2012

For last year's words belong to last year's language and next year's words await another voice. And to make an end is to make a beginning.


T.S. Eliot

Korean RPM

is quite different from LM RPM on the Terrace:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLX3qpfKv-Y

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnwrs4osJyc&feature=related

as is "European" RPM:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGfNM2bkBMw&feature=related

Happy New Year

Yeah, I know, it's not the new year yet!  But you will recall from my last entry, I am now a week or so ahead, re Christmas/New Year celebrations!!!

The year in review:  There's not really a lot to say, if anything!, that I haven't already commented on in terms of looking back on 2011. I achieved completion of Taupo and walking the Milford Track.  That was good as they were significant goals I set.  I established a habit where I exercise regularly.  This didn't correspond with a significant weight loss over the year.  This indicates that I need to change and refine further my exercise and eating.  As always, I know in my head what will get me over the line in terms of executing complete change, I just need to do it.  Nevertheless I made progess.  That is key.  I want to make more progress though.  I don't just want to to give myself an "achieved" when I refelct on the year that was.  I want an excellence (eek, MoE National Standards terms!). Therein lies what has been a barrier that I have previously allowed to hold me back. If I can't have excellence then I'll settle for less.

It's important to me that when I look back on 2011, I can be confident I sorted a few obstacles in my head that had become road blocks, and removed what had been a black cloud over my life. Now I need to completely let those obstacles go and move forward.  So I mastered that route.  Now I need to travel new routes.  That's what makes the journey the journey.  Not simply repeating the pathway of the past that is known, but discovering new pathways. The focus is now not on what was, (that's not great english, but best describes things!) and focus on what is, and what will be.

All I want for 2012 is to live well, experience joy, be happy, be passionate about all I do, love life and others.    

The above statement is in a nutshell what I hope for in 2012.  I've osciallated whether to be specific than the above statement on my Blog.   Cos, you know, "the list" its quite personal.  But then I figure if I post it "publically", well, publically in terms of a wider readership than just my eyes, the intent is it will make myself more accountable.  So, what I resovlve to do in 2012 is below.

The list is not completely fitness related.  I've included "everything" because, the non fitness stuff relates to my overall wellbeing.  Fitness is a key component to both my physical and mental wellbeing,  but the other stuff is important for filling in the grace notes and creating the complete harmony that I strive to achieve.  So, I've inlcuded a few explanatory notes, where applicable:


Health
Reach 65kg by my birthday, 18th June, 2012.  This is the big one that always alludes me every year.  Although not in 2012!  Body watch out!  This gives me 6 months.  With a proper structured fitness and eating programme, it should be possible.  Hard work, but possible.
Have my teeth checked - I don't really want to go to a new dentist.  I find it quite difficult. The reality is I certainly can't go to my 'old' dentist.  Seeing a dentist is one of my realities.
Keep my mind occupied with things and experiences that bring joy.
Keep a daily record/journal of what I eat and exercise I complete.
Keep a daily (personal) journey of thoughts and stuff - this for personal reasons will be seperate from my blog.
Keep my blog going.

Fitness
Complete the events on my event calendar
Add events to my event calendar post March
Complete 10,000 kms road kms before Taupo 2012
Take at least 3 hours off my 2011 time for Taupo
Be able to run 5km
Build in resistance and weight training to my fitness programme
Build in some Body Balance sessions
Swim more
Keep an actaul record of my cycle "milage"
Tramp the Southern Cross Traverse
Tramp the Rimutakas
House
Keep my house clean and tidy - important becasue it creates that feeling of good enegry, everything is in order, and there is space to do more.

Garden
Improve the health of my roses.
Keep the garden and driveway completely organic
Get the vegetable garden completely sustainable, so that I can reduce the fruit and vegetables I buy - this is partly a cost thing - but more a philosophy thing that the bulk of the food I eat is grown out of my own garden, completely organic and fresh.
Improve my lawn.
Plant more fruit trees.

