12 x 12 challenge...

A few from my Thursday night quilting group of girlfriends (Kwilting Katz) have taken up a challenge set by Shirley and Sandra for a 12 x 12 challenge.  There are 12 themes (politics, pollution, light, picasso, impressionist art, puzzle, insects, identity, recycled, water, journeys, and technology).



This is my first block : IDENTITY : the hand is me holding my family (husband and daughters, and reflects their Maori heritage), within the hand is a stitched heart with four "x" representing each of us.  Hanson was my maiden name, and Manu is our family name.

The second block is JOURNEYS : this represents my journey in cycling, the trees for the outdoors and the slight incline for the hills I've climbed in life and continue to climb in cycling :)












I will share more as I complete the blocks - they are to be finished by May 2012 so I've got to get busy.  Block 3 is underway :)

Hugs

...2012...

Happy New Year ... may 2012 bring you peace, good fortune, happiness

and lots of fun and laughter.

Hugs

Reflecting back...

I just did a bit of a comparison of photo's - from Taupo 2010 - to Taupo 2011 and the massive change in myself... the journey of endurance cycling has only just begun :)

So excited...

What a weekend, the trip to Taupo on Thursday was rain and wind.  Arrived in Moutapa where we had rented a friends batch and it was still miserable.  Friday dawned really windy, the lake looked like Wellington harbour on a very windy, choppy day.  Registration pack was picked up, girls went shopping, sushi was had for lunch then we decided to go to Rotorua, for Chris to check out the CAT (heavy machinery) museum, whilst us girls shopped some more :)

Saturday morning dawned and it was beautiful clear blue sky from the bedroom window, went outside and it was WINDY - dang!  The starting marshall was warning riders of the 34knot winds and to be extra careful around the western side of Lake Taupo... all I can say is thank goodness with Gearshifters we have trained in all weather (including Wellington gale force winds)... The first 90kms are hill after hill and head winds that almost stopped you in your tracks or blew you across the road.  Stopped at the 90km mark to send Chris and girls the text to get ready to go to Moutapa (125km mark) intersection to meet me with the fresh cold bottles of drink, it was a very quick stop as I was on a mission.  Then 1hr 30 odd minutes later I came through the finishing chute and no family were there :(  They weren't expecting me to get there that early!  Chris was still driving into Taupo and the girls (and Kait's boyfriend Callum) were having  a cold drink at Subway... they were excited that I bet them, though guttered they'd missed the photo's of me coming through the chute (and I'd sprinted too!)

Anyhoo... I bet last years time (9hrs 4mins) by 2hrs 21 mins !!  My time for this year in that awful wind was 6hrs 44mins.  So very pleased - goal for next years event is to get under 6 hours :)

Race No	Entry Name	Event	Region	Time	Split1	Split2	Split3	Split4	Place	Gender	Gend Place	Division	Div Place
191	Julie Manu	Solo	Wellington	6:44:23	3:27:04	3:02:43	14:36		2808	Female	283	35-44	92

And to top it all off, had a great breakfast with Rob and Kathy this morning, then Rob took us for a scenic flight over Taupo in his helicopter - such a buzz.  Will load photo's tomorrow :)

Hope you too have had an epic weekend.
Hugs

So its been nearly a year...

Hard to believe that it has been nearly a year since my first Taupo Cycle Challenge... the house is clean and tidy for the house-sitter (minding the cats), the bags and food are packed, am just waiting my turn for the shower, then its load up the van, and don't forget the bike... drop of Diesel to the kennels then we are off to Taupo :)

One year later, I'm nearly 15kgs lighter (completely revamped the diet), took my training a whole lot more seriously and included strength training to build up the legs (hence why there are hardly any crafty postings!), and alot fitter. I'm on a mission this year to get under 6hrs 30mins for 160kms around the lake on Saturday. (Last year it was a 9hr torture test). My trainers reckon I can do sub 6 hours - eek - will depend on the tailwinds I reckon!

Will load a post when I get home on Sunday to let you know how it all went :)

Have a great weekend.

Hugs

Proud Mom...

Just home from UH College Year 12 & 13 media awards night (HOSCARS) - very cool night... and so VERY proud of my daughter Kait... her movie "KASSEY" (which she wrote, co-edited, co-screenplayed, directed, co-produced, as well as being main actress)... won best supporting actress; best edited; best cinematogrophy and BEST OVERALL Y12 MOVIE !!! So very proud of her and her friends Dan Henton (co-editor), Jacob Bly (co-editor), Heidi Filkins (co-screenplay, co-editor, co-producer, actress), Megan Eckery & Melissa Beyon (Actresses) and Callum Bircher (God). Oh and Kait designed the poster and DVD cover as well!

Heidi (left) and Kait

Dan, Jacob, Heidi & Kait

Well done xox