That's a wrap! - 2013 what a year you've been!

This is the post I have wanted to write for so long but have held out till the last day of the year.  Well that day is now upon us so here it goes......

Where do I start when there is so much to share without boring everyone ha ha.....I guess at the beginning.

When I returned from Australia in January after spending Christmas and NY at home with my family and friends, I came back having made some very big decisions.

1. Sign up for my first Ironman - Melbourne and race it in 2014
2. Train consistently and shed the excess weight.
3. Hire a coach to plan my training schedule for an IM 2014
4. Enjoy life

All of which I can quite happily say I have been achieved.

So the way I'm going to summarise my year is highlighting the highs and the lows. Otherwise as most of you know I can talk for the world lol...even underwater, so we could be here for bloody ever!!

Highs

* Completing my first XC trail run with the support of my tri club

* Losing 12 kegs
* Being consistent in my training 

* Hiring my coach - Toby Smithson from Coachtoby
* Completing 2 Half Iron distance races, where I achieved a PB on my second attempt by 44mins10sec
* Becoming an Brand Ambassador (BA) for 7 amazing companies - Huub, Nuun, ISM Saddles, Funkita Swimwear, Bonk Clothing, Dryrobe and Jackoatbar!! So proud!
* Achieving so many PBs over various distances :-

* Securing a contract that allows me to train for my Ironman, travel to Australia work 4 days a week whilst I prepare for the final legs of my IM. 

* Completing my first duathlon

* Riding 100 miles - Prudential Ride London (London is a fast course when its closed to cars)

* Joining MaccaX and being the social media diva for the Team MaccaX FB page and Twitter account

* Receiving several trophies within my local Triathlon club - Thames Turbo Tri Club - Most Improved Female Athlete 2013; Overall Female Club Champions 2013 and Chairman's Award

* Becoming Ladies Captain for the next 2 years for Thames Turbo Tri Club

* Clearing out people from my life that are not supportive, encouraging or simply those who do not make an effort in being a friend

* Attending the wedding of my friends Becky & Mark and Tom & Charmaine

* The birth of my second nephew - Michael

* Purchasing my Cervelo with cash

* Attending camp in Italy for 2 weeks with Steve Trew, Dan Bullock and Vicki Gill and making some amazing friends on the camp

* Meeting some of my twitter peeps at various races and even in different countries - too many to mention

* Catching up with Chris McCormack and Belinda Granger (Pro Triathletes)

Lows

* Being unemployed for 3 months - this really demonstrated who my friends were. Quite the eye opener

* My first road bike and my mountain bike that my daddy bought me for christmas being stolen from my house

* Challenge Roth - bike leg - being pulled off the course with 21kms to go as I wasn't going to make the relay bike cut-off time. I was devastated! Cried like a baby.

I am so glad that my life has far more highs than lows. Reflection of the kind of person I am, driven and ambitious.

So that sums up my 2013. It has been one helluva ride. My life has been consumed for the past 12 months with my Ironman journey to Melbourne and is going to continue that way till just after July 2014 when I race Challenge Roth in Germany with my Team MaccaX mates.

My final words are those of thanks to everyone who has been so supportive, encouraging, given me tough love and watched me grow as a person and also as an athlete over the past 12 months. 

2014 is going to be an even bigger year than 2013 has been, we all get to see the results of this crazy journey with not just one Iron distance race but two!

I wish you all an amazing 2014 and only say this, don't wait for things to happen my friend, if you want it, go out and get it or make a plan to achieve and do not let anyone say that you can't!

Till next time

Smooches

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Tarsh aka @Supergal007 - 'Southern Dynamo'

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