My Journey To Challenge Wanaka & Beyond

1 day to go!

2010-01-15T12:20:00.002+13:00

I'm as ready as I'll ever be. Been in Wanaka since Monday and swam 1 lap of the course on Wednesday. Had the carbo loading dinner last night and that was cool. So much food and so nice!

There are heaps of people here for Challenge Wanaka from all over the world and at the dinner last night we met up with our Uncle who is doing Challenge also, whom we've not seen for about 16 yrs - so it was nice to catch up.

We've not long come from the athletes pre race briefing which was informative, and will just chill out now. I'll have a little swim maybe, still undecided about that. The Contact energy tri races are on this afternoon so I guess we'll be down town in amongst it watching the guns doing their thing. I've taken some cool photos so will post some on here next week after it's all done and dusted.

Talk to you Sunday maybe with a post race report.

Mr Tua

The coundown thingy says 8 days to go!

2010-01-08T17:09:00.002+13:00

Happy New Year people. 8 days into it and I'm becoming rather excited about the whole affair.

Just a short blog today. Have to pack my bag for the 3rd time!

I worked out yesterday and I thank the internet for sites like www.zoggs.com.au for being able to track ones training, that from when I started training for this journey to Wanaka and up until the 31/12/09 I had clocked up 222.375 km in the pool. Sort of blew me away really because it seems like such a long way. I just hope I do the training I've done some justice.

Remember Mr Tua's wish list? Well there were a couple of things that never happened:

1) The wedding... Nevermind life goes on and am happy to report that I am very happy. Thanks Anna and I guess thanks Mrs Miller :)

2) 100 kg by race day, not going to happen BUT to be honest I'm not at all bothered! I made it to 120.3 and it will happen but just not now. I'm happy, healthy, can swim like a demon when I want to AND can run 5 km in under 30 mins which wasn't at all possible when I was 156.5 kgs. I've done well I think and it's still a work of art in progress, oh and I got to throw out the fat bastard clothes lol.

Off to ChCh in the morning and I'm excited.... Did I say I was excited?

One last thing, GOOD LUCK to Kathy and Paul, along with all the others that I've met in swim squad and along the way who are doing the Port of Tauranga Half Ironman in the morning. Go Hard and kick it's arse!

Mr Tua

17 days to go

2009-12-30T14:36:00.003+13:00

Only 17 days to go then it's all on for young and old! I'm looking forward to it to say the least. I looked at the athletes list and saw that there are 76 teams in our race. That's a lot of teams don't you think? I know we'll do our best and we all have something to race for now after hearing that our rider lost her coach last week. Be strong Katrina - I know you're riding in memory of your coach and we'll be right there with you.

Christmas was a pretty quiet affair this year which was nice. Just chilled out, ate too much and had a laugh. All good. Shame I had to go to work on Boxing Day, but you do what you have to, don't you?

All up last week to Sunday I had clocked up 19.3 km in the pool, which was pleasing but at the same time, taxing. Had a small swim last night of 2.5km and will be heading off for another swim shortly. It seems weird to say I had a small swim of only 2.5 km. When I first began on this journey, 2.5 km was a huge swim for me, but now it seems like nothing at all.
I'm looking forward to having a lake swim on Sunday at the Blue Lake in Rotorua. I'll be doing 4 km and hope to time it so I can get some sort of gauge as to where I am with 2 weeks to go.

Have decided to take my pedals and shoes etc, to ChCh so I can do some other training apart from swimming for the Ohope tri in Feb.

Well.... to my peeps who follow this, have a great New Year to you all and your families. Be safe and see you in 2010... (2days).

Only 22 days to go....

2009-12-25T10:36:00.002+13:00

It's getting closer now and I'm getting rather excited.

Have been putting in some fairly big efforts lately, with this week alone having done 13 km in the pool with a swim Saturday to go to finish the week off. Am looking forward to going to the Blue Lake in Rotorua next Sunday for a lake swim.

Have also changed gyms and programs. The whole gym change just made sense to me, as I get the use of the gym and the swimming pool. The program that the trainer has got me on is a goodie - loads of core strength in a circuit type program. It hurt on Tuesday when I went through it for the first time, (hurt the next day, but it was a pleasant pain - if there is such a thing), but having done it again yesterday I'm feeling pretty bloody good.

Well that's me, going to go and get somethings done for Christmas dinner now.

Have a safe and merry Christmas everybody.

36 days to go........

2009-12-11T15:00:00.002+13:00

It's getting closer and to be fair, I'm starting to get very excited about the whole thing and I know that all the hard work that we've all done will pay off. It's going to be awesome!

Last Sundays squad swim was the best session I have had in a long time, it was such a good session I did it all over again on Thursday after work. It was an endurance/strength session 3 km.

Have been doing some sea swimming at Pilot Bay and Wednesdays tri club swim was really hard work, battling the current of the outgoing tide and the shit load of jellyfish that are in the bay at present, however, I will say it is their house and we just have to get over the jellys.

Last Sunday also saw me watch for the first time, a triathlon from start to finish and I have to say that I knew there was a reason I wouldn't go and watch rugby, or even watch it on TV when I stopped playing and that reason was because I knew that if I did, I'd want to play. The same thing has happened, but this time it feels different. Probably because it is foreign to me really and I just want to have a crack at it. I had planned on making Mr Tua's 1st ever triathlon the Bayfair Pharmacy triathlon at the end of March, however, I found a triathlon to do on the 20th Feb in Ohope, so that's what I'm going to do. It's a sprint tri and I'm champing at the bit to do it.

I've also been doing more running having run on Monday and last night at the Everyones 5km run and walk. I just had a look at the website to see how long it took me and I'm bloody rapt to report that I did a sub 30 min run. 29.47 and I won a spot prize too. A half hour massage worth $30. Not too shabby eh? Anna won a prize too being a towel and $20 off voucher on shoes from Smiths Sports Shoes. It was pleasant running out with a bit of a head breeze but on turning to go back was a different story - the breeze disappeared and it was so hard to breathe! When I finished, I had never gasped so hard for air, it was crazy!

Well, off for a swim soon, run in the am, swim in the am, and hopefully Kathy will give us a hard session on Sunday at squad.

Talk to you soon people

Ma te wa

Mr Tua

Not long to go now.....

2009-11-29T16:57:00.002+13:00

Yeah, like it says, not long to go now! Only a few more weeks and we'll be doing our thing in Wanaka. With approximately 7 weeks to go I think it's time to step it up a notch with the swim training. The plan now is to swim 5 to 6 days a week and taper off with about a week to go, doing a couple of BIG swims in those 5 to 6 days. It's all good.

Just returned to Tauranga from Taupo where I went and introduced Anna to some very good friends of mine, do a spot of training last night and a very nice lake swim session this morning.
The Great Lake Cycle Challenge was yesterday and our mate Paul Miller did the enduro ride and kicked it's arse. For someone who cycled 320 km in about 11 and a quarter hours, he swam bloody well in the lake this morning. Well done Paul, you certainly can be very proud of yourself.

As for my training, it's been ok, not mind blowing, exceptional, or excellent - just ok. Some aspects of my training havn't been too shit hot, but I'm certainly not going to panic. Steady as she goes I think.

Well that's about it from me. I look forward to sharing the next 6 weeks of my training with you all.

Have a good week.

Mr Tua

I lost my car key.....

2009-11-14T22:43:00.002+13:00

This morning Anna & I went for a run around the mount. I had put my key in the pocket of my shorts. Halfway round, I decided to put the key in the little pocket inside my shorts.... Safe as houses I thought! Ha, famous last words indeed. I finished my run and when I got back to the car, it was OH F@#K!!! where is the bloody key? An immediate turn around was in order and backtrack to where I had swapped pockets to no avail.:(
I still have no key as the spare is @ Sharleen's and she's away for the weekend.
I really needed to get into my car, to retrieve cellphone, wallet, swimming bag, mp3 player, you know the important stuff, so a quick call into work to pick up some essentials and it was off to break into the car. Nice to know I haven't lost my touch hahahaha. Items retrieved and car locked. Hope it's OK. I'm sure it will be. I'll check in the morning when Anna & I go for a ride. (Anna has a 2 hr ride to do).
In the afternoon, we had a pool session. It was supposed to be a long one for me, but for some reason my head really wasn't in the right place and I stopped at 3.3km. I had planned on doing 4km.

Well, just a short blog tonight, it's almost 11 and we want to be riding by 7 so better get my carcass into bed.

Haere ra ki a koutou

Mr Tua

2009-11-13T14:55:00.003+13:00

HI, I've had a very busy week, well busy 2 weeks really. Work has changed a bit for me and will continue to do so for the next 5 months. I'm job sharing a commercial run over the next 5 months and after 2 weeks, I've had enough! Haha. This getting up at 2 in the morning Mon, Tues, Wed and Fri doesn't really excite me, (I get to sleep in til 4 on Thursdays!!!!) but I guess you do what you have to. The fact the I'm doing 2 weeks of these dumb hours and 2 weeks of "normal" hours where I get up at 6 are not doing my body clock any favours, so at the moment I feel like a walking zombie and probably look like one too truth be known. But it is only for 5 months. The upside to this change in work hours is that I get to go and train early, which is cool but then find myself pretty wired at the end of it and struggle to go to sleep. Doesn't help when the landlords dog goes apeshit and wakes you up. What do you do? You go swim!

