Swan Trophy by kyisis at Garmin Connect - Details

The Swan Trophy is a race held yearly but the local Athletics Club. It is 10kms and caters for runners and walkers. Today they even put on a 5km for the newbies.

As per the Club rules, walkers start 30mins before the runners. So we were to all line up at 2.30pm. There was only a small group of us today, about 15 I think (results are not up yet) with about 5 race-walkers in that group. The day was a cool calm day. Bit of wind here and there and when the sun went down behind the hill it got very cold very quickly. I opted to keep my long sleeve top on and wished I hadn't. lol

So we started off. I was not here to race, it was a training walk for me and to see how my calf/Achilles held up. Wendy and her father bolted from the start and Pete and I ambled off after them. I was feeling really good and was testing out the new style and was very surprised to pass the first km in 5:51 as I had not intended on being that fast. I said to Pete that he could head off as I was going to reign it in a little as I had not walked 10km in a few months and didn't want to shatter myself to fast. Plus its up hill the whole way up. (69 metre gain over the 5kms) I was happily ticking along at just under 6km pace and I caught up with Wendy's dad, Roger. We stayed together for about a km and then I decided to pass him. It was a little hard climb and my time had dropped a little (4km mark) but it was just here that I smacked my toe on a rock that was sticking out of the tarmac. I thought I had broken it and I nearly fell. Lucky for me I righted myself as Roger would have walked clean over the top of me haha, but he did get past me again. So that slowed me down pretty quickly dropping to 6.30 for the next Km. The turn always looks so good as you know on this course that its pretty much down hill from here. I had a pretty good walk back down but had run out of gas and honestly felt like I was flogging my self the whole way. I stumbled again on the uneven ground which set my toe off and it throbbed the whole way back. I passed Roger again and stayed in front to the finish. I was pleased with my time as I was quicker than my training pace set for that day and on the whole my fittness was not too bad. I was not breathing too hard at anytime. My coach still feels I am dehydrated and that is why I run out of gas half way through a race.....he is probably right as I know I don't drink enough water at the best of times.

I cant believe that two years ago I did a 58:20 on that same course....but it was just after I got back from the Oceania Masters so was still on my peak. So being only a couple of minutes of my best time during my lay off is not too bad.

I am not sure of the finishing times of the others. Wendy's time was 57:?? and Pete I think 58 or 59

For those interested here are is my data from my GPS...on an interesting note....this would be the first race my watch actually got the km marks as marked and the distance perfect. So I must have walked on the line they mapped out.


Swan Trophy by kyisis at Garmin Connect - Details

The Treadmill

This is the treadmill that we ended up buying. Its the Nordic T12 and its a huge beast of a machine. It is much longer and has a bigger motor, so it can handle long periods on it. We needed a longer belt as I am just under 6 foot and my husband is 6 foot 4...so with our long strides when running we tend to hit the front and the drop off at the back. But this belt is 150cm so there is NO chance of that happening.

The first day of getting it set up I was so excited to have a work out. I decided I would do 5km and seeing as my pace for an out door work out was at 6:09 min/km I figured I would easily be able to do that on the treadmill. I was very soon to discover that it was not actually that easy. I first noticed that I felt like I was walking much faster than I do but the speed was set quite slow....took me about 10mins to be brave enough to crank it up to 10km per hour (6min/km pace) all in all I did my 5km and took 31:04 mins but I was totally had it. My legs felt like jelly!! I figured that.....when you walk "out doors" your pace fluctuates constantly and yes you might walk 1 km in 6 mins but you probably did it in small surges. So when on a treadmill there are no rests and surges....its that pace constantly.

So it has been decided that I am to alternate my treadmill walks and out door walks, just so that I dont become to accustomed to the treadmill.

The next day I went out for an out door walk and by the time I had gone 4km from home my archiles and lower calf on my right leg were hurting .. so I turned around and slowly made my way home. So Monday was my rest day and was spent with leg up and ice. Its now Weds and its still aching. I am hoping to try a very slow treadmill walk Thursday night.

Race Walk Pace Workout

Tonight I went to the track to do a short sharp pace workout. My goal was to stick to 2:20 per lap. This was my race pace for 10km (giving me 5min 50 per km) It has been a couple of months since I have walked consistently at this pace and was not so sure I could keep it up.

My hubby came down to be the official video-er! I said to him to just film me at random times so that I dont know when I am being filmed. Best way to check on style as you do tend to be more strict if you know you are being filmed. What I have found from tonight's filming is that I am not getting my toes up high enough nor am I pushing off properly yet. My coach is thinking of having me shorten my stride but quicken my turn over ... thus propel me forward quicker. The only trouble is due to me being quite tall a short stride can look rather awkward....but we both agree that I still dont see to have the racewalk "roll"....but it is coming and I didnt feel as stiff tonight as I have done.

My Racewalking Style

I have had quite a layoff and am just starting to get back into it again. So my style today is a little more stiff than I normally have...plus I thought I was much more hippy but this shows me I am still not moving enough in my hips.

I have been told I have a very militant style (1940's) which is very stiff through the shoulders. Unfortunately for me.....its the exact same style my coach has, so we can see how I have come about in adapting it.

So now I have the decision of .. do I work with this or do I try and change it.

I watch the younger walkers at NZ Nationals, they are all ex runners and walk with a very smooth and fluid style, with a definite body twist - shoulders coming forward and back for the drive...not just the arms pumping. Is this a better way?

I guess I shall wait and see what my coach says about it....but I welcome any feed back from any walkers that can offer advice to me.

