Chrissie Wellington Blog

No, i am not talking about one of my masochistic training sessions…. This is much better! On 8 July, Lawrence, Kansas is going to try and set the world record for the largest community workout.

http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2009/jun/24/lawrence-aiming-worlds-largest-workout/

I think this is an awesome awesome idea and maybe in 2010 we could have a simultaneous community workout in every town and city across the world! I couldnt think of a better way to raise the profile of healthy living and sport-for-all!

As a kid I grew up singing (off key) ‘Somewhere over the rainbow’, ‘We’re off to see the Wizard’ and most notably, ‘If only I had a Brain’ – in fact I recall one year when I was actually forced by my mother to dress up as a scarecrow for the local carnival. Needless to say i didn’t need much in the way of a costume. My hair was already enough to scare off any birds (or prospective boyfriends). Anyway, when I was invited to race the Kansas 70.3 I jumped at the chance to visit the state of the fairytale, and see whether there really is ‘no place like home’.

I arrived in Lawrence the Wednesday before the race, time to check out the course and make sure that I could find a big heart, some courage and a brain to race with. On race day, the pro women started at exactly 6.32, two minutes after the pro men – which I think made for a much more honest, fair race. The water temperature was hovering just below 72 degrees, and so fortunately for me (and my body fat of a beetle body) it was neoprene all the way. I was determined to start strongly, and make sure I didn’t have the ‘drown/swim’ that I had in Colombia. I found myself in a great position on Pip Tayor’s feet, but one vicious, pub crawl style pounding from another girl left me a few metres back and I simply couldn’t bridge the gap that opened up. But overall I was pleased with the swim, and came out of the water under a minute behind Pip in 2nd place.

I jumped onto the Slice and into perfect racing weather - overcast, but warm - and went into the lead at about the 6mile mark. Now Kansas has the reputation of being as flat as… my bike tyre….But someone forgot to tell that to the race organisers, Ryan and Tom, who clearly wanted to squeeze in every hill they possibly could into the bike course. Me. I loved it. Grinding away in Mr Big, up and over the climbs and into some pretty tasty head winds. So, I was trucking along when, at around the 35mile marker, I found that my ride wasn’t as comfortable as it had been. I looked down at my clearly soft front tyre. Oh bugger. I thought to myself. That is unfortunate. I bobbled along for another mile or so thinking that maybe I could complete the rest of the ride on Mr Soft – but when rim finally hit tarmac I knew a rubber change was needed. Luckily this time I was not a Tinman without a brain  - my post Kona tyre changing practice paid off, and I managed to fix the problem in about 4minutes: just enough time for Pip, Jo Lawn and Amy Marsh to whizz by me.  My skinny legs went like pistons up the next hill - I managed to regain the lead after about a mile and came into T2 about a minute up on Amy.

The run course was simply superb, two loops with a couple of sneaky climbs, through the State Park and the campsite. Spectators lined the course every step of the way and, whilst I was disappointed not to encounter a flasher like I did in Australia, there was a scantily clad blow up doll to get the adrenalin pumping. Running down the Yellow Brick Road finish chute, crossing the line in first place and be greeted by Dorothy, the not so Cowardly Lion, the Tinman and the Scarecrow (whose hairstyle looked distinctly like mine) was a unique and special end to a fantastic race. But the day didn’t end there. It was great to see Pip and Jo - two other TYR chicks - rounding off the podium……and no sooner had we finished we were  soaking up the carnival type atmosphere  - staying around all afternoon talking, signing, smiling and enjoying what was a great party with the rest of the 2000 competitors (including quite a few enthusiastic and inspirational GOTRIbal girls - www.gotribalnow.com).

