Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving to all of my wonderful friends!! This is my favorite holiday and I have so much to be thankful for.

You may remember that some time ago I set myself an objective to cycle 40km in one day before the end of November and 86km in one day by Christmas.

So yesterday, I did 43km in one day!! Hooray for me!! 20km in the morning on the TdF trainer. Hardest 20km I have done! BAD Wendy put up a lot of opposition, but I got there through sheer determination. The newest excuse form BAD Wendy... you need to save your energy for your ride with Renae this afternoon, because she will be fast and you don't want to end up sobbing by the side of the road when you can't keep up.

Turns out BAD Wendy had a point. After spending the rest of the day working in the garden (not relaxing!) we headed over to the Farmers. Renae and I went off for a ride while the boys drank beer and the kids swam in the pool. So right from the get-go, the little legs were a teeny bit tired... but I can totally do this! Renae suggests a route which is 24km long there and back. Now while I am totally up for 20km... in fact I must do 20km today to meet my objective ... I don't want to over-reach. Those extra 4km seem really, really far.

Anyway, off we go at great speed... BTW Josie tells me this morning that Renae stops for no-one... quite frankly this information would have been of more help yesterday! Or even the day before when I agreed what a great idea it would be to go riding with Renae.

Our route was like what I imagine Vietnam to be like... we went on grass, and sand, and gravel, and bumpy paths while ducking under foliage. Even crossed a few very busy roads (but don't tell Paul!).

I had to keep up, because quite frankly half the time I had no idea where I was! And in a serious miscalculation, I had left my phone at home!

Anyway, it was awesome! And I met my objective... and I do not consider this to be leaving it until the last minute (I had almost 6 hours left of November when we finished!)... I choose to call it excellent project management!!

I enjoyed it so much, that I plan to do it again... but I think I will take my phone!!

Until next time!

W xx

P.S. In November I did a fabulous 310km of training! Hooray for me!!

Got that Monkey off my Back!!

Well finally, I have cycled more than 399km!! Hooray for me!! I can totally do this!

Tally as of today is 440km in total and 249km this month to date.

Yesterday I did stage 3 of the TdF a whole 7 minutes faster than the last time I did it (which was about three weeks ago). Excellent progress!! AND it includes some really big hills!!

Today, Josie and I cycled 30km on real bikes out on the road. It was so much fun. It is a beautiful day and for once, the Easterly wind was not bad. Even managed some hills. Josie asked if I wanted to do a short steep hill or a long slow one... What sort of a question is that?? Have we met?? I don't want to do either!! Anyhoo, we did both! Chatted the whole way so it seemed really easy. I am proud to report that Josie saw progress! Hooray for me!!

When we met this morning, Josie goes "Hey Wendy, you look FABULOUS!!" I thought she was being sincere... but then realized she had read my blog!! So it made me feel awesome... for about 10 seconds!!


We received a whole lot of pictures from the 3rd graders at our school to take to the girls we are visiting in Cambodia at the plan school. They are so fantastic!! One class did what they want to be when they grow up. Another did what they like to do at school. We are going to make up a book of them. I will share some with you all when it is all put together. Looks like the 5th graders will do some too. The support from our wonderful school community is so awesome!


OK, better go be a Mom and hang out with the boys.

Until next time.

W x

99 Days to Go

OK... so 99 days to go... and yes, I am starting to get a leetle bit nervous...

On the good news side... I have been expanding my repertoire of reading and riding. Turns out you can also conduct code reviews, update technical specifications, catch up on emails and read. Wow. I wonder what else I can do???

Just so you know, it is less successful for conference calls... apparently the puffing is a bit off-putting.

Also on the good news side... I have done 200km of training this month to date. Hooray for me!! AND 125km so far this week. Now let's focus on how great that is and not dwell on the obvious question about why I did so little before this week (Quiz Night, travelling and the sniffles are my excuses!!).

A couple of things are making me a nervous.

Firstly, I still have not cycled 399km since this journey started. Now from my side, it feels like I am spending every spare minute on that bike.. and I still have not made it... goodness me, just how long does it take to cycle 399km?

I though I was getting over this obsession with the distance, but apparently not. Turns out I have just been going la la la la ... repeat as necessary!! La la la la... Maybe just once more and then I will be good... la la la la...

OK

So despite having cycled for 1,178 minutes since I started... goodness me, that sure is a big number ... perhaps if I work in hours... so that is 19.64000556 hours I have cycled 392km. Now that is pretty close to 399km but it is difficult to ignore that I have not quite made it!!

