We did it, We did it...

This is it... 6.15am Sunday morning just about ready to head off to Wellington for our first duathlon (that's me #143! and Dear Sister-in-Law Leigh)

What an absolutely awesome morning. We parked the car, opened the door to get out and the wind nearly blew the door out of our hands (hmm not a good sign), we made our way over to Waitangi Park to put our bag, helmet etc with our bikes - the promotional flags in the park where flapping like they were ready to take off (hmm definitely not a good sign)... Wellington lived up to its 'world famous' reputation - it was a true Northerly-very-blustery-WIND... on the plus side - we were all in the same boat (so to speak)...

At 8am the waves of people were set off at 1 min intervals ... we left at 8.03am - and first up was the 3.5km walk (run for the fit ones) - though I have to say Leigh and I did jog some of this!!; then to transition and get on the bike for the 10km ride - oh my goodness it was a head wind to the half way mark and on the way back it was bike-stopping wind at times - then it was the 1.5km walk (run for the fit ones) - and again once we (here I mean "I") got my breath back we even managed to jog for part of this too... Leigh was true to her word - "we are doing this together" and we came across the finish line together (mind you I managed to get one tiny step ahead of her!). What an exhilirating feeling crossing that finish line, removing the time recorder from our shoe laces, getting our free bottle of Mizone, and then giving each other a big hug. Magic.

The fastest time for the day was 45:44min (amazing effort) and the last one over the finish line completed the course in 1:54:00 (a fantastic effort) - so Leigh and I are pretty proud of our first efforts... our times below...

Highlights for me: actually jogging some of the course - didn't think I had it in me; being part of a huge group of women (700 entrants) of all shapes, sizes, fitness abilities, walks of life being part of a very social fitness event; crossing the finish line in a time that was better than our guesstimate (we figured we'd do it in around 1:20); not giving up even though at times on the bike ride the thighs were burning, the peddles were turning though you felt like you weren't even moving (due to the wind!).

We can't wait for the photo's to be loaded onto the website for us to order - am sure that the one of us crossing the finish line will look a hoot, my hair had blown completely over my face (so am thinking I will look like Chewbacca (star wars fame) and Leigh was punching the air while we are giggling away in hysterics!

A free breakfast was provided by Hubbards that we could feast on once we passed the finish line. And spot prizes were drawn after the last entrant crossed the finish line. Unfortunately I didn't win the bike that I was positive thinking for (I would have given it to Leigh :) honest!).

We got back home about 11.30am and felt that it should have been 4.30pm in the arvo - the rest of the day was kind of spent lazying about funnily enough.

DH picked me up off the train tonight, and had a lovely bunch of flowers waiting for me, to say well done for yesterday - this was such a surprise - hubby very rarely does flowers - so it is a very special treat when he does... aren't they gorgeous!

So what's the next event.... well the next one we've found is in Martinborough in November - and we've chosen the 48km bike ride (the other choice was 112km - we're not quite there yet!) - so Grace will still be in action over the autumn/winter months - though it may mean more likely she is connected to the indoor trainer as after work with Daylight saving finished it was dark at 6.15pm tonight - arrgh - don't like that :(

Hope you all have a great weekend...