Over the weekend I was also fortunate enough to meet a Lawrence institution by the name of RedDog. Now RedDog is not a dog, nor is there much in the way of the colour red. Don ‘RedDog’ Gardner has been running community workouts, called Dog Days, in Lawrence since 1984.  http://www.reddogsdogdays.org. The hour long Dog Day workouts are held three times a day – 6am, midday and 6pm – 6 days a week throughout the summer, and are free and open to all. I first met RedDog at a dinner on Thursday night, held to raise funds for the prostate cancer charity, Athletes for A Cure - a disease which RedDog himself has recently been diagnosed with. Having heard so much about Dog Days, I was determined to see one for myself. I went down on Monday evening, and was blown away both by the sheer numbers (there had to be about 500 participants, and that I was told was quite a small group!) and also the range of people there – from toddlers, to grandparents, of all shapes and sizes, backgrounds, and physical abilities. At a time when the sense of community is dwindling, and people simply go to the gym, stick an ipod in their ear and work out alone this was a sight to behold and to celebrate.  And it is all down to one man, whose selfless, altruistic actions are helping to bring sport and physical activity into the lives of the Lawrence community, bring people together and make sure that the community heart is beating for all to hear. Wouldn’t it be awesome if this simple model could be replicated elsewhere, across the US and around the world?!

I truly had an amazing time in Kansas. Not just at the race, but in the days before and after. A huge great big THANKS goes out to Ryan Robinson, his wonderful wife Jenni and their extended family for organising such a great event, but also being such fantastic hosts. To the rest of the organising committee, whose energy and commitment I witnessed first hand and whose efforts deserve special applause. To RedDog and his wife Bev for everything they do to bring sport into the lives of the people of Lawrence, and to the owner of the blow up doll for making me smile!

I had a great great time in Kansas, and left singing (still off key) the lyrics of the famous song…

“Somewhere over the rainbow,
Skies are blue,
And the dreams that you dare to dream
Really do come true”.

Billi has done it…!!! She summiited at 10am Nepali time this morning.She is one true wonder woman, and i am so proud of her, and all she has achieved….!

http://www.billibierling.com/

We all have expectations for ourselves, in training, in racing and in life in general. But what happens when we don’t meet those expectations. When, in our minds at least, we have performed badly and in some way ‘failed’? I guess what I am trying to say is. How do you cope with not reaching your goals?

For me my response, attitude and approach to perceived ‘failure’ was put to the test on Sunday at the Columbia Triathlon. I had a number of reasons for wanting to do the race. To test my short course speed, to visit a part of the USA that I hadn’t been to before, to support the Blazeman Foundation for ALS (one of the nominated race charities)  and to break out of my long course comfort zone.

Like any race I enter I went into it wanting to win. Not expecting to win, but aiming for the top nevertheless. And what happened? I felt flat for the whole race. The water was cold (but a lot of the girls have the body fat of a beetle, so i wasnt the only one shivering). I saw the splash of feet as the main pack got away, and when it came to the bike I froze. I urged my body to break into the next gear. It wouldn’t respond. And on the run. I pushed through. But again, my speed and time didn’t equate to the effort I felt was putting in. I crossed the line in 6th. Smiling, but inside incredibly disappointed. So the question is….how do you deal with this?

For me the answer is to look back at the reasons I did the race in the first place…. And then try and make a more objective judgement call on winning and losing, success and failure.

I took myself out of my long course comfort zone, and yes – it hurt. But that’s a good thing.

I visited a part of the US that I had never been to before, saw some beautiful scenery that reminded me so much of being at home in the UK.

I met some fantastic people, before and after the race, and had the opportunity to put medals around the necks of amateurs of all abilities.

I was able to meet Robert Vigorito - the race organiser I had heard so much about and now, having met him, I have immense respect and admiration for.

And looking back I can see some of the mistakes I made. And learn from them. Not getting enough rest on the days before the race; not giving myself the space I need to focus my mind; not swimming fast enough at the outset to get on the feet of the front pack; not wearing enough clothes for the cold/wet conditions. Having the body fat of a beetle. These are all practical lessons to carry forward and learn from. Of course I also need to deal mentally with not performing to my best. And I think that is the biggest test of all. Coping with perceived ‘failure’ is hard. Many of us are perfectionists, and set the highest standards for ourselves. And so we should. But I have to look at the bigger picture and see the race as a rung on the ladder. Look forwards. The world won’t stop turning just because I have a bad race.  If anything it will make me even more determined to improve. So I will learn, bank it, move on…with even more fire in my belly!

