Let's go see what happens..... - Page 129

**Emma-Leigh** · 09-26-2009, 06:19 AM

My crazy-lovely-kiwi?

How did it go?..... You are terribly silent for the hours after a race....

Miranda · 09-27-2009, 01:44 AM

yo there

kitebean · 09-27-2009, 03:13 PM

Sorry sorry! Was out of coverage

RACE WAS AWESOME! After 3 days of scary, horrid, stormy freezing weather, the morning promised better - I can't say it 'dawned' because we were up at 4AM....

We arrived Friday night just in time for raft briefing, a quick find/check of the bach and back for race briefing. It's always neat for me to see the organisers who I know from my time in Tonga, and above and beyond that, 600 + women plus their supporters crammed into a marquee to find out how they are going to be spending the next 6-20 hours the next day! For those of you who don't know, you don't actually find out the course, distance, elements of an adventure race until the night before.....then you have to plan your route, your transitions, your gear, everything the night before. Since this is our 3rd such race, well, for Jo and I at least, we know what to expect by now...and we have learned alot of lessons along the way. So.....

Saturday morning, 4AM alarm for breakfast, knowing we had to be on the beach, in wetsuits, by 5:30 AM. The first leg was a raft across and around Lake Rotoiti, then into the Buller River for about 10km of whitewater... We were told the night before that we would be swimming to the rafts, and that we had to arrive at 5:30 to meet our raft guide and the other team. When we arrived at the lakeshore in the predawn light there was good news and bad news...the bad news is that there was a 20kph headwind blasting down the lake, but the good news was that it meant that we wouldn't have to swim out to the rafts!

We were very fortunate to have an awesome raft guide, and a pretty good second team in the raft. It was very hard yakka getting across the lake, but once we got into the river we came into our own, probably passing about 15 boats in total. The river was pretty low, and we had to do alot of tricky maneuvering, getting out at times and lifting it over the rocks etc. I find paddling really good and satisfying.... we had also learned a lesson about having drinking water on the raft leg, because you never know how long it's going to be, and I think that really helped us to have a small camelbak to sip from. We were in the boat for approx 2:15, then to T1, Colin met us at the take-out point and we had a 1-2km walk to the transition, we could/should have jogged but I had to pee so bad that I couldn't. However I made a very quick transition out of the wetsuit and into the bike gear, then we were off again.....

First bike leg was about 4km through paddocks and forest, not much uphill which was good for me as that is where I am struggling with pain at the moment, anyway to the base of the mountain where we dropped our bikes changed shoes and got on up the mountain. The first couple of k's were on track then the last 500m or so was bush bashing up a ridge line to the checkpoint, then another 500m or so of bush bashing off trail to the next CP which was on the opposite ridge. Our orienteering practice really started coming into it's own here, ensuring we stayed at the right elevation, and I enjoy the track breaking aspect of it. I had the heaviest pack because I was carrying all of the compulsory team gear (sleeping bag etc) and was starting to slow a bit, so Teresa took it which was good and bad - good becaue I could move much faster, bad because I was drinking from a bladder and since it was in my pack I probably did not drink enough on that leg. Got the second checkpoint and bashed down through the tussuck to gain the opposite track which then lead back down to the bikes. Small mistake here, Jo stopped to pee about 100m from the bikes, and when we got down she realised that she had left the maps where she had stopped so she had to run back up to find them, she was only about 5 minutes though.

The second bike leg had to major uphills, both of which I struggled on. All three of us had to walk them as it was impossible to ride, but Teresa sprinted ahead to the top with her bike then ran back down to help with mine. I was struggling with dizzyness and nausea, but I think it was because I hadn't been drinking enough. When we got to the top I was all good and took off downhill like a crazy woman, where Jo and Teresa struggled a bit with their downhill confidence. My trust in Javier is complete, and that really helps me. The last 5-6km on the bike I was on fire, and that felt great.

T2, drop the bikes and whatever else we thought we could weight wise into the final orienteering section, which we absolutely kicked ass on! There was a very, very tricky to find checkpoint, but Jo was right onto it, and took us straight there. I would have liked to have been able to run a bit more at the end, but it wasn't happening, even so we kept a pretty blistering tramp pace, and yes, we ran side by side up the beach the last 100m to the finish, together, in a time of 7:53:36

This was 40 out of 64 in the Vet category - and there was only 20 minutes separating us from the mid 20's, which we could all clearly see ways of having made up the time. Our goal for the next race will be a top 10 finish

We have finally found our perfect third team mate in Teresa, she is so positive, and so onto it, not to mention 10 years younger which is a great thing for us old ladies. We all have our strengths and weaknesses, and are all committed to improving where we can. I have to say that although we did great, I wish I could/would have pushed a bit harder, but as Colin said this morning, if someone had said to me on Friday we would take more than 2 hours off our previous time and come in under 8 hours, I would have taken it!

and no excuses here, but I haven't been training properly since before we went to the US, so that's about 8 weeks off, I had surgery a little over 2 weeks ago, and last Sunday I was really REALLY doubting my sanity and ability, I am very, very satisfied and happy.

