Tuesday, January 17, 2006
Another Long Absence
I'm soooo sorry i have not posted for such a long time!!! Makes me wonder sometimes whether i'm managing my time as well as i could have in these testing times.
The training on my part has been most beneficial, despite the numerous hiccups along the way. 5 days of solid whitewater action in Thailand has contributed to my river-reading and kayaking confidence. Additional mileage on the waters between Sembawang and P. Ubin have conditioned my paddling muscles for the long haul. Runs have been mostly crazy affairs, with the odd pack trail hikes and barefoot sessions alongside the 20k-ers and stair climbs. Biking has been a thorn in my side, primarily due to the lack of mileage, but my hill strength and technical handling has been touched up by weekly off-road sessions. By God's grace, we'll consolidate the training effects further in Hong Kong. Climbing has been a fun diversion... i definitely enjoy more of it now that i'm back here, where it isn't as expensive as Melbourne.
I've really grown close to the gang now. Mr. Lien, King Kong, JP, Oli', Sam, Foxy, and of course Mum. The trainings we've been through, the numerous meetings we've had, the fun of doing stuff together... it all comes together this coming 16 February. On that day, we board the plane for Tasmania, where the thing we've dedicated the better part of the past year preparing for, will finally be upon us.
There are many things that weigh heavily upon us now. There is always the nagging question that tops all else: Have we prepared ourselves enough?
Issues that stem from this perennial question include:
- Bike compatibility
- Skill and confidence on technical off-road and whitewater
- Paddle issues
- Lighting issues
- Sleeping issues
- Acquisition delays for lighting, trekking poles, and paddling apparel
- Publicity issues
- Missed trainings
- Total lack of team navigation familiarization
- Clocking enough mileage
- Nutrition issues
- Team strategy
Hey, we're out to have fun, yeah? Training ought to be fun, as always. But money always complicates matters. Truth is, you need good equipment simply to last the distance in a race of this calibre. The demands of a race the magnitude of XPD 2006, simply calls for the best and lightest available developments in outdoor gear.
AR has come a long way since the heady days of the Grand Traverse and Eco-Challenge Utah. But still, the mentality of cutting weight and racing smart has to be imbued to all - scorched into the back of our minds, as it were.
I love one particular analogy describing AR in its current state. It is 'what triathlon was 15 years ago'. The specialization of equipment, the training methodologies, the professionalism, the world-governing bodies, the standardization... all are as-yet alien concepts to the global AR scene as a whole.
When we toe the start line of XPD 2006, we're there for the passion (as Foxy rightly put it). All of us have different feelings about the road we've travelled so far. But, it is my sincere hope that we've forged the one thing that truly matters - the team goal - that will see us through, come what may.
Pray that our strategy works out....
The training on my part has been most beneficial, despite the numerous hiccups along the way. 5 days of solid whitewater action in Thailand has contributed to my river-reading and kayaking confidence. Additional mileage on the waters between Sembawang and P. Ubin have conditioned my paddling muscles for the long haul. Runs have been mostly crazy affairs, with the odd pack trail hikes and barefoot sessions alongside the 20k-ers and stair climbs. Biking has been a thorn in my side, primarily due to the lack of mileage, but my hill strength and technical handling has been touched up by weekly off-road sessions. By God's grace, we'll consolidate the training effects further in Hong Kong. Climbing has been a fun diversion... i definitely enjoy more of it now that i'm back here, where it isn't as expensive as Melbourne.
I've really grown close to the gang now. Mr. Lien, King Kong, JP, Oli', Sam, Foxy, and of course Mum. The trainings we've been through, the numerous meetings we've had, the fun of doing stuff together... it all comes together this coming 16 February. On that day, we board the plane for Tasmania, where the thing we've dedicated the better part of the past year preparing for, will finally be upon us.
There are many things that weigh heavily upon us now. There is always the nagging question that tops all else: Have we prepared ourselves enough?
Issues that stem from this perennial question include:
- Bike compatibility
- Skill and confidence on technical off-road and whitewater
- Paddle issues
- Lighting issues
- Sleeping issues
- Acquisition delays for lighting, trekking poles, and paddling apparel
- Publicity issues
- Missed trainings
- Total lack of team navigation familiarization
- Clocking enough mileage
- Nutrition issues
- Team strategy
Hey, we're out to have fun, yeah? Training ought to be fun, as always. But money always complicates matters. Truth is, you need good equipment simply to last the distance in a race of this calibre. The demands of a race the magnitude of XPD 2006, simply calls for the best and lightest available developments in outdoor gear.
AR has come a long way since the heady days of the Grand Traverse and Eco-Challenge Utah. But still, the mentality of cutting weight and racing smart has to be imbued to all - scorched into the back of our minds, as it were.
I love one particular analogy describing AR in its current state. It is 'what triathlon was 15 years ago'. The specialization of equipment, the training methodologies, the professionalism, the world-governing bodies, the standardization... all are as-yet alien concepts to the global AR scene as a whole.
When we toe the start line of XPD 2006, we're there for the passion (as Foxy rightly put it). All of us have different feelings about the road we've travelled so far. But, it is my sincere hope that we've forged the one thing that truly matters - the team goal - that will see us through, come what may.
Pray that our strategy works out....
