Waimea Half Maraton

The day dawned with absolutely perfect conditions. Slightly overcast and not a breath of wind....I am sure it was to spite me.

With the decision made to pull from the Half Marathon I was able to focus on how I would race the 10km. I woke to a fully blocked nose and my face felt like I had been hit between the eyes!! I was not even sure if I could complete the 10km but I didn't want to let my team mate down (I did have a back up plan - my coach had put his hand up if I pulled out at the last minute) My husband was also in a team but for running. So we headed off to Rabbit Island to find both our team partners and to put on race numbers. I went over and scratched from the Half - I don't know who was more surprised..the organizers or the competitors?

Last year I teamed up with my training partner Yvonne and we dressed up in bright neon outfits and had a ball. This year she had teamed up with her friend (and top Nelson walker) Wendy. I nearly doubled over laughing when I saw their costumes. They had a multi coloured Mo Hawk wig on and the most ridiculous looking pants I have ever seen... (they had plastic moulded bare bottoms that were part of the pants).....all I could think to say was "check it out...two moons!!!!!" They looked fantastic and did win the best dressed and deserving so too.

I was to walk the first two legs and Pete the second two. I was also double booked for the day as it was my grand daughters 2nd birthday, so I was to leave as soon as I had finished my legs.

The race got underway and it was a good tussle for the first 500m with Wendy rocketing out in front. I had decided to stick to 5:50 pace and so slowly caught her up and passed. I came through the first 5km at 29:47 and was to finish my 10.4km in 1:01:47 much faster than I had anticipated. The last two km were my worst with my ears popping and hurting along with my sinuses too.

I tagged my team mate and then waited for my husband to come in (runners started 20mins after walkers) He finished his 10.4km in 56mins which is awesome for him. My team mate (pete) completed his two legs 10.8km in 1:05:?? giving us a combined time of 2:07:30 winning us the team section - (I am fondly called Trumpeter and he is SOF - sly old fox)

Walking Teams
1 221 02:07:30 Trumpeter and SOF
2 213 02:12:48 Mad Dogs
3 220 02:33:43 The Nanas


Me out on the beach end of the course.


Pete aka SOF winding his way through the picnic area


This is Wendy in costume and Gary about to catch and pass by

A hard decision to make....but....

Tomorrow is the Waimea Half Marathon. Its held at Rabbit Island on a 5km loop course. I have to admit its one of the most boring course's known around here. Every year I have managed to team up with a group or one other and just entered the teams section.

This year I decided that I would bite the bullet and do the Half. I was thinking ... I will be fit and still race ready from the Worlds in Sydney, even though I had only trained up to 10km and have not walked 21.5km in about 6 months. I was feeling strong and confident.

My training partner asked me this week to team up as well. That's the good thing about this race, you can compete in two events - team and half. The person doing the half starts first and tags you at the 10km mark...then you both head out. The person doing the half then pulls off the team number and carries on for the individual portion.

Well since I have been back from Sydney, I have been plagued with a horrid head cold or maybe a sinus infection. Everyone tells me its probably the flying that has set it off as I feel like I need to equalize my ears....they are blocked and keep popping all the time and I have no balance. I have been fatigued and constant blowing of my nose has driven me nuts. I had to rush around town two days ago and nearly fainted from the effort.

So I have made the decision to pull out of the half. I will still do the 10km for the team but I know that I am not well enough to push my body that far.

Then it is rest up and let my body take a break.

World masters gold, silver for Sunderland

Article in our local paper - Nelson Mail


WALKING BACK TO HAPPINESS: Nyle Sunderland displays the gold and silver medals she won at the 2009 World Masters Games in Sydney.


Just a year after winning three gold medals at the Oceania Masters Games in Townsville, Nelson race walker Nyle Sunderland has returned home from Sydney's World Masters Games with a gold and silver medal.

Now the 42-year-old athlete is looking seriously at heading to Sacramento, California, in 2011 to compete at the World Masters track and field championships as potentially the pinnacle of her competitive career.

