LOL I don't think I have had to wear a jacket since arriving back in Queensland in July 2009!

The company made an announcement at the meeting, they announced an incentive and motivational booster for everyone. They set some goals for us all, those of us that reach those goals will be treated to an all expenses paid 7 day Hawaiian Island cruise in January 2011! That is quite an incentive wouldn't you say????

I am now all pumped up to excel in my job and get out there and do my very best, I knew it was going to be a great year!

here we go....

Well, back to work tomorrow, cant believe its the 5th January 2010 already....is this an indication its going to be another fast year?

The country's weather is going crazy...we are flooding here in Queensland and Northern NSW and Perth in WA is on fire...insane. We needed a bit of rain in Queensland but we didn't need as much as we got! It rained for about 6 hours straight! Now the humidity is blanketing everyone like a wet blanket!

I don't generally like the rain but the rain here is different, for those of you who have never experienced monsoon type rain, its really quite pleasant. The rain is warm and a welcome relief when it is so hot. I don't like the rain and cold weather combinations!

Anyway, I thought I would check in and say hi to those that read my blog, my holiday is over and now it is full steam ahead with work.

Its going to be a great year!

Heading towards New Year

I hope everyone had a great Christmas and spent the day in your own special way. As for the Boxing day sales.....well I think to myself, have people not had enough of shopping??? Obviously not!

I really missed the cold weather this Christmas, I cant get over how much this Christmas was different to the many I spent in USA! I can hear my friends in USA and UK saying I must be mad (and my Australian friends mumbling under their breath....well go back to USA)! I hope you are all OK with the terrible weather that you have been experiencing, according to our news channels you are all snowed in...especially Washington DC...hope your Harley is all tucked in, warm and dry BHD!! Be safe on the roads with the terrible weather, mother nature is a hard woman to deal with sometimes!

The next big thing to celebrate is the New Year. I have so many plans for the upcoming year, so many goals to reach and excited at the thought that 2010 will be the year I buy my new motorbike, my property, plant crops, become a personal trainer and touch many people's lives.....thats going to be my new years resolution...to touch people's lives in a positive way. When I think back I remember those people who touched my life and how they mad me feel, thankyou.

May the New Year be good to you all, may new friendships be formed, old ones rekindled and present ones strengthened. Be kind to yourselves and others, live life like its your last day here to make a difference to someone, and remember you are a beautiful person and loved dearly.