Fashion Island 10k - 2010

After racing back to back for nearly two months my coach finally gave me a month off. In that time I was to jog, bike, swim or do nothing. Anything but race-walk. He wanted me to have a complete break and wind down. Oh how I needed that!!!

In this month lay off I have started a new job (new hours too) and have taken up my Legal Executive Course, so I study for two hours every night as well. So needles to say my training has consisted off 3 x 5km jogs and 1 x 10km jog. So when I saw the Waimea 10km series I was all kinds of excited as I love 10km races. The only problem being I have not walked for nearly 6 weeks and still have 1 more week until I am meant to start up again.

So I have decided to do the series just as training walks and not actually race them.

So the race.............Well I have to take my hat off to the orginisers of that course, it would have to be one of the worst courses to walk that I have ever walked....it was more up hill than down. But the weather stayed dry but cool. Its just coming into our winter so temps were a little chilly for us...long sleeves (but not long pants....heaven forbid you wear long pants while race walking here!!)

We started off heading up hill and we weaved our way around some back streets of Nelson.....at a guess 800m until we reached the top and turned to head back down, then we turned and went back up again....we had one nice long flat section only to be faced with a steeper hill to climb up. I have not learnt the knack of race walking up a hill nor coming down. I always feel I am going to slip over when I pick up pace coming down. The lead female walker (Wendy) was already 500m out front..as expected...she takes full advantage of the down hills having a perfect technique and can really pick up some speed. I got to the 5km turn in 32.00 which I felt was ok considering the hills and that I was just cruising. My lungs were holding out and I was not breathing too hard. The weird pain in my side had come back and was nagging me a little.

I was having a good wee battle with Bevan (a rec walker) he would catch me on the hills and then I would pull away on the flats. Facing the hills on the way back was not much fun and I was out of steam and struggling. So just the desire to finish and not let Bevan beat me was my motivation. I know that there was a good battle going on behind me with Stephen (our coach), Ross and Sharon. It is always fun to cheer all the walkers on at the finish. Usually everyone is smiling and laughing but today everyone looked shattered and all were well pleased to have finished.

The results for the first three walkers were:

Wendy Healey W 59.12
Peter Hague W 62.27
Nyle Sunderland W 63.38

and this should be a link to my garmin details for splits and a map of the course...

Waimea 10km series - Fashion Is by kyisis at Garmin Connect - Details

But the coolest thing of the whole day, was not the race but a present that was given to one of the walkers. Pete - who wants to run a marathon next year and is going to run not walk. We call him SOF (sly ol fox, silly ol fool...) and we tease him lots as he always walks past you saying "are we there yet.....or...its only me..." Well Yvonne and John came up with the most awesome idea and made up a special shirt for him to wear as Marathon coach and team leader. Its red and on the front it says "Caution - slow moving vehicle" and on the back it has an old man in running gear with a zimmer frame with "ARE WE THERE YET!" across the top. I cant wait for the training to begin and see him in it.

Nelson Shoe Clinic Half Marathon - 2010

Before I knew it the Nelson Shoe Clinic Half Marathon had rolled around and I was so not ready. With all the racing I have been doing over the last month, it has made it very difficult to train properly for it. My coach suggested that we rely on my base fitness to pull me through as the other events I was competing in had more merit to them as they were judged and most were national events.

Unfortunately for me I suffered a migraine the day before the start of the race. (Mine always last 3 days) I was not feeling confident about this race at all and a number of times thought of pulling out at the last minute.

The day dawned to a nice clear sky. Well thats a plus. Hubby drove me down and was going to hang around after we started as he was running the quarter and started 45mins after us. All the walkers and 3 hour plus runners lined up at the start line. Beside me was a lady in a hand crank bike and I looked down and thought..."Wow, that is true persistence and never give up spirit"



Above is the start as in the Nelson Mail. I didn't expect to lead out from the very start but that is how it panned out and it remained that way for the entire race.

I did a comfortable 5km (29:25) and then took note as I passed the half way mark in 63:20....I was really pleased with that as it was faster than when I had walked the quarter last year. I must admit to not liking this course and when you turn at the 10.55km mark it nearly brings you to tears that you have to go back out and do another lap. Yes its flat and supposedly easy but it is BORING!!! and being out the front made it even more so...I had no one to chase or to push away from. About the 15 km mark I hit my wall. My hips were aching and my legs felt like lead. I couldn't see my closest rival behind me and did slow down a little. I had met up with the slow walkers in the quarter and some of the runners from the half and it was frustrating me that they were all over the path making it so hard to pass.



Here I am rounding the bend at the 18km mark. It was here that I gave my self a real telling off and told myself to harden up and just move it as it was only 3 km to go. My times on my GPS show that it worked and I was back under 6min K's again.

I am always thrilled to see the finish line in this race and whipping down the km straight passing the runners was a joy!!! 2:10:31 is my official time and it is a PB for me and I have since found out it is a course record.

I am now on a two week break.........which has slipped into a 3 week break due to illness. I have started jogging to improve my fittness. Will slowly introduce the racewalking again soon...but for now I am enjoying the break.

FRANK APLIN ONE HOUR RACEWALK

This was another race held in Christchurch. The third in a row for me.

This time I was so pleased that my hubby could come. He has been to all of the One Hour Track walks and is my lap scorer. We also decided to make a trip of it and so I said that he could plan something fun for Sunday after the race.