Work
Secure a new job that I find rewarding and uses my "skills, knowledge, and experience".  A job where I can be 100% passionate about the work.  (My current job has been good, a good healthy workplace, good people to work with, but I can't say I'm 100%  passionate about it - and I know that probably showed towards the end of 2011)

Finance
Pay my outstanding tax from 2011 ;-(
Get an accountant to help me work out my outstanding tax from 2011 :-(
Keep to a weekly budget - spend less on takeaway coffee and lunches (make my own lunch at least 4 x a week)
Develop and keep to a savings plan - this is a hard one, especially when I do more! and want to buy things like a car, new bike, travel, and new clothes.  Even if I save and get those, it will be progress.

Travel
Update my passport
Go to the Cook Islands or Fiji for my birthday?
Go to Germany/Switzerland/UK ? - contigent on how well the savings plan goes!

Friends/Family
Spend more time with friends and family
Make new friends.

Transport
Buy a new (second hand) car
Upgrade my bike once I get to 65kg


Things I will do when I am 65kg
Purchase (and wear):

• a black "shift" "label" dress
• high heels
• FMN boots
• jeans
• a Tissot new watch.

Host a formal celebration dinner party - or maybe just a party - where everyone has to wear a black dress!


Random
Give blood regularly - not only is it an easy thing to do re "giving", it reminds me of my commitment to "public health", and also of Mum, and how people's lives can depend on that blood
Make an effort to speak to my friendly neighbours more, and get to know the neighbours I don't know
Read more for pleasure (some people think I am "well read".  The truth though is I don't read much for pleasure.  So to aim for 10 books in 2012 - would significantly increase my reading).

• Read at least 5 biographies
• Read at least 5 novels

That's about it.  That's the aspirational list.  I may have missed something.


Happy 2012 - The best is yet to come ;-)

Thoughts

It's pretty fair to say I've suspended my exercise programme for a few weeks.  The plus side of this, is I'm a week ahead on the Christmas excess thing.  I'll pull it back on line with effect next Tuesday.  I'll have to because as of this Thursday, that makes it 12 weeks until the Grape Ride.

So, here's a few (random) Christmas thoughts:

I hope whatever you do this Christmas:  your heart is full of joy,  your stomach full of good food and wine,  your cheeks sore from laughing so hard.  Wear your seatbelt, don't drink and drive, do thirty star jumps every day (who needs Core when there are old skool star jumps?), don't wear white pants (unless you really do have hot legs), cycle like the world is going to end in 45 minutes (oh, that's just RPM on a good day;-), do watch The Lion King, The Sound of Music, and Rocky, don't run with scissors, do give a stranger a high five – especially if they are from the Hutt, do undertake at least one random anonymous act of kindness, swim in random locations, don't forget to smile at the cashier people when you're doing your Christmas shopping, do put on high energy music and try and dance furiously, just dance whenever possible,  wear a heart monitor and see how high your heart beat can go in your hallway,  listen to music that calms the soul, don't forget to  put sunscreen on, breathe when your swimming or diving – or try not breathing, sing a little or a lot, cycle like you have all day to get round Lake Taupo, get to feel both soil and sand, practice safe sex, get lost in a forest, fly,  do at least one thing that frightens you, drink lots of water – it always makes the hangover less stressful, talk to your neighbours,  savour the sun, and  don’t kill any screaming kids (or their caregivers/parents at thesupermarket – ok, this last one, may just be applicable to me ;-) .

I'll aim to tick off a few of the above over the Christmas break - I hope you do too,

Also, I will be getting a few decent road rides in - once I rediscover where I left my bike? ;-)

I'm having a blog holiday for a few days. I’ll be back, once I’ve been away –  likely to be before next year. Probably next week.  So, I'll save my "formal end of year review" and thoughts on the year that was and the universe until then.

