DNF, DNF and D(I)F

Saturday: Darn Near Frozen!
Woke bright an early (nawt) for this year's mid year swim, the start of a new tradition. If you go here, you can see my brown (swimsuited) belly poking out, and my hands adjusting my goggles. We turned up at 9, but for various reasons my event didn't start til 10. Boy it was cold- I almost couldn't wait to dive into the freezing, choppy, grey water. I did the "medium" event, a wetsuitless 100m or so journey out to the first buoy and back.
It was amazing in the water- cold, but I've been in worse (you can't keep me out of rivers...) and incredibly freeing. I was beaming as I came out and got my mulled wine (mmm!) but reality soon kicked in, and I realised I couldn't feel my feet.


Sunday morning: Did Not Finish
It was a weekend of short "races". Today I was Just Not in the Mood. Was almost relieved when I saw P standing on the sideline, one mile into my 10k race. Not really "relieved", but as neither of us had really expected the dodgy knee to hold up, I wasn't surprised, and he wasn't devastated. But he was sad enough that I was very glad I decided to turn back, and walk back in the rain to the start line. Am feeling a bit of a dork, as although I stopped for "nice" reasons, I know inside I wasn't in the mood. BUT, am planning a kickass race for New Plymouth in October. I'm going to say sub 1:45 now, and I'm going to stick to it. I WILL get my mojo back.

Watched the kids doing their magic mile (*cluck cluck*), debated whether or not we would take a finisher's pack (there was a TOWEL, I love race towels!), then headed back to the course to watch Ed run a smoking 6-minute PB.

Later we joined E and A for brunch at the Parade. Free potato wedges were a welcome but undeserved treat :-)

Sunday afternoon: DAY-amn I'm Fast!
The quest for sub 1:40 continued today. I had something to prove, and just needed a pool to prove it in. Unfortunately, Huia was closed for waterpolo (2 hours early GRRRR!) and Naenae had "three" lanes available (more like one lane, next to a whole bunch of nippers flinging water polo balls around). Hit my first warm up 100 pretty hard (I often do... It's something that works for me) and hit 1:41 (again!) Then a large backstroker joined our lane, so I kept on with the programme sheet I'd picked up (4x50, 4x75, 4x100...). Then a new lane opened up, so I thought I'd sneak in a cheeky 100 before cool down. I pushed hard, felt great, and got back. 1:41. Now, I'm very happy to see 1:41 on a semi-regular basis (it used to be 1:43... in fact, it used to be 1:58), but could I Not Just Take Two DAMN seconds off??

P had something to prove too, so after doing his 800m straight set, he kept going. For another 700m. By far his longest straight swim to date. And he did it in a pretty respectable time too- 34ish minutes or so. Just think how good he'll be in December, avec wetsuit... I moaned that I couldn't break 1:40, and he told me to just do one more 100. He'd time.

Right- this is IT, Mr 1:40. You're going dooown.
Pushed off, and knew it was going to hurt.
Length 2 and my feet were tingling.
Coming to the turnaround, and slightly distracted by P's dangly legs.
Slowing down to 75.
One last push off.
Back, and raise my head hopefully.

1:34:97. But he thinks he got a bit too excited and stopped too soon, so I'm calling it 1:36, which seems fair.

Woot!

We're both feeling amped about swimming at the mo, and hoping to get back to Masters when we move back into town.

Oh, and I got new pedals (double-sided) and a new helmet (makes me look less like a toadstool...) today, so I'm getting close to being amped about riding. Closeish...