Good afternoon everyone,

As Dorothy would say.. There's nothing quite like home! Well at least I'm heading that way. It's been a long tour this year, and for a lot of the time a very trying one. But what doesn't break you, only makes you stronger and the whole season can finish this weekend, as it started for me… with a big 'W'.

As I sit here in LAX in the Air NZ lounge a lot of things keep running through my mind, mainly about what this year has tried to teach me. In life there is generally never an easy answer to most issues we face, and in sport it can be just the same. With everything that I've felt like I've had to endure this year, I could easily feel sorry for myself, and to be honest there was some times I did. When the blood poisoning was causing me big problems during the mid part of the season, I was confused and mystified,  I knew I'd done the work, but why were the results so far from what id hoped for. After such a promising start to the season, with wins in every distance around the world, from sprint, to half ironman, I knew I'd done the base training over summer to really jump in to it in 2011. I was really hopeful that the big base would allow me to try some things a year out from the games to sculpt the perfect ( or as near to) preparation,  But what is, is, And I was left to mop up what was left of a great summers training, and head into races under considerable strain of wondering when I would hit the ground feeling like my old self again. 

After the World Championship Grand Final in Beijing I knew I had to try to get to the bottom of why things were happening the way they were. As I write to you, the people that have helped me, still don't really know, but we all believe from the feedback I've been giving them, that we are back on track. It certainly feels like it anyway. And that, as all of you with me, is as big as a weapon as any.

With all of this going on over the last 3-4 months I really did start to ask why the big guy never seems to cut me some slack. Bad luck has been a small shadow that has followed me around my career from time to time. The fact I believe so much in what I do,  and that the people around me believe it also, has helped me turn those many shadows of Bad luck into something positive down the line. As I plan to the future with London in mind for next year. I look forward to stepping outside any shadows, and enjoying the warm sun light, with a smile on my face.

Things supposedly happen for a reason as many say, But sometimes we all wonder why can it be like that.The disastrous events in New Zealand over the last 12months are a great example.  With the Pike river disaster, and then the Earthquakes in Christchurch. All your personal struggles seem quickly to fall into perspective when it hits so close to home. When family is directly involved in the suffering, things can be even harder to deal with. In the last weeks My family has also had some very sad news. The news came that my Cousin ( Tim Shearer ) had developed a cancerous brain tumor. From one day working as he normally did as a Police officer, to the next being laid up in hospital without himself or his family knowing what the issue was. I know that many people, and I'm sure some of you reading this right now, are thinking, 'Ive been through this, what does he know!' Well I don't know anything… so your right!  What I do know is I want to help. I've taken the time to speak to some great people over the last weeks about all of this, (you know who you are). Your words of advice, about how you can make any life, be it long, or short, mean everything, hit home with me. It made me understand that you are never alone. When you are faced with a potential limit on your life, is that a sentence? or is it just a green light to get living, like you never lived before!!

I have undertaken the infamous November challenge for Mens Health ( Movember) in my own special way for TIM. I will be competing for him this weekend in Auckland, at the World Cup event. The last month's training in Boulder Colorado have been amazing. I tried to find everything I could to turn my feeling around for something good. Some days it was very tough, the weather was harsh and cold, but I knew there was no point moping around in the apartment, and just got out there and got my job done. Of course there are 65 other guys on the start line in Auckland who all want to win like I do. But I hope they realize how much I want it, and how much they will have to work to take it from me;-)  That's sport to me… a WAR! and with each battle you will always make progress. I know TIM is facing is own WAR right now, and his battle has just begun. I will take pride in fighting it with him, and I believe we both can beat the odds given the chance to go up against them!

Cheers,

Kris

Game on TIM!