Queenstown bureau chief Tracey Roxburgh documents the highs
and lows in the Queenstown Winter Festival Lindauer Ladies
Fitness and Fashion Challenge.
Saturday, May 15
11am: Have
spent majority of morning psyching myself up to go to gym
where I shall put myself through torture that is Bring the
Sexy Back workout.
Have finally reached Lakes Leisure carpark.
11.02am: Cellphone goes.
Am diverted to "landslip" at Devil's Staircase.
This does not please me.
11.32am: Reach "landslip".
Is in fact six rocks on side of road. Am now in bad
mood.
If I had not been diverted, would be close to finishing
torturous workout by now.
Noon: Back at gym.
Decide to take bad mood out on cross trainer and rower.
12.22pm: Am steaming through workout.
Do not need to look at any reflective surfaces to know I am
colour of beetroot.
People at gym staring at me, possibly out of concern at any
moment I may have heart attack.
12.30pm: On track for beating best time on
45-minute workout.
Realise the faster I go, the faster this is over.
12.32pm: Have reached warp speed on cross
trainer.
Just saw the speed reader hit 24.
Must look ridiculous.
Am in position similar to squat, with body relatively
still.
Arms and legs are going so fast they must look like a blur.
12.40pm: Am tempted to lie on gym floor in
recovery position.
Beat best time by four minutes.
1.20pm: Am now in recovery position on
couch.
2pm: Have finally summoned energy to have
shower and get dressed.
See favourite jeans which have not been worn in about a
year.
Eye them up. Decide today is the day to try them on.
Quietly chant "Please let them fit" while holding breath.
2.01pm: Jeans are on.
Did not have to jump to pull them up (as I did when I bought
them, thinking - wrongly - they would "give"), did not have
to lie down to do them up and can stand and sit without them
cutting my midsection in half. Am very, very happy.
3pm: Have been to see friend at work and
have told her about my jeans.
Have also just told her workmates.
And, anyone else who will listen.
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