Quick update

It has been a great couple of weeks.
Brian left on monday to fly via Denver to I taly.
I got lost attempting to pre ride the karapoti course on tuesday... 6 hours later found my sorry way out of the forest. (2 bottles, 1 banana, no map, no friends, obvoiusly No clue either!) Tomorrows race of only 30 miles may seem shorter at least.
Otherwise things are fantastic, I won the national finals on sunday... Happy to be getting fitter and psyched to be pushed by Bob for a hard race.
I've been enjoying the last few days of NZ summer and looking forward to coming home on Tuesday.
Hope everyone is well!
Cheers
Jen

Mountains to the Sea

Brian made it to Westport last week, after racing the US winter triathlon champs in Devils thumb, CO on the way. He was 2nd in this event... check out www.insidetri.com for the video and report. He was super psyched and is now travelling from NZ to Italy for the World Champs in March.

Congrats to our friend Keri Nelson for absolutely rocking it in a strong womens field to win handily. Way to go!!

In typical Brian style he came in 'all good' bar my not picking him up on time and starving. So we drove the combi to the nearest fish and chip shop so he could have some lunch. Fish, Chips a Paua pattie and some L&P later....

Westport has been having a heat wave trading in the usual wet weather for hot fine days. We taught a mountain bike clinic on Friday up in the old mining town of Denniston where a few locals are building some fine mtb tracks.

The kids where fantastic and keen so it was great. The rain didn't dissapoint and by the end of the riding it was absolutely pouring down. Some of the boys wanted to ride the trail down the hill... (hard core) but we guiltily turned down their invite and snuck off to the drifter pub and cafe down the hill in Granity to wait out the rain with a good cold one!

Saturday dawned clear and warm for the 25th year of the Buller Marathon. Westport has a population of about 5 - 6000 people yet Marathon weekend pulled in 2900 competitors so town was hopping. Brian hops in his first half marathon and ran a 1 hour 13 :47 to finish a nice 2nd place. Winning his 3rd pair of running shoes in a month (its good as we are the same size.... !) Not a bad week eh... Winter tri nationals on Monday (NZ time) and then a half on Sat at 23 degrees C.

Yesterday we rode down the coast to Greymouth... for a mellow spin. Ha ha... with a head wind all the way I was huffing and puffing my way trying to stay on his wheel. (good thing one of us had raced the day before!)

We turned up at Nana's place and where greeted with a stiff Gin and Tonic... I was on my nose by the end of the glass. Today we again went to Nana's for a dinner of Whitebait patties... the best thing since sliced bread.

cheers

Jen and Brian.

Day Off

I rode from Greymouth to Westport yesterday which on the MTB takes about 4 hours plus stops. I rode up there on friday with a pack and it killed my neck so yesterday put my bag on the bus (brilliant ... $4) ... Punakiki is about half way and has a really good cafe. A soy latte and tofu/roast vege pastie made for enjoyable commuting.
I have been on a honey kick lately, there are so many wild varieties around here. An organic roadside stand yesterday had Manuka and creamed Borage, adding to the growing collection in Mums kitchen. I think theres 5 different opened jars now ... oh well Brian turns up tomorrow so we'll get through them.

Today is one of those rare true days off, without work/travel or training. I have a recipe for a no added sugar/oils xmas fruit cake that I've been dying to make.

Our teamate Tomarra has set up her website check it out. Tomarra and Bruce Mulhfields blogs are: www.fitnesswithlupus.com www.racingat50.com

enjoy

Jen

the wild west coast

North of Westport is the 'Imagine Cafe'.. so far its been the best coffee .. which is saying something!

When the sun shines there is no place on earth like the West Coast of NZ.

I drove to Blackball yesterday to ride the croesus track and learned rather early on in the ride that swingbridges where a fact of life. carbon soles and stainless steel - makes me think of Lea's elbow.

Prior to the West coast I had an absolute blast In Nelson. Great riding, beaches, food, weather and people... what more can you ask for?

