I  may not have melted but it felt like that! Talk about going from one extreme to the next! Spending 2 weeks in New Zealand then heading to Singapore. There were many challenges to face!

We were back in Perth for only a few days before the bikes were packed up again and we were flying away, but this time in another direction! My brother and his wife were already there and mum and dad were traveling with Guy and I. Any excuse for a holiday and some retail therapy.

The flight to Singapore from Perth is only 4 1/2 hours and on the same time zone so we left our travel until the last minute and didn’t arrive until Friday night. We just had enough time to put the bikes together, eat, then sleep which is always welcomed!

Saturday morning we enjoyed a sleep in before a mini bus….???? Arrived to take us to the race venue. Here we could complete our pre race swim/bike/run, late registration and late briefing. No worries!! We were all organised!

We were also very lucky to have Physio/Friend Ruth there to support as well!

Saturday afternoon was perfect! Relaxing, doing nothing, watching movies! Getting water bottles and everything organised for race morning. Plus…we had just done this 2 weeks ago! And this was going to be the interesting part. I had never raced 2 Half Ironman’s so close together. Including a week of traveling in between. I had no idea how the body was going to respond. Good or bad…I was ready to find out! The head was in the right place and I was ready to go! So a good start!

We arrived Sunday morning with plenty of time to spare, warm up and get ourselves organised! Even a descent swim warm up! It was a non – wetsuit swim and my Blueseventy Speed Suit was feeling snug, like a second skin!

Bang!!! We were off, a run from the beach, dive in the water and sprint for the pack! Or at least “a” pack! The swim was two loops coming out for a run around the beach before the second lap. I knew Mary Beth would dominate the swim but I wanted to be in the next group. Half way around the feet I were on lost the group and it became a little too easy. I went around and swum solo for the remainder. I was extremely happy with my swim exiting the water 2nd female and only 2 minutes down. Excellent! Thanks Paul!! (www.swimsmooth.com)

Onto the FELT and it was on! 3 laps of 30km. The first lap was great because there was no one around! Just the open roads and remembering time trials along Shelley Foreshore. But by the second and third laps there was a lot of “Bike right” calling going on as 1600 other athletes were now sharing the road.

Off the bike and I had maintained my position in 2nd place although Mary Beth had put time into me. It was onto the run and the heat picked up!

As soon as I began running I could just feel it was going to be one of those days! The legs were heavy! They didn’t have the spring they had just 2 weeks ago. It was going to be a matter of survival! I made it through the first 7km but heading into the 2nd lap I was feeling it! Beginning to feel a little sick, dizzy, I was not in a good place. I began just running from aid station to aid station. Walking them to get as much fluid, electrolytes and gels into me along the way. At 14km I came across my incredible support crew but stopped in front of mum, I thought I was going to pass out! I didn’t feel well. I needed to get my act together! Mum was great and gave it to me straight “you can do it! 7km to go! It is all mental, hang in there!”!.

I knew she was right. One foot in front of the other…7km…I can do this! I kept going…aid station to aid station, there was going to be no records broken today, but if I could hang on to 3rd place, then it was a victory for me!

Ali was closer fast and having a great run but in the end I was able to hold onto 3rd place and was ecstatic about my second podium in 2 weeks.

After interviews and photo’s it was straight to “Super Ruth” and my amazing support crew for the Royal Treatment! Guy also had a great day finishing 6th so it was time to celebrate with drinks at Clark Quay and some much needed retail therapy.

It has been a great start to the year and after a little bit of R and R I am excited about stepping it up and taking it to the next level! Once again, none of this could be achieved without the amazing support I have around me!

In Singapore Mum, Dad, Bake, Robbie and Ruth definitely got me there in the end. Thank you!

Coach extraordinaire Jeff, there is a never a dull moment..that is why it is so exciting!

And my incredible sponsors K-Swiss, Novatron, FELT, Rolf Prima Wheels, GU,SRAM, Computrainer, Swim Smooth, Lazer Helmets, Ryders Eyewear, Blueseventy, Swish Design, Rock Tape, Recovery Pump, Super Ruth!! I look forward to seeing you all at the races in 2012

Well, in the end the severe “weather bomb” was going to be too dangerous and waking up on Saturday morning the organisers   definitely made the right decision cancelling the event. The winds were incredible and it would have been extremely dangerous for anyone riding in those conditions. A credit to them though…Sunday morning in the space of 24 hours they had organised a 70.3 event getting half of the volunteers back, road closures and all the other logistics organised and ready to go!

Now I had to get myself ready! Mentally and physically I had to prepare the body now for a 70.3 rather than an Ironman. This was going to be very interesting!

By race morning I was excited and so glad we were actually getting a race in. How much speed was in the legs was yet to be determined but I was sure most of the other girls were in the same situation. A little bit of a run warm up with Guy and our pre race rituals and we were ready to go!