In Sydney, she missed out on the 10km road walk gold by around 12sec, despite finishing in a personal best time of 59min 50sec.

She was one of nine competitors in her 40-44 age group competing over a 2km loop course at Paramatta Park, eventually finishing second to Australia's Fiona Porley.

"[The course] had two slight rises coming up to each turn so it wasn't a fast course," said Sunderland. "Those rises didn't feel like much for the first couple of kilometres but, trust me, by the end they felt like mountains."

Sunderland's tactic had been to sit on Porley's heel from the 2km mark before trying to walk her down, which almost worked.

"At the 9km mark, she pulled out from me and I made the choice to follow and I probably should have waited because when I caught her, she gave one last burst and I couldn't keep up. It was a really tight race. She lives in the Blue Mountains and trains on the Paramatta track so she knew it like the back of her hand."

That wasn't the end of the drama, though, as both athletes ultimately succumbed to the heat.

"She collapsed at the finish line and was being attended to, then about three minutes later I did the exact same thing. I think it was just all the heat and exertion and over-excitement ... but both of us were carted off by paramedics and given oxygen. It was only about 25 degrees, which doesn't seem like much. It just felt hotter because of the black tarmac we were walking on.

"The heat coming off that was just phenomenal and you were quite sort of dehydrated anyway, it didn't matter how much water you'd drunk."

Anticipating a rematch with Porley in the 5000m track race at Olympic Park five days later, Sunderland was disappointed to learn that the Aussie had withdrawn as they prepared for the start, supposedly still feeling the effects of her 10km victory.

"I was so psyched to give her a really good battle and she pulled out."

Strategically, Sunderland again planned to "let the rabbits go absolutely ballistic" before reeling them in.

Having also been grouped with the 35-39 competitors, "I'd pretty much caught them all up by the first lap and continued to stay strong in the field and led both age groups the whole way round", she said.
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Her time of 28min 28sec was also a personal best by around a minute. "I had to look twice at the clock myself, I couldn't believe it. It was a phenomenal race."

Sunderland said she was fitter and faster than she'd ever been and attributed much of her success to the support of mentor Stephen Farquhar, training partner Peter Hague and husband, Shane.

"Without their help, I wouldn't have achieved what I did."

5000m Track Walk 2009

I spent most of Saturday afternoon at the track soaking in the atmosphere and supporting the guys. Who in turn promised to come and support us ladies.

I woke Sunday feeling really good, tried not to think about the race too much and went out for the morning to see a couple of sights. I must have planned and re-planned my race strategy 100 times. About 1pm I went to the track and lay on the grass listening to my ipod and watching some of the women's races. I was so amped and ready to met Fiona again. A couple of the guys turned up and helped me with my warm up and stretch's. I had brought a tee shirt so I could get signatures on it, so one of the guys grabbed it and shot off to get the women who had finished to sign it.

One of the most awesome things of the day was that my aunty from NZ was in Sydney at the same time and had found her way to the track and was there to watch me race for the first time. I was so excited and very nervous....I really wanted to win now.

They had grouped two age groups together again 35-39 and 40-44. We were all called to the call room and it was here that I found out Fiona had pulled out. She had not recovered from our 10km and was ill. I was really disappointed with this news. But any one of the ladies could still take it out.

We lined up and I got the outside lane. My one and only game plan.....let the rabbits bolt and then I would chase them down. Sure enough, 3 went out (1 in my age group)but surprisingly I caught them up with in the first lap and passed them on the back straight to take the lead of both groups. One of the 35-39 group stayed on my heels, but it didn't bug me and I just kept at a steady pace and slowly pulled away from her. By lap 6 she was 10mt behind me and by lap 10 she was 30mts behind. The water station was set up on lane 5 and the guy would not step in to pass you the drink so it you wanted one you had to cross three lanes to reach it and there was a judge right beside him. Two girls were warned as I passed by. I finally succumbed to the need for water so choose a time when I had to lap a slower walker.