Oh, and for those that are following my friend Billi…the weather on Everest has improved and she is on her way up to the top of the world…..the summit push is on!

One of my closest friends, Billi Bierling (who i have known since my time in Nepal and shared many a bonkers adventure with) is currently on an expedition to summit the mighty Mt Everest, from the Nepali (south) side. I thought that people might be interested in her updates from the highest mountain on earth, which are posted on a daily basis on www.billibierling.com.

http://www.billibierling.com/2009/04/21/the-deleted-scenes/

Billi is an amazing person, a talented athlete and a wonderful journalist. She gives an insight into life behind the scenes on Chomolungma  - telling stories of the sherpas, everyday life and the trials and tribulations of making the summit attempt.

Enjoy!

I love going ‘down under’. I though it was great when I went there in 2000 and spent my time engaged in cultural pursuits like drinking and surfing, and then it got even better when I returned in 2005 to cycle tour with the devils in Tassie. And I topped it off last year when I won my first Ironman Australia crown. But to be honest, it doesn’t get much better than last Sunday!

There is only one country in the world where you can be racing and get not one, but seven  marriage proposals! I don’t know if I was wearing my lucky pants, but I did manage to count five men that asked me to marry them, and a couple of women too…which is always an honour! I’d also like to say thanks to the spectator that flashed at me as I had just finished cycling up the 15% hill for the last time. My heart was already pumping, but this really got the blood flowing! And it’s only in Australia where I am running along, and am offered a cold beer/keg by almost every spectator and where the most common thing for me to sign is either a stubby holder or a naked male chest  - and where else can I get my teeth into the best kebabs in the world than in Port Macquarie?!

I was so stoked to be back in Australia an even more stoked to come away with the win.

I went to IM Australia with a point to prove - to myself as much as anything. The past few months have seen quite a few changes in my life. New coach, new place to live and of course new Slice too! I am sure everyone will be happy to hear that I was still wearing the same non aero dynamic helmet that I wore throughout 2008, as well as the same wheels I rode in Kona  - my unlucky, but now lucky again wheels……..

But I wanted to prove to myself, and others, that despite the changes I still race with the same head, and the same heart and the same passion inside. And that’s what matters.

So, a quick recap on the race. The swim  - given the torrential rain storms the water was delightful ……brown, warm (not sure why it was SO warm) and with various items of floating debris (reeds, logs and if the rumours are to be believed there may have been a cow in there somewhere). I was super happy to go 3 minutes faster than last year, especially when I actually didn’t even feel like I was going quite that fast. Might have been the feet I managed to latch on to. Or the floating log.

The bike: One thing I do before a race is ride the course with my ipod in one ear. That way when I race I can remember the points where I heard certain songs. When I was cycling the Manic St Preachers came on – and the song – yup Australia. So I had that in my head for a lot of the day…unfortunately I also had Prince’s Purple Rain, which was probably a bad omen considering it pissed it down for about two laps. Without or without the pouring rain, the bike course was tough - with twists and turns, climbs, wind, and even when trhe road was flat(ish) you had the wonderful road surface to bobble along. Whoever invented chip seal deserves to be shot. But the vibrations were rather enjoyable…..Anyway, despite all these challenges, the Slice rode like a dream, and I felt stronger as the race went on, particularly loving the flasher as I came back into town.

And the run – I love the Ironman Australia course. Precisely because it has a bit of everything – flats, road, grass, mud, puddles, awesome awesome scenery (although no flashers), vertical climbs, and of course all the spectators offering you beer/kegs at every opportunity…….And to cross that line. It always blows me away. And this was no exception. And go under 9 hours. That made me as pretty darn chuffed too!

