TRI - Harder!!!

Me - in LYCRA GLORY!!

This is me in all my LYCRA glory... You know the one thing I was scared/worried/petrified about doing the Triathlon, not the 200m swim, not the 6km ride and not the 3km run, it was doing all of that in LYCRA.

The morning of the Triathlon, I woke up early and had nervous butterflies, I mean massive King Kong sized butterflies, I was thinking the whole time - Can I do this, OMG what if I cant, what if I fail what if I fall off my bike.. Then I started thinking what if I can actually do this, and I don't stop and I prove to myself that I am great.....

Mum came with me for moral support and camera taking - she was nervous for me as well - Mum has been my strength my whole life with my weight loss, weight gain, weight loss, weight gain... She has continually told me I can do it... this one time we were both a little worried...

We put my bike in the back of the Ute, grabbed my athletes bag filled with all my Tri essentials and headed down the M1 to Runaway Bay Super Sports Centre. We parked and as I got out I swear my legs where shaky got the bike out threw my sports bag over my shoulder and strutted like I was there to WIN!!!!  I registered and got my shirt the lady advised I would need an XL I don't even care that it was a big sized shirt with all the smalls and mediums around me - I was there and I was going to do this... 

Mum waited patiently for me as I set up my bike in transition then we sat down and relaxed for an hour before the big event..

As I put my bright PINK swim cap on, I was nervous, all the ladies around me looked the same,although some did look like there have been doing this for years. ha ha.. I hope to be that girl in 10 years.... 

As it came to my time to jumped in I made some nervous - ''Do I have to" comment to the starting man, he laughed and I jumped in...  Let me tell you its VERY hard to get your momentum going when you just jump in, no dive, no push off, so it took me a couple of metres to get my speed up and then I was away... I started with Freestyle then Breast Stroke and threw in some Butterfly to keep me going.. I finished with Freestyle, only because its my fastest stroke and I wanted to get out and start my cycle....  This is me in the swim leg.....

Me Top Left - Freestyle.

Me Middle - Doing Butterfly

Me top Left - Doing Breast Stroke

as I made my way out of the pool and ran towards my bike, I had the BIGGEST smile on my face you know why I was 1/3 the way through my Triathlon, I was doing it... all my my Lycra glory.. I am hesitant to put this photo up as it is not a great photo - and I am always only like showing my good pretty flattering photos.. But there goes nothing- this is me running from the pool into my bike transition with thanks to my awesome mum for taking the shot..

Transition to my Bike...

 

As I made my way to transition, I felt free, I felt great, I felt unstoppable, I Googled before he day how to transition quickly.. ha ha you know like the pros... So I jumped on my towel wiped my feet put on my socks and shoes, grabbed my helmet and sunnies put them on grabbed my PINK singlet and grabbed my bike and off I went, still dripping wet.. I felt like a star.. ha ha I pushed my bike whilst jogging to the bike start, jumped on and I was off, it was a great feeling being back on my bike.. I had to do 3 laps, I was doing a great speed about 20km when I saw it a HILL right int he middle of the track, I felt my heart start beating faster, my legs turned into jelly, for those of you who don't know hills are my weakness, I fret seeing a hill, my mind automatically tells me you cant do this you know you will get off and push it up the hill.. Well NOT TODAY MIND.. I was determined to not get off my bike... I rode up the hill in granny gear with other cyclists zooming past me, I didn't care I knew I could do the hill without getting off and you know what I DID.. I did the track three times and every time I knew the hill was coming up and I pedaled faster and coming down the hill on the last lap was PURE bliss I smiled like a bride on her wedding day again - because 1. I didn't get off my bike and 2. I was 2/3 the way through this triathlon and I didn't feel to bad, my breathing was great, I was fit and I was going great, I wish Mum was beside me at that time to see the joy on my face... The photo below shows my awesomeness in myself...

Me riding toward the transition after my ride.

 I pulled into the transition for the 2nd and last time - pulled off my helmet, put on my visor had a sip of water and onto the last leg of the course... 3km.. I gave it my all I walked and jogged walked and jogged, again being passed but I didn't care, I was doing it.. My goals were not to beat a time, not to beat people just to complete a triathlon, and many people told me it wasn't a 'real' tri it was to small, you know what when they get off the couch and do one - then they can tell me its not a 'real tri'... :D

I was so hot that when I went to grab a water the lady was like - hun you wanna splash down - I had no idea what she was talking about - nodded yes and got a facewall of water and a cup down the back - it was exactly what I needed. haha.. Well she didn't have to throw it in my face. hahaha.. Good Times...   I came into the entrance of the running track - yes I was walking looked up into the stands and saw my Mum stand - I waned to do her proud so I started running and I felt great, I didn't feel sore, I didn't feel tired, I don't know whether seeing her made me get his extra energy, but I did it I ran across the finish line and I was STOKED with myself, I mean I had just completed a triathlon (mini or not) I did it I proved myself and other doubters wrong.. Although in saying that the majority of my friends and family were super supportive and knew I could do it, even if I didn't..

Bike Transition

Walking to the Run start

Running to the FINISH Banner

Over the FINISH line with my time of 1.04.04

 
 Found my Mum and she gave me a huge tight Mum hug and I knew she was proud, I was so proud of myself, it was a great effort and I gave it my all, its amazing what you can do - when you push yourself.. 