Now, I have definitely made excellent progress... but is it enough??

And secondly, is it a bad sign that I have sore knees? I am not 100% sure that the clicking sound in my left knee yesterday was a good thing...

Still onwards and upwards... I can do this!!

Oooohhhh, I forgot to mention my exciting news... what a goose!! Now over the last couple of weeks, at least 4 people have asked if I have lost weight. The answer in case you are interested is YES!! Hooray for Me!! Turns out exercising for 1,178 minutes has helped me to lose weight. Who would have imagined?? Now truth be told it is not a lot, but it is something... So I think it is important that you all start out our next conversation with "Hey Wendy, you look FABULOUS!! Have you lost some weight??"... because if you don't then I will know you are not reading my blog!!

Until next time!!

W x

Reading and Riding

Have you ever been to the gym and seen people on the bikes or treadmills reading magazines or books? I always hated those people (except you of course if you are one of those people... then I just snorted mildly!!)... I mean how can you read and exercise at the same time?? I am always too busy puffing to consider reading. And wouldn't the book get sweaty? And if it didn't aren't you being slack??

Someone I work with suggested that I could read while riding when I was saying how I was having trouble fitting training into my schedule. Again I snorted. Told him it was not possible.

Anyway yesterday I decided to give it a try... since I really needed to train and I had some documents to review... Now obviously this was on the TdF trainer rather than on the road...

Anyhoo... it appears that I was wrong. Goodness me that tasted bitter!!

I did 20km in 55 minutes whilst reading! Now I will acknowledge that is not my fastest time... but it is still good training... and I did not obsess about the time or speed or quite frankly anything else during my ride. And the best part was that even BAD Wendy was happy with this approach!!

BTW, 73.2km in three days!! Hooray for me!!

Later Alligator!

W x

GOOD Wendy v BAD Wendy

103 days to go... OK, so I still have time!!

Today I wanted to share some things I have learned so far on my journey...

1. Having exercise gear in the house does not help you to gain fitness or lose weight if you don't actually use them. I know right?? How can that be??
2. Sometimes you just need the right motivation to get off your patootie and make time for exercise. So for me obviously it is helping to educate and empower girls. But thanks to the wonderful advice of one of my boy's godfathers... I need to pick up the training or I will be last to make it to post ride drinks each day... and what if they run out?? So on the back of that I have decided to start riding 40km per day (or at least trying to!!)
3. Apparently, your body needs carbs to generate energy. I thought carbs were bad!! BUT the good news is that if I have a bad cycling day (like this morning!) then it is not that I suck, but rather that I need carbs. What an excellent excuse!! So after my training, I ate pancakes!
4. Also, in good news... DVH told me that I do not need to cycle 40km in one go to get the benefit of the training. Thank goodness! He said it is fine to do half in the morning and half in the evening. What a relief... Now I just need to actually do it!!
5. People are incredibly generous! So many people have helped me out already... donations, coming to the Quizzie, advice on training and cycling things in general, cheering me on, reading my blog. It sure makes you feel good. So thank you all!!

Now to the training... 

Yesterday, I did Stage 4 of the TdF. 19.1 km of up hill (I will ignore the bit of down hill at the beginning!). Goodness me it was hard. 8 degree inclines are just mean and unnecessary people! Still, I got through it... and guess what... I missed the time by 14 seconds! Good grief, that just means I have to do it again!

I was going to ride again yesterday afternoon, but it was so hot! 37 degrees in the shade... and since the weather will be mild on our ride, I decided my time would be much better spent in the pool! It is important not to overdo it don't you think?? Wouldn't want to get dehydrated!!

This morning I rode intervals, since no matter what way you cut my progress to date, I am not good at hills! I thought it was just a lack of strength... but DVH told me you use different muscles on hills... obviously these muscles are not yet totally on board. BAD muscles!! So with my new knowledge about carbs... I was clearly lacking them this morning. I started out planning to ride 30km... then 20... then 1 hour... then 45 minutes... then 30 minutes... then 15... then decided I should stop and do it later... then I had a stern chat with myself and we agreed to 10km... then 30 minutes... then 15km... then 45 minutes... then 20km... then 1 hour... then BAD Wendy decided that was just cruel... so we agreed on 55 minutes. 

So I did 21.1km in 55 minutes which seems pretty good to me!! I have now done a grand total of ... wait for it... prepare to be amazed... well maybe not... 308km of training since I started.

I have decided that I need to motivate myself the way you would eat an elephant... one small bite at a time!!

So over the coming week... hopefully GOOD Wendy will triumph over BAD Wendy... but just in the training, because as we all know, BAD Wendy is much more fun!!