Speaking of which, I've been doing some really good sessions in the last 2 weeks. 2.5km Tuesday, Thursday of last week, 4km Saturday with Kathy then 2.8km at squad last Sunday.

Went for a swim Tuesday, thanks to the dog but unsure how far we swam (squad swim). Planning on a big swim Saturday (4km) and whatever Kathy gives us on Sunday at squad. So a quiet week this week. About 9 weeks to go and looking forward to it.

Off running in the morning with Anna, am actually enjoying this running caper. Oh and did a 50km bike on Tuesday after work too. That was fun.

Brother Maurice text me today to say he'd done a 3hr run this morning (it's a public holiday in ChCh today), said he was a bit sore in the knees, so I told him to go stand in the cold water. Whether he listened or not is another story. LOL

Well I'm off to do something... unsure as to what exactly, but I'll do whatever.

See you next time.

Ma te wa

Mr Tua

Have been running, biking AND swimming........

2009-11-01T13:36:00.003+13:00

Yep you read that right, running, biking and swimming. Now it's public knowledge that I hate running with a passion, but as of late it doesn't seem to be too bad at all. Have been enjoying it too which does concern me somewhat. I went to Tauranga Tri Club on Wed and ran, yesterday at 6:30 am we were running and then I even had the energy to have a quick 2km run on the treadmill before I started lifting at the gym yesterday afternoon. Hmmmmm I see a pattern forming here....

My downfall however, was my swim yesterday or lack of energy to complete my swim. had planned on doing a 2 km swim just straight swimming but I had absolutely nothing left. I did manage about a km of swimming and kicking so I guess it was better than nothing.

I've been training with a spring in my step, infact getting through life with that same spring in my step and must say that it's pretty groovy right now (life that is). I have a new source of inspiration and training partner of sorts, who also doubles as my new girlfriend, Anna.
We swim together in the same squad and sometimes it's a little competitive in the pool, but that's all good. Anna is training for the Tinman Tri in Dec, so that'll be good to watch.

Swimming training has been good. Even though last Monday was a public holiday, I managed to go to work, then get in the pool for a 2.5 km swim which was made up of 5 sets of 500m. Being: 500 swim, 500 kick, 500 pull buoy, 500 pull / paddle, 500 swim. It was a good swim!

Thursday night saw us do a 400 time trial at squad. My time for that was 7.09. I'm well happy with that. I texted Kathy to say how pleased I was with my time and she said the 1st 400 I did with her as my coach was 8.24 back in May, so to cut that much time off is pretty pleaing for me I must say. I think we're doing another in a few weeks before Tinman so the aim is under 7 mins. I'll be really happy if that happens and I believe it will.

Today, we set off for a ride. It was a nice ride of just over 50km. But now my legs are shot to bits and I really hope that I can swim well this afternoon. I can't get over just how many people cycle in this fair city of ours. It was nice to ride with a group too instead of trudging along by myself. I'm really beginning to like this group training thing. It helps you to focus a bit better I reckon.

Well, I'm out of here like a bald man to psyche myself up for squad.

Ciao
Mr Tua

Been a good week...

2009-10-24T11:41:00.002+13:00

Hi, it's been a pretty good week. Have had some good swims, one not so good swim but managed to finish the swim off anyway on Thursday so all in all not too shabby.

Am going to have a swim today when I get back to Tauranga and will brave the ocean for a bit tomorrow to have another play with my wetsuit.

I haven't been sleeping well lately, due to a number of reasons, but after coming to Otorohanga last night and sorting a teenage issue out, I had the best sleep in ages! It was great.

Also, I have found that not eating bread is a good thing, however not eating enough during the day isn't so good as I have been getting quite light headed both at work and at the gym. Hydration has been good, better than good in fact but still hadn't been feeling too great. Something for me to look at. I haven't put in any weight figures for ages so here's the latest 121.45 kg. At the beginning of the month when I went to get my bp and body fat tested at Dr Miller swim coach, triathlon coach and all round good person, I was 126.5kg so I am getting there. I firmly believe that I will be 100 kg by Challenge Wanaka, but if not I'll be pretty bloody close to it. Something is working as I am taking my 5XL tops back to work on Tuesday and have been given 2XL ones! Makes you feel good eh?

Here are a couple of sessions we did during the week:

Thurs 15th Oct
200m warm up
6x 50m kick :10 rest
8x 50m swim :10 rest
300m pull buoy
4x 100m swim :15 rest
300 paddles/pull buoy
2x 200m swim :20 rest
300m pull buoy
TOTAL 2600m

Sun 18th Oct
200m swim
50m kick100m swim50m kick100m board drill + 100m swim x2
100m duck drill
400m pull buoy
6x 100m as 75 steady :10 rest, 25m HARD :20 rest
6x 50m :10 rest
200m warm down
TOTAL 2400m

Monday was my 1st swim in my Super Haka Fella wetsuit and was a bit weird but I'll get used to it I'm sure. I covered 2400m and was a good swim.

My brother is getting married today in Christchurch. So good luck Maurice and Lisa, sorry I couldn't be there with you, but thinking of you.

Last thing, I must be getting fitter or something... my resting heart rate which I check from time to time in the morning before i get out of bed used to be around 60 bpm and now it is 54 bpm, so that's got to be a good thing eh?

Well I've nothing else to say so until next time, train hard and be safe.

Mr Tua

2009-10-16T17:39:00.002+13:00

Hi, had training last night, it started off well but seemed to fall to pieces toward the end.

LOL! I'm sitting in an internet cafe up town right now and I have my mp3 on zoning out when all of a sudden I hear this noise in my ears..... The Vengaboys! Killed it immediately! Mental note to myself, when you ask your daughter to put some music on your mp3 player make sure she isn't going to put some nasty shite on there. Vengaboys - Not the one Ash!

Anyway, About 3/4 of the way through the main set I started to cramp up, which annoyed me somewhat, because it has been really good lately. Mind you when you have been out in the rain all day and you're a bit cold to start with, I guess it doesn't help the cause any. Here's what I did:

200 w/u
6x50 kick :10
8x50 steady :10
300 pull
4x100 steady :15
300 pull/paddle
2x200 :20

Total 2300

I got home last night and kicked my arse for a couple of reasons, however, on reflection I think I'm sometimes too hard on myself, I'll sort that eventually, but I know there are some things I really have to work on with my swimming and the main one I think is breathing bi laterally. I have to force myself to do it, with only 13 weeks to go I need to pull my finger out and get this sorted.

I'm going to have the night off. Tomorrow, I'm going to go buy some tomato plants and pot them, then go for a swim. One thing I'm really looking forward to is having a swim in my superhero costume (wetsuit) I can't wait. Might do that on Sunday.......

I think I'll print off some music and go home to jam my guitar after getting my groceries.

Have a good weekend.

Mr Tua

I haven't been here for a while....

2009-10-14T17:53:00.002+13:00

Howdy people, I haven't been here for a while, well not since I did my big swim, but I have to say that things are just peachy with me thanks for asking LOL. Things are actually really good right now and to be honest, I really have no idea as to why, but hey I'll not look for reasons as to why - I'll just run with it in case the wind changes direction....

Training is going really well! The day after my 3.8 I was straight back into it at the pools with Kathy and co.

200 w/u
4x50 kick :10 rest
8x25 underwater streamline :20
400 pull buoy
400 paddle
12x50 aerobic :10
400 pull buoy
50 tennis ball + 100 swim (2 sets)
100 w/d

Total 2800
I slept like a baby that night and I needed to! I'd had a crap sleep all that weekend.

Tuesday 6/10
200 w/u
100 long dog
100 duck feet
100 catch up
100 tennis balls + 100 swim (x2)
200 steady
50 HARD w/ 200 steady :20 (x4)
300 pull buoy
200 w/d

Total 2600

Thursday 8/10
100m swim + 50m kick (x2)
100m tennis balls,100m swim,200m pull buoy(x2)
50m hard/100m steady/50m hard :30 rest (x4)
50m swim/50m kick (x3)
x4 25m group swim

TOTAL: 2300m
I really enjoyed this workout as I do all of them but more so this because it was quite intense and I like intense.....

Sunday 11/10
DRILLS DAY!!!!!
300 w/u
100 kick - fins
200 swim
100 kick - fins
100 swim
100 kick - fins
50 catch up w/100 swim (x2) :20
50 one arm w/100 swim (x2) :20
8x25 HARD :10
300 pull/paddle
200 w/d

Total 2400
This was an excellent session - a nice break from the norm. Thank you Kathy :)

Monday 12/10
Seeing that we started back at Kura last night and I really couldn't be arsed going to the gym, I went and had a session with Kathy's Monday class so I can get 3 coached sessions this week and I'll probably still swim Fri/Sat.
That session went like:
300 w/up
LADDER SET
50 swim :20
100 swim :20
200 swim :20
300 swim :30
400 swim :30
300 swim :30
200 swim :20
100 swim :20
50 swim :20
400 pull/paddle
200 easy w/d as 150 breast/50 free

At this point, I just want to say a BIG THANK YOU to my awesome swim coach Kathy for the time and effort she puts in to coaching not only me but the whole squad. You're a star my friend.