We headed off for Christchurch on Saturday afternoon and arrived later that night. Found our motel and then headed off to get food. Decided on Robbies (after waiting for ever for service and then the same per meal, I wont be going to another)

Woke up Sunday morning and had some weetbix for breakfast and then we headed off to the track. Kate was starting early as she was going to try and qualify for the commonwealth games and needed to walk 20km in under 1hour 39min. I wanted to be there for the start of her race and also to watch as she has the most amazing graceful style. We were to all start an hour after to her and with us on the track it was to help her pick up the pace towards the end when she would be getting tired.

There were 8 walkers competing in the one hour walk and we lined up for the start. We were told that they would blast the horn 1 min before the hour and then again at the hour mark. We were then to stop and a runner would come and put a disk down so we could then move on and warm down. The gun goes off and we are racing off in a flurry of feet. I had my race plan of sticking to 2min 20 laps but my first lap was 2.13 then 2.17 and then I settled into 2.19 for the first 5km. I slowly caught up to the walker just a head of me and as I passed her she picked up and sat on my heel which helped to keep me on my pace as I had slowed to 2.21. It was about then that I saw Kate pull out. I felt so badly for her as I know how hard she had been pushing but with stomach cramps and dropping pace it was just not worth finishing and she made the right call to drop out.

I passed the water station and new I needed to drink but didnt want to give up my spot to the walker behind me, so I pushed on but I could feel an odd pain high on my right side (mid rib cage) slowly coming on. By the 8km mark I made the call to grab a drink.....Wrong Decision.....the cup was FULL to brim and ended up going up my nose, I threw the cup to my left on to the inside grass and promptly covered the young girl following with water and got a red card for bent knee. GREAT!! then within 100mt the pain hit. I felt like I had been stabbed, I couldn't breath and I couldn't stand up straight. I knew I had to keep going but all I could think to do was slow right down and keep legal. It took me a full lap to regain control of my breathing and slowly righten myself. 2.38 was that lap, then 2.28 then 2.24 as I was nearing the end of the race, I thought..come on get it together and did try to pick up the pace but as soon as I powered on the pain came back. So my only choice was to sit at 2.24 and finish.

I walked 10.187km and it earned me a Silver. I was so pleased to have still managed to walk that distance. The gold distance for my age group was 10.7 km and that will be my goal for next year and also by doing that distance it will automatically gain me the 10km track walk NZ Record for my age group. So that's my long term goal.

Here are the results :-
CANTERBURY RACEWALKERS ASSOCIATION
FRANK APLIN ONE HOUR RACEWALK
Results
1st Rozie Robinson 11.6km Frank Aplin Trophy Gold
2nd Courtney Ruske 10.2km Gold
3rd Nyle Sunderland 10.1km Silver
4th Ben Meikle 9.4km
5th Rowena Meikle 8.4km
6th Jenny Meikle 8.3km
7th Ann Henderson 7.9km Silver

Kate Newitt DNF
Daniel Lord DNF
Phillip Meikle DNF

20 Minute Walk
1st Jonathan Lord 3.3km Henderson Trophy
2nd Sarah Meikle 2.8km
3rd Charlotte Coard 2.6km DQ’d

Our Sunday post race fun day was spent at Hamner Springs Hot Pools. We went and had a yummy lunch then played mini golf (yes shane bet me...by LOTS..) and then we went and soaked in the hot pools for a couple of hours. It was so nice and relaxing that neither of us wanted to leave.

NZ Masters Champs 2010 - 10km Road Walk

Sunday morning....Daylight savings too.....We turned our clocks back an hour before going to bed. Which I did on my cell phone and then set my alarm for 6.30am...what I didn't know was that Telecom (my service provider) also puts your time back... so my alarm went off and I woke everyone up and we all got up and went to get food when someone mentioned that by their watch it was only 5.30am.....hmmmmmm well its lucky I am blonde ............ my name was mud by all and YES well headed back to bed grumbling as we went.

When we woke up at the right time, it was drizzling and rather cold. I was not happy about this as I don't race well in the cold. In fact I race badly in the cold, my feet go numb and I cant get warm. We packed up all our stuff and headed off to the road walk (same course as the 20km from the week before) I was feeling ok and hoping to do better than 59:19 (which was my 10km split from the 20km walk)

I stripped off my tracksuit and went out to warm up. It was getting colder and colder and I was not sure that I would stay warm enough to race in a tank top. With 5mins to spare I made the call to quickly put on a long sleeve top. The only one I had brought was a Lycra Heat Weave (used for hot days NOT cold and one I had never raced in before) I just hoped the long sleeves would protect me from the cold.



We all lined up for the start (all shivering) and we were off. I took lead for the first km and then Eric (in the yellow to my right) slowly pulled away from me. I did try to follow but its not a pace that I can keep up for long distance...YET....my coach (in white between me and eric) stayed behind and each lap I passed him would tell me to catch Eric, keep my head up, push hard, keep going......yep racing with your coach behind you is...PRESSURE!! lol... but I did need the push and yes it did help me.

My two worst legs were km 6 & 8.....by now my mind was giving up. My body hurt and I was feeling race weary!! I couldn't focus on the now and kept thinking of my next race in two weeks. Its funny how your mind wanders during a race and how long it takes you to realise that it has. On the 8th km it was as I turned for my last two km loop that I snapped out of it and gave my self a swift kick and telling off.