Rounding the end curve and hearing my aunty and her friends calling out really kept me going, but the most amazing thing was by lap 10 it felt and sounded like everyone was calling my name or go NZ go.....it was the most amazing feeling.

I had been watching the clock and trying to work out in my head if I was on target or not but ended up giving that up...(maths not being my strongest subject anymore??) and focused on my breathing. The bell sounded (man what a sweet sound) and I started to push and pick up the pace...I counted my steps till I heard the bell ring again for the next walker (105 steps) I just had to complete the last lap - get past all the judges and I had won my gold. I came round the last bend and into the next lane for finishing and noise felt deafening. I picked up the pace and went for it, eyeing the Chief Judge in the last 100mt. Crossing the line in 28.28 (well thats what the clock said, still waiting for results to put on line)

Then it was wait for the race to finish and the judges to confer and then it was announced I had won my GOLD!!!!!

So below is the finalists in the 40-44 Women 5000m track walk 2009



Thanks to all my sponsors. Now to keep them on side and hit them up for Sacramento 2011!!!!!

REST DAY

Today I must rest!!!!

I have walked the city over and over. Time to sit.

We are heading out to Bondi Beach today and then will go look at Kings Cross. These are the last two touristy things to do. We were going to head out to blue mountains but I didnt want to be cooped up in a car for 2 hours each way.

Its my big race tomorrow. Must admit to being more jittery about this one. Now that I know how fast the other lady is and how she races....it will be tough.

I didnt sleep well last night and woke this morning feeling very unwell. Hoping its nerves and not something I ate.

My Aunty from NZ has arrived in Sydney and is also coming to watch me race. So now I will have heaps of supporters cheering me on.

Will report back tomorrow night on the out come.

Wish me luck............

10km Road Race - World Masters 2009

I woke at 5.30am and I was amazingly calm.

It was really weird...I had spent three days just freaking out. I had arrived in Sydney to compete at the World Masters Games...More competitors here than there were at the Sydney Olympics. The venue is HUGE!!! and I just felt like a small fry from a little wee hic town. What the hell was I thinking!!!

I had decided to think on the race as ... just a normal 10km race against 9 people....not 180!! and that did seem to work. I rang for a taxi and sat listening to my ipod and chilled out.

The weather was perfect...clear and calm. I unpacked my gear and said quick hellos to the others from NZ and then I headed out to warm up. I spent a good 40mins on the course doing drills and quick sprints etc. I kept my number hidden until the very last minute so that no one could see what age group I was in..but I was quickly checking out all those who had not.

The started us all in our age groups so the first group started at 8am..I started at 8.07am The gun went off and I let the rabbits go out first. I could hear my coach and training partner telling me to walk my own race and let them go. I was most surprised that I caught up the first 3 by the 500m mark and it was then that I realised I only had 1 in front of me.....Hmmmmmm....now what I thought. So I kept up at the pace I was happy with and by the 1km mark I had started gaining on her, by the 1.5 km mark I was right on her heels, but she was pushing a good pace so I thought I would stick to her like glue and walk her down. Every now and then she would break from me and at first I went with her but I learnt quickly that I would recatch her within in seconds. We turned at the 5km mark in 28mins 55 (I felt fantastic but I knew it was too fast but I was not letting her go)

I continued on her heels and felt that there were times when she slowed that she was hoping I would pass but I didnt want to be chased and so I used those moments to rest too and of course she would explode away again (so I knew if I had been in front I would not have held out) at the 8km turn I thought....its on now!!! and she picked up the pace again. My now my legs were hurting and my hip was feeling tight...I ignored it and pushed on. She pulled away at the 9km mark and I didnt know if I should chase or wait....I chose to chase (hindsight...I think that was wrong) I caught her up at the 9.5km mark and she burst away on me again but I just had nothing left...I tried to follow but was already going faster than I ever had before. She pulled away from me and I dug in a pushed...we had transponders on our shoes for timeing so we were crossing over a mat to record our laps and then a mat to record the finish...when I crossed the first mat they all called out....thats great you are finished you can stop now......so I did...Literally!!!!! and then all these people were screaming go go go and I realised the FINISH blue mat was another 30 mtrs away...my legs buckled and I managed to get going again...so my time is about 15 seconds off. But it made no diff to the end results. I had finished in the official time of 59:52 and had won the SILVER medal!!!!!