Last year I took a photo of one of the rocks by the ocean. On it was painted ‘Be happy for the moment. For this moment is your life’. I have had that photograph as my screen saver to this day. And that’s how I approach things – savouring the moment and making the most of it. I feel so super happy and grateful to have found triathlon, to have become World Champion and to win ‘down under’ for the second year. But for me, the most important thing is not only the win, it’s not all about proving myself, or getting faster and stronger. For me, every win I get is an opportunity. It’s an opportunity to stand at the finish and greet people as they cross the line and an opportunity to stand up at the Awards party, and try and do my little bit be the World Champion that everyone can be proud of.

As a proud Amabassador to the IM Australia’s nominated charity, The Kids Foundation (www.thekidsfoundation.com),  i want to applaud everyone that raced and raised money for this great organisation, particularly the inspirational Brad Foster, who despite his own personal challenges has focused all his efforts on trying to raise AU$140,000 for The Kids Foundation  (see - www.kidsfoundation.org.au/?id=bradfostersdi4kcommi). The current total stands at around $75,000, and I would like to reiterate his call for everyone to put their hands deep in their lycra pockets and do whatever they can support this amazing cause.

It was phenomenal to see so many women of all ages racing at Ironman Australia. But we need to do more. I want to see the day when women outnumber the blokes, and I would urge everyone to encourage and inspire as many women and girls as they can to take up the sport. As many know, I am helping to set up an organisation called GOTRIBAL (www.gotribalnow.com), which aims to do just that. So lets make a huge effort in our clubs, towns, families, work places – to get even more chicks to the start line at triathlons around the world……..and really give the boys a swim, bike and run for their money!

Of course, I would like to finish off this blog with a round of thanks. To IMG, Ken and Glenda Baggs and the wonderful local committee in Port for all their hard work, enthusiasm and committment. It couldn’t have been easy with the pissing rain, cyclonic winds and knee deep puddles of mud. But the race went ahead without a hitch, and that’s a huge credit to Dallas, his superb team and the local organising committee. I would also like to give a special mention to Andrew Lister and Bob and Jan Crombie, who went over and above the call of duty to help me out and all the boys at Gordon Street Cycles (including Dan The Man) for servicing me and my Slice, and to the wonderful, smiley and ‘cup half full’ Bob Cranny at Altitude Physical Therapy in Boulder for putting me in all kinds of comprimising positions in the name of physio.

Thanks also to everyone who turned out to support, despite the rain, particularly the flasher (who, from the size of his package, was obviously suffering from the cold) and of course the thousands of volunteers, without whom ironman events would never happen.

Finally, of course – the biggest cheers goes to all the age groupers, whose smiles at the finish line remind me once again why I really do love this sport so much!

And to the five guys, and the women, that asked me to marry them…..the biggest …uuuuummmmmm……ring gets my hand!

Today was just one of those awesome days…..I have been smiling a beaming smile since the moment I woke up – a tough interval run session as the sun was rising against the mountains, an open water smash fest of a swim; the biggest breakfast you could ever imagine (would have filled a washing up bowl); a 2 hour ride, with the sun beating down and my legs going like pistons; a walk by the lake at sunset; all topped off with a dinner to rival the size of the washing up bowl breakfast. Doesn’t get better than that!

Oh, and Sunday is GOTRIbal day! For those who don’t know, I am helping a wonderful woman called Tanya Maslach set up a global networking organisation called GOTRIbal, aimed at getting women and girls involved in triathlon and sport in general. Check out www.gotribalnow.com for what the organisation is all about. It’s still in the early stages, but hopefully within the year it will have blossomed into something pretty special. So, on Sunday evening Tanya and I are having a cosy foursome with Babbit and Huddle on Competitor Radio. It goes out live on www.doublex1090.com, (8pm Californian time) and will be posted on www.competitorradio.com in the next few weeks.  Hopefully some of our ramblings will be entertaining, and inspire as many chicks (and blokes in skirts) as possible to get involved!