I gave chase to Eric and did gain some ground on him...not enough to bet him but enough to gain my self some pride. As I rounded the cone that marked my 9th km....I knew it was only going to hurt for 5 more mins...the rain was starting and it was time to bring it home. I dug in and pushed hard and managed a new personal best for 10km of 58:42



Split Time
1 0:05:45
2 0:05:50
3 0:05:47
4 0:05:53
5 0:05:53
6 0:05:57
7 0:05:55
8 0:06:00
9 0:05:51
10 0:05:46
Summary 0:58:42

So again I was first female, 2nd overall and 1st in my age group. Plus NO MARKS on the board and NO WARNINGS!!! yaya

Once my coach had finished we zipped back to the park to collect our Gold Medals. Showered and then hit the road for the long drive home.



All in all, it has been my best season yet. I have made huge gains in time and distance. I have one year to focus on Sacramento now and I am sure I will improve by the same margins again.

NZ Masters Champs 2010 - 3000 m

2nd weekend in a row - NZ Masters Championships 2010

My coach and I traveled down to Christchurch on Friday morning. It was a 5 hour drive and very uneventful. Easter traffic was out with vengeance and we opted for the get there in one piece speed.

We arrived into Christchurch at 2pm and went direct to the camping ground we were staying at. Got our cabin and unpacked. Our first race was at 4.30pm so we zipped off to the track with 40mins to warm up. I was feeling a little nervous as I really wanted to post a good time again and prove that the weekend before track time was not a fluke. Plus my coach had said to me to not be disappointed if my times were down but to remember that I had just done a hard 20km only 4 days ago...

We all lined up at the start (for masters events they put both men and women out together in all the age groups) The gun went off and I was thrilled to see a male walker zip off out to the front, so I sat in behind him. He slowly pulled away from me so I settled into my pace and tried to stay consistent per lap. As I rounded the 7th lap I calculated that I was a little off pace so I picked it up for the last 200 meters. I finished in a time of 16:34 only 2 seconds off last weeks time. I was thrilled. My body had felt so tired and heavy and I was sure I was way off my time. I was first female, 2nd overall and first in my age group winning me the Gold for this race.

The cool thing was to finish and then watch my coach finish and win a gold also for being first in his age group.

20km Road Walk NZ Nationals

I was buzzing all day on Friday after my awesome result at the track. The only silly thing I did was head back to the motel and curl up crossed legged on the bed and watch movies for a couple of hours.....cause when I jumped up to go to the loo ... as I straightened my leg, it cramped!! and cramped really bad! So on Saturday I got a lift to the track and got a massage to help.

My coached decided that after my fantastic results he really should be there on Sunday to help cheer me on and encourage me for another PB. He arrived at the motel unit 10pm Saturday night and we discussed tactics etc. My time I was aiming for was 2hours 2mins (but he did calculate that with my 28sec pb it worked out to be a 3min pb over the 20km)

I set my alarm for 4am so that I could get up and grab a piece of toast and then head back to bed for a couple more hours of sleep. 6.30am and my alarm goes off and I sneek out of the room (I was sharing with other girls who were competing that day too) I got dressed and my coach picked me up and we headed off to find the venue. I was guttered to see it was raining and really hoped it would clear soon. Thankfully it did by the time we got to the Bottle Forest.

The course was a 1 km out and back on a sealed forest road. Had a bad camber half way along on one of the bends and a really tight turn at the end. But all in all it was an ok course. The only disappointment of the whole event was .... NO toilet. They said there would be a porta loo but it didn't turn up and the only toilets were 600m away and a pain to get too.




We all lined up at the start and the starter explained the race rules and then just like that .. we are off. Kate started out with an explosive pace with Rosie hard on her heel. (Kate was hoping to qualify for the Commonwealth today) I decided to stick to our plan and race my own race. My first 5km was 29:05 and then my 10km time was 59:19....I was much faster than we had planned for. I was going great and then I hit my wall.....on the 15 & 16 km....my leg went due to the camber and I really struggled to keep my style going. I had one mark on the board now and thankfully my coach said all the right things and got me focused again. It was on the 17th km that I realised I had gained on Alana and started chasing her...each km brought be closer and closer. Before I knew it I was on my last Km and I realised I was heading for a 2hour time and was kicking myself for losing ground earlier. But I pushed hard and headed for home crossing the line in 2 hours....and 8 seconds.



I had just done a 3min 12 sec PB in just 3 months!!!! and it was just as my coach had predicted. I am just so excited and what an awesome end to the season.

Next weekend is Easter Weekend and I will head back to Christchurch for the NZ Masters and hopefully defend my two titles and win golds.

NZ Nationals 3000m

What a journey down to get to the NZ Nationals. Ok...it was only from Nelson to Christchurch (approx 4.5 hours in a car) But it felt like a road trip from when I was a teenager.

I got picked up at 8.35am in the Sunshine Coach (a mini van sponsored by sports Tasman) The Tasman coach Greg was at the wheel and I decided to sit down the back. We journey round Nelson picking up more and more kids. One of them I will affectionately call Man Mountain.....this lad was tall and solid (his calf's are the size of my thighs) So seeing how big he was I decided to take over the order that we were all sitting. I put two other bigger lads in the back and him in the back isle seat. Then the next seat could only fit 1 person as the front bench seat was broken and reclined so that it touched the next seat. So Josie, Me and another lad sat in the broken seat. In the front was Greg and two other lads.

By 9am we were off. We stopped every two hours to let everyone stretch. By the first two hours my back was killing me and so to the lad beside me...every bump the seat would bounce and rock. It was like traveling in a bulky recliner chair. It was during one of these stops that I found that the seat base had snapped off the main attachment to the van.....eeekkk.....so greg will get that looked at once we get back. OMG....I forgot, I have to travel back on Sunday night yet......ugh!!!