I saw the winner collapse and go down and I was really worried for her...I was ushered into the tent and I was feeling terrible. They laid me down and took my transponder off. I got up and went over to Fiona and we hugged and cried and got our photos in the local paper. Then I went and rang my husband...as I was doing this I noticed I was having trouble breathing. I couldnt get air in and was going dizzy and seeing spots. I quickly hung up and then I fainted. I came to with paramadics attending to me, taking my blood pressure which had dropped very low and pricking my finger and also putting me on oxygen. The heat out on the track was dropping us like flys and i was drinking but they said that myself and fiona was just exhaustion from exhurting ourselfs. Fiona came up after we had settled our selfs and said it had been the race of her life and that she was getting so upset out on the track as she couldnt shake me off...she said "every time I tried to distance myself from you...you would just strole back up behind me again and it really threw me!"........so my game plan had worked.......now I have to face her again for the 5km on Sunday.....

Oh what a race that will be.

I will post photos once I get back.

Packing....Nerves.....Race jitters

I think I have packed and unpacked my suitcase 10 times!!!!

Have I brought enough warm clothes....hmmmmm......but what if its hot??? So its back to the basic......jeans, tee shirts and runners!!! cant go wrong I guess.

I went out on Weds night and raced in the first 5km Race for the Waimea Club. It was the Hart Road Course.....(rather hilly)...so I was not planning on pushing too hard. I wanted to test out my hips and check for any niggly pains. Yvonne had come out to jog and was keen to jog along with me and I was thrilled for the company and the push. The first 1.5 km is basically up Queen Street and then the undulating Hill Street. So I had thought to sit around the 6km mark or slower. I could hear another walker behind us at the 2km mark and I commented to Yvonne that I wish he would hurry up and pass as I was just wanting to cruise. By the 4km mark both walkers had gained and one started to pass. All of us commented that his "style" was unusual and I thought....there is no way a jogger is getting me on this one. Yvonne pushed on a head and I gave chase. What a chase it was, with me just pipping him on the finish line. I stopped my watch and expected my time to be 31+ mins....I was really shocked to see I had done it in 29:17

I really needed the confidence boost and to know my body would hold together.

So now the pressure and the nerves start to build. I so want to bring home a medal or two!!! I feel I owe my coach, my husband and my self that satisfaction as we have all put in hard work, hours and kms to get me to this point.

I will try hard to get on line and up date my blog and face-book with results.

Thanks so much for all the support and well wishes I have had .... It has truly helped me keep focus and motivation. Cheers to you all.

My Granddaughter

I had to share this. My granddaughter is just so special to me. I absolutely adore being a Nana. I know this has nothing to do with race-walking but she was a much needed distraction to me today.

I went and did track this morning and it went really well. But the thought of not seeing her for two whole weeks just bugged me....so me and hubby went and stole her for the afternoon. We both adore having her......its great to just be two big kids for the day.

She will be two at the end of October. She has inherited my families height and is very tall for her age. She used to be a dead ringer for her mother at that age but as she grows she is more and more like her daddy.

So this post is for my family that don't get to see her much.

Sponsers and Training

Photo is of me on my training walk today, it had stopped snowing and was a little warmer tonight.

I have not had a chance to get on line and up date my blog this week. It has been a busy week.

To start with I had set myself a goal of how much sponsorship I wanted to achieve. I wanted to sell 10 golds, 10 silvers and 10 Bronze. I am thrilled to say that I have sold all 10 of my Golds, 3 of Silvers and 4 Bronze. I will try for one more week to sell off the last of my silver and bronze and that will be it. I have put my sponsors on my training top (as per photo's) and yes I do train in it. My training partner says its like walking with a advertising billboard .. haha...funny man!! I have also put the same names onto my training bag, it looks very official now.