Just booked tickets for RK in Feb - nothing like a bit of middle of the road Irish music.  Not a Christmas tune, but I like this tune - reminds me when I had a passport;-) - which is a random connection:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuJrEBtmM1Q


To be continued....

6015

That's my bib number for this event:

http://www.graperide.co.nz/default.asp?PageID=101

Sh*t, it's locked in now!!!!

As an alternative to completing any exercise, I’ve booked my ticket to the Graperide – 24 March.

This is a huge act of faith in the universe – and myself! – as I haven’t (yet) secured:

a)      A support team – my Taupo team seem to be deterred by the “strait”.

b)      Fellow riders.

Anyway, I decided I’d kick myself (figurately speaking) if I let this event lapse from my event calendar.  Also,  I think this is doable within the timeframe (three months from Christmas Eve!).  Unlike the Ohakune and round Taranaki rides.  I think those events, without the luxury of a 6am start would push me beyond what I'm physically capable of -  even with a solid 3 months training.  That extra 4 weeks the Graperide better make a difference!  I’ll have to make it make a difference. 

I reckon if you already had a base fitness, then one could enter the Leppin Magnum = 202 km.  Like that would kind of be what one would expect a RPM instructor to be able to do - with ease? ;-)  

Speaking of kicking myself, I seem to have a quite a few bruises on my legs – more than normal.  I’m not sure why this is.  Although it probably didn’t help falling over the firewood – when I was laying it out to dry on the driveway.  Probbaly didn’t help. 

In contrast to yesterdays Christmas tune, here's my favourite Advent hymn: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWLltU9ayFc

yeah, I like to mix it up!

Patterns

This is the first year since I've been living in the Wairarapa I haven't had a real Christmas tree.  So, it breaks a pattern for me.  Having secured the best decorated tree title for several years in a row (against I would note some stiff competition) - it doesn't quite hold the same challenge any more.  As I'm going to be away at Christmas, I decided not to do the tree thing this year.  Although I do sort of miss having a real tree - the smell, lights, and "dressing" it up in all its majestic glory.  This will my first Christmas away from Wellington/Wairarapa for a very long time.  This got me thinking about "breaking the patterns".  It can be good to do - break certain patterns, and create new ones.  It's the last thing I need to do re dropping my weight, and acquiring the level of fitness I really want - break certain patterns - and create new ones.

The last couple of weeks have made me realise that even though I have created new and good habits, I can easily slip back into the old patterns.  The key thing for me is to remember is to ask myself which patterns I want to use my energy and focus on.  It's a basic thing, and a reality of my journey that I have to stop and ask myself this fundamental question.  Once I have done that, the answer always seems easy.  It is the positive patterns.

With various comitments it hasn't been a great week exercise wise.  I need though to find the time to do exercise - even if its not RPM or on the bike - plus its only weeks away to some of the "event"s I have made a commitment to complete in 2012.

I don't think I've posted any Irish or celtic music - which is kind of odd, as I like it a lot, and some of the beats run through my veins  - so here's a song I like:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwHyuraau4Q&feature=related

53 x 52

Managed to get to the gym today.  My last RPM session of the year with the T lady. Very inspired selection of crossing the best of RPM 53 with RPM 52- at least in my opinion!  I think I recall the T lady singing - must have either been a) happy or b) post assessment?!  Anyway, I think this now means I've now had a year or so of RPM intro, and I'm ready to move from my brown belt to a higher grading, or something like that.

Today I think the the challenge was  laid down for 2012 to beat the T lady in a road time trial.  Unrealistic?   Not if I finally drop the extra weight....Maybe I should set a date for a ride off? It would of course need to be post Taupo 2012!!!
 
Good workout.  Energy levels have lifted, which is v.good. 

First load of firewood delivered.  Heading outside to now to shuffle my firewood.

and then heading off to Gizzy for a kanohi ki kanohi hui for a couple of days.  So, the blog will be unattended during this time while I attend to other stuff.