Big Smiles

C

One great thing about life is that nothing stays the same for too long: including a woman’s ride. And mine is no exception. Of course, the P2C was a superb bike….and straddling it brought me a huge amount of success. But after winning Hawaii for a second time a number of offers came cycling onto my kitchen table. And like every woman shopping for shoes, clothes and a new steed it was important for me to take my time, man handle a few different models, mull things over, wonder if my bum looked big in it, and most importantly make sure the colour matched my lycra wardrobe before making my decision.

I am sure you were all on the edge of your saddles, waiting with baited breath, to find out who I would choose to go with, and now all has been revealed! I am super happy to say that, for the next three years my butt will be planted firmly on a Cannondale, and its finest Slice (they did try to get me on their incredibly aero Hooligan, but my bum looked big in that one - http://gb.cannondale.com/bikes/08/ce/model-8HL1.html)

And my reasons? To put it simply, it’s all in the package. And  no - not just the dollar one. I think that Cannondale will provide me with the best and most complete package around - a full range of awesome bikes, years and years of experience, passion for triathlon and, just as importantly, superb customer service and support. And a Hooligan or two.

And the Slice -  It’s awesome. I love it. Smooth, super comfy, no wobbles or dodgy vibrations, and I reckon its going to help me run just that little bit faster too. Our first outing will be down under in Ironman Australia on 5 April. I can’t wait to get to Port, enjoy some sun, sand, sea and Slice ….. and give my new machine the ride of its life! 

http://triathlon.competitor.com/features/chrissie-wellington-signs-a-three-year-agreement-with-cannondale-bicycles.html

http://triathlon.competitor.com/features/chrissie-wellington-poses-with-her-new-cannondale-slice-in-our-photo-gallery.html

And thanks too, to Marty at Genuine Innovations for a decade’s supply of all things gassy!  I have a canister to practice with every day of the year….and am pumped and ready for action

With the festive season over, and the (‘two for the price of one’) mince pies, (‘ten for the price of two’) Christmas puddings and (ladles) of brandy butter weighing heavy on my stomach (and waistline), there was a need for my off season switch to be turned firmly on….as it were. Now, London in the winter does have its appeal - to eskimos, ducks, polar bears or umbrella manufacturers - I am none of the above. Furthermore, whilst the turbo is a wonderful invention, I always like my relationship with it to be a loose, once-a-week kind of fling rather than a committed, everyday ride. In my mind there was only one solution: be like a goose and fly south for winter. So, at the crack on New Years Day when ordinary citizens are still nursing champagne induced hangovers, my cousin Tim and I boarded a flight to the Canary Island of Lanzarote:  famed for hosting one of the world’s toughest Ironman races, for its Hawaii type volcanic landscape (and wind to match), and for not having any canaries.  But it was not the bird watching that I was there for (Tim however had other ideas, and birds were high on his sightseeing list…canary or otherwise). 

We decided to stay at Club La Santa (www.clublasanta.com) – the famous sports complex frequented over the years by countless legendary sportspeople: Haile Gebrselassie, Linford Christie (and his equally legendary lunchbox), Britain’s finest export (aside from Marmite) Frank Bruno - not to mention many a multisport athlete, including while I was there, the wonderful, Kona runner-up, Eneko Llannos. What better place to kick start the 2009 season and turn that off switch firmly on?!

I had last visited Lanzarote, with my family, at the tender age of 8 - back when Starship ruled the charts with their inspirational assertion that ‘Nothings Gonna Stop Us Now’ (although something obviously did stop them, as they never produced another hit); when shell-suits were (marginally) fashionable; when aluminous green was deemed to be an acceptable shade for all items of clothing; and also around the time when my mother (in her infinite wisdom) decided to dress me up as a milk bottle, Big Ears (of Noddy and Big Ears fame) and Wonder Woman at the local village fetes (I didn’t win).

I digress. All I remembered of Lanzarote from the shell suit/milk bottle era was a vast barren, black volcanic landscape where very little grew, aside from camels and their oversized humps; paella; and our rented purple beetle car (aptly named as it crawled along about as slowly as your average beetle).  This 2009 trip was an altogether different experience.  Beetles were replaced by running shoes. Camels and their humps, by a TT bike. And I no longer wear aluminous green anything (or at least not in public). 