So we make it CHCH by 3pm, load in the motel rooms. I am sharing with 3 other girls and they are really awesome. I was worried I would really feel like an old nana but they are either really good at making me feel ok or I am in their eyes...ok. We got dropped off at the Palms to go shopping at the supermarket, so I brought what I thought would last me 3 nights and to my surprise the guys actually brought food....not junk food...they got lettuce and bread, veges and steak......I was very impressed and am sure their parents would be ever so proud if they knew.....

I woke up at 7am feeling great. I had a really good sleep and managed to have some breakfast too. At 9am Greg dropped two of us to the track and I went off to find the other walkers. Its so great to catch up with them all as NZ Nationals is often the only time we all get to see each other. We went out and warmed up together and chatted about records and who was trying to break what. A lovely walker from wellington was having some struggles mentally and was worried about her style and so I walked with her and tried to help her take something positive out on to the track so that she would have a great race too.

We all got called into the call room and learnt about some new overseas rules re logos showing on clothing etc. They let us away today but normally we would have to cover all logos with tape. We headed out on to the track and did some quick sprints to get out heart rates back up and then we lined up. The gun goes off and we were off. I tried to let the faster girls go but got caught up in the bunch for a wee bit so my first 200m was a bit quick @ 1 min. We settled into rhythm pretty quickly and it felt easy. It didn't take long till I was on my own......100m to the ones in front and 100m to the ones behind me....so I was not feeling pushed and didn't think I was doing so well. In the blink of an eye the bell rings for my last lap and so I dug it in and on the last 50m blasted up the back straight lapping 1 competitor to finish in.........16.32............I had to look twice and got so excited I forgot to stop my watch. When I caught my breath and the officials came to take us to the tent I had to ask for them to check my time and they confirmed yes that is my time. Its a 28 second personal best!!! OMG......I just couldn't believe it.

So I won the first medal for the Tasman team - Bronze for Senior Women.



Next race is Sunday morning - 20km on a 2km loop

So for those interested ... here are my 400m splits
2.04.69
2.12.28
2.14.25
2.14.27
2.14.28
2.14.85
2.15.65
1.???? I forgot to hit lap as I crossed the finish line for the last 200m)



Kate Newit - 1st
Alana Barber - 2nd
Nyle Sunderland - 3rd

3 races in 3 weekends

Yes there has been a lacking of blogging since Buller. I didn't expect Buller to take so long to recover from. Two weeks on and my training was near zero, I was exhausted, grumpy, feeling blue and just not happy in general.

I had hit the wall...literally.

With NZ Nationals and NZ Masters looming I was feeling even more despondent. My weight jumped 3 kg and I was feeling more miserable than ever.

So, the only thing I could do was change aspects in my life that I could change. So first I handed in notice for my part time job (getting up at 4am two days in a row was just to difficult for me) Giving me back my weekends and instantly I was not longer tired and was feeling much happier. I reworked my training prog with my coach and we hit the track to see if I could still hit my training pace ... and I was thrilled to see I could. I am a little concerned for the 20km pace but all in all not too much damage has been done. I have dropped 2 of the 3 kgs gained so am feeling less stodgy and much happier.

Then yesterday I received an email from CHCH giving me the entry for a one hour track walk.....its a race I love to do.

So now I have this on my agenda -

25 - 27 march NZ Nationals (3000m track walk & 20km road walk)
2 - 4 april - NZ Masters Champs (3000m track walk & 10km road walk)
11 april - Frank Aplin 1 hour track walk

I am not quite sure how I will fit all this into my training prog as I am now tapering for the first event and with only 1 week between each event it will be hard to keep peaking for 3 weeks.

So if anyone has any advice on how to train between events I would very much appreciate it.

Buller Half Marathon 2010

This is my third Buller. I am just a junior at this event when you consider my training partner and his brother were there for their 25th Buller.

This is an undulating course that can be challenging in the best conditions. Each year brings new stories and extremes that we all have to face and overcome. This is part of what makes Buller....BULLER. The atmosphere is amazing, this whole sleeply little town of Westport, all gets behind it and helps out. From pipe bands to pig skin drummers that all drum you in on the final straight. To people of the side of the road all cheering and egging you on.

But this year....this will be the year of....OMG were you at 2010?? in years to come people will ask with wide eyed wonder. This year was to be the Buller of the MOST EXTREME WEATHER. In the 27 years Buller has been run there has never been weather like this.

In the week leading up to Buller myself and Pete were fraught with injuries. Neither of us sure if we would make it to the start let alone finish. With both of us doing ZERO training in the last two weeks it was getting concerning. Then we looked at the weather forecast "Torrential rain, gale winds and Thunder storms" charming we thought.

Friday night we arrived into Westport and made ourselves at home. We took the time to ponder the weather and yarn with the locals. We then did the traditional Hague tradition....each person pays $5 and writes down their projected time for the event. Who ever gets the closest wins the kitty. My first time to be in this so I took a gamble. I was still optimistic and hopeful...I put down 2hrs 10mins & 36 secs. We chatted for a while about what to wear. We were reassured it wouldn't be cold and not to over dress. We headed back home to tend to our injuries and rub arnica cream to help heal.