Last time I went to Gizzy, I set the Taupo challenge.  So this will be a good time to have a bit of a review/goal session planning time with the other Lead Advisor in the Koru Lounge :-)

Today's workout comprised clearing the driveway for the Firewood Man to deliver my firewood.  It's an odd(ish) thing the annual delivery of my firewood.  The Firewood Man lives across the road from me with his Mum.  He is about my age. 

When I want firewood, which I've learnt is best if you can have two seasons ahead, and also ideally purchase prior to Christmas - actually, I don't really need firewood for next year, I just love firewood - and I've also come to look forward the "ritual of the purchase".  Also one never knows when one may need to 'winter over' as I did this year  - thanks to KC and the Sunshine Band. 

So, this is how it goes: I look out for the Firewood Man in his front garden with his Mum.  This then necessitates a review of her garden - which is in pretty good shape for a lady in her 80s.  The Firewood Man's Mum has lived in my street for at least 50 years or so, initially two doors along from me, and then she moved in with her son a few years ago.  I find her pretty amazing because she also has this amazing array of homespun wool and knitting from the sheep the Firewood Man has in a paddock somewhere.

We then discuss whether its a good year for macrocarpa or not.  I really don't know what this means, other than preffered purchase catergory.  Last year I got on the macrocarpa list.  This year apparently mac is in short supply - which I interpret as not making the preferred locals list this year.  I don't really mind, as I probably will purchase either Mac or Manuka locally via Trade Me.

Anyway, the ritual of the purchase of the firewood was almost completed tonight when the Firewood Man was waiting for me at his gate to return home from the train. Actually, he waits at his gate quite a lot in Summer to say hello to various people... He then says he can deliver one load tomorrow, another on Thursday or Friday depending on the rain, and the remaining load in the new year.  He then hands me a small piece of paper written in his Mum's handwriting with the price on it - $300.00 for the two loads before Christmas.

It's this bit of the transaction I find most intriguing, because he does it every year.  Hands me this small piece of paper with the price on it.  We never discuss the price.  I just say something like "Ok, I'll drop the money off to you tomorrow".  I kind of think maybe he can't read, or do the numbers (so have empathy for him on that one).  It doesn't worry me if that's the case, I just though find it intriguing, and a little sad if that is the case.  Like, what will he do when he can't rely on his Mum?

The final part of the ritual always necssitates discussing the train ride home, and how the weather was in Wellington.

Oh, today's exercise also comprised an hour or so of "grubbing" - the garden is "rampant" in a way a wish my exercise and weight loss would be!

Excited to discover I have green tomatos, and ready for eating: zuchinnis, rubarb, red currants, strawberries, raspberries, broad beans, and yes, lettuces - although only a few left now.

I love firewood, which is why I've devoted so much text on this post to it!  It is though, as an astute reader you've probably worked out, also an easy distraction for me.

Energy levels are higher today - but I guess its true to say, I'm regrouping on a few things as Christmas draws closer.  I think overall this is a healthy thing to be doing.   I have my draft Event Calendar and all that, but I actaully need to be a little more specific about specific goals I don't want to escape my grasp in 2012.

Bikefancy

I love this blog:

http://bikefancy.blogspot.com

Sometimes I think I'd like to do the equivalent in Carterton - where people ride an assortment of bikes for functional purposes - like getting to work or going shopping.  Which of course is not to say that biking for exercising is not functional eh?  It would also be good to do a version of the Wellington bike scence.

I'm not sure where my energy levels have disappeared to?  Somewhere.   They are there, but they keep trying to hide from me :/

Four words

My four words:  lazy, genuine, happy, and patient. 

RPM 53 x 2

Ride two of release 53 with the team duo of the T lady and the Young American, who I noted was calling the T lady Miss T (omg, just watching Tabitha the hairdresser lady on TV - Tabitha looks like the T lady's big sister - although probably not to the T lady!).  Back to the page: good team instruction.  Adds in more variety.