For those that have never been, Lanzarote is an easy 3.5hr flight from London. Club La Santa is about 30mins drive from the airport, on the north of the island - a small cluster of white, low rise buildings, with its own lagoon nestled between the complex and the ocean. Superb. It’s basically a one-stop-shop for people who love sport. Whether its swimming, biking, running, windsurfing, football, tennis, badminton, yoga, boxing, or (for the really adventurous) hardcore sunbathing – you can do it here. The apartments are pretty basic, but have everything you need: including a wonderful Spanish maid. There’s a gym, tennis courts, a ‘Wellness Centre’ (for massage and physio); a running track, an outdoor, 8-lane, 50m pool, not to mention a huge fun pool (where the Harlequins rugby team seemed to spend most of their time engaged in ‘who make the biggest splash bombing off the spring board’ competitions - an essential skill for any discerning professional rugby player I am sure). Most importantly there are four restaurants and a supermarket to ensure consumption of carbohydrates is maintained at sky high levels; and renditions of ‘Its raining men’ performed by the on site staff (fondly known as the Green Team due to their euduring love of lurid, 1980s green shell-suits) at the weekly Green Team show (Unfortunately for me it wasn’t. Raining men that is).

Off site, the running and riding is perfect. The roads are great quality, wide and pretty much traffic free – and hilly, and windy. Usually combined, and never in your favour. Of course, there’s the challenging 180km IM course loop, but so much more besides.  And although much of the island is taken up with barren volcanic expanses, head west and it is a lot more vegetated, with rainbow blankets of flowers and not a camel to be seen.   

For me, La Santa was the perfect location to get turned back on: escape the cold, to get into my routine, and start the season with a sunny, yet very windy, bang.  You can get pretty much everything you want under one roof. And a few things you don’t – namely men with a penchant for tight aluminous lycra, upside down, legs akimbo, in a ‘stretch and relax’ class (stretching the limits of what is acceptable, but certainly not relaxing). Other than such lycra clad sights, I would highly recommend this as a training venue for amateur and professional sports people alike, so much so that I have come back for another two weeks while I wait for the bureaucrats to rubber stamp my US visa papers.  

In fact, I have been awarded the honour of firing the starting gun at the Lanzarote Duathlon which takes place tomorrow. Given that I am about as competent with a semi automatic weapon as I am a gas canister, I hope that the athlete gift bag comes complete with the regulation bullet proof vest.

A huge thanks goes out to everyone at Club la Santa for all they have done to make my stay here so great – in particular, Kenneth (the face of the Lanzarote Ironman), Solveig and Isabelle. Plus the Green Team for proving that green shell suits never totally go out of fashion. Being dressed as a milk bottle, Big Ears or Wonder Woman by your mother is an altogether different matter, and should never be done….1980s or otherwise. 

Although training and racing rule my world, I also enjoy getting some normality back into my life….. bungee jumping, sewing, crochet, lawn bowls…combined with a healthy dose of  mountain biking, off road running, meals with friends, a few vino tipples….i love the off season!  So, leaving the log book behind at the end of November I travelled to the Argentinean town of Mendoza for the nuptuals of one of my best friends from Nepal, Augustina and her fiancé Seba. I was joined there by a few more of my closest, Nepal era buddies – including Helen, the Aussie bike aficionado, and Billi the high attitude mountain goat (aka ‘Champignon’ after her fondness for oversized cycle helmets that make her look like a fungus) - both of whom have enough spirit to put a Russian vodka factory out of business.

Being a meagre 80km away, we decided to arrive at the wedding in style. On two wheels. (style not, however, being the operative word when it come to our lycra outfits). It needn’t have mattered. The event itself was as relaxed as Frankie Goes to Hollywood. Plentiful southern hemisphere sunshine, latino music and salsa (or erratic funky chicken moves on my part), red and white coloured beverages, and a swimming pool. The latter – wine/water combo - being a recipe for hilarity and/or disaster depending on the swimming prowess/inebriation of the wedding guest.  

