Some Time Off

Hi all,

Just to let you know that KateOnTheNoGo will be out of service for a couple of weeks over the Xmas/NY break.

Have a super christmas and beginning of 2009!

If you need me, you know where to find me!

K

Words for Times Like These

My fave poster, EC, has this song on her website that describes her best. It is so appropriate for me right now!

Sugarland's "Stand Back Up"

Go ahead and take your best shot,
Let 'er rip, give it all you've got,

I'm laid out on the floor,
but I've been here before,

I may stumble, yeah I might fall,
Only human aren't we all?

I might lose my way,
but hear me when I say,
I will stand back up,

You'll know just the moment when I've had enough,
Sometimes I'm afraid, and I don't feel that tough,
But I'll stand back up,

I've been beaten up and bruised,
I've been kicked right off my shoes.

Been down on my knees
more times than you'd believe,

When the darkness tries to get me,
Theres a light that just won't let me,

It might take my pride,
and my tears may fill my eyes,
But I'll stand back up,

I've weathered all these storms,
But I just turn them into wind so I can fly,
What don't kill you makes you stronger,
When I take my last breath,
That's when I'll just give up,

So, go ahead take your best shot,
Let 'er rip, give it all you've got,

You might win this round
but you can't keep me down,
'Cause I'll stand back up,

And you'll know just the moment when I've had enough,
Sometimes I'm afraid and I don't feel that tough,
But I'll stand back up

You'll know just the moment when I've had enough,
Sometimes I'm afraid and I don't feel that tough,
But I'll stand back up.

On To Happier News!

While I feel terrible for trying to move the news away from Dad, I am compelled to lift the tone of this blog up a little to tell you that i have purchased my flights to LA to fly out on the 10th July 2009. The plan is to then fly on to New York, then onto the Carnival Cruise down to the Carribean and then off to Atlantic City after coming back into New York. It will then be back to LA for a bit of Disneyland and then home. A whole 2 and a half weeks of fun, fun, fun.

New York has always been a dream of mine. 2009 is going to be all about fulfilling life long dreams.

Does anyone else have a life long dream they are going to achieve this year?

NoGo's 101 on How to Not Give Up The Fight

My father is unwell. Quite unwell. We are not sure if he will be home for Christmas. Rather, he is in hospital, paying for what could be the ultimate price of having bad health in his life time.

This situation renews my fight to not ever give up on my quest for ultimate health - through mind, body and soul.

If there is any message I want to convey not only to myself but to others, it is this - you only get given by God one body in this lifetime.

Before we really understand the meaning of this, to be kind to ourself both physically and mentally, will we have to lose someone or something in order to find this out? And despite many of us who have lost someone as a result of bad health, has this taught us any real lessons, or are we still consuming bad food, drinking, smoking and not exercising? Do we have to lose our own health, be stripped completely bare, find ourselves mentally in the most desolate of places, in order to realise just how important it to be kind to ourselves?

It reminds me of part of a poem that someone gave me the other day:

"Before you know kindness as the deepest thing inside,
you must know sorrow as the other deepest thing.
You must wake up with sorrow.
You must speak to it till your voice
catches the thread of all sorrows
and you see the size of the cloth.

Then it is only kindness that makes sense anymore,
only kindness that ties your shoes
and sends you out into the day to mail letters and purchase bread,
only kindness that raises its head
from the crowd of the world to say
it is I you have been looking for,
and then goes with you every where
like a shadow or a friend."

~ Naomi Shihab Nye ~

A Short Message To A Special Someone

You are right. When I put my mind to something I do it.
Thank you for the support you've given.
Good luck for the future.

Honesty. Integrity. Grace.

k x

Frustration!

For the last couple of days, I've been struck down my a mysterious stomach problem.

This is not allowing me to get out and train! Its causing a great deal of frustration and sadness.

Ugggh.

Am I Training For An Ironman/Ironwoman?

One of my regular readers has asked this question so I will take the time to set out what is going on.

