My Dad My Hero

I am done with Exams! The first thing I did was going for a long interval ride up Mt Cootha. In the last couple of weeks my training time was "Mental Rehearsal" of material that I will be tested on in the theory and prac exams. So this was the first ride in loong time that my thoughts were "free" to go and they ended up with my parents, my dad. I have semester break until March and instead of going to winterly Germany I will go "home" to Hawaii, to my Ohana (that is hawaiian for family). Though I do miss my parents.
When I was a kid, my Dad and I usually were sitting squeezed next to each other in a big living room chair watching Der Sandman. Then he would say, "so now the really interesting show starts, the News!". So I sat there trying to find something interesting about the News. I ended up bored, so I watched his belly instead rising and falling whenever he expired and inspired. I tried to go with with the same pace, which made it a really challenging game. I had to hold my breath forever and did not allow myself to breath in again until he started to. Maybe that is why my lung capacity is so well established nowadays (I tested peak flow and Forced Vital Capacity and so on in practicum and scored above average).

Being in the zone

The best thing about doing Triathlon is that I experience different "being in the zones" for the swim, bike and run. Each of those "being in the zone" feels a bit different. Different "highs". Currently I like being in the zone on the swim the most. It's amazing what thoughts and insights come up.
Really cool.

Must loving it!

Finally, here the race recap for the Sprintman - an “almost-olympic” event that took place 2nd October. It was the last race before focusing on uni’s final exams. This meant to me: Go. And Go FAST. And I won.
I recently have been very motivated and excited to race. If you know me then you know that I love harsh weather conditions. Xterra has been my passion mainly because of the battle with nature and the worse the conditions the better I feel. To me, skipping a session due to weather is hardly acceptable. Although usually the entire Brisbane Tri and Bike community is out on the roads by 5am, it has been the case that I was the only one out there in the mornings recently due to the weather being cold and rainy. I also was the only elite girl in the race, after the 3 other elite women pulled out prior to race because of it pouring. (Thumbs up for all amateurs- you showed much more attitude than some Pro’s). So I was mixed in with "the Guys". Elite Guys. The swim start was strong and I was able to hold on to the leader group for about 300m and then was on my own for the rest of the swim. I came out in the middle of the field and was strong on the bike, passing one after another. It is always funny when the first guys are heading back after the turnaround. Most of them usually give me a prolonged glance and you can read on their faces something like "what is this girl doing here already". The ones I passed suddenly had much more in their legs and it was a great race out there. I actually liked being among the boys. The best part of the bike leg was the kangaroos hopping in front of me. I usually only get to see them dead on the road; so that was a nice treat! By the end of the bike split, it was pouring buckets. And I am not joking- I loved it. Heading into the run felt surprisingly fast and strong and I was able to even progress the pace. Considering my torn ankle ligament and no consistent run training other than DWR, a 5.9 min/mi is decent.

I am blessed having a gritty mind and being able to push physically. It lies within the family. My grandma died on this same weekend; which i got to know only a couple of days later. She was 97 and still had a gritty "tough cooky" attitude then. Lots of memories have come up and the realization that you have shaped part of what I am today. Hab dich ganz fest lieb! Love you mom and dad!

Gold Coast Win

This past weekend was the Gold Coast Half Ironman; at the same day the Sprintman was happening- an almost olympic event. What meant for me: Go. and Go FAST. And I won.
The 3 other elite women pulled out prior to race because of it raining. So I was put with "the Guys". Elite Guys. The swim start was smooth and I was able to hold on to the leader group for about 300m and then they took off at the first buoy. I actually liked being among the boys. I came out in the middle of the field and was strong on the bike. It is always funny when the first guys are heading back after the turnaround; you can read on their faces something like "what is this girl doing here already". The ones I pass suddenly have much more in their legs. So quite fun out there- I really enjoyed the race. It started to pour buckets- but as you know me- I love it when the weather is extreme. The best part of the bike leg was the kangaroos hopping in front of me. I usually only get to see them dead on the road; so that was a nice treat! Better even was the run. Surprisingly fast and strong. Considering my torn ankle ligament and no consistent speed training other than DWR, a 5.9 min/mi is decent.

Roller's

I designed the most effective, inexpensive study-massage-rocking chair there is. After being done with the Erector Spinae group and the QL, move on to sit on it and work the hammis and gluts. That wooden thing is a "Ma-Roller". Foam Roller for "hard" cored athletes I guess.
The other invention would be the ice-roller. It is a water bottle filled with water and put in the freezer. Use it like a foam roller and have a ice-bath effect at the same time!

I take orders!!!

Maybe talking it off my head helps..

I torn my Anterior Tibio-Fibular Ligament on Saturday night. My ankle joint is quite messed up, too and greatly impressed the doc. The injury seems to affect the energy level of my entire body.
It is going to be a resting week after a 2nd try in the pool to go faster than a 1:30 per 100. Must be something wrong.. 1:30 for a 100; naa thanks- skip it.

What also pulled the plug of motivation is the fact that I won't be able to race ITU in 2011. The torn ATFL means I can't race the german cup necessary to get into the German Team for 2011. The 2011 races are qualifiers for the Olympics and now you can think out the rest of the story.
I am angry and feel treated unfair by the higher forces of the universe. At the same time, the situation lets me rethink what is important to me and my values in life. Being honest, realistic and re-evaluative with goals is usually required to get out of a current comfort zone and stepping up in the ladder of perfecting my personality to the very best I can be. So therefore - It must be good for something. For now - not for anything.

Surfing New Zealand

I arrived in New Zealand yesterday and went straight to Piha to catch some waves for sunset. Getting to the swell involved walking through a hole in the rock wall, only accessible at low tide. It was awesome! And it was cold. The sunset was amazing and lasts quite long here. Next time I come back here I will have to bring my roadbike and MTB. New Zealand will host the ITU world champs in 2012.