Bang! We were off…and so was I..feeling great and ready to swim hard and fast! I was right in the mix of it and excited to be there after all the hard work in the pool. Then 300-400m into the swim, a lapse in concentration and a tactical error and the feet were gone! I could not get back on! A solo swim for the next 1500m left me way down on Meredith but 1.15  down on the next group which is where I should have been. Although initially disappointed I know I can do it and am determined to get it right next time!

Running the long 450m to transition I was deciding how cold it was..did I need arm warmers…did I need a vest..yes..it is a little bit chilly…better to be safe than sorry! But bugger…the zip would not do up..I had to stop by my bike as valuable time ticked away to get it done up! Eventually I was on my way and reminding myself Half Ironman, Half Ironman, no holding back just go for it! Once the little section out of town is complete I like to get into the aero position and just go! That is what I did. I saw at the little out and back that the gap to the next group of girls was 2 mins and for the next 55-60km I rode solo…no one around just a few motor bikes that would fly past every now and then. At the turn around I saw the gap had only come back by 15 seconds but I was actually beginning to feel better! The endurance was starting to set in. It wasn’t long before the age group men started flying by. Some like freight trains…then others that were going the same speed but had to be in front!! The games had started!

It wasn’t long before Gina, Jo and I had come together and I knew besides Meredith dominating in front, for the rest of us it was going to come down to the run!

I came off the bike in 4th place and went for it! I actually felt great! And when you only have to run 21km when you thought you would be running 42km…how could I not go hard!

I caught Jo just at about 4km..but if our past races are anything to go by then this one was going to be no different. She is such an incredible athlete and I would not expect anything different. I knew I had to go hard..but she hung on and was always there for the entire 21km!! We passed Belinda and were now both running for 2nd and 3rd with Gina and Jessica closing in fast from behind. Oh no!! This was really going to hurt! With 1500m to go the quads were on fire but I had to ignore it! Jo was coming….and fast!

Thank God…3 seconds was enough and I was able to hang on, but the quads were screaming! Yep..I had “gone to Max!” as Guy would say. But was extremely happy!

Congratulations to Meredith on her dominating race and setting the standard for the rest of us! Not only such an amazing athlete but so humble. And the rest of the women’s Pro field…we were only separated by a few minutes and the pressure was on. It was exciting racing!

To my amazing and incredible sponsors K-Swiss, Novatron, FELT, GU, Rolf Prima Wheels, Lazer Helmets, Computrainer, SRAM, Ryders Sunglasses, Blue Seventy…A fantastic start to the 2012 season, I could not have done it without you!

Mum, dad, Guy, Coach Jeff Shilt and all my amazing friends and family, your love and support means the world to me! Thank you xx

A quick update from the very cold and windy shores of Taupo New Zealand! Definitely compared to Perth anyway! We arrived in Auckland late Sunday night after our initial flight from Perth to Melbourne was cancelled we were put on an earlier one. But then our flight from Melbourne to Auckland was delayed about 1  1/2 hours. So after 6 hours in Melbourne we finally made it to our hotel in Auckland at 1am but the 5 hours time difference was enough for us not to be tired! A late night snack in the bar and we finally slept just after 2am!

A sleep in was definitely in order and an early morning run on the treadmill before the drive to Taupo via Rotorua so we could visits Guy’s mum on the way. Finally arriving at our destination at 6pm we were straight into our wetsuits and into the lake to see how cold it was. Although a bit “fresh” initially it was really quite nice after a little while and Guy gave me another flogging between boats and buoys.

The next 3 days have involved a little bit of swimming, biking and running. Catching up with so many other West Aussies here to race and enjoying the great food that Taupo has to offer! The last few days unfortunately the weather has taken a turn for the worse and it was only last night we first heard the swim may actually be cancelled. Yet to be confirmed but as I write this we have an athlete meeting in 30 mins where the most likely decision will be made. Although they will meet again at 4am tomorrow morning just incase things change. A severe weather front is apparently on its way but if it keeps pushing south we may be alright. It  will still be ridiculously windy and cold and we might still be able to swim. And believe it or not…I want the swim! I have been working so hard on mine that I wanted a chance to see where it was at compared to the best…but now that might have to wait!

Guy and I are now finally sitting down for the afternoon after a busy Friday including T.V. Interviews, Press Conference, Autograph signing and now all the bike and gear bags are in! But lately I have found that my speedy little 48cm Felt doesn’t always touch the ground on the bike racks! Hopefully it will still be there in the morning with the gale force winds predicted tonight!

Whatever happens tomorrow with the weather will not affect my race plan…I just may be wearing more clothing…arm warmers…vest…gloves…but I will still be focused on my plan and off course staying warm!

Fingers are crossed the weather Gods are kind over night….but I am still excited and can’t wait to toe the start line for my first Ironman of 2012!!