My favourite tracks remain 1, 4, & 7.  There’s a line in track 6 I like re feeling the music.   I like that line.

I find track 3 “distracting” because it makes a reference to 1983.  So, it puts me back in 1983.  Maybe All Night Long was released in 1983 – definitely the 8os – I remember  86 being the year I liked LR – “Say You Say me” – in fact, I have the piano music for that track…

I think the Young American noted she was five when All Night Long was released.  So, while she's young, shes not that young!  At least she had been born!  At least the back row I rode in today comprised riders that I can be confident were not 5 years old when All Night Long was released.

Good workout today.  Consiouus though that I'm only really breaking even with my workouts at the moment, (maybe not even, even) in terms of the wider weight loss goal,  due to the food intake not being that great over the last week or so.   My body forgot to stop carbo loading post Taupo.  Now I need to get it to crave protein -.  Good protein.  And lettuce!   I have a heap of healthy lettuces in the garden ready to eat, much tastier and healthier than the prepackaged lettuce from the Supermarket. I just don't really feel like eating them!  So, I just need to transform the lettuces over the next few days into meals I do want to eat - with lettuce!  Althouh having said that I managed to make tonights lettuce look and taste sexy (if a lettuce can be sexy) with some beautiful shrimps.

53-147

Rode my first time of RPM release 53.  Wow, a year of RPM releases.

I think tracks 1, 4, & & are my favourite tracks.

That's:

• All Night Long - Lionel Ritchie remix
• Queens and Kings, or Kings and Queens
• Whereever you go I will follow - remix...yeah, "if I could..."

Actually, I think the track 7 of this release is my favourite.  Normally I don't like track 7s.

Image...Imagine

The thing I exercised most today was my patience at the Thorndon New World Christmas sale.  I had a list:  Milk, parmesen cheese, tomatos.  I did get those, but I also got: Moet, Daniel Brun No 1,  Deutz, Left Field.  Cheap prices.  Cheapest of seen for ages.  Cheap as cheap.  Crazy cheap. But crazy shopping conditions.  I didn't actually know it was sale day, so an added bonus I guess.  But man, the man behind me with his trolley, I nearly biffed him one.  That's one reason I really do need to go to the gym - to keep that passive aggressive thing in check!  Or, even the passive agressive thoughts in check....

Instead of going to the gym or the Thorndon pool for a swim, (which I had intended to do, but it rained, which is not to say, I don’t like swimming in the rain because I do), I exercised my fingers on the web, and looked up accommodation in Blenheim for the weekend of the graperide (24 March) – and discovered, it is already heavily  booked at some of the good motorlodges, unless you want to pay $800 a night to stay in a refurbished convent – I’d like to stay there, but not pay that much!   I have learnt from Taupo, not to  arrive the night before, and get less than 4 hours sleep.  So, I’ll probably stay a couple of nights.    Just need to work out what will work for the ‘support crew’.

I also discovered you can take your bike on the “ferry” for $15.00.  That’s probably the way to go, and then grab a rental at the other end.

It’s good having good stuff to plan for, work out.

I have received my ordered “official photos” from Taupo  - just ordered a few from the set, and also purchased the electronic set/and the video – which helpfully adds your time in at the end!  Usually, I wouldn’t bother, or never get around to it. They arrived amazingly quick - much quicker than the q tonight at Thorndon New World :-).  My postie left them on my front door.  So Cartertonish (and thoughtful) to do that – becasue the envelope had photos written on it.  I find the photos a little ‘disturbing’, because they tell the truth of how I am, how big I am – its much easier (for me)  to look at them on the screen!  This is about understanding image.  It might seem a fundamental and basic thing, and I’ve touched on it it before, but its kind of core to moving to the next level when you are a person who has carried a heap of extra weight for over half your life time. It’s something I can face though now, and the thing is I actually want a photographic record. The photos will go into a new photo album I am going to purchase  - covering the “events” I am going to complete over the next 6 months. Also, the more events I enter, the more regularly I can update the photo on my blog site!   It will be a special album.

