A breast cancer diagnosis in your 30's

After New Zealand Government MP Nikki Kaye was diagnosed with breast cancer at just 36, I was asked by the Herald on Sunday to write about my experience of receiving the same diagnosis at 37. You can find my story here: Breast cancer survivor on getting through diagnosis and treatment.
Warning -  contains mention of runaway nipples!

The important stuff in life

This blog normally focuses on getting back into fitness after surviving breast cancer. However, for the past year our family has had to deal with the other side of the breast cancer coin, after my sister-in-law Sarah's breast cancer spread; something I haven't felt able to write about until now. This post is written to two of my wonderful nieces and my equally wonderful nephew, who are dealing with the loss of their incredible mother two weeks ago.

Reaching the top of the Alpe d'Huez

The hairpins of the Alpe d'Huez.

I wasn't sure what I would do first:

• vomit
• faint
• come to a complete standstill and fall off my bike, or
• some combination of all of the above.

Cycling hills ... and really cold feet

Here are some things I have learned about cycling hills:

1. If you are forced to stop for traffic before proceeding up a steep gradient, you really need to clip into your pedals again before you reach the steep gradient.

2. It is possible to clip in on a steep gradient while a (strong) fellow cyclist pushes you once you stop A. panicking and B. pedalling.

Cycling pain ... but, hey, it's not chemo

Two and a half hours into my ride, I was contemplating what was more annoying – my sore neck, freezing feet, or numb butt.

Cycling through snow days

The view outside today.

It’s 2 degrees (Celsius) and snowing outside. It’s times like this I wish I’d started this whole cycling caper a few months ago. You know, when it was summer. Instead, I procrastinated.

Vicious bees, hedges and cramp (OR why I shouldn't be allowed out alone)

First the good news: I did 40km on my last ride, which is my longest ride so far.
The bad news: I got stung by a bee and fell into a hedge.