On another subject, I scored my wet suit for the big event - ended up getting a cheap one from the warewhare and what a deal that was! 20% off, a $50 voucher that I won in a draw at work at our end of month breakfast meeting and a cash job for an owner driver at work last Friday meant I got a free wet suit! Gotta love that eh?

Kura started again last night and was good. We are learning new stuff, singing new songs, all good!

I also had the pleasure of having my daughter Miss Ashleigh come stay for the last week of the holidays. We had a good time just chillaxing out. Saturday was even better, because both Ashleigh and Kikiwa were with me. I took some cool pictures of my skids and will eventually get around to putting one or two on here for my peeps hahaha.

Anyway I should leave the library before they offer me bedding and a blanket or two, or just kick me out - whichever comes first but I'll leave you with these, which I thought were funny....
A man wakes up in hospital after a serious accident, he shouts "Doctor, Doctor, I can't feel my legs!" To which the Dr replies " I know - I've cut off your arms"
What do you call a fish with no eyes? A fsh.......

OK I'm out of here.....
Kia kaha, kia maia, kia manawanui - be strong, aim high and be courageous

Ma te wa

Swimming just seems to be getting better and better...

2009-10-03T15:17:00.002+13:00

Hi people, right now, my shoulders are screaming! I've just swam the furtherest I've ever swum in one session. I did my 3.8 km swim in the pool and I managed it in 1hr 17min 38 sec! I'm pretty bloody happy with that and then managed to do a 200 w/d afterward, so 4 km amd I'm happy.

Tuesday and Thursday swim sessions were bloody good too! Here's how they went:

Tues:
300 w/u
8x50 as 25 fly or hard swim with fins and 2nd 25 sight breathing w:20 / 50m
300 pull buoy
5x200 as 175 aerobic, 25 hard w:30
2x200 pull/paddle w:30
200 easy w/d
Total 2600
Thurs:
2x100 + 2x50 kick
6x100 aerobic w:20
200 shark fin drill
2x100 tennis balls + 200 swim
400 pull/paddle
8x25 HARD w:20
100 easy w/d

It's been a good week and I hope we all have a good week to come.

Take care.

Another good week

2009-09-27T14:22:00.002+13:00

Hi people, another good week had by me. Swim training has been really good. Finished a session about an hour ago which was:

100 each of swim, pull buoy, one arm drill, kick and 4x50 hard with :10 after each 50
then 10x100 w/:15 ea 100, 5x200 pull/paddle w/:20 ea 200, 12x25 underwater streamline
and a 100 warm down
Total 3000

Yesterdays swim:
100 w/u, 100 pull, 100 kick
2x800: 1st 800 aerobic w/:30, 2nd 800 pull/paddle
100 w/d
Total 2000

Fridays swim:
400 moderate swim
300 pull
200 drills
100 kick
Ladder set: 200,150,100,50 - the last 50 of each done HARD. (2 sets of)
400 pull
8x25 kick HARD w/:10 ea 25
400 moderate to finish
Total 3000

Thursdays swim:
200 w/u
100 long dog
100 catch up
100 one arm
4x100 aerobic w/:15
3x200 aerobic w/:20
2x300 aerobic w/:30
1x400 aerobic
200 w/d easy
Total 2700

So that's 10.7 km for the week. I'm happy with that.

I'm looking forward to this weeks training. I can go to swim squad 3 times a week for the next 2 weeks as we are on school holidays! I think that's hilarious - the fact that we get school holidays.
I have a busy week planned and look forward to it. Should even be able to get out on the bike with daylight savings having started today.

Have a great week everyone and be safe.

Ka kite ano

Another good week

2009-09-20T14:57:00.002+12:00

Hi, I've had another good week, however, I didn't swim Fri or Sat due to the fact I had no energy to do so. I have been for a swim today and it was a really good swim too.

200 w/u
12x25 underwater streamline
500 kick
500 pull buoy
500 pull/paddle
2x200 aerobic w:15 rest then 50 hard w:30 rest
3x100 medley
200 w/d

Total 3000 m

I haven't been writing down what we've bee doing at squad training lately simply because by the time I get home and sort myself out, I've basically forgotten what it was that we had done. I know though that Thursdays session was really good. You get a good feeling when you finish a session and you don't even realise that you've been in the pool for an hour and you've done 2.3 - 2.4 km and you're like "are we done? feels like we just got in!" I like feeling like that.

I hope everyone has a good week. Work hard, train hard and study hard for those of us that do and I'll see you next weekend.

Peace

It's been a good week

2009-09-13T13:11:00.003+12:00

HI people, it's been a good week, a busy week and even though it was my birthday yesterday, I trained and thoroughly enjoyed myself in the process. I've had a great weekend with my number one girl Ashleigh, who came to spend the weekend with Dad, got a phone call from Kikiwa, my number one boy and chilled out with some very good friends of mine from Taupo, who had a bbq lunch for me at Kauri Point. Today, has just been relaxing at home with Ash, with a session in the pool at 4, then I'll take Miss Ash back to Otorohanga.

I've had 4 really good sessions in the pool this past week with a great 2.7 km swim on Sunday, 2.3 on Thursday, 2.4 Friday, 3.0 yesterday and whatever Kathy dreams up for us today.

Forgot to bring Sundays swim with me so I'll post that another time but here are the other 3 swims.

Thursday 10/9
200 w/u
100 catch up drill
100 long dog/catch up
100 duck feet
300 alternating hard pull for 25 mtrs, hard kick for 25
40x25 aerobic :10 rest/25
300 pull buoy
200 w/d

Friday 11/9
200 w/u
100 6 kick flip
100 one arm
200 easy
400 kick
500 pull buoy
500 pull/paddle
6x50 hard
100 easy w/d

Saturday 12/9
200 w/u
100 kick on side
100 one arm
400 kick
200 technique swim - focusing on catch and pull
200 tennis balls + 200 without
400 kick
1000 swim aerobic
200 w/d

Looking forward to what is in store for me today.

On another note, things seem to be going along quite well for me at present, my Te Ara Reo Maori class on Tuesday nights is really cool and I'm enjoying myself so much.
My life is pretty organised training and study wise, to the point that it's planned on the wall for the whole month and ticked off as it's done, it's all good!

Well, here's to a great week for us all and until next time, take care and ma te wa.

Nearly 2 weeks to catch up on.....

2009-09-05T13:50:00.002+12:00

Hi people, I was thinking to myself today "isn't it funny what you take for granted..." - up until about a month ago, I would've just gone on the computer at home and "blogged out", but now that I don't have a computer, I have to wait for the weekend and go to the library to do my thing. I had planned to do some blogging last weekend but left my notes at home, so I have to catch up today before my visitors get here on their way to watch the Warriors last game of the season. My visitor is Russell Packer's mum and her niece. She's a really good friend of mine and has been a rock for me through my ugly patch, so it's going to be great to see her.

Anyway they're not too far away so i had better hurry up.

Swimming training has been fantastic. I am swimming really well and feel really strong in the water. This week I have started to swim 4 days a week. I've just come from the pools after a 3 km swim, 3 km last night and 2.2 km Thursday. Sunday will be an interesting swim I think, interesting in how my body responds after 2 fairly big swims.

Thursday:
200 w/u
100 x between long dog / catch up drill
100 duck feet
2x200 - 100 tennis ball swim / 100 free
Ladder Set:
100 w:20, 200 w:20, 300 w:30, 300 w:30, 200 w:20, 100 w:20
200 as B/fly + head up swimming with fins. Cramped up after 25m fly so grabbed pull buoy and finished set
2200m

Fri:
200 w/u
100 one arm
100 one arm - ugly tard one
100 6 kick flip
200 technique
400 kick
12 x 25 underwater streamline
1000 straight aerobic swim and I blitzed it!
400 pull/paddle
200 w/d

Today:
200 w/u
100 long dog
100 one arm
100 catch up
300 kick
4x100 as 75 aerobic 25 HARD
500 pull buoy
400 pull/paddle
400 pull buoy
300 paddles only
200 w/d

Well my visitors are here so I'll endeavor to catch up on Wednesday night.

Take care
Ma te wa
Mr Tua

Busy day yesterday...

2009-08-23T12:22:00.004+12:00

Hi, had a busy day yesterday and seeing that I couldn't even have a sleep in, because once I'm awake - that's it, it was down to the gym at 8am. I also said I was going for a swim and I did that too. I felt alot better than I did on Thursday night and here's what I did:

400 w/up
100 one arm drill
100 catch up drill
100 6 kick flip
12x25 underwater streamline w/:10 rest per 25
200 tennis ball swim
200 technique swim
200 tennis ball swim
200 technique swim
400 pull buoy
300 pull/paddle
200 w/down

Total 2700

Am ready to go again today.... So until next time,

Be good

It was a different swim...