W x

Quizzie Photos Available

Hello People!!
The wonderful Louise has posted up the photos from the Quizzie. As usual, they are amazing. I am sure she has captured everyone who was there! If you love them, remember you can book LuLu to come and do a photo shoot for your family or business.

Please take a look...
Quiz Night Photos by Busy Circle

Some samples to wet your appetite:

Dorothy and me in the kitchen preparing platters.. thank goodness she came along to help!

Delivering platters with my boys... oh dear, we have a different table list to Josie... hope no-one notices!!

Josie and Wendy Quiz... blue hands for Josie and purple for Wendy. Thanks to Hugh for the 260 hand prints!!

Paulie... what can I say!!??

Again, I am just speechless! But I totally love these photos!

Thanks again to everyone who came along.. what an awesome night we all had!!

W x

Quizzie in Pictures

OK, so I have to say that I took a total of no pictures at the Quizzie! BAD Wendy!!

Luckily Josie took a few which I will share with you. Our wonderful friend Louise took loads of shots on the night so I may share some more as we move forward...

The Hall - a local community hall. Not very attractive but a good size:

So then we decorated it nice and bright:

We had wonderful balloon helpers:

Then I had to do some cleaning (where are my Festivus gloves??) and prepare the kitchen:

There was a very important job of testing the keg... even though I am not in the picture, I can assure you that I helped out!! I am pleased to say it was GOOD!!

Beer testing again.... it is really important to be sure don't you think??

Louise and Josie were in charge of the fabulous photos (we bought this one! How cool is that!!):

It was so hot, our boys got tuckered out from all of the helping:

BTW the picture on the left was the one which Mr Adams "robbed" from my Hugh!!

A quick picture with our wonderful kids before we leave to get ready for the big night::

And then my favorite so far... but what on earth is he up to?? Can't be good I am thinking...

And later in the evening with about half of our guests... obviously any anxiety around whether people would come was clearly not required:

Hope you enjoyed sharing this!!

W xx

Quizzie

Last night We had our Quizzie and it was awesome!! So many people came along to support us and helped us in 100 different wonderful ways.

Let me share some interesting things with you. Hmmm, I think maybe a list is in order!!

1. Our kids were awesome. Helped out with setting up and catering and anything else we needed done
2. Friends came along and pitched in with setting up and tidying up at the end of the night. No-one was asked, they just did it!
3. We were running short of change, so a guest grabbed some notes and went out to a nearby store to get some change. Again without being asked. She just jumped right in and helped. Amazing!
4. Friends donated heaps of prizes which helped out immensely with keeping our costs down so that more money could go to the girls.
5. We had four teenage girls helping for their school community service program. They were absolutely amazing. Did everything they were asked to do and more. Always with grace. I hope their families and school are proud of them.
6. A friend brought along an old fridge which had been converted into a huge icebox to keep drinks cold. AND he brought it already filled with ice. How cool is that!
7. So many people helped out is so many ways. A big thank you to them all

The only "downside" of the night was the bidding war on one of the artworks which were being auctioned... Mr Adams apparently needed the Union Jack made of cars for his office more than we needed it for Hugh's bedroom! Luckily I know the artist (Hi Louise!!) so I can source one myself. Ha!

We ended up having a tie for first! Shame we hadn't thought to have some spare questions!! So Josie and I had to pop outside and come up with some. 

We had a really cool round of Josie and Wendy questions... Hugh and I had made cut out hand-prints so people could raise their hand for Josie (blue) or Wendy (purple). It was so much fun. 

I will share the questions with you... I wonder how many you can get correct! Be careful though... some of them might be sneaky tricks!

Question

1.       Who is taller? (easy one to warm up – shame on anyone who gets this wrong!)

2.       Who competes in triathlon

3.       Who would rather drink champagne that cycle

4.       Who loves French food

5.       Who wears size 5 sneakers

6.       Who was suspended from their exclusive private high school

7.       Who’s bike is called Stella? (Do it like on Sienfeld)

8.       Who is faster cycling up hills

9.       Who is faster cycling down hills

10.   Who represented their country in show jumping as a teenager

11.   Who’s favorite color is blue

12.   Who’s helmet is grey

13.   Who has pink cycling gloves

14.   Who rode further last Saturday

15.   Who has done more training km’s

16.   Who’s first boyfriend was named Herbert

17.   Who has been known to call a hill a small incline

18.   Who has been known to call a small incline a hill

19.   Who wants to reverse the direction of the ride due to prevailing wind direction

20.   Who was more surprised that Wendy agreed to do this cycle (issue just with cycling not the cause which is awesome)

21.   Who was more organized to the GGS Congo presentation

22.   Who worked as a professional hand model during university

23.   Who was first to become a Mum

Anyway, I am so proud of Josie and I and all of our helpers. It was a fabulous night!