My goals for the Triathlon were easy - 1. Finish it - no time just finish it... 2. My ultimate goal time if I was asked - to do it in under 85mins....

My Results...

Swim- 6.56mins        Bike - 28.15      Run - 28.54.  
And my FINISHER Certificate to prove it....   I did it in 64.04mins... COULD I BE MORE STOKED!!!!!!

 A Massive Thank you to my Beautiful Mum for not only supporting me today, but in everything I want to do, she is right there beside me beaming with pride and I am one lucky girl to have a Mum that is her little cheer leading squad... Love you Mum.. xxxxx

A big Shout out to my Friend Coco who also did amazing in the triathlon,shes a star in her own right... I shining star....

And to all my family and friends that are just plain right awesome and love me for me.....

ALL IN ALL I COULD NOT BE PROUDER OF MYSELF...

Until next time,

Smile and Shine

xoxo

Where it all began.....

Its amazing what a few hurtful words can do to your confidence, and the constant flow of how they come. Yes Im talking about school and whilst I look back and that I made some great friends, I still have the fat girl taunts still in my mind, being my best friends  'toilet watch' as she went in to throw up, being the 'funny girl' because I cant possible think I am anything else then the funny fat girl right.. Well I am I am Awesome... I just have a couple of things I need to learn, you know the basics... which are.

1.  Love yourself. - Now on this everyone tells me they love me and that they wish I would see what they see... You know what I see a big fat girl standing in a mirror looking unhappy with the reflection that she sees back. I see a single girl who thinks no one will love her because the majority of guys that have been in her life, has uttered those 9 heartbreaking words - YOU WOULD BE REALLY PRETTY IF YOU LOST WEIGHT.... How is any one meant to feel pretty and lovable when you hear the above or you have such a pretty face if only you lost a couple of kgs... Well you know what every time I heard that I headed straight for the packet of chips, or chocolate of KFC or anything food wise that I thought would cheer me up... I know right.. I don't get it either, why would you go and eat something that's 5 times your daily calorie intake after someone called you fat. You're just proving to them that you are, but it didn't stop me.
2. See Rule 1. 

I cleaned my study today (off topic but only for a second) I was going through the drawers and came across about 5 of my yearly diaries, I might have a slight 'hoarder obsession'. ha ha However I thought it would be a kick to go through them and see how my life has changed, well I pretty much broke down on the floor, at the beginning of every year I put - This is your year Ange, you will lose weight and get healthy.. Well I'm pretty sure I am about 15kg heavier then when I wrote that..  I have done Jenny, Weight Watchers, Tony Ferg yes I lost weight but I put it all back on.  You know why because I wasn't committed I wanted the lollies and chocolate or the chips and dip so I ate it and then complained and cried why I'm not losing weight. 
I work hard I exercise, but never did I realise that it was the food or sometimes the lack of it that was/is holding me back.  I have googled and people tell me all the time, ways to lose weight and that I am obviously doing something wrong.  One trainer worked out that I was only eating 800 calories a day - I thought not eating would help me lose weight, Im pretty sure I did that for about 10 years. I didnt eat breakfast and ate when I was hungry, which as you can imagine for someone who didnt eat much, wasnt that often. 

I exercise a lot I have spent thousands, maybe even tens of thousands of dollars on Personal trainers, Gym Memberships, Nutritionists, help yourself books, hypnotherapy sessions, you name it I have probably done it...

BUT GUESS WHAT I HAVE NEVER DONE - Believed I could do it.. Until now.!!  That lightbulb moment that goes off in your head, that you think why have I waited 34 years to do this. Ok Im 34 so why have I waited 20 years to do this.. Have I stopped myself from dating because I was to embarrassed of my size, I am beautiful, I have a killer personality, Im the funniest person you will ever meet, I will look after you and take care of you.. Im the friend you want to have, so why dont I treat myself like I do everyone else???  I would NEVER let any one get away with talking to my friends as I do myself...  what is wrong with this picture???

Today I joined Michelle Bridges 12WBT and you know what Im going to kill it. I am that motivated I WANT this more than anything.. Im going to be turning heads at this years Christmas party (yes its only  6 weeks away) but I can lose 6 kg in that time and gain 6kg of confidence... I will strut yes STRUT through the doors of the event.

My achievements in my life so far: - 

Last weekend I did my first Triathlon, it was a small one  200m swim, 6km ride and 3km run - I did it in 64 mins.. 

So yes I am fit and strong in body just need to train my mind and I will be UNSTOPPABLE... 

I have done countless Fun Runs both 5km and 10km (not running the whole way - but yes that is a GOAL of mine).....

Non exercise achievements - I went on a 7 week holiday to the USA by myself, met some truly amazing people and ticked another thing of my bucket list - Travel alone to another country.

Yes that is just a couple of things - OK MY TWO BUCKET LIST tick offs that I wanted to share with you all.. 

I have also been through medical hell over the past two years, which I will share with you another time.. I need time to heal with that before I tell you all....

I feel really good about this new chapter of my life and I look forward to closing the last 14 years of ups and downs (or downers) as I call them.. I am in a MUCH better place now and I am finding my Happy, I am not looking for love, I am learning to love me first.. then see what happens...

I will update my ups and downs (there hopefully wont be many downs) on my journey to being even more awesome than I already am. 

Because there is only one thing you need to know.

I AM AWESOME ANGE!!!!

xoxo