2009-08-21T15:29:00.003+12:00

Hi there, last night I had a session in the pool and to be honest, I felt like and swam like a tard. I felt like I was swimming and going nowhere. I had biked to work in the morning and home again, so I wasn't tired, i did cramp up but carried on through it and eventually finished what should have been a really good workout, hopefully Sunday will be better for me. Anyway, here's what I did at the pool.

400 w/up
100 finger drag drill
100 long dog drill
100 catch up drill
4 sets of the following:
200 aerobic swim followed up with 8x25 pull buoy/paddle with 10sec after each 25
200 warm down

Total 2500

I think I'll get another swim in tomorrow before Sunday. That will give me 3 sessions a week. I know I'm missing that extra swim.

Have a good weekend people

Peter

I hope things start to look up soon.... I'm sure they will

2009-08-17T13:58:00.002+12:00

HI people, after a very tiring 2 weeks of hell, I made a small inroad in what is a new beginning for me on a personal level. As hard as it is for me to let go of the person I love, I'm doing my best. I'm all shifted out and moved in to my new place on Saturday. For the locals, 10 Taumata Place , Hairini is where you'll find me. Pop in for a coffee anytime you like.

It was back to the pool yesterday and what a great swim it was too.

200 w/up
100 6 kick flip drill
100 long dog drill
100 duck feet drill - all drills w/fins
200 technique
20x25 aerobic (80-90% effort) w/:10 rest /25
400 technique w/pull buoy
8x50 aerobic (as above)
300 pull buoy/paddles
200 easy any stroke w/down

Total 2500m

Finished work early today and that sucks to be fair, so I'll make the most of my free time and go to the gym early.

Have a great day

Mr Tua

I'm drained............

2009-08-07T13:55:00.002+12:00

Hi, it's been a long week, I've had the week off work, have been sleeping really poorly, but I just have to soldier on. I have managed to find a new place so that's a start.

Anyway, I had a swim session last night which was a bit of a mission to complete to be fair. I was told some time ago that swimming when you're stressed out is good because you can just zone out in the water and forget about things for a while, well all I have to say to that is WHAT A CROCK OF SHIT! lol. I just found myself getting more and more pissed off and couldn't actually wait for it to finish.
Here's what we did last night:
200 swim w/50 kick - 2 sets
12x25 swim HARD on :30sec
200 kickboard drill
"loco swim" ie
25 easy/25 HARD, 50 easy/50 HARD, 75 easy/75 HARD w/:30 after last 75 - 2 sets
300 pull buoy
200 pull buoy w/paddles
200 easy any stroke

TOTAL 2300

Apart from my head space being cloudy, it was a good session.

The good thing with having time off work, is being able to go to the gym earlier than normal so I've had 3 really good walks to and from the gym and 3 really good workouts.

That's all from me. Have a good weekend everyone.

Well, that day never turned out the way I'd planned...

2009-08-04T05:47:00.002+12:00

What started out as a great day, ended being one of the shittiest days I can remember. Along with the days I lost my Mum in 1992, and my Dad in 2002, I'd have to say that Aug 3 2009 won't hold a lot of good memories for me.
Last night, my relationship crumbled in a heap, I have no idea as to why, but I'm pretty unhappy right now. It's 5:54am and I've not slept much, maybe 2 hours off & on. I think I need some time off work to try and get my head around things. I feel pretty lost.
I'm not sure why I'm posting this, but I need to say something. Maybe I just need to vent - I don't know. Ideally, I'd like to get things sorted but when you get told that the person you love can't love you back the way I'd like them to, it doesn't really leave you with a place to start.

To my people who follow this blog, I'm not going to give up on this journey, I'm going to see it through to the very end. I'm not looking for sympathy either, so if I have a wah over the next few weeks, months or whatever, I apologise in advance - I'm just expressing how I feel. Thanks for listening. Peter

A pretty good week swim wise...

2009-08-02T19:46:00.002+12:00

It's been a pretty good week swim wise for me. 3 good sessions with the best one being todays session. Here's what we did over the week:
Tuesday 28/7
200 w/up
200 easy kick
200 board drill - kick board between legs and on the back end of the stroke, try to touch the board
6x200 as 50@80%, 100 steady, 50@80%
100 easy
4x100 pull buoy - concentrate on long strokes
100 w/down
TOTAL 2400

Thursday 30/7
200 w/up
100 one arm drill ( the retarded one)
100 finger drag drill
10x100 as 75 steady, 25 HARD kick
400 pull buoy
200 technique swim with fins
TOTAL 2000

Sunday 2/8
200 w/up
8x25 HARD kick on :30sec with fins
200 tennis ball swim, 200 aerobic swim (2 sets)
8x25 underwater streamline w/:15rest
400 aerobic swim. I timed this one and guess what......... 7.49.35! I felt good and strong throughout the swim.... EXCELLENT
300 pull buoy
300 pull buoy/paddles
100 warm down
TOTAL 2500

Here's to a good week. Mine's going to be busy. Have had 2 weeks off from the gym, so back tomorrow, course starts Tuesday night 6 to 9, NZ Blood centre Wednesday night 6:30pm, so am going to have to reschedule things slightly to fit 3 swims in. Looking like Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, but we'll see how the week pans out.

Have a happy week people. Ka kite

Catch up blog.... and a gaping hole in my mouth

2009-07-27T11:53:00.002+12:00

I've just returned from the dentist, with a numb mouth, a hole where a tooth used to be and some gauze in the spot where the tooth was. Above all that, I got a discount because the tooth came out easily! So it only cost me $160 instead of $180. Still $20 is $20. I can't wait for the anaesthetic to wear off - NOT.
The tooth fairy better come tonight too or I'll be pissed off. She'll probably try the old "but we're in the midst of a recession" routine. HAHAHA

Anyway, here's something to ponder. How the hell, can you get hayfever in the middle of winter? Can someone please answer that. I know it's not the flu or a head cold. Just the weeping eyes, snotty nose that runs like a tap that needs a new washer and sneezing like a sneezing thing. Thought I was going to sneeze my head off my shoulders last night. Thus the reason I didn't swim yesterday. One thinks that maybe, just maybe, there are some early blooming trees with big flowers that have set it off. We've a flowering tree in our yard at the moment that may be the cause, don't know.

Anywho, Tuesday and Thursday swims were really cool. I had an excellent swim both days.

Tuesday:
200 w/up
8x25 underwater streamline kick followed up with 8x25 4 stroke swim/4 stroke "sight breathing" swim w/:15 rest after each 25
300 aerobic swim
300 aerobic pull buoy swim
3x150 steady w/50 HARD :20 rest after each 50
200 easy kick
300 pull buoy swim with long stroke

Total 2300

Thursday:
200m warm up
(Set through x2)50m long dog / 50m kick50m catchup / 50m kick50m one arm drill / 50m kick
(set through x2)150m tennis ball / 150m swim :20 rest
75m x 8 as 25m easy / 25m steady / 25m hard :15 rest
300m Hypoxic swim with pull buoy (breathe every 2/4 strokes)
100m kick
100m warm down easy

2500m total

So, now with some pain killers and a new gauze in my mouth, I'm going to chill out for the rest of the day.

Have a happy day.
Mr Tua

2 more good swims... and not much else

2009-07-19T18:14:00.001+12:00

Have had another 2 good sessions in the pool, Thursday and today. Was extremely happy with Thursdays session with no cramp after a hard day on the truck. We've got 26 weeks to go until Challenge Wanaka and I know it's going to get harder but it'll be bloody worth it.

Thursdays swim:
200 w/up
100 x 6 kick flip drill
100 shark fin drill
100 zipper drill (drills done with fins)
3 sets of 300 aerobic swim w/:20 rest, then 50 HARD w/:20 rest, then another 50 HARD w/:20 rest
200 pull buoy
200 pull/paddle
100 w/down

Total 2200m

We did something new tonight: the 6 kick flip drill, it was different, to be fair, but fun at the same time. New is good.

Todays session went like this:
200 w/up
8x25 start easy build to hard w/:10 rest after each
100 one arm drill ( did this one properly today )
100 catch up drill
200 technique swim w/fins
5x100 as 75 steady, 25 HARD w/:20 rest
400 pull buoy
400 paddle swim
200 w/down

Total 2300

Finished the Hamish Carter story today. Not a bad read. I'll start the Kerre Woodham book tonight, after I start to plan my training leading up to the City 2 Surf. Haha got nothing else to do, my family are coming home in the morning.

Have a good week my amigos - Que tengas una buena semana

This running thing isn't all that bad...

