Training for the next Adventure has begun.....

So the training for the mountains has begun in earnest.  I have got into a routine after each night shift to head off Virgin Active for a quick 40 lap swim. Find it very refreshing after the long night and then chugg home and jump into bed for some shut eye.

We have started training at the Westcliff Stairs, here in Johannesburg - there are 200 odd stairs. We usually run down them make the turn around at the bottom, then walk, crawl and puff up for now.  Hopefully by the end of February we will be running up them too!! They are quiet famous and many extreme adventurers, Everest summiteers have used these stairs as their training ground. If only the stairs could talk and what an inspiration.  I was first properly introduced to the magic Westcliff stairs last year during the Sunflower Everest Challenge. Went along to support my buddy Sibusiso Vilane and ended up volunteering together with my son Jