When we last spoke I had just done Taupo Half Ironman. After that I did a little bit of pootling around on my bike and some jogging. Swim squad ended the week after Taupo and I left the Teps for the year in shame after attempting to participate in a squad "fun" relay in my bikini (last squad for the season is always bikinis and boardies) and completely exposed myself when I dived (?dove) in and my top ended up almost around my waist and someone had to tell me as I was standing at the end of the pool after my length.
Swimming over Christmas was a bit of a non-event with all of our swimming buddies away and no motivation for us to swim by ourselves (more like Jared doesn't want to swim just with me because I'm too slow, fair enough really) so coming back to swimming after the two week break was a bit rough. Not sure what is going on but I suspect I am just slow and unfit and have been dropping down a lane a bit in the last week because I'm sick of being slow in the lane. I'm not even the slowest in the lane but it gets very frustrating when you are getting dropped (and sometimes lapped) in the easy stuff.
The worst thing about riding over Christmas was that our stalwart riding partner Uncle Roy was out with his fractured clavicle and ribs, and Kezzle-Anne was in Hawaii so we were stuck with the softie group if we wanted company. We dared to suggest a course change one morning since they did the same route every morning and oh my goodness the commotion that caused!
I pulled out a 4 hour ride yesterday keeping Nick company with his Ironman training. He was a bit concerned there was going to be a tadpole sized explosion at some point since my longest ride for the last month had only been about 2.5 hours but I actually fared pretty well. Didn't even have to crack into my in case of emergency Snickers bar.
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| I found a panorama setting on my cameraphone |
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| Drive through cafe |
Running has been a bit unremarkable but unremarkable means no injuries which is good news. I see there is a new ASICS DS Trainer out which looks rather delicious so maybe I need to step up the mileage so that my current ones wear out a bit quicker.
I feel too weird to put my runs on Strava - seems a bit personal for my liking. Maybe when I am running a bit quicker...
We had a fun morning spectating the Auckland 70.3 this morning and got to see all the big stars. I had a little bit of FOMO but was feeling a bit icky with the start of a cold so wasn't too sad not to be doing it. I had a bit of an awkward moment when I tried to get a high five from Frodo on his way in to take the win with about 2.5 km to go but he denied me - SHAME! He did acknowledge me so maybe he is just a germaphobe. It is the only time I have ever tried to high five an athlete and I think I may have been scarred for life.
Sad news in the Jo-Rad household this week with our dear friend and pussy cat Murfy passing away after a short (or maybe a long but silent) illness. She was 15.5 so had a good life and was her usual spritely self until about 3 days before she died so didn't suffer for long. We were very sad to see her go and are missing her very much.
RIP Murfy Razzle Cat.
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| BPC surveying her kingdom |
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| Enjoy pussy cat heaven Murfy |
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| Crossing the fjord in the mighty Honda. Summer in NZ... |
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| It bakes focaccia bread |