2009-07-15T18:27:00.002+12:00

Today, I ran and ran and ran. It was a matter of having to rather than wanting to at first, but after the first hour or so, I was over the having to and just did it. The reason why I had to is this: At work, the company have sold a lot of the company runs to private owner/drivers and the last of them started last week. So, someone has to teach him where to go and basically do his work for him while he finds his feet, for lack of a better term. This pisses me off somewhat as we were just thrown in the deep end when we started with a map and told "Here you go, fill your boots" So my train of thought is, if we had to do it like that, why doesn't he? I mean he's making money for himself at my expense and I'm not getting any extra for doing his work and all he's doing is sitting on his arse driving a truck around. Hmmmmm... Something don't quite add up if ya get my drift.... That's my rant for the day and I'm over it now, so let's talk aboot something else. Like, last nights swim. Ok then...

Last nights swim was great!
Although I think Kathy will be scratching her head saying HUH?

I never finished my session, however, what I did do, all 1900 mtrs of it was done HARD!

200 warm up
100 catch up drill
100 long dog drill
100 one arm drill - albeit done not quite the correct way. I had my breathing and stroke all back to front and no matter what I thought of doing to correct myself, I was doing it like a tard & i knew it!
8x25 underwater streamline - I absolutely loved this. It was a good lung burn out!
Ladder set with 15 sec rest after each.
50 mtrs
100 mtrs
200 mtrs
300 mtrs
200 mtrs
100 mtrs
50 mtrs
200 easy kicking. - That was the downfall in the session. Cramped up. Nothing else needs to be said.

That's about me for this post. So until next time. "Keep cool til after school" :)

Another awesome session

2009-07-12T20:15:00.003+12:00

Had another awesome session in the pool today, along with Thursdays session which was awesome too. My swimming seems to be coming along just fine, so I'll keep doing what I'm doing until I get told otherwise :)
Thursdays session was :
4x100 as 75 swim / 25 streamlined kick
8x25 w/fins :10 rest after each HARD
8x50 aerobic swim
400 pull buoy swim
8x50 aerobic swim
400 pull / paddle swim
200 easy swim
100 breast stroke to warm down

2500 m

Todays session
200 warm up
100 long dog drill w/fins
100 duck feet drill w/fins
200 technique swim w/fins
4x100 aerobic swim
400 pull buoy swim
4x100 aerobic swim
400 pull / paddle swim
200 kicking w/fins
100 easy warm down

Total 2500 m

Was feeling really tight in the hamstrings today after Fridays gym session. Had a big legs and shoulders w/out, but after my swim today, am feeling pretty good tonight. I'm thinking that I may have to cut back on gym sessions so I can concentrate on getting the City 2 Surf done and dusted. What to do, what to do? I'll take any ideas that may be forthcoming from anyone.

Well, I'm off to bed to do a bit of reading. Picked up a book from the library today, by Hamish Carter, so far, so good, so I'll keep reading.
Ka kite.

Today I feel like S*#T

2009-07-08T10:24:00.002+12:00

Have been feeling like crap since I got home from work yesterday. Was up most of the night throwing up what I didn't even know I ate. Going back to bed now. Hope to be better tomorrow.

Excellent swim session

2009-07-05T21:06:00.002+12:00

I said I was going swimming today and I did and I had a blast!

Here's what I think I did.... LOL now I know what some of you are thinking, but when you stare at the black line for an hour, my mind tends to drift into the unknown and the last thing on one's mind is what or how many lengths they've completed.

200 warm up
100 one arm drill
100 catch up drill
100 finger tip drag drill
200 technique swim
6x100 as 75 aerobic and 25 hard
400 pull buoy
400 pull buoy and paddles
200 warm down

TOTAL 2300m
I'm glad I went, it was what I needed.

I did wonder something however, why is it that heavy metal and rock music in general, tends to motivate people? I ask this because over the weekend I have had a steady stream of Metallica, Puddle Of Mudd,Radiohead, Jimi Hendrix, The Doors and Aerosmith playing on my MP4 whether it was doing the grocery shopping, driving around with the only other person at home this weekend, being Ashlee, or just lazing about the place. The point I'm trying to make is after listening to this all weekend and I've actually not long finished because it went flat, so it's charging, I really couldn't wait for 3:45 to arrive so I could go swimming! I was inspired by angry music to get off my arse and do some training. What's that about? I guess while it's working, I'll not change anything.

Have a great week, I will and be kind to one another

Mr Tua

Don't panic.... I'm still alive :)

2009-07-04T22:04:00.003+12:00

Hello there people, the month that was June, was frustrating to say the least for a number of reasons that I'll not go in to in a lot of detail, BUT I did manage to train. Well, I should say the later part of June was frustrating not the whole month. Pool work not been so great since my swim at Taupo, but gym work has been good and I actually talked my supervisor into joining the gym as well and he seems to be enjoying it too.

We - (being the members of Team "Get A Perm") have 27 weeks from today before our date with destiny - Challenge Wanaka 2010 and I have 12 weeks until City 2 Surf half marathon which will be a real challenge for me and one I'm sure I can get the better of, it's a mind thing Mr Tua, remember that.

So, I go back to pool sessions tomorrow, to start what is going to be 6 months of training hard to achieve my part in Team Get A Perms' goal - to finish what we started.

Oh, now for something completely different.... I'm learning a language as of the 4th August. Something not entirely foreign to me, but something I know I should know, but under certain circumstances, I am embarrassed to say I have no idea about. The Maori language.
So yeah, I'm off to Te Wananga O Aotearoa, 3 hours, 1 night a week for an immersion in Te Ara Reo Maori, something I should have done YEARS ago, or more to the point, something I should've not stopped learning, just like the 3 years of violin lessons I took at college. I know I'll have people who know me scratching their heads on that one LOL.

See you tomorrow for a swim session update
Mr Tua

p.s Welcome to my journey Rachel Harris...

The week that was...

2009-06-23T22:26:00.002+12:00

HI, the week that has passed has been a fairly good one, Thursday, however wasn't good swimming wise and I think I'm getting some clues as to why I get cramp in my legs. Dehydration I think could very well be a major part in this problem that I'm having. I seem to get it only after I have been at work in and out of a rubbish truck all day doing what I do. I never seem to get it on a Sunday training day. Anyway I have been trying to keep up my fluids as well as the electrolytes and mag phos.

Went home to Foxton on Friday and had a really enjoyable weekend. Wasn't much looking forward to the return trip home, but alas got it done safely.
Stopped in at the AC Baths in Taupo for my swim, here's what I did:

200 warm up
100 long dog
100 duck feet
100 sculling (both hands)
LADDER SWIM
100m w/20sec
200m w/20sec
300m w/20sec
400m w/30sec
300m w/20sec
200m w/20sec
100m - last 3 sets done with pull buoy and paddles

100 m warm down

Timed my 400 8 min 8 sec - last time I timed a 400 was about a month ago and it was 8 min 24 sec.

Gym last night Chest / Triceps

Feeling shattered today. Have had a hard day.

I'm back in the game peoples...

2009-06-16T22:21:00.002+12:00

Hello, as you can see, I'm back in the game. I had a really good session tonight with Kathy and the squad. There are a few new faces and one of them is this really fast fish like creature. Man, i was in awe watching him swim. Effortless. Makes me envious! One day Mr Tua..... One day.

Here's what we did tonight

200mtr warm up
8x25 mtr build w/:15 rest/25mtrs
100 mtr shark fin drill
100 mtr finger tip drag
200 mtr technique swim - drills done with fins
5x100 mtr aerobic swim w/:20 rest/100mtrs
3x200 mtr as 100mtrs tennis ball swim and 100 hard pull swim w/:20-30sec/200mtrs
200 mtrs easy kick w/fins
100 mtrs warm down

Total 2200 mtrs.

As weird as it feels, I really enjoy the tennis ball swims, especially when you get rid of them and you definately feel the difference it the pull! Hands feel like they are giant oars!

Wanna hear a joke? OK then seeing as you asked so nicely....

A drunken cowboy lay sprawled across three entire seats in the posh Amarillo Theater. When the usher came by and noticed this, he whispered to the cowboy, "Sorry, sir, but you're only allowed one seat." The cowboy groaned but didn't budge. The usher became more impatient: "Sir, if you don't get up from there I'm going to have to call the manager." Once again, the cowboy just groaned. The usher marched briskly back up the aisle, and in a moment he returned with the manager. Together the two of them tried repeatedly to move the cowboy, but with no success Finally they summoned the police. The Texas Ranger surveyed the situation briefly then asked, "All right buddy what's your name?" "Sam," the cowboy moaned. "Where ya'll from, Sam?" asked the Ranger. With terrible pain in his voice, and without moving a muscle, Sam replied, ... "the balcony."

Have a happy Wednesday.

Mr Tua

Clear heads get things done...

2009-06-14T13:04:00.003+12:00

Woke up this morning with a determination to get out of the house for a walk and a swim. Mission accomplished. Shar and I headed out just after 10 for a stroll to the pools. She was going to swim as well but decided against it. That was cool. I did a 2 km swim and then we walked home again to do some jobs etc.... Here's what I did at the pools.

200 mtr warm up
100 mtr one arm drill (arm by side)
100 mtr long dog drill
100 mtr duck feet drill
100 mtr kick - drills done with fins
200 mtr technique swim
250 mtr tennis ball swim
250 mtr technique swim
8x50 25 easy, 25 hard
200 mtr pull/paddle
100 mtr easy warm down

Here's to a good week for all, hoping it doesn't rain all week.... Out in the rain for 9 to 12 hrs a day for 4 days last week didn't do my morale any good I tell you!