Am I Training For an Ironman Race?
Yes. Sort of. Kinda. No, not really. An Ironman is a far greater endurance event than I could possibly survive... at this stage. An Ironman usually involves running 50km, riding 70km and swimming 10km. This would kill me, not make me stronger!

Rather, my ultimate goal over the next three months is to work towards the "BRW Triathlon", which is to take place on 5 April 2009. Triathlons, at least at entry level, are only generally 4km runs, 10km rides and 500m swims. However, they are still quite hard, because with these short distances. Very fit people sprint through these Triathlons very quickly.

What Are All The Other Events For?
I am currently scheduled to do the following upcoming events:

1. Kathmandu Adventure Series - this is expected to involve two people doing the following - a 2km trail run, 10km MTB, 1km kayak, 5km MTB, 5km trail run, 7km MTB, finishing with a 2km kayak - January 17th, Blue Mountains.

2. Gear Up Girl - this is a new addition to the plans as of today. It is a 60km ride from Cronulla to Olympic Park in Homebush. Its time to get the beautiful Kuota out into a pack - March 7th, Sydney, NSW.

3. Great Ocean Road Otway Classic - this is the biggie. I fly down with my bike to Torquay, where i will be at the starting line with thousands of others to compete in this Classic. 150 gruelling kms, approximately 5.5 hours in the saddle - March 29th, Torquay, VIC.

4. BRW Triathlon - this is the star attraction but will be conditional upon whether i can convince two other people from work to enter with me and whether or not there are any spaces left. If i cannot compete in this, I will find an alternative event - April 5, 2009.

Why Am I Doing This?
My first response is "why not?" But that wont satisfy those who are eternally curious!

Firstly, I have been spending a significant amount of time with a Life Coach. I have identified things in my life which i have always wanted to achieve but never believed I could, due to certain hard wiring. I dont want to "win", I want to "achieve". There is a stark difference.

Secondly, all of my life I have struggled to find draw the necessary connection between what I am mentally capable of and what I am physically capable of in order to reach my true potential athletically. I am learning that the two feed off each other. The pain experienced in our bodies is not due to failure on our part to be able to do something. Rather, its our body telling us that it needs to continue to be moulded. My body has wanted to be conditioned for many years. I simply haven't drawn the connection between mentally wanting it and physically gaining it in order to be disciplined about it.

Importantly, I have taken a look at the kind of person I want to be. I have also looked at the kind of people who i would like to surround myself with. I have always been anti drugs, and relatively anti-drunks. Why would I not want to participate in activities which expose me to these kinds of people? I am certainly not going to meet athletic types (and perhaps Mr. Right) at 2am in a stuffy smoky bar, am I?

I have some huge challenges ahead of me in the coming months.

But this is a girl who travelled across Europe at 20 on her own. This is a girl who put herself through law school. This is a girl who picked up and moved alone to Scotland one day.

Why would I not be capable of doing this?

Charlotte and I

Sydney In Summer - View from My Office

First Race in January, Not March!!!

Training Log: 15 December 2008

Run: 2 Km treadmill
Rate: 10.5km/hr (medium pace)

** (lunchtime gym session - back and shoulders)

Hurdles: Bad period pain!!!! BOO!


The big news is that the first event is actually IN FOUR WEEKS TIME!!!

I've been asked by someone to pair up with them for the Kathmandu Adventure Series in mid January in the Blue Mountains. What does this entail? It will be as much a mental test as a physical one!

A typical course may involve:

Leg 1: 2km trail run
Leg 2: 10km MTB
Leg 3: 1km kayak
Leg 4: 5km MTB
Leg 5: 5km trail run
Leg 6: 7km MTB
Leg 7: Finishing with a 2km kayak.

Just to keep us on our toes a natural obstacle (eg. mystery discipline, creek crossing etc.) or two maybe thrown in to add a little spice.

Looks like i have to kick into a higher gear for the training now - and over christmas too!

Lucky i am on a strict detox at the moment!!! I have a lot of work to do in preparation. Thankfully I have managed to shift a bit of weight and can probably shift a fair bit more in time for the race.

How exciting - and scary all at the same time!