Saturday morning we awoke at 6am to the sound of thunder, lightening and heavy rain. GREAT!! but it wasn't cold so I still opted for my normal racing top but decided to wear a jacket. Applied double Vaseline as I had not worn my jacket before. We ran over to catch one of the many buses that are used to ship us all out to the start line. How the driver could see was beyond me as I couldnt see out his fogged up window ..ha ha...We were dropped off near the start and had to walk down the start area. There is no shelter out there and the best I could do was back my self into a bush and shelter as best I could. By this stage my feet were soaked and I was cold and wet. Still an hour till we started racing. The weather was getting wilder and wilder by the minute. By 8.15 the wind had picked up and was howling along the gorge whipping the rain at you. 8.30 and the call went out to line up...walkers at the back. (try telling that to half of the deaf %^&^** that went out with the runners) any how....there is meant to be a 5 min gap before walkers head off but no one could hear the guy on the mic and we all had transponders on our feet so the walkers just headed out.

I was on the start line along with a few faces that were familiar. When I heard the starter say..just go....it was all I needed and I was off. Ahead of me I saw a guy walking away (a rec walker) at great pace so I off after him and had decided to sit on his heel. I caught him within a km and I am so pleased I did as about that time we came out of the shelter of the gorge and crossed a bridge. A huge gust of wind caught me and threw me across the road and smack into him. He righted me just as another gust knocked over a runner ahead of me and threw both us across the road. I adjusted me stride and punched into it when the next gust came from the other side and nearly knocked me off the bride (a 20ft drop into a raging river was a tad frightening) lucky for me the walker (Micheal) grabbed my jacket and pulled me back up right. We continued punching into the wind for the next km when it started to hail. I felt like my skin was being peeled off my face. It hurt so much. I couldn't see as you couldn't open your eyes, people were running into each other and tripping up because of it. The wind and hail didnt stop until approx 5km into the race, but the rain kept coming. Heavy rain, that ran over your face and down your neck. At the 10km mark it was still me and Michael taking turns and leading the walkers. Both realizing that we were in different classes but both still wanting to be the overall winner of all the Walkers. (neither of us knew that a recreational walker had gone out with the early runners and would finish in 1hr 51) I pushed through the 10km mark in 61mins and was thinking to myself .. I might just make it in the time I wanted to. Then the hills loomed and I am no good at racing walking up hills. I tried to keep up with Michael but as I was pushing up the hill I felt the muscle pull in my groin and I decided to pull up rather than end up really hurt. It was so hard to watch him pull away from me but I knew it was a nice long down hill on the other side and yes I did catch him back up but only in time for the next hill and the same happened again. We did this for the next 6km's.
Passing the 3km to go sign never felt so good. By now the rain had stopped and I called out to the Race Walk judge could she take my jacket next time she passed. So she went up ahead and got my jacket from me. I also had my wireless MP3 on and as I pulled that off it caught in my pony tail, so Gillian had to run along beside me while yanking on my hair to pull it out.
I turned at the 2km mark and headed into the township. Michael was 50mts ahead of me and I picked up the pace to try and catch him. By now my groin was really hurting and so where my feet. Between my toes were really hurting and I couldn't figure out why? I didnt seem to be gaining much on him and it was starting to play on my motivation. As hard as I tried to push through pain and catch him, he was pulling away too. Finally at the 1km to go mark he seemed to slow and I did gain but as he rounded the corner to the finish he looked over his shoulder and was shocked to see I was only 20mt behind him and he took off. There was still 500mt to go and I knew it was too soon to start my finish.....so I kept my pace hoping that as he entered the shoot he would see I had not followed and would ease up a little...which he did do!! as I entered the arch way I start pushing hard. I knew at the top of the walkway there would be photographers so I plastered a smile on my face and took off. I got to the end of the walkway and hit the grass finish. The announcer saw the speed I was coming and he made attention of it over the loudhailer, next thing the crowd and the people in the grandstand were chanting and stamping egging me on. I had gained 15mt on him but he just pipped me across the line by 3 seconds. I had pushed stop on my watch but was too nervous to look at it. They took my transponder off me and congratulated me for being first Women Walker and then I looked.................2 hours 11 mins 7 seconds. Whooo hoooooo how amazing was that. In those conditions to have taken 5 mins of my last years time and come so close to my predicted time, I was thrilled. Yes I did win the kitty as all the others were at least 5 mins off their times...both runners and walkers. Once my training partner rocked in and I wont mention his time, he broke down (got a flat tyre is what we call it) and had to "walk" back. He was very disappointed but as he said....Thats Buller for you. So it was off to the traditional pub for a beer and then home for a shower. Prize giving was not as big as it usually is due to the weather dampening it but lots of fun was had. An awesome BBQ after wards with a few wines and stories, then it was up early for the drive home so I could make it back to be with my hubby as it was Valentines Day and Our Wedding Anniversary.

Here is me with my eyes focused on the Recreational walker just ahead of me.

Here are the prizes ... these are the icing on the cake.

Tearing up the rubber on the track

Friday night evening meet at the track.

The club put on a 2000m walk for all us walkers.

My coach has been holding coaching sessions and we now have a really awesome group of budding race-walkers. So its great when the club puts on a proper walk for us....(by proper I mean gun start and electronic timing etc.) My hubby had asked what time I was hoping to do and I would be happy to get 12mins but he laughed at me and said you know you should be able now to do 11mins.....ppppffffttttt I thought.

We had a line up of 7 walkers and one judge (injured training partner)

I was keen to have a stretch out as I have been off for three weeks with a hamstring injury and have only been doing short and slow distances. But coach said "if the leg feels good then go for gold" And go for gold I did!

With my coach hot on my heels I zipped off to an early lead but I was expecting at an moment he would pass by but he never did. It took a couple of laps to settle into a rhythm but I kept the pace up and was surprised that my fittness was still up there and my breathing wasn't too labored.