I am just sooooo glad that I do not do that for a living!! I am exhausted!

W xx

Need more Torque

Yes I mean Torque not Talk. I was explaining to Paul that the little legs will only go so fast... and then I get all tuckered out. So I have started doing more strength training. I think I am a tortoise not a hare.

Being as how he is full of useless facts... I mean very interesting and pertinent information... he explained to me all about torque versus power. Here is what I heard... blah, blah, blah gear ratios... blah, blah, blah acceleration... blah, blah, blah... blah, speed, blah...... goodness me, is that a butterfly over there (obviously that was me and not him)... and so on...

If I had done him the courtesy of actually listening, I would now understand that torque makes things go fast quickly (acceleration I believe) but does not have a high top speed. Whereas power gets there more slowly but has a high top end. There were numerous examples provided of each... I know right!!??

So maybe saying I have power is nicer than saying I am a tortoise... so let's go for that.

76km this month to date. Hooray for me!

267km total training done to date. Less hooray for me... well I think it is totally hooray for me... but still short of the 399km of our ride.

OK. Back to today's list of urgent jobs!  Why does it just keep getting longer??

W x

One and a half hours!

So in a totally hooray for me day, I just cycled for one and a half hours on the TdF trainer!

So after spending the morning making 'hands' for the quiz night... can't tell you why because that will spoil the surprise... I chose the hottest part of the day to go and train. Note to self, maybe plan that out better next time.

So proving that it is all mind over matter, let me share my ride with you:

1. I really need to do some distance training so I will cycle 30km today on the flat
2. OK, I am feeling a bit puffed, maybe 25-30km
3. Look at the boys in the pool... it looks so inviting
4. Goodness, is that fan working? It is really quite hot in here
5. OK, I will definitely cycle for 1 hour and then jump in the pool
6. Oh dear, Paul put the cover back on... I guess I will not be jumping in the pool after my ride
7. OK, I can do one hour
8. Gosh, I am getting tired, perhaps just a little rest. Josie told me on her last ride in Cuba they would have a drinks break about every 45 minutes, and everyone would get at least a 10 minute break
9. OK, so I will definitely ride until the end of the next song and then I can take a small break
10. Maybe I should conserve my energy for tomorrow
11. OK, need to change my song list... choose shorter songs
12. I don't even like this song... perhaps I should just stop now
13. Oh, is the computer broken... it seems to have been on that time and distance for ever... must be broken... oh no, it just ticked forward
14. Oh look... I have done an hour! Surely that is enough... can I stop now?
15. No Wendy, you can do 25km
16. Do I have too?
17. YES
18. OK, that is just a few more songs... I can do 25km
19. That would be a record for me, so there is really no need to go to 30km
20. Oh my goodness, my patootie is hurting
21. OK, just one more song. You can do it Wendy
22. Actually, I am feeling OK
23. Yay, I am up to 25km
24. OK, I will stop now
25. But you could do 30km
26. But I don't want to
27. OK, I will split the difference and do 27.5km
28. What an excellent plan!
29. Good job Wendy
30. Again, choose shorter songs!
31. Do I really have time for this? I still need to make more hands.. and I need to buy wine and beer (for the quiz night!)... and I need to buy two birthday presents for next week... I guess I could do that on Monday... but if I do it today then I could stop now
32. OK, I made it to 27.5lm.
33. Good job Wendy
34. That is a new record
35. You can stop now
36. But if I keep going, I could make it to 30km
37. Well I really want to do 30km... but I would also like to stop now
38. OK, I can do 30km
39. Should my legs be getting this sore?
40. Just two more songs
41. WOW, I made it to 30km!!
42. Hooray for me!!
43. You know Wendy, it is almost one hour and 30 minutes... you can do a little bit more
44. But I don't want to
45. OK, it is just one more song... I can do this
46. Hooray for me!! One hour and thirty minutes!!
47. Awesome job!

So I rode 30.8km and burned 642 calories!!

And in other news... Paul was asked to be the scorer for the Quiz Night. So what does he do? Builds an app of course. A very cool app which is available on any smart phone... What, isn't that what everyone does??

Like I say to my boys when they say they just want to live in a "normal" family... who's to say we aren't normal?

Until next time!

W x