Once the nuptials were over it was time for the newly-weds to embark on their honeymoon. A romantic cycle tour in northern Patagonia. Accompanied by four of their closest, and most mentally deranged friends. Not wanting to opt for an easy, relaxing holiday we decided to do it Star Trek style, and go where no bikers had gone before. Suitable only for horses and the Starship Enterprise, the path (in the loosest sense of the term) was not really designed for anything on two wheels or two legs. Undeterred by the enormity of the task at hand the six of us set off from the town of Malargue, with the 300km ish round trip ahead of us. Our sturdy mountain bikes (rented from www.condorbikes.com.ar) laden with paniers - filled to the brim with sleeping bags, clothes, tents, ropes, harnesses, stoves, and enough culinary delights/cardboard tasting dehydrated food to feed Dr Spock and his crew. The steeds weighed in at around 35kg, and were about as aero as your average tractor. But aerodynamics counted for little when pushing up 20% sandy slopes, across glaciers or standing beached in the middle of rivers. 

We gave a new meaning to the term ‘push bike’. We biked and pushed by day, and camped under the blanket of stars by night. Our progress was somewhat slothful – impeded by an exigent assortment of sand, rocks, snow, the odd river and my total ineptitude at manoeuvring my ten tonne tractor over the said hurdles. Technological advances such as wooden bridges had seemingly failed to find their way to Patagonia, and we were forced to cross the glacial waters by erecting ingenious, yet precarious, rope/pulley type contraptions. There were a number of close shaves/swims as we struggled to regain control of paniers, tractors and the newly wedded Tina as they all hovered perilously over swirling water. But all around us, against clear blue skies, soared Andean peaks and 747 sized condors, and beneath our wheels lay wild flowers and some of the most amazing fossils I have ever seen.

One day we managed to clock a phenomenal 16km – 1000m plus of climbing/pushing, three river crossings and one glacial traverse……and an average daily breakneck crawl of 2km/hr. A sedated slug could have gone faster. This less than record breaking progress was, nevertheless, celebrated in style with a bottle of red (we packed all the essentials). The next day was easier. Relatively. Largely downhill. On sand. With a headwind. And we ran out of food. But luck was on our side that evening. A local farmer took pity on us, and slaughtered a goat on our behalf. I ate the liver. Much better than packet pasta.

We finally made it back to Malargue. Unwashed, somewhat smelly, full of goat, covered in bruises, scratches, boils, blisters and the odd bite - but overjoyed to have managed to complete the newly named ‘Luna de Miel’ or ‘Honeymoon’ Route  - and what has to be one of the hardest things I have ever done. The Andean off season, off road adventure was about as far away from triathlon as I could get and no amount of World Championship titles could make it any easier. There were times when I seriously though that we weren’t going to make it. Times when I was turned another corner only to see the path snaking up the side of yet another mountain, my puny biceps screaming as I tried to lift my 40 tonne tractor over rocks the size of houses, and the wind blowing sand into every bodily orifice…….but I know that when I hit a low patch in training or in a race I will think back to northern Patagonia and the Luna de Miel Survivor episode and know that you can conquer anything, with a bit of bloody mindedness, a few ropes, a bottle of red and a goat.  

So now I am back at home, in the UK, just in time to indulge in some festive spirit – tis the season to be jolly after all. There have been quite a few changes since Hawaii, not least in coaches (not once, but twice - lending weight to the argument that women just cannot be trusted to make up their minds). I am looking forward to spending some time with my family and friends before jetting off again in the New Year, to the US. Helen is heading back to Aussie. Billi is going to climb Everest. Tina is going to have a proper Luna de Miel without bikes, packet pasta or four friends.

A huge thanks to everyone that has supported me this year – friends, family, sponsors, race directors, other athletes, goat herders. I hope you all have an awesome, relaxing festive period. Eat, drink and be merry and may 2009 bring you everything you wish for and more.