My physio is now over and my injury is holding. I wouldn't say I am completely healed but I am managing to train with no pain...its just very tight when I have cooled down. So with ice and gentle stretches it is slowly getting better.

I have dropped my shoes to the podiatrist and he is working on a support to take the pressure of my nerves. I have opted to only have one pair done...just in case. So I am hoping to have them back for next weeks training.

So this week I have done

Tues 22 - 5 km in 29:40 avg pace 5:56/km
Thurs 24 - 6 km in 35:16 avg pace 5:53/km
Sat 26 - 7.5 km in 45:46 avg pace 6:06/km

Am off for another 7km walk in the morning with my coach and hubby.

My training top below with all my "gold" sponsors

Shoe Clinic - Podiatrist in store today

Today I went into the Shoe Clinic and saw Chris Gates. He is one of the best Posiatrist's here in Nelson.

I have been having trouble with my feet for some time and have not know quite what to do about it.

I can racewalk but often feel like I have a pebble stuck in the bottom of my shoe at the base of my toes (ball of foot)...it does hurt but more feels annoying. When I wake up in the morning, the initial standing up on my feet hurts sooooo bad. Its like someone has smacked them with a bat in the night. But once I get going I am ok. Where I once wore high heels all the time....now I can last an hour....if that...sighs.......

Well Chris Gates spotted it right away. I have Inter digital Nerve Pain (Morton's Neuroma/Neuralgia) Its where the nerves are squashed up between the toes and they get inflamed and swollen. Mine have been like it for years really but Racewalking has really flared it up.

Good news - it is fixable.....bad news....not in the time I have before the worlds. So quick fix is to pump up the soles of my shoes to take the pressure off the nerves. Then build me orthotic's to go in all my shoes.

But he did say that the operation on my feet when I was a teenager was botched up and that was why I flick one foot funny when I race walk as the mechanics of the foot have been changed. Nothing can be done about it now.

Public health system has a lot to answer for in New Zealand!!

Seeking Sponsorship

Well a good friend on mine gave me the push I needed.

I used her idea and ran with it.....and its working...so far its been really popular with only 1 business saying no we dont sponsor sports.

I have offered the following and below is the A4 poster I have made up for them to disply in a window or wall......Each is printed on the correct colour metalic paper.

Gold Sponsorship $100 = your company name on my training outfit and gear bag, in large type, and a thank you advert in the local paper when I get back from the World Games in October.

Silver Sponsorship $50 = your company name on my gear bag (smaller type than the gold sponsorship) and a thank you advert in the local paper when I get back from the World Games in October.

Bronze Sponsorship $20 = a thank you advert in the local paper when I get back from the World Games in October.

Spoke too soon...back to physio

Well I was all excited about getting back out on the roads again...Friday ended up with awful weather and was very cold so I opted to sit it out and wait for Saturday. For some silly reason I still had it in my head that I would and could race the 10km but a phone call to my coach ended that very quickly. (In hindsight...a good idea) He suggested a rec walk for 2 km to warm up...a good 10min stretch and then a slow gentle 4 km race walk.

So hubby and I headed up on the the walkway behind our home and started out. The rec walk was ok...didn't feel anything...so I was feeling confident and optimistic that the race walk would be easy. Stopped and did our stretches and then headed off back down the track. I only lasted 500m when I could feel the muscles pulling again...I walked through it for another 500m but it didn't let up. It didn't hurt as such but I could feel it the whole way. (feels like when you are doing a stretch and you are at the top end of the stretch..muscle is sore but not 'ouch' sore) So we walked slowly back home and rang my coach. I am back to the ice and stretches and will ring physio on Monday.

I did try to walk a little around the house and its right when the foot comes under you and takes the weight of your body...that's when it pulls. Not sure what can be done or how long it will take to heal.....but its soooo frustrating. I only have 28 days before the World Games......talk about cutting it fine.

I did manage to get out on the mountain bike and do an hours ride. Not quite the same but it keeps the hip moving and gave me a short workout.

