My training in the racing wheelchair concluded on Tuesday and we are now travelling to New York! My last few training sessions have gone pretty well since my last post although there has been plenty of other stuff going on as well. During Labour weekend Denise and I had a few goals including the filling of the raised garden next to the deck and completion some training sessions. With regard to the raised garden, David Askin (Council's Parks Manager) was very helpfully by arranging the delivery two loads of 'ballast' - left over grave diggings and some shingle. He also dropped off 2 large wheelbarrows and 2 shovels, all we needed now was some labour to operate them!
First thing Saturday morning after a bit of a lay in we headed off to the garden centre where we purchased a crab apple tree which will be a feature in our new garden. We also purchased some weed mat and stakes to form a root barrier. While shopping Henry my builder and deck modifier rang to say he would be around to do the finishing touches to the deck ramps, this was great as we wanted to get the deck and planter box sorted before heading away. Henry ended up finishing at about 5pm and I ended up a bit frustrated from the lack of training. I therefore decided to jump on the rowing machine and cut out about 30 hard minutes, at 23 minutes though the fire duty pager went off, I was doing duty as Don was at Neil Daimond in Dunedin. The next day I woke early, SEMI FINAL time in the rugby world cup All Blacks vs Springboks. Great game, very close with the All Blacks just doing enough 30-28. Denise and I then used the early start to go swimming. Starting slowly I managed to work my way into a decent swim doing 42 lengths, just over 1km, this is followed later by a push. The day is fine and cool with a southerly blowing. I am aiming to complete a vigorous push on the EASTERN route, the start of the push is into the breeze but down a steady grade and I really push hard and average a good pace. The course after about 5km then swings north east and the wind is coming across my right shoulder and I have about 7km of false flat, gentle uphill grade - learnt this term off Brent Kircher a real cyclist. Again I push it hard and find the side wind making steering a bit of a challenge, the 7km is tough going but the tail breeze helps. On the next left turn the wind is directly behind us and we are past halfway and I hang in there and keep pushing hard to finish off another 23km. I am pretty spent but happy when I look at the time, 6 minutes quicker than I have ever finished this route.
Session stats;
Distance: 23.4km Time: 1 hour 32 minutes Avg Speed: 15.1km/hr
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| After a training session in new Catwalk gear. |
Later that day the kids arrive after having been down to Dunedin with Jane to help celebrate her brother Jonathan's birthday. Kate can't stay in Ashburton with art and photography boards needing completion. Thomas is also unable to stay with a mission to pick windsurfing gear pressing. Lucky we are left with the strong and willing HARRY! My plans of getting two strong offspring to help move grave spoil is halved.....but up steps Denise. With the Tiguan hardly out of the drive Denise and Harry make a start on the toil. With the gravel all deposited and a few loads of soil thrown in for good measure things are halted for Lasagna, Dr Who and bed!! Monday morning I manage to escape to Lake Hood for a short row and a goodbye to my fellow rowers. For the 'workers' the lions share of Labour Day Monday is spent moving the soil and eventually the job is completed after lunch and the results are magnificent. We finish the day by taking Harry back to Christchurch and having a farewell meal with Kate and Thomas, a really nice meal at Little India.
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| Harry and Denise Awesome Work with Great Results |
With only one push during Labour Weekend I feel a need for one more push on Tuesday afternoon. Bruce Welch is willing for one last outting and we head up the road along the usual route NW of Ashburton and manage to cut out 20km. I push relatively hard at the start but then ease back on the downhill trip home. I complete the push and feel good at the end and find getting out of the chair relatively easy!!
Distance: 20km Time: 1 hour 22 minutes
Training is complete!!! I have managed to finish this blog while flying to Auckland from Christchurch and then finalised on the leg from Auckland to LA. We are now with team Achilles and we get to meet the gang of athletes and helpers. It has just ticked over midnight so it must be time to say goodnight. I hope to publish this post with a team Achilles photo after we land in LA.
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