Did you know: More people eat alligators/crocodiles each year than there are alligators/crocodiles who eat people. Nice meat too on a croc!

I'm really quite proud of this.....

2009-06-02T20:20:00.003+12:00

I went for a walk tonight, but that's not what I'm proud of. What I am proud of is that I had asked Ashlee (15) to come for a walk, originally I got the answer I expected which was a resounding NO! But then as I was getting ready to leave she too, was getting ready to leave with me! Then, to top that one Michaela (14) said" where are you going?", we told her, to which "I'm coming too" was her reply!! Now, the thing I'm most proud of is that they came, walked, didn't moan, wore their hi viz vests and got home safe. Well done girls.

Also, Shar tells me that she and her work mate are thinking of doing the 12km walk, when I do the City 2 Surf in September! I think that is pretty bloody cool.

Happy Days my amigos, happy days :)

To Do List...

2009-06-02T16:30:00.002+12:00

I thought I'd publish my TDL (To Do List) so here it is ...

To Do List for Mr Tua
(as at 28.05.09 at 10:41am)

· Goal weight 100kg before Challenge Wanaka 16.01.10
· Complete City to Surf ½ Marathon 27.09.09
· Finish Challenge Wanaka swim leg in under 90 mins
· Cross the Lake swim in Taupo 4.3km February 2010
· Bayfair Pharmacy Triathlon March 2010
· Round The Lake Cycle Challenge, Taupo November 2010
· Ironman New Zealand, Taupo March 2011
· Save enough money to have a debt free wedding.

The hardest one I think will be the last one.... We've already postponed it twice now.... It'll come.

Another post later.

Back into it...

2009-06-01T20:11:00.002+12:00

Hi there, have had a pretty different weekend and end to last week. I had my youngest brother and his wife come stay the night on Friday night from Foxton and then the 3 of us headed over the Kaimai Ranges to Hamilton to the funeral of our cousin Viki. She was only 36 years old, far too young. So before I go any further, RIP Viki, like Ozzy said- "See you on the other side."

Now, I'm in "back into it" mode

Today was work as usual! Even on a public holiday someone has to get the rubbish!! :)

Gym workout and program change today

10 min cardio workout on treadmill

CHEST / TRICEPS

Bench Press 3x10x60 kg
D/Bell Incline Press 3x12x40 lb (each)
Bench Dips ( to failure ) 20, 16, 14
D/Bell Tricep Curls 3x15x45 lb
Cable Cross Overs 3x15x20 kg
Dips -assissted ( to failure ) 14,12,11
Tricep Pushdowns 3x15x50 kg

Crunches 3x30

20 min FBP - treadmill

Glad to get it out of the way semi early. I can go to bed early tonight YAY!

Back to the pools come Sunday. Thumb is healing well, a bit tender but.

I think I'll walk after work tomorrow.
See you

You won't believe this....

2009-05-28T09:16:00.002+12:00

Hi people, last night when I was cooking tea for my troops, I sliced the tip of my thumb almost off, not concentrating on what I was doing. I managed to get it sorted before the blood really turned up and hopefully have been able to get the tip to "seal" itself. It was looking promising last night before I went to bed. So I sit here today, having the day off work so I don't bang my hand, giving my thumb a chance to settle down and stop throbbing. Now it's just a waiting game for it to heal enough so I can go swimming. I reckon a week should do it. However, that doesn't mean I'll be doing no training. I guess now is as good a time as any to start on my running training. I may have to start off with a few walks and ease my way into it. Crickey, I really don't know where to start. Any ideas anyone?

Another turning point, a fork stuck in the road....

2009-05-26T21:33:00.005+12:00

Well, that's not entirely true, the fork isn't actually stuck. BUT, there is a turning point. A challenge of sorts for myself and one that I am prepared to conquer and I have just over 18 weeks to get to the start line and some time to finish the 2009 City to Surf Half Marathon.

My company boss approached me and asked if I ran, "Only if I have to and that's not often, so no not really Phill". He then went on to inform me that he and a few others from work were doing the half marathon and asked if I'd be interested in doing it. Now, I'm not the keenest person when it comes to running, but it took all of 2 mins 43 sec (probably less knowing me) to say "Yeah OK, I'll have a crack at it" I then proceeded to walk to my car all the while saying to myself " What the hell just happened in there and why did you say yes?" Oh well what's done is done and I'll put that on my to do list and cross it off when I'm done.

Had a great swim session tonight with NO CRAMP!

Here's what we did:

4 x 100 w/25 m kick

3x 50m hand sculling
3x 50m elbow bends
100m one arm drill - all with fins

200 m technique swim
300 m tennis ball swim
200 m technique swim
6x50 m - 25 easy/ 25 hard

100m warm down

Total 2000 m

Feeling a bit flat and fat today.....

2009-05-25T21:23:00.002+12:00

HI people, today as the heading says, I'm feeling a bit flat and fat today, strange thing is, I have no idea as to why. Also the stuff that I got from the natruopath on Friday has left me with the meanest "salty" mouth ever and it really is quite disgusting! Alas, I shall keep on keeping on with it, because despite the salty mouth, if it helps me with my cramps then all good. I'll just have to up my water intake to try and combat the aftertaste.

Went to the gym at 7.30 tonight and here's what I did:

5 min treadmill set on an incline of 4.0 and speed of 6.0 and the warm up was really good - got the HR up to a good level to start lifting.

Chest / Back

Bench Press 1x20x70 kg
2x20x65 kg
Incline D/Bell Press 2x20x35 lb
Seated Cable Row 3x20x100 lb
Bent Over Row 2x20x100 lb
Machine Dips (to failure) 3x60 kg (33,30,35)
Wide Grip Pulldowns 2x20x45 lb
Wide Grip Chin (Assisted) 1x6

Crunches 3x30

I'm feeling that I need to do something else ie: Cardio wise.... Any suggestions? I might have to get back on the bike, or dare I say it...RUN? I never said or even thought that did I? It must be a typo LOL

Well that's me for the night, So.... Tofa soifua ( Samoan for Goodbye, live long and prosper )

It's been a great weekend....

2009-05-24T20:01:00.002+12:00

A very busy weekend for us at 1 Luke Street. The girls did the 40 hour famine ( 40 hours of self imposed silence - it was BLISS! ) Shar and I got jobs done and feel good after our accomplishments - Thanks partner.

Had swimming today and it was really good. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

200 mtr warm up
10 x 100 free (aerobic) :15 sec/ 100mtrs
300 mtr fist swim w/ tennis balls
300 mtr steady swim
400 paddle/pull
75 mtr warm down (backstroke)

Total 2275 mtrs

Feeling pretty buggered now, so I'm going to finish my Milo and go to bed. Here's to a good week for my followers and I see I have a new follower, so welcome, enjoy the journey and feel free to leave comments.

Ka kite.

Although the Hurricanes lost........

2009-05-23T20:38:00.002+12:00

Hello, it's been a good few days and although the Hurricanes lost last night, the better team won on the night and it was a really good game. Here's hoping for a final in Hamilton, but the Crusaders have their work cut out for them in Pretoria against the Bulls.
I went to the natruopath yesterday to seek advice on my cramping situation, $41.50 later, I walked out of there with a small bottle of electrolytes which should last me a while, as you only put 48 drops into a 750ml bottle and away you go. She also told me to keep up with the mag phos8, so I'll do that and see what happens over the next few weeks.

Went to the gym tonight and was surprised how many people were there at 6pm on a Saturday.

Legs and Shoulders

5 min warm up treadmill

Squats 3x20x100 kg
Leg Press 3x20x300 lb
Military Press (Smith Mach) 3x20x20 lb
Lateral Raises 2x20x20 lb (Dumbells)
Calf Raises Seated 3x20x35 kg
Cable Lat Raises 2x20x11 kg

Crunches 3x30
Good Mornings 3x20x20 kg

20 min FBP treadmill

Swimming tomorrow and I'm looking forward to that. Ciao

Last nights swim and tonights gym session

2009-05-20T20:47:00.001+12:00

Howdy people, I'm a bit disappointed with last nights swim, not with the effort on my part, because I'm really training quite hard I think, more disappointed that I'm not being able to shake "IT" off and "IT" just turns up when I'm just "hitting my straps" if you will and that is really starting to piss me off. So, I will take Kathy's advice and go see a Natruopath and hopefully get "IT" sorted. Apart from the cramp, the session was pretty cool, I really enjoyed swimming with tennis balls and the difference afterward when you get rid of the balls is just amazing, so the next thing that goes into my swimming bag will be 2 tennis balls!
Here's what I did last night:
100m swim , 50m kick (x4)
100m long dog 100m duck drill
250m swim
250m swim with tennis balls (fist swim)
400m with pull bouy
TOTAL: 1700m

Tonights gym session was a good one. Arms and the 1 pack plus 20 treadmill

5 min warm up treadmill

Preacher Curls 2x20x38 kg
Reverse Curls 2x20x55 lb
D/B Tricep Curls 2x20x30 lb
Bench Dips 2x20
Tricep Pulldowns 2x20x50 kg
B/B Curls 2x20x60 lb

Crunches 3x30
Hyper extensions 3x10

20min treadmill FBP

I was standing in the bedroom talking to Shar, rubbing my puku pretending that there were defined abs, when she asked what I was doing. I told her that I was rubbing my one pack. She laughed and said it was a crate, then in her next breath she said it used to be a keg. I'll take that as a compliment, because there's no keg there anymore and it won't be reappearing any time soon, which brings me to this mornings weigh in at 6.30am 134.05kg. I'm pretty happy with that.