Oh NO!!!!! Groin Strain?

Ok.....Had a fantastic day Saturday. Went home on such a high from the race and my time and just the whole perfect day.

Woke up Sunday feeling a little stiff and sore but nothing too major. I knew I had a 12 km walk today but knew that I would not be at coach's pace.

Hubby and I went out at 2pm. Another magic day! We decided to go around the waterfront by the port and then follow the river (which meant uphill for the last 2 km to home) off we went. My legs felt like lead and I couldn't get any speed out of them so I settled in to an average pace of 6.20/km. I really wanted to get the distance out today. By the time we hit the 12km mark I was done. No energy and feeling very stiff and sore.

Today (Monday) I had an 8 km walk and was expected to do 5.50km pace. I was more stiff and sore than Sunday. Hubby said he would come too and we headed out at 5pm. It was a little cold so we took it easy for the first km to warm up. We turned to walk down Beaston road (a steep wee road approx 800mts in length) about half way down I felt something pull in top of my leg/groin. I mentioned it but kept going. Thinking that once we leveled out it would be fine. But after another two kms it didn't get better, didn't get worse but I just knew that if I pushed it then it would really hurt. So I stopped and we just strolled home.

Rang my coach and he thinks I have a groin strain. No race walking for me till I have been to physio. So here I sit with an Ice Pack on my groin (not pleasant!) and lots of arnica cream ..........plus feeling a little sorry for myself. I think I just pushed the old body a little too much this weekend and it told me so.

Will keep you all posted. I am sure it will be fine with a little rest.

UPDATE:

I have tweaked my tendons in my hip. Two days rest....with ice and gentle stretches should see it come right. I have opted not to race this weekend but rather do a gentle walk instead. Physio said it was a good thing that I listen to my body as most athletes tend to push through it and end up with a worse injury.

So I am greatly relieved and will take their advise and rest. Thanks for everyone's well wishes and support.

Presidents Handicap 2009

Today was our clubs Handicap race. It was meant to be 9km but all of our GPS's said it was 8.83km.....close enough.

This is a great race as it gives the slower runners/walkers a chance to come first and win an event. If the handicap is done right it will have us all crossing the line in quick succession and possibly catching some of the slower ones.

Today the weather was perfect! With spring only really just starting and the snow fall last weekend you would expect it to be nippy but not today. Clear blue sky with sun and would have been a good 15 degs....Magic!!!

There had been some grumblings between the clubs about a few of our walkers that dont...basically they creep. So us racewalkers arranged for the local c grade judges to come and make them selves seen on the course. This worked a treat, the creepers still creeped but not nearly as bad as they normally do....at least this time they still looked like walkers and not slow runners!!!

I was to start off 22 mins after the first person...so I went out and had a good warm up and stetch. I was handicapped on my time in wellington and the was my first "walk" back with the club so I was being watched by all.

In my mind I had decided that if the track was 9 km and I did 54min or less...I would be really pleased with that. Well today I aced it with a time of 51:21 I am totally thrilled....but why couldn't I pull that one out in Wellington?? It just goes to show that things around you effect you more than you can realise. That gave me an avg pace of 5:49 and my coach had wanted me to do 5:53 so needless to say my coach is very happy with me....and yes...my training just got harder.

My hubby who had planned to jog it today ended up as the clock holder and was there to cheer me on when I finished. What a perfect way to finish a race.

Finding my Mogo again...

The Victor
by: C. W. Longenecker

If you think you are beaten, you are.
If you think you dare not, you don't.
If you like to win but think you can't,
It's almost a cinch you won't.
If you think you'll lose, you're lost.
For out in the world we find
Success begins with a fellow's will.
It's all in the state of mind.
If you think you are out classed, you are.
You've got to think high to rise.
You've got to be sure of your-self before
You can ever win the prize.
Life's battles don't always go
To the stronger or faster man.
But sooner or later, the man who wins
Is the man who thinks he can.