I crossed the line in 10:49:07 and I was thrilled! A PB by 3 mins (ok it was 2 years ago since I raced a 2000m) oh and hubby was right!!!!

The best news is my leg held out and was not sore. It gives me one week until the Buller Half Marathon, I just have to hope that my fitness will see me through to the end.

NZ Trial 20,000 m track walk

The NZ Trial for the selection of the team to race in Hobart was last weekend.
I flew up on Saturday morning so I could spend a day with my friend Alice from Australia. I watched her jump off the Sky City Tower and was just in awe of her courage. Then we had lunch at the Sky City Orbital restaurant after that it was off to the casino for my first dabble in the pokier machines....hehehe...all in all I lost $6 but I had a good hours entertainment while there. So I didn’t mind the loss. We then met up with another of Alice’s Face book connections and enjoyed a relaxing couple of hours at a nearby park. A late dinner as we were both still full from lunch but I had to carbo load......(never again will I eat so much food..lol)
That night was one of the worst pre race nights I have experienced. It must have been nerves and also my dodgy tummy playing up....I couldn’t sleep as I felt so nauseous and by 2am was up in the toilet dry reaching and feeling awful. 4am I got my first wake up call.....wake up??? I had not been asleep yet to wake up. This was my call so I could eat breakfast, but with my tummy feeling so bad I could only manage ¼ a weetbix and wondered if it was hardly worth the trouble. All I hoped was that it would settle my tummy and not make it worse. I went back to bed in the hope I could get an hours sleep and I think I did get some sleep.
My coach was to pick us up and take us out to the track, with neither of us knowing Auckland and having only partial directions it was a little chaotic to say the least with us heading the wrong direction and doubling back only to look down on the motor way we needed to be on but having no idea of how to get onto it. Eventually with some negations we found our way and headed out to the track to arrive with 15mins to spare. So much for a good warm up but at least we were here. (Also found out that the two key female walkers had gone to Mt Smart stadium and so were also very late)
It was so awesome to walk down onto the track and have most people calling out hellos and well wishes. It was like a family reunion. We all headed out around the track for a few laps to warm up and stretch...doing drills along the straights as we went.

8 am and the call went out for all to come to the start line. My tummy had butterfly’s the size of eagles by this time. We were all lined up and they sent us on our way. My main game plan was to stick to 2min 29sec laps which would give me a total time of 2:04:10 I tried hard not to get caught up with the “elite” bunch but still ended up doing 2min 20sec for the first 7 laps...then I slowly pulled it back. I went through my first 5km in 30.20sec and then the 10km at 60.35sec it was then that I realised I had gone out way too fast and was starting to feel the strain of it.
About the 12km mark the cautions started coming in thick and fast and the first mark went up on the board. At this stage I was passed by Kelly Mabbett putting me 6 th.....nuts I thought. So I tried to keep up with her but she was slowly pulling away and I was finding it hard to keep to 2:29 and figured that it was no use wreaking myself over something that I couldn’t keep up with. At the 15km mark I noticed that Brooke had been DQ’d and that I had 2 marks on the board. My first thought was ...dq me now....I hurt so much. My next thought was ...Hey Kelly has my spot on the team!!! I looked to see how far a head she was and it was about 150mtrs. So I tried to pick up the pace but she saw my style change and my turnover quicken and so picked up her pace too. No matter how hard I tried to catch her she was staying the same distance away from me. As I rounded the last few laps I signalled to my coach (he was judging so unable to communicate with me) that I had two to go. I saw he look at his watch and grin. (he had just worked out that I was under my target time) When my time keeper called out LAST LAP...I could have kissed her. 50 laps is awful, thats 100 corners to the left and it really plays havoc with your head and your body.
I don’t think I have ever been so happy to finish a race ever. I knew I had not made the team but I had taken 7mins off my last recorded time for 20km and that to me was huge. I was elated for the girls ahead of me for making the team and also that I (the old nana) had only missed out by 1 min and was still 5mins under the qualifying time.
So considering I had gotten no sleep, had no food and had also pulled my calf from wearing my heeled boots the day before....I did ok...in fact....I did GREAT!!!
So now I am back home and training for the Buller Half Marathon. I will go down in 4 weeks (same day as Hobart Race – Feb 13th) and try to win the racewalk and better my time on last year.

Confidence Boost!!

Yesterday I had 18km to walk on the track.

With my progress going so well - my base lap time on the track has changed. It was 2.33/lap but I seem to be constantly walking at 2.29/lap.

So my goal for my 18km was to pick a pace and just be consistent.

I have to admit that doing 50 laps on the track seemed so daunting to me. So having the chance to do 45 laps at my own pace was great. I didnt really know what time I would finish but I just hoped it would avg out to make a full 50 to be under the qualifying time of 2:08

I started out and straight away was doing 2.26 so I stayed with that pace for the first 5km (12 laps) then I eased back to 2.29 and I stayed at the pace 95% of the training. My training partner turned up at lap 32 (he had injured himself while out running but was still keen to help) So he started passing me my water bottle and counting out my times.

With 3 laps to go he called out...do you think you can pick it up for the last three??? so I dropped 5 secs - 2.24 and then for the next lap took it down to 2.20 then my last lap I started power off at the 200m mark and brought that lap pace down to 2:10

My total time for 18km was 1:51 I was ecstatic - that means I would have done my 20 km (50laps) in 2:04

So I now know I can qualify .... now its just a matter of maintaining my fitness and then rockin it on the day. I so want a spot on that team!!!!