G'night :)

Training the 1 pack...

2009-05-18T21:23:00.002+12:00

Last night when I left the gym I thought to myself "I should really do some ab training as well as weights and treadmill work", because I know that having a solid core is important for pretty much anything that you undertake sporting wise and I guess on a daily basis for that matter.
So, tonight after my 5 min warm up on the treadmill, I started to train my 1 pack, and I also did a bit of work on my lower back too, because you can't have strong abs and a weak lower back - it just doesn't work like that. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

So here's what I did tonight

5 min treadmill

Crunches 5x15
Hyper extension 3x15

D/B Bench Press 3x20x40 lb
Incline Bench Press (Smith Machine) 1x20x70 lb
1x20x40 lb
One Arm D/B Row 3x20x40 lb
T Bar Row 2x20x35 kg
Cable Crossovers 2x20x20 kg
Close Grip Pull downs 2x20x45 lb

20 min Fat Burn Program on treadmill.

Feeling pretty good after that. Have had a good day overall.

Swimming tomorrow :)

So tonight, I leave you with this joke.

3 hicks, Steve, Ben & Daveo were working on a pylon, when Daveo fell to his demise. Steve says to Ben "Someone has to tell his wife what has happened" and Ben says "I'm pretty good at the sensitive stuff, I'll do it."
2 hours later, Ben arrives at the depot, carrying a box of beer. Steve see this and asks " Where did you get the beer?" Ben says "From Daveo's wife"
"That's unbelievable! You told the lady her husband was dead and she gave you a box of beer?"
"Well not exactly" Ben said, "When she answered the door I said to her, 'You must be Daveo's widow' "
She said "I'm no widow"
And I said " I bet you a box of beer you are"

I thought it was funny... See you later

2009-05-17T21:02:00.003+12:00

Hi peeps, I've not been here for a couple of days so here's what I've been doing training wise. I managed a swim on Friday after work, however, I was left 700 mtrs short due to "IT" turning up whilst putting my fins on and I will say that on this occasion, the pain was fucking excruciating. Sometimes, the pain is so intense, I just want to cry. Honestly, it get to that point sometimes and it is really starting to get me down.

So Fridays swim was:

200m free warm up
100m one arm (arm by side)
100m one arm ( arm out front)
100m long dog
200m technique swim - concentrating on a hard pull under the water
6x 50m aerobic :15 sec rest/50m
300m paddle swim - no pull buoy
Total 1300 mtrs

Todays swim was much better, although having said that, I felt like I had been on the piss all night and smoked about 2 packets of cigarettes in the process, as my breathing felt like shit. Got through the session without cramp however and that was just brilliant. Here's what we did:

200m warm up
100m one arm100m long dog
Main Set: 100m steady :20 rest + 50m HARD :30 rest x6 = 900m
500m paddle & pull buoy - hypoxic breathing every 2nd stroke x25m & every4th stroke x25m - for whole 500m
8x 50m HARD :15 rest
TOTAL: 2200m

I've actually just returned from the gym about 15 minutes ago, having done what I was supposed to do last night, but couldn't be arsed and ended up watching Jackass 2 on the telly. I had seen it before, but they just do crazy, stupid shit that's funny, because it is so crazy and stupid.

Legs & Shoulders

5 min treadmill warm up

Leg Press 3x20x300 lb
Lunges 3x20x30 lb (dumbells)
Military Press (Smith Machine) 3x20x20 kg
Lateral Raises 2x20x20 lb (dumbells)
Seated Calf Raises 3x20x35 kg
Cable Lateral Raises 1x20x14 kg
1x20x11 kg
20 minute Fat Burn Program - Treadmill

Feel pretty knackered now so it's off for a Milo, shave n shower and bed. So, todays farewell come from the tiny principality of Andorra. They're wedged between France and Spain and their language is Catalan. So, Adeu from me. Talk to you again later.

I'm having the night off....

2009-05-14T20:25:00.000+12:00

Isn't it funny how a day pans or doesn't pan out? It was one of those days where as soon as I turned up for work and immediately thought " I should've stayed in bed " well, it didn't get any better and after an hour of being dicked around and going from the Mount to Merivale to pick up truck keys and back to the Mount to get the truck, then off to Welcome Bay to start work at 8.45 when I'm normally started at 7.30, the day quickly turned to custard, eventually got home at 6.45 and am pretty much buggered.

Anywho, that's enough about work... Last night was bicep & tricep workout and here's what I did.

Warm Up
5 min treadmill

Preacher Curls 2x20x50 lb
Reverse Curls 2x20x60 lb
D/B Tricep Curls 2x20x35 lb
Bench Dips 2x20
Tricep Pulldowns 2x20x45 kg
B/B Curls 2x20x60 lb

Treadmill 20 min Fat Burn Program.

Swimming tomorrow :)

Ma te wa

Swim session

2009-05-12T21:06:00.001+12:00

Just finished pool session. It was a good one and I really enjoyed it. Got through the session, didn't warm down though because "IT" set in.

Warm Up
4 sets of 50m free, 25m kick

Drills
100m catch up
100m one arm
100m long dog

Main Set
8 sets of 50m (25 steady, 25 steady but with hard kick)
400m free - I timed this and did it in 8:24.70
200m pull - no paddles & concentrating on long, strong strokes
400m pull/paddles - as above

I think I'm getting better with my technique, I'd love to go to a place where they do video analysis and see how I swim. Scary thought :/
If you're reading this Kathy, how am I doing with my swimming?

Well, I'm off to shower this nasty chlorine smell of me and bed. So, todays farewell comes from the tiny Mediterranean archipelago nation of Malta (it's a cluster of islands 7 to be exact) and it is quite simply Sahha.

Here hopefully are some pictures of the ice from yesterdays hail storm.

Snow family in Taupo Ave, Berescourt Park, Cnr Concord Ave & Paterson St - all after the hailstorm. The other 2 were videos of the hailstorm. Top: Farm St and Bottom : Harris St about 10seconds before I had to go fishing for rubbish bags in the middle of the road.

Gym session

2009-05-12T15:58:00.000+12:00

Had a really good weights session last night.
5 min warm up on treadmill

Chest & Back workout
D/Bell Bench Press 3x20x40 lb
Incline Bench Press 2x20x70 lb
One Arm D/Bell Row 3x20x40 lb
T Bar Row 2x20x35 kg
Cable Crossovers 2x20x20 kg
Close Grip Lat Pulldowns 2x20x55 lb

20 mins fat burn on treadmill

Was a little reluctant to go to the gym, it was nice and warm in the confines of home by the fire, after working in the ice and knee high puddles chasing rubbish bags and bins I was frozen to the bone. It took a long time to warm up. I'll try and put some photos up on here. Once I got through the warm up however, I was "sweet as".

Swimming tonight, so I'll be back later to report in.

Oh, weight this morning at 6.30.......... 134.80 kg. (Something's working) :)

2 in a row....

2009-05-10T21:15:00.000+12:00

Had a really good session at the pools today. Just two of us swimming today though. Paul and myself.

Warm Up

200m free

Drills

100m one arm

100m long dog - all with fins

Main Set

10x 50m free - 15 sec @ 50mtrs ( concentrating on technique / steady pace )

6 x 200m ( 3 x free , 3 x pull / paddles ) - 30 sec @ 200mtrs

Warm Down

200 easy kick with fins

200m free - nice and easy

Total 2500 mtrs.

I actually felt like I could've swum for longer, but am really happy to have reached a first in my training - being, 2.5km. I'm pretty pleased with myself.

Mag phos 8 seems to be doing what it's supposed to, but it is early days yet so we'll just keep on keeping on.

Going to the gym tomorrow, been a little bit lazy with this as of late, so time to buck my ideas up.

Yay! A session without cramp!

2009-05-09T18:27:00.000+12:00

Went to the pools today with my darling. I thought I'd finish my session that I didn't finish on Thursday, even if it wasn't what was on the training program on Thursday night.

Warm Up
200m free

Drills
100m one arm
100m catch up
100m long dog - all with fins

Main Set

100m technique
400m pull / paddle

Warm Down

300m free

Total 1300m

I felt alot better after this - had to make up for the dissmal performance of Thursday night and NO CRAMP!!! Looking forward to tomorrows session. I did get some Mag Phos 8 tablets so am on a course of those and we'll see how we go.