If you are interested, here are the race briefing notes:

http://www.sportzhub.com/site/index....=8061&Itemid=1

and the course map:

http://www.sportzhub.com/PDF/SpringC...2009_6hour.pdf

Megin · 09-27-2009, 03:35 PM

Too

twinnett · 09-27-2009, 04:00 PM

I second the above

Mark1T · 09-27-2009, 06:17 PM

Very inspirational in here

mizone · 09-28-2009, 12:08 AM

The post I was waiting for. Love all of your recaps KB, makes me want to get out and do one (reality kicks in sometime soon

).
So proud and happy for you....you ARE amazing

valby · 09-28-2009, 12:42 AM

What an adventure!! You are truly awesome to be back in major action so soon

zigzag71 · 09-28-2009, 08:06 PM

I read that about five times.

I am all

's

**Emma-Leigh** · 09-29-2009, 03:49 PM

My warrior - hoping you are ok with the recent earthquake/ tsunami warnings....???

Keep safe....

Miranda · 09-29-2009, 04:15 PM

nah susan's strong enough to hold back a few waves

roight?

kitebean · 09-29-2009, 05:56 PM

Roight! The dunes are about 10 metres high

thanks for your concern! x

AbramsAM · 10-04-2009, 10:24 AM

Hey - how is everything going Susan??

kitebean · 10-09-2009, 07:46 PM

lifted weights 2 days in a row. even some lower body stuff. wow. feel good.

serinebean · 10-10-2009, 07:01 AM

I am glad.

Megin · 10-10-2009, 09:10 PM

I'm still here

Watching Kona with you and Zigs!

twinnett · 10-11-2009, 04:10 AM

Hi there! I have nothing constructive to say...I read all the time..just wanted to let you know I drop by and visit!

kitebean · 10-11-2009, 02:58 PM

Everything is changing! It's spring, after all

mizone · 10-12-2009, 01:01 AM

Hi KB!

valby · 10-12-2009, 03:37 AM

imperfectly_lou · 10-17-2009, 05:36 AM

So I go MIA and so you do too? Come back Susan!

kitebean · 10-17-2009, 01:31 PM

Oh don't worry I am still here! Just trying to

1) settle into a new routine
2) figure out how strict I want to be with tracking, etc
3) coming to terms with my inability to run - still

Re number 3 Lou I have been thinking alot about you. I have to keep of the mind that I may be able to run at
some point in the future, but it probably won't be for a while. And this fact does do some damage to my
triathlon and multi-sport aspirations. I find it disappointing that I will not be able to commit to any races this season.

However - my ability to lift is getting better. I did a lowerbody session this week - and managed it by doing single
legs on seated press, extensions and curls. I can manage front squats with the 20kg bar.... Yesterday I did a
light circuit of front squat, 1/2 SLDLS, extensions and curls. Upper Body is pretty good, there are a few things that
cause undue pressure, like everyone's favourite Overhead BB, but I just don't do those!

So yea, last week was good with lifting and lots of extracurricular's like climbing, and my 3 hour night orienteering
event and weekly Javier forest frolick.

I need to shed some fat but that is a work in progress as well! Bikini season is fast approaching!

mizone · 10-17-2009, 02:32 PM

Thanks for the update KB...I have been wondering about you and have missed your regular posts so its nice to know where your at

ubermumma · 10-18-2009, 12:36 AM

I am such an idiot...I booked and paid for a holiday to Fiji and it just occurred to me we should come to NZ instead (slaps head, hard!!!)

I wuv you

twinnett · 10-18-2009, 05:27 AM

I have always wanted to come to NZ

kitebean · 10-18-2009, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ubermumma

I am such an idiot...I booked and paid for a holiday to Fiji and it just occurred to me we should come to NZ instead (slaps head, hard!!!)

I wuv you

bah!

Quote:

Originally Posted by twinnett

I have always wanted to come to NZ

spring is here! Miranda's bedroom is free!

Boy is spring here! My sap is going crazy, honestly TMI time but I have been so so so so horny

I feel like Miranda! How long can this go on it's been like 5 days already! hehehee. hormones?

Did upper body this morning, felt great, then saw Jason for a 45 minute rubbing

School is pretty gnarly at the moment big paper due Thursday....