Buda Ist Better!

I have come to the conclusion after seeing a little bit of this very big city, that Budapest isn't so bad! This morning we had the bike familiarisation in the pouring rain which was pretty full on as you can imagine. Hundreds of athletes all riding the very wet and dangerous roads with police escorts (thankfully). I am still not quite used to staying calm when seeing a famous elite athlete. I get starstruck and have no idea where to look. For example, yesterday morning I walked into the lobby after my run and there was Emma Snowsill, casually drinking a cup of coffee. No biggie, just the 2008 Olympic Gold Medalist. I am starting to get my head around the fact that they are completely normal people, just insanely fast and super awesome. Yesterday was Mums birthday so we went for a walk around the city. We had been told that we must go to the mall in the centre of town. So we finally found it and it was awesome! I could spend the whole week in there and not get bored. It was kinda strange because it was such a nice and modern building and it didnt quite fit in with the rest of the city. After me and Mum had a bit of a spend up we had a hungarian feed which was very tastey!
Anyway, not long now until the race!I am looking forward to it. I am feeling great and am ready to race.
So from now until sunday after noon at 4.15 my feet will be up and my body will be hydrated. That is all for now my friends,
peace

HHEEELLLLOOOOO THHHEEERRREEE!

Just came back from my run through the streets of Bupapest! I do not take back my comment about the depressing looking people but my view on the city as improved slightly. It is a city of extremes. There are amazing old buildings which look like castles which are then surrounded by dirty, out-dated, high rise apartments. It is like we are stuck in the 1900's. Everything is seems to be dull, gray and ancient. The people like they purchase their threads from a op-shop. There are some very beautiful parts of the city. I discovered one of these while I was running through Margaret Island which is a island in the middle of the river. We are staying the Pest side of Bupapest which is the unfortunate one of the two. My fellow sports women, Rebecca Kingsford and I and venturing out the Buda side tomorrow with our trusty supervisor Stephen Sheldrake. Bupa is the side of which the race venue is being held and is apparently far more spectactular than the Pest side which we are staying on.
I found out today that I am number one on the start list for my race. This means that I get to wear one on my arm which is pretty much the bomb. It has nothing to do with my ranking, I was just drawn out first. I also discover that my idol Emma Moffat is staying at the same hotel as us. So I am hoping she will be willing to share some of her secrets over a cup of herbal tea at the wicked breakfast buffet!
Anyway I have got to go and cook me some kai,
Before I love you and leave you I would like the say a huge shout out to every one who has help me get here. It is much appreciated and I am loving every minute of it!
bon voyage,
Mads

Greetings from Hungary! We arrived here a few hours ago and I am not too sure how I feel about it. It is definatly not what i expected! It is very dirty and busy, with a lot of homeless and drunk looking people. Every one looks depressed. This could have been because it was Monday and the weather was bad or it is just a sad place to live in. We have not seen the whole of Budapest, obviously as we had just arrived. I am looking for to seeing it as every one has told me what a beautiful city it is! We left Siggi very early this morning by train. I am going to miss it! It was so relaxing and beautiful. The training was awesome and I am really hoping that I will be able to go back there next year! So this week I had my first birthday away from home, which was very different but still wicked! My mum was in Siggi so we went for lunch in the village and a walk around town. It was so lovely to see her, it had felt like forever since I had seen here last so her being there made my day. The fruit salad was very nice but I am definatly looking forward to a nice big cake after the race! Not long now till the big race. The nerves are starting to kick in a little and the atomsphere has changed from being very relaxed to a little be more intense. Anyway I shall keep you posted!
Ta ta for now,
Maddie

Less than a week left here in Siggi, Man! It does not feel like I have been here over a week. Today a group of us traveled to Lake Constants which is a lake that is around an hour away from where we are staying. It was really good to go out and be able to see other parts of Germany instead of the village which we are staying in. The weather in the past couple of days has not been very nice. The other day it was colder than the weather in New Zealand. Not ideal. I am really looking forward to going to Hungary and the race! Training is going well besides a small crash a couple of days ago while doing hill reps. I accidentally t-boned Rebecca Kingsford which concluded with a broken wheel and a few bruises but nothing major! 

I am really looking forward to seeing my mum tomorrow! Very excited for my birthday also. As birthday cake does not quite fit into the taper diet too well I am having a massive fruit salad! A bit different than the previous years but should be just as tasty!

That is all! Toodles 

Maddie :)