So until next time and as they say in Russia : Do svidaniya... (it means Goodbye)

I'm not happy

2009-05-07T20:56:00.001+12:00

Went to swim squad training tonight and was just getting into the swing of it all and then it happened. Only this time, it happened in the worst place possible - inside of thighs, yeah that's right plural... thighs. I'm just pissed off right now, so I'm not going to bang on about it. Off to see the homeopath tomorrow. Hopefully some mag phos 8 tissue salts will help.
Going to bed now.

Goodnight.

PS. Only did 700mtrs tonight.... something else for me to be pissed off about.

2009-05-06T17:24:00.000+12:00

Swim session last night was really taxing - but do able. Even if it did take me a couple of go's at it.
I got cramp again at the very end of the session but I wasn't going to let that get the better of me. Here's what we did:

200m steady warm up
100m one arm drill,100m long dog drill,100m "duck feet" drill - all with fins
200m easy technique swim
8x 75m as: 25m easy, 25m steady, 25m hard (15secs rest)
400m paddle/pull
300m steady swim
TOTAL: 2000m

Hard means hard -doesn't it? LOL

No gym session tonight. I'm off to save some lives - Late night donations at NZ Blood Service. I do this 4 times a year and if it helps someone out then cool.

So until next time....

Arrivederci

2009-05-04T21:24:00.000+12:00

I haven't blogged since last Tuesday after my swim session, so here's my week in review.

Wednesday 29/4
Arm workout at the gym...

Kickbacks 2 x 20 @ 20 lb
Machine Dips 2 x 20 @ 78 kg
D/B Curls 2 x 20 @ 40 lb
Incline Curls 2 x 20 @ 40 lb
Hammer Curls 2 x 20 @ 20 lb
Close Grip Bench 2 x 20 @ 80 lb

I quite enjoyed this workout and was pumped afterwards.

Thursday 30/4

Happy Birthday Vince Lee David! (my step son - 9 today)
We had a birthday tea for Vince Lee, Nan & Pop came over from Huntly and it was cool. Party food!!! YAY!!!
I was absolutely knackered after work so I didn't do any training of any description. In fact had a pretty lazy 3 days training wise Thurs, Fri and Sat.

Sunday 3/5

Swim session with Kathy.

Did 2300 metres today, in what was a fairly hard but excellent session.
I'm really enjoying swimming with the squad and getting a push along with the training.

Here's what we did.

Warm up:
200 free
2 sets of 100 free with 50 kick

Drills:
100 one arm swim
100 catch up drill

Main Set:
6 sets of 100 mtrs - 75 steady, 25 hard. 20 sec rest / 100 mtrs
8 sets of 50 mtrs - kicking. 10 sec rest / 50 mtrs
500 mtrs pull ( pull buoy & paddles )

Warm Down:
100 free

Felt bloody good after that one.

Received a bit of bad news today. Brother Maurice broke a bone in his hand whilst out on a training run. He'll be alright though. He's a tough lad. Hope it gets better quickly brother.

Monday May the 4th... Star Wars day.. You figure it out...

Gym session tonight. chest & back as per last Monday.
Felt a little flat today to be honest, but got through the workout without any hasslehoffs.

Weight as at 6:15 am 136.50kg pretty happy about that.

Until next time... GOODNIGHT

Damn the cramp....Damn it to hell!

2009-04-28T22:21:00.000+12:00

Had a session with Kathy tonight, got through the majority of it but had wicked cramp in both calves, then in my whole right leg. Man, cramp sucks! I'm glad I persevered and worked my way through the session. Very tired today. Something to remember to get this week from the supermarket. 1x jar of Horleys REPLACE.
Maurice, if you read this, remind me to get some please LOL thanks brother.

Happy Birthday Shar.

Tired now, going to bed... GOODNIGHT

Gym session

2009-04-27T22:12:00.000+12:00

I've just returned home from the gym and am feeling pretty pumped, so a good opportunity to blog and have a cup of tea before going to bed.
My weight training sessions are Monday, Wednesday, Friday and are at the moment, fat burning and muscular endurance sessions ie: 2 - 3 sets of 20 reps at a weight that I can get my set of reps out, but not so easy to do. (Did that make sense?) So, for example today's session consisted of: Chest & Back

Bench Press 3x20x45 kg
Incline D/B Press 2x20x35 lb
Seated Cable Row 3x20x100 lb
Bent Over B/B Row 2x20x80 lb
Machine Dips 3x to failure x 78 kg
Wide Grip Lat Pull downs 2x20x55 lb

At the gym, most of the weights and machines are in pounds. The squat rack, and power bench are in kilos, as is the machine dip machine. The gym is primarily a power lifting/bodybuilding gym but they do cater for most. No aerobics classes though... There's just not enough room. they have 3 treadmills, 2 stationary bikes, a cross trainer and a stair climber as well as 2 rowing machines for cardio workouts, so it's all good in that department. They also have a sauna that you can use for the princely sum of $2.00 and showers cost 50c. It's a good gym.

Looking forward to my swim session with Kathy and the squad tomorrow night.

Well, I think I've come down from my gym high and I've run out of things to say, so until next time, GOODNIGHT :)

In the beginning... Part Three

2009-04-26T21:09:00.000+12:00

And so it begins, I join the gym (City Gym - St. John Street, Tauranga) it's a good gym, 24 hr, 7 days a week and CHEAP AS CHIPS! only $28 per month and an $80 joining fee. I got a program from the trainer, (actually, I joined the gym before I decided to do this race), and started to read a bunch of books pertaining to the task in hand. I settle on The Ultimate Guide to Weight Training for Swimming for my programs in the gym and I head back to the Otumoetai Pools along with my training programs I got off the ZOGGS swimming website that I used to help me train for the Ocean Swim at Mount Maunganui in 2008. Training up to 6 days a week, 3 in the pool and 3 in the gym.

Lately, I have been swimming longer distances, up to 2100 mtrs having started my swim training with a mere 600mtr swim and progressing to longer distances as I went through the programs I have. Last Thursday I was at the pools and Kathy Miller (a triathlon coach) was there training her squad. After I finished my session, I approached Kathy and told her I was looking for a coach to help me in my quest. She was more than happy to help me out and so today, I had my first session with Kathy and 3 others : Paul (Kathy's husband) and 2 ladies Dianne and Jo. We did 2km of swimming, sprints, drills and a shit load of kicking drills.
At the end of it all, I was absolutely buggered, but that's why we do this sort of thing... Isn't it?

So, for $60 for 10 sessions I now have a swim coach and a squad to train with, I'm pretty happy about that.

That's all for today - GOODNIGHT

In the beginning... Part Two

2009-04-22T21:29:00.000+12:00

So, after a very minor set back, we have the 3 members of our Challenge Wanaka relay team:

Myself - Peter Tua, Maurice Tua & Katrina Stewart. I'm doing the swim, Katrina - the cycle, Maurice - the run.

Our race is on the 16th January 2010 in Wanaka.

This is my story....

A couple of years ago, when I was living in Taupo, I started to train with a group of novice athletes in the club that is the Taupo Ironvirgins. IV's are a club of first time ironmen and women who are training to compete in and complete the New Zealand Ironman race.

I never got there, due to things like shifting towns, finding time to really put the effort into training, but I guess the thing that sealed it all, was my lack of enthusiasim.

On September 12, 2008, I turned 38. I stepped onto the bathroom scales and to be very honest, I didn't like what I saw. I had reached a weight that I had never thought to be possible, a gianormous 156.50 kg, or 345.02 lb (for those who are that way inclined). I was very unhappy, not just with my weight, but my health in general and in my relationship. I needed a boost. So, this was my birthday present to myself :

"Mr Tua, you have got 365 days to turn what you currently call your life around and lose some weight, become a happier person and be better off for it"

That was it, plain and simple.

Well, it started off well and I had lost 10kg in a couple of months and was feeling pretty good about it all, then along came Christmas and drinking. Now in my job as a household rubbish collector, you get all sorts of goodies at Christmas from your customers. Myself along with my workmate acquired 17 boxes of beer and 2 boxes of chocolate, along with the crap you eat whilst you are working, it didn't take long for those lost kilograms to reappear. I got back up to 153.50 and on the 27th January 2009, I started to diet and exercise on a regular basis. As of today I am weighing in at 138.90 kg or 306.22 lbs. I feel a hell of a lot better for it and long may it continue. I have a goal weight of 100kg by race day, and I'll do everything in my power to achieve that goal.

Well, time for bed now, so to be continued.....

In The Beginning...Part One

2009-04-19T22:02:00.000+12:00

I was supposed to start this back in February, when I was approached by my older brother Maurice, as to what I thought of the following idea : " Challenge Wanaka 2010 as a team" to which I replied "Who & what?", "You can do the swim, I'll bike and we can do a half marathon each" was Maurice's reply. "You find a runner and I'm in" I said, and thus the beginning of a journey that will be, I believe, both hard work for all involved, but incredibly rewarding at the end.
I'm going to finish this bit off tomorrow as it's 10:13pm (New Zealand Standard Time) and I have work in the morning, so until then....

GOODNIGHT!