Beautiful Sydney

Wind in the Willows

Training Log: 14 December 2008

Total Km: 18 km cycled (Centennial)
Time: approx 30 mins
Cadence: Medium
Speed: Medium
Hurdles: When will these windy days stop?!?? Riding a carbon fibre bike in a head wind is HARD WORK.

**** morning gym session too (upper body).

The Stuff Of Which Champions Are Made

My diet is now consisting mostly of veggies, fruit and protein shakes. The only way I am going to be able to transform my body is by going right back to the basics in terms of eating. I'm loading up with 2 protein shakes a day (generally after exercise) and getting more protein from eggs. I am trying to avoid breads (I'm carb sensitive) and getting my fats from avocado rather than butter/sweets/chocolate (okay, i had a icecream last night! he he he).

Havent given up coffee yet though! Thats a little extreme.

Pain is Gain

I woke up this morning feeling sore from yesterday's efforts and I cringe at the thought that if 25km if going to kill me, what is 145km going to do to me? The good news is that I still have three months to get it right. Also yesterday involved a series of rather large climbs (which is why 25km actually felt like 145km this morning!!!).

Its funny how it screws with your mind, the fact that you can easily do 20km around a relatively flat circuit in 30 mins, yet go out for nearly an hour and a half up and down the big hills of Sydney and only get 20km done.

Now, its off to fix my running - i have three months to get running, cycling AND swimming perfected to a fine art, ready for the BRW Triathlon.

You guys KNOW how much I love this stuff!

Tough Ride

Today was a really tough ride - the first real "road" adventure of some meaningful distance.

The session here reads 15.1km, but it was probably more 25km because i went in and out from the main roads, plus a lap of Centennial Park.

Phew, it was hard work! It was also 30 degrees celcius, which made it harder!


http://www.whereis.com/#session=MTk2

Fun in the Sun!

I WILL BE SPENDING MY BIRTHDAY IN JULY IN THE BAHAMAS!

The itinerary has been set for the July holiday - I am departing New York on the 11th July, and sailing down with Carnival Cruises down to the Grand Turks, and then Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas, and then off to Nassau! My birthday will be spent in Half Moon Cay, where I will be snorkelling with big turtles!

So excited!!

Weight of the World

Training Log: 12 December 2008

Gym Session @ Lunch (Weights Upper Body)
40 mins

The Greatest Challenge I've Ever Set

I've done it - i've signed up for my first bike event: Great Ocean Otway Classic, in March 2009.

A guelling 145km ride over 5 hours - I am booked in, flights paid for, I am ready to go!

Run Forrest, Run

Training Log: 10 December 2008

Rest Day (Raining)
1 hour Yoga Class

Training Log: 11 December 2008

Gym Session @ Lunch (Cardio)
40 mins

Run Home (Approx 5km)
35 mins

Life Is A Beach

Training Log: 9 December 2008

Total Km: 10 kms cycled - Double Bay - Rose Bay - Bondi Beach - Rose Bay - Double Bay.
Time: approx 40 mins
Cadence: Medium
Speed: Slow
Hurdles: First real adventure on road with cars but at 5.30am, it was okay.

*** weights session at lunch in gym

Wet n Wild

Training Log: 8 December 2008

Total Km: 20 kms cycled
Time: approx 35 mins
Cadence: High
Speed: Medium
Hurdles: Wet roads and sore legs from cycling over 40km on the weekend.

Weapon of Choice!

Black and White - Ella

Pounding the Pavement

Training Log: 3 December 2008

Total Km: 20 kms cycled
Time: approx 35 mins
Cadence: High
Speed: Medium
Hurdles: Another strong head wind and a sore backside!

*** 45 mins at the gym at lunch too.

Kate Is Back On The Go - This Time, On Two Wheels!

Training Log: 2 December 2008

Total Km: 25 kms cycled
Time: approx 45 mins
Cadence: High
Speed: Medium
Hurdles: A strong head wind!

Electric Storm

One of the hardest things to photograph is lightening. You need a slow shutter speed, but that doesnt necessary help because you cannot predict when the lightening will occur. I was lucky to get not just one shot, but two.