Today I went out and did a slow 7km walk. I needed to get my focus back on deck. It has been a stressfull couple of weeks, with flu hitting, my daughters scooter being stolen, then finding it - damaged and a few job interviews to throw into the mix. I lost my heart for it all. I went "flat" and mentally gave up.

A friend of mine emailed me the above poem and told me to get back out on the road. To focus on Sydney as it was now 6 weeks away and now was not the time for a minor melt down.

So I went out for a walk I could enjoy ... and I did. It was a gentle racewalk and my training partner (my rabbit) ran with me as he has injured his leg and cant race walk yet. We posted 43:21 but we were able to chat the whole way and have a few laughs.

I have spoken to my coach and we are tweeking my program and starting tomorrow its rebuild time.



You've got to believe if you want to succeed.

Photos From Wellington - Style Time

Well I guess we are our own worst critic's, but for a change I can look at these photos and say that all in all my style is not too bad. I still pull my shoulders up when under stress but am learning to recognize when I am doing it and to roll and drop my shoulders.

The link in the title takes you to the photographers site and you can see all the walkers photos (if interested)

But here are some of my favorite shots of the day.

The bottom photo is taken on Lap 3 where Teri and I battled back and forth for 1st & 2nd but she walked a great walk and lead out by Lap 4.

Wellington Road Champs

Early morning and hubby gets up and drops me to the airport. Its a crystal clear day here in Nelson. A nice sparkly frost but clear Sky's, I can only hope that Wellington gives up the same.

Its a quick uneventful flight and I just parked up and listened to my MP3 and tried not to think about any thing.

One of the organisers kindly picks me up from the airport and takes me out to the event. Trentham is about a 40min drive from the airport. The day is glorious, I cant rave enough about it as it was so not a typical Wellington day. Not a breath of wind, no clouds in the sky...just beautiful hot sun shine.

When we arrived I wondered over and started chatting away with other competitors and we all got so engrossed in our chat that time just flew and before I knew it I had to quickly race over to the change rooms and get ready so I could spend time warming up. I went through my list of drills and stretches and then did a few quick 100mts to get my heart rate up. I had started hydrating the day before as I still felt off colour and thought the extra fluids would be a help.

I was hoping to do a fantastic time of at least 60mins. Its a nice flat course so I had a great chance of doing so. The course was a 2km lap with a tight dogs leg just past the 1km mark but other than that it was a nice fairly straight course. I was getting nervous as the start loomed.

We all lined up and we're off in a flurry of feet and arms. I zipped out in front to follow close to Peter Bailey (a top NZ walker) and thought gosh I feel great but its a bit quick. I kept going thinking that if I get far enough out front I just need to maintain that.....(that was my first mistake!!) My first lap was 11.32....I knew then it was too fast. As we rounded for our second lap I could here the feet of a walker gaining on me and it took another kilometre for her to catch me up. We tussled back and forth for a further 500m and then I thought I would just tuck in behind her and wait till the last lap (This was my second mistake!!) very slowly she pulled away from me and each time I would push to catch she would increase too, which really played havoc with me mentally. I just couldn't gain on her. By my 4th lap (the 8km mark) I had run out of energy and lost my bounce (as the judges put it) and I guess mentally I had given up too. It was getting very hot out on the course and I had not grabbed a water yet. So on my last lap I got some water, gave myself a stern talking to and dug it in, but it was a little too late. Coming second didn't bother me in the least, but clocking in at 1:01:30 did. I was very disappointed in myself as I knew I had blown it. I had gone out too quick and had let myself give up.

But the most positive of all was getting NO Marks on the board and NO warnings!!! And that was the main reason for going across. I also had all the judges come over and offer advise and compliment me on my style and my progress over the last couple of years. So all in all a great trip. I know now what needs to be improved and where I need to focus more energy with my training and that is distance...I need to be doing longer distances for endurance. The speed will come back again.

Here are my lap times and I will post some photos as soon as the club puts them up on their site.

Nyle Sunderland #1- 11:32 #2- 12:19 #3- 12:27 #4- 12:40 #5- 12:32 total - 1:01:30

Off To Wellington in the morning.