I have to reach my ideal weight goal by the end of June 2012.  This is how I’m going to do it – by participation in the events – and training hard for them.  Then when I look at that album in 6 months time, then I know I will feel proud at having documented the progress.   Which is not to say I don’t feel proud now, but I want to feel prouder – if that’s a word – or more proud.  Yeah.  Prouder.  That’s what I’m aiming for.   Oh, and hot (fast as) legs! with a pumping Polar heart rate.  It’s not a lot to ask for eh?

Better make sure I get to the gym tomorrow – otherwise I’ll miss the hot new release week ? – and have lost a valuable week re Graperide.  Taupo is so yesterday.  Now the new word is Graperide!

Lambton Quay

It's been a random day, so here's a random entry.  I didn't get to the gym at lunchtime becauase I had lunch with the Buddha lady.  So named, becasue for awhile she tried to convert me and other colleagues to Buddism - unsucessfully.  Although her Buddism I would note seems to be quite "inner city liberal".  I guess in a similar way to my christian beliefs - a little bit of flexibility on certain issues.

We worked together a few years ago in a job and conditions I'd rather forget.  Although in some ways, its quite good to catch up with the BL to be reminded I'm in a totally different space now.  And its that space I choose to live from.  I always had time for the BL because for her, life seemed to be solved with green tea and buddist retreats.  I'm not sure its always that easy, but people, including me, find what works for them.

Anyway, as for the random factoid of the day.  One of my "goals" for next year, will be to walk down Lambton Quay in my gym/cycling gear.  Random eh?  It will be kind of my version of that Kwok guy's Look At Yourself Naked or whatever it is called.  It will probably be winter before it happens.  That could pose a slight problem.  Anyway, I'll navigate the logistics of it all closer to the time.

It will be my version of a mid winter swim - although I've never done that either - so might add one of those in there also.

The significance?  Well, if i have the confidence in my body that I am Ok walking down LQ in cycling shorts or shorts - then I'll know I'm totally Ok with my body and it represents what I want to look like.

Just adding it into the blog for now~!

Event calendar

I was thinking about doing an Advent blog calendar - with links everyday to the exercise of the day, or something like that, but that's not really very Adventish, so instead I've decided to post my Event Calendar for the next three months.

 

This time last year my main focus was to complete a 100 RPM.  This year, I'm focussing on events.  Hopefully, each one will provide its own motivation to achieve small goals and progress.  Also each event will hold its own adventure and sense of achievement.  And these incrementally will help me 'smash' Taupo in 2012 rather than just the satisfaction of completion.

Here's the Event List:

January 2012:
Taranaki Cycle Challenge http://www.cyclechallenge.co.nz/home

February 2012: 
19 February: Kapiti Womens Triathalon http://www.kwt.org.nz/
26 February: Round the Bays (walk)   http://www.wellingtonnz.com/event/2012_ami_round_bays?gclid=CMHmsvW556wCFUdNpgod30XKJg

March 2012:

11 March: Bush Cycle Tour, Tui Brewery: http://www.sportsground.co.nz/clubsite.asp?siteid=17317&pageid=62631&pagetypeid=1
18 March: Round The Vines, Martinborough; http://www.roundthevines.org.nz
24 March: Grape ride, Blenheim http://www.graperide.co.nz

 

There's a slight problem with the Kapit Women's Triathalon, in that I can't run!  Still if I can stay in the saddle for hours, I just need to tell my body it can run! If I can run 4km by 19 February, then that becomes the goal.  It seems the easy option to enter the duathalon that comprises the swimming and cycling components only.  I did this Triathalon about 20 years ago! - so that's why I need to do it again.  Because that's the last time I weighed a weight I was OK with.  I'll just have to start with running between the rugby posts in the field nearby or something like that, and build up to 1 km in distance at a time!!

