The Baby faced assassin

Last weeks training was a bit of a steady as she goes - just ticking most of the boxes in the regular routine. The long run ended up on the scrap heap, mainly due to scheduling issues. To be honest, it was done-in by Mr Procrastination! I had two opportunities to slip it in, but mucked around, and ran out of time on both occasions. So have duly given myself a slap on the wrist!
Sundays ride was probably the most "interesting" session of the week. It was Katie Kennys "going away ride", and there was a good turn-out. Beautiful day for it too. We got the first puncture at around 5km, and usually if there is one - there will be several in the ride! A little further down the road and we have our second little excitement. We have to journey down the Pakaranga hi-way for a short period on our standard long ride loop, and this is a 6 lane road, usually pretty quiet at 7-8am on Sunday morning, but not so good on the way back. Cruising along quite merrily, and out from the right comes a football rolling across the road (across 5-6 lanes!). It is heading for Reuben. Reuben is sure it is going to get him and Reuben is sure he is going to hit the deck! Everyone watching behind (in slow motion of course) is also sure Reuben is going to hit the deck. The ball somehow manages to roll under Reubens bike - between the wheels! Every one seeing this is stunned. However the ball is not yet finished! It bounces off the curb, taking out Mike on the rebound, who was diligently watching the action from behind! Everyone is OK after, although not quite sure how it all happened! Second puncture for the group at around 30km - and a good one too. A sharp stone that cuts through the sidewall of the tyre. So there is a nice turtle head of tube sticking out when the new tube is in and pumped up. Another puncture waiting to happen (not if - but when). Rider number two is now on the way home, wondering how far they will make it before they have to start walking after the call to be picked up! Liz does make it back to the car! The rest of the ride was reasonably uneventful - no dog attacks, rogue drunks on their way home, not even the weather conspired against us!


As it was Katies last official ride with us (she is off to Christchurch, then Dunedin - for University!), I will do a bit of a tribute to her - as she is special! Little Katie, as she is known, starting coming along to the Saturday brick (swim-bike-run) sessions quite early on - as a 12 or 13 year old (my memory is fading). These sessions run for around 3 hours, and can be reasonably solid - but they did not phase the young Katie! I imagine she did sleep pretty well after the first few sessions though! She did not really say much, just quietly got on with things. Over the years she developed into a very handy athlete, moving from triathlon more to cycling. She was captain of the all conquering Dio senior cycling team this year. While butter would not melt in this innocent young ladies mouth, if you showed any sign of weakness she would nail your ass to the wall! Just ask the chickens at the top of Twighlight Rd! Over the last couple of years she has been trying to take my scalp on a hill climb, and we have had a bit of a challenge going. Fortunately my poker face has got me out of trouble a couple of times, when she could have probably rolled me. But she was probably hurting quite a bit, looked over at me, and I probably looked quite comfortable - even though I was about to break, and she would crack first. If I did feel that she had a good chance on an upcoming climb, my other tactic was to put in an absolute 100% effort attack quite early, to put her off. I didn't really play fair! :-). A few weeks ago we were riding up Twighlight road (approximately a 2km steady climb), and was feeling a little average in the legs. With just one corner to go I did sense impending doom, and looked around, and sure enough "little Katie" is on my wheel. I know what is coming next. Sure enough, as we round the corner, the attack comes. Now at the very top of Twighlight, there are a number of Chickens and Roosters that live right on the side of the road. Unfortunately the residence of Twighlight had decided to take their quite newly hatched chiclets for a walk across the road, just as the hill top sprint was being decided. I was not stopping, and dove on the inside, which managed to scatter the wildlife a little more toward the centre of the road, where a second placed sprinter managed to reduce the inhabitant population by a couple of chiclets... There was not going to be any stopping to survey damage - tears would be involved!

Katie is one of those people that will be good at what ever she decides to be good at. Not because of a huge amount of natural ability (she certainly does have some of that though), but because she is very determined! Over the years I have had the opportunity to meet and make friends with some great people. As an athlete and a coach I have made friendships that really have changed my life. I am not really a very emotional person - but it was very sad to say goodbye to Little Katie. I am sure our paths will cross in the future - many times I hope. Good luck Little Katie - you are the genuine Baby faced assassin!