Shoe Clinic Duathlon At Rabbit Island

Today I entered the Shoe Clinic Duathlon at Rabbit Island. It was a walk 2km, mountain bike 11 km and walk 2 km. I hadn?t trained for it but decided to enter it with sheer grit and determination that I can do it.

We arrived out there at 9am and were one of the first to enter. With what was meant to be an overcast drizzly day, it turned out to be a glorious sunny day nice and warm.

We got under way at 10.00 on the dot. Walkers and runners all started at the same time. I meandered off and shortly set my sights on a lady about 40 meters a head of me and made it my mission to pass her. About half way round the walk mission one was accomplished and I steamed my way off to get my bike.


by nylesphotos

I leapt on to (ok grappled) my trusty stead and peddled off to start the 11km mountain bike section. This is nice I thought......sunny day, birds chirping........large deep puddles of mud..........splash........ didn?t fall off but looked like I had....I was covered. the course was mostly sand and with the rain the day before was rather boggy in places but that made it fun. About half way round the lady from mission one past me, so I uped the tempo and peddled off after her and nearly passed her again as we came round to the finsh of the biking leg.

I threw my bike down..(Literally) dragged my helmet off and pounded off after her. Once again she became mission one!! and I did get past her about half way round again and stayed in front right to the finish.


by nylesphotos

I think I finished first in my class and will find out tomorrow night. But I did wind a spot prize. A really flash Tee-shirt from the Shoe Clinic and on the front in large bold letters is "BROOKS" how fitting I thought.

So now I am training for the next race in a month. This time it will be a road race around Founders Park.

I will put photos up once this silly blog site lets me...it won?t load up the upload for photos bit.

Funerals and Reunions

My Gang died quite suddenly. It brought home how precious life really is. I hadn?t seen my Gang for some time and suddenly I felt so badly for that.

Me and the kids traveled across to Blenheim for the funeral. There were their own drama?s in that journey. Shakara and Kayne traveled with me in my FTO........squashed in like sardines. Teagan took her own car and traveled with two friends. Unfortunately teagans car only made it up the gentle Annie before spluttering to a stop. So they had to turn back and get her mates car. This car only made it as far as Havelock before it locked up and stopped. So they hitched the rest of the way.

I was most honored by being a pall bearer from the church and then to the grave side and Kayne did me proud by wearing his ATC uniform and honoring Gangs service with that.

The one up side of all this is I got to met up with family I had not seen in 2o years (Kerry my cousin) and Aunts and Uncles from 6 years ago. Plus I got to see my Dad again, that was the most special of all.

I didn?t realize just how much I miss him being a part of my life until I went and spent 8 days with him and Jo-Anne. The kids were most excited to see him and uncle ray as they had not seen either for some time.

Its just so sad that it took such a moment in time to bring us all together but I am thankful for the time we all had