 

I reckon the Grape ride will be the highlight.  That looks like an awesome ride.  Although starting and finishing a ride at the Tui Brewery will have its own novelty ride for a 'rapa rider.

Next I need to work on:

• enlisting fellow participants/and or support crew!
• finally buy a car, so I can get to some of them, if I can't enlist fellow participants/and or support crew.

Hopefully, I can do both! - buy a car, and enlist fellow participants and support crew.

Hills

Adding to my hills to climb:

Wainuiomata - I know that hill, every bend, to ride that hill on a bike from the Hutt side and then back, it would represent something - that I could climb a decent hill, but also its not the hill, its my physical and mental strength that gives me the ability to do that.

Makara - I don't know that hill at all, but cyclists from the 'city' talk about Makara, so on that basis it gets added to the list.

Whitemans - it defeated me this year, so the sooner I can master it, the better.

Rimutaka - crazy to add that to the list.  But actually, while its long and climbing, its graduated gradients.  So, I know when I can do that hill - then I'll call myself "fit"!

All these hills are pretty mean, so realistically not doable before Christmas! - I'm just adding them into the list today.

Yep, if I can knock those hills off before Taupo 2012 then I have 100% confidence I'll be super mean lean cycling machine with hot cycling legs!  That's the goal now.  It always was, but the for some reason now, I actually believe the transition to the next stage of the health and fitness programme is possible now.

Wockenende

As much as I love cycling, I'm soooooooooo looking forward to a weekend without a long ride - and a nice long sleep in tomoro!.  By the way, I define myself as an "endurance" rider - that to my readers, just means I can sit forever in the saddle!  Its a nice way to frame things in the positive for now...There will be a shortish (say maybe 1-2 hours ride, as I need to keep working on my slow burn tan for summer (so, un public health, and a bit of a long game plan, like a few other things in life at the moment :-)!), - oh, and my health and fitness goals!  Sometimes I have the endurance to play the long term game.  Sometimes....

Looking forward to catching up on house and garden stuff this weekend - mowing the lawn, tying up the tomatos etc etc.  Domestic bliss - that's what I'm aspiring to for this weekend.  I need to get the house ready for the installation of the Christmas tree - and I need to work out when I'll be able to go to the forest to go and cut one down.

Christmas is coming - soon!- This year I think it may be a little more fun than last Christmas :-)

Good workout today.  Enjoyed the music, and the workout ;-) Only did two workouts this week.  It was a bit of a recovery week.  Next week I need to change the intensity again.

Mission Taupo 2012 (MT 2012)

Today, on the first day of the twelfth month of 2011 I launch Mission Taupo 2012.

It may seem rather early to launch MT 2012, having only just completed Taupo 2011.  However, I think it has already been established I need an early start ;-)  - at least this year, for next year.

What does MT 2012 comprise?

Well I think the rough sketch of the objectives are something like this:

• aim for 100km rides every 2 weeks
• nail the Admiral Hill and Martinborough windmill hills
• do regular strength and core training at least 3 x weekly
• loose 30kg
• enter more "races" from the cycle calendar - preferably one a month over 2012

If I could tick every one of those dot points above off, then I reckon I could not only knock only a couple of hours off my time, but even aim to halve my time!  That may seem overly ambitious and a bold claim.  But that's what I'm aiming for!  I actually think if I can actually loose the 30kg then of course I'll get up those hills without walking and go twice as fast.

This year, it was about crossing the line.  That alone was my personal victory.  Also leaving behind on the road somewhere a bit of personal baggage I was carrying (the environment was not harmed when I left it;-))  That's "completed" now.

Now I move on, move forward, set new challenges and goals.

Yay~! MT 2012 officially launched in my living room - as Annie Lennox would sing about!