Final Para Waka ama camp: 2 weeks till London!

I always find these camps pretty tough from a PTSD / Autism point of view. It feels quite intense, being with people all the time, sleeping, eating, training all in a group with no personal space whatsoever.

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Poem: Finding me amongst the mayhem

Self identity, what does it mean?
Taken for granted, pre-assumed
Until your major beliefs are destroyed
Leaving you in a barren battlefield.

Like being airdropped into a strange town.
Take time to look around.
Find the familiar, find the new,
Make a list – what interests you?

A new coffee shop – same familiar taste.
A new dress shop – different but cool.
Familiar roads, don’t know where they go.
We head out anyway, discovering new.

Lipstick we loved – rediscovered again.
Sense of self worth, constructed anew
The town we knew is long gone.
New cities we found – even more cool.

New identity – Para is me
New look – confidence is me
New sport – Waka ama is me
New belief system – THIS IS ME!

[poem by Melanie Magowan]

#236 Wensleys Cycles winter duathlon: should I / shouldn’t I?

I had planned to do this again this year. But I haven’t been running lately plus I don’t have anyone to by my handler. So should I still try it? And if I do – how will it go?

Here’s what I decided (and why).

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Trauma talks: Amanda Wilson 10/7/22 Invercargill

This talk was something I saw on a friend’s Facebook page, reposted from someone she knew through horsey circles. Obviously I do not rotate in those circles so Amanda was completely unknown to me.

I also did not really have any specific expectations about this talk, but wow, the content really did blow my mind. I will do my best to summarise based on the notes I took on the day.

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#235: My next big race goal: after the Waka Ama world champs 2022

If you have followed me on social media you will know I don’t give up easily. But the huge challenges I have faced (and continue to face) really have put doubt in my mind and made me question whether my personal goals really are realistic.

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