Training coming together

Well there has been no rest for this chick!!

With finding a part time job 2 days a week plus working her normal job....(50 hours a week in total) plus walking approx 50 - 70 kms each week....I am shattered!! But still smiling.

But....it is paying off. There is only 3 weeks to go until the 20km trial. I have started my track training. Coach has set the base line lap pace (this is a slow pace that will see me finish in exactly 2 hours 8min) so anything under this pace is a good thing.

We started track training this week. 5km and then 10km of rhythm training. I am to walk each 400m in 2:33 and stay consistent at that pace for 50 laps. Easier said than done....as I thought...what a piece of cake!! its so slow but after 15km your legs get tired no matter what pace you are doing!!

So I wanted to post my last training splits. I am so pleased with how my track training is going. My coach is now really pleased and is sure I will do far better than I think I will.....only he wont tell me his time for me.

So long as I do under 2hours 8min......it gives me a chance of being selected.

New Zealand vs Australia Race Walking Test Announced

Below is the Official announcement on the Athletics NZ Web-page.

I must admit that I have not enjoyed the politics that are going on in the back ground but I have decided to put it all behind me and go up and race anyhow. I still intend to give it my all and I would be so so stoked to surprise many and be selected for this great race.

New Zealand will compete against international race walking powerhouse Australia in a Test Match in Hobart early next year.

The Test Match will see up to four male and four female competitors from each country race over 20km on 13 February.

A trial to select the team will be held at the Douglas Track in Waitakere on 10 January. The winners and runners-up in both the mens and women's competitions in the trial will be automatic selections, while the next finishers will be subject to a qualifying time to make the team, 1hr 50min for men and 2hr 8min for women.

In announcing the match, Athletics New Zealand's Sport Manager Brett Addison said, "This competition is long overdue, with twenty eight years since the last New Zealand vs Australia teams race walking competition. It's a fantastic concept and we have been fortunate that Mike Parker and David Lonsdale of Race Walking New Zealand have done so much work setting up the test match."

Parker said "The most significant thing about this forthcoming Oceania Race Walking Trophy is that it is the first time for sixteen years that New Zealand race walkers will have the opportunity to compete as a team in some form of international competition. This can only improve the standard of our best walkers, athletes who might not be able to aspire to higher levels of competition.

"Such an event as this one, held bi annually might just provide the impetus for one or two of them to make the break through to that next level. We have had years where only our elite NZ walkers, and they come along so rarely, are able to aspire to Olympic and Commonwealth Games selection. This competition is all about making an initial step towards bridging the international gap and improving our overall standard along the way."

Boosting the training prog for the Trial

Well I have been given my new training program. Gulp!!!!

Seeing as I have spent the last 3 months training to 10km only ... we have had to drop me back to 7min/km pace and add distance to get my stamina up. So each weekend the Sunday walk extends by 2km.

Today we did a slow 18km and next Sunday is the dreaded 20km. The scary part of the training is the weekend after that................that's when we step up the pace too.

I am intending to get 20km done in 2hours......the qualifying time is 2hours 8mins...which is more than do able. What gives me doubts is googling the names of the other competitors and seeing their recent times. Ok some were un-judged so that could make a difference on the day, but it did stop me and make me think "why am I doing this?"

Then I think about what all this means to me....At my age to even be trying for the trial team is an amazing feat, to actually have a shot at the 4th spot is again an amazing feat and if I have to be truthful I guess I have a small fear that I am aging and am trying to recapture a small portion of youth. Ok...so I laugh when I read that too, but......I do think that race walking has turned out to be my fountain of youth. I feel younger than ever, fitter than I have ever been, have a waist again, have toned up, feel healthy and fantastic!!!!

I can now understand how athletes can end up addicted to exercise. The endorphins you get from a good hard walk make all the days stress's disappear. You cant but help to feel positive and smile...LOTS.....

I was told recently by one of the juniors that "race walking is the new pink" I have to agree with her. :0)

Opening night for "The Track"

Tonight was the official opening night of our new Mondo Track and first meet of the year.

The club put on many events - ranging from 100m, 200m, 300m and 1 mile for the Masters. They also put on a 3000m Track Walk. Parents were encouraged to join in but instead they choose to spectate and cheer from the banks.

It was great to see so many people and to watch some very fine young athletes....(who knows .. one of them could be the next big thing!!)

Sadly there were only 2 race walkers..........myself and Pete. The others had made themselves scarce. So we decided to just take it easy and treat it like a training session............. YEAH RIGHT!!!!!!

Gun goes off and so does Pete....I am left thinking "holy smoke" so much for 2.26 pace so not to be out done, I caught up to him and sat on his heel. Pete being the much more experienced walked dead centre of the lane forcing me to walk the outer line or tuck in about a metre behind him. I was not falling for that tactic so sat right on his shoulder on the line. (Yes I walked a little further but I was not letting him away with that)

I kept watching my GPS and thinking "man we are flying" it was faster than our training nights but I was surprised I was keeping up.

We rounded the last lap - got the bell and it was on. I was waiting for Pete to make his move (as he was me) 200m mark went past and I thought he will go out now so I hung on moving closer to his shoulder we rounded the back straight and I let rip at the 100m mark ... shoulder to shoulder we walked at the 25m mark I pulled away to cross the line in 16:50......My best time ever on the track. Yahoo!!!!

Sadly the time cant be posted as an official time as there were only 2 judges. So for future races we will make the effort to find 3 judges. You just never know what will come out of a track night.

A great night was had by all.