Just a quick post.

I have not "raced" a 10km for about 4 months. So I opted to fly to Wellington this weekend and race in their Wellington Road Champs. Main reason is that this race is judged and I need to get in front of judges before I go to Sydney.

I am also looking at it as a time trial too. I do hope I can get a fast time...a lot will depend on the weather as Wellington is well known for its "winds" and its forecast for clear sky's but northerlies.....

I also get very flustered when I am in front of judges. I tend to doubt myself and it does tend to make me go slower as I try to hard to have perfect form....the off shot of this is I normally end up with too short a stride and get warnings...so that makes me more nervous and the circle goes on.... So tomorrow I am going to try really hard to not look at them and just go hard out and if I get a card to ignore it and push on harder. (easier said than done)

Due to me not belonging to a Wellington club, I cant win any medals or trophy's but I can get a certificate of entry......but that's OK I have not gone there for the medals, this time.

So......my best time for a judged 10km is 1 hour 3 mins. So anytime better than this will be fine.

Track in the RAIN......and.......

Well I got up this morning feeling fantastic....got my training gear on and was going over my program when my darling husband says......"is it raining???" So I draw back the curtains and sure enough.....it is pouring!!!! I said ... Yup...and I'm going to get wet.....

Our nice new mondo track was built smack bang in the middle of reclaimed swamp and it is the habitat for many ducks and herons etc. So every time we use the track we are always walking in duck poo. Paradise duck poo is the size of a small cows!! I kid you not. On a dry day it is annoying as you try hard to dodge it but when its wet it washes over the whole track. I cant see it will ever be any different. The ducks wont leave so it will always be covered in it.

So I headed off to our track, put my jacket on and did 4 laps to warm up. My jacket annoyed me so much that I took it off. I figured I was going to get wet anyway so may as well be able to at least move my arms while training. So I started my pyramid training.

My times today were 2.13 per lap.

First 400 was way too fast....2.02...... body felt great and my breathing was fine but my lungs were burning. So I did another 400 this time 2.10...better, by now I am soaked through and the track is about an inch deep in water and the wind has picked up. So while trying to walk your feet are dragging through the water and you are slipping on the corners. GRRRR.....so next I decided to do my 800m.....4.29....2 secs slow..I can live with that. As I walk the 200m to restart my next lap, it stops raining, which is great as I was thinking about heading home.

There were some other people at the track - they had brought umbrellas with them and were checked out gear and grounds for an up coming event etc and they called out that I must be mad to be training in this weather. Just as I start the next 400 the clouds opened up and it really came down..."great!" so I started out and got 3/4 of the way round when my heel landed square centre of a large duck poo and over I went.....legs and arms everywhere. The guys came running over to see if I was ok..............I was so embarrassed...I looked like a drowned rat and to make it worse I was now covered in duck poo!!! not a good look I can tell you. So I thought to myself..there is dedication and there is madness!!!!!.....................so I went home.

My husband is still walking up behind me......quacking......he thinks it was a "quack up"....I some how don't think I will live this one down.

Finding motivation in those I follow

I have had a whole week off with some horrid virus......my friends all roll their eyes at this statement. But to me it feels like forever.

You get into a routine and you follow a program. Then you track your results and get great delight in seeing your times start to drop as you get nearer to your goal each week. But to have a week taken - can be almost heart breaking.

So as I read the blogs I follow - I find each one inspires me and I draw from their accomplishments! One gets up at some crazy hour in the mornings and walks on her own in the dark and one has just completed a Marathon...IN THE DARK!!! WITH ALIENS!!! so its time for me to harden up and get back out there.

Coach has told me to stick to the program even with tomorrow being my "given" rest day...I am to still follow it. So its track on Saturday morning - Pyramids(stack training) which I will do in my new compression gear. I am really keen to log my times on the track in the new gear.

So I will take this wee moment to thank all the wonderful walkers that I follow and have developed friendships with. Reading your blogs and your posts brighten my day and help me when my own training gets tough.