Bec and Lisa on the Rimutaka - Takaka hill.
Claudia and Bec.

The NZ champs where in Nelson.. I finshed 2nd to a speedy Anya. The most exciting part of the race was it being over and now I can Ride......But that said it was a really cool and challenging and fun course. They like it steep in Nelson.

My friend Bec has lent us her 1973 v dub combi van for our travels making nearly all my dreams come true!

Brian races in a winter tri tomorrow and then joins me on Wednesday. Can't wait.

Cheers

Jen

Starting in the South

Dunedin is pretty great really ... Old houses, beautiful countryside, amazing beaches, fantastic artsy cafes with excellent food and coffee. Awesome.

Air pacific left my bike in the US , thanks R and R sports of Dunedin for lending me a ride. 3 1/2 days later my bike did arrive safe and sound.

What a house, the garden was awesome too, old and established.

Bobs multi talents extend beyond the bike and such. Tristan got a rather stylie Mullet.

And then there's the weather, the down side to Dunedin. Arather rude awakening to my welcome home. 2 hours 20 of mud, clay, mechanicals, I finished the XC race with no left grip, A lap of granny granny and big ring to big cog. But a dunk and wash of the bike in the river midway through gave me 2 gears in the back and the middle and big up front. Fun? kind of but not something you should put your valued respected bike through.

I finished 4th for some valuable UCI points, congrats to the girls who put together good races.

Now for some sunny (hopefully) Nelson. Its really fun to be here and did I mention how good the food is?

Meanwhile in the snow Brian has been tearing it up on the winter tri scene winning the first event.... www.insidetriathlon.com

As I was racing yesterday I thought about Brian and how If I was going to call him I better bloody well suck up the race and finish it.

cheers

Jen

Hurrah to Winter

My leaving date on Sunday is fast approaching so in addition to getting ready I have been doing my best to make the most of the snow. Ohio pass in the winter gets groomed by the snow mobile association at least once a week, making it a skate skiers dream paradise. In 4 visits I have seen 3 snowmobilers and a dog sled crew. (perfect!)

Today I took my strength endurance intervals onto Ohio Pass, which is entertaining really as the difference in effort between the intervals and recovery rather minimal... you still have to get up the hill. It makes the time pass nicely though and is 1000 times more enjoyable than riding the trainer.

Last Sunday Gale, Brian and I skied at Mill creek, which was fantastic, heaps of snow and great single track touring. Get it while you can!

the flip side of gear

Is maintaining it.

It is -16 degrees here this morning. Brian has gone up to Crested Butte to race in the downhill Derby skate ski event. I've said - yeah no thanks and shall stay right here untill the temp rises to somewhere above zero.

Brian has been prepping his bike for some upcoming winter triathlons www.5430sports.com He has fat, meaty tires on them a 2.6 on the front and a 2.5 on the rear. I used them last week and rode them in the snow. Not wanting to flat I rode them with 23 psi and they where Rad! Floaty and grippy and FUN!

I am also playing with the set up of my hardtail... as I'm taking it to NZ . We've put a Reba fork on the front with 100mm of travel instead of the 80mm Sid fork I'd been using. Its raised my position though and meant having to drop the handlebar position down.

This side of riding a bike is something I'm not so into... at all....yet it makes Brian annoyed if its loaded onto him. So, I spent yesterday morning b4 work undoing all the stuff on the handlebar and transferring it over to a new flat bar and lower stem. The new bar is a Bontrager Big sweep bar that is flat but has 12 degrees of sweep, so it feels much like the riser bar I've been using.

Fueled by coffee I'd drunk while 'working' I had to get out and try it. Brian was jonsing too so he came with. It was snowing and blowing and only 20 degrees, but theres something appealing about riding when it seems silly and the tires rocked. I could plow plough through stuff you'd never think you'd make and get through. I did have my first crash of the year, in town on ice... bike went one way and me the other and my neck is stiff today... but It was so great to be out there.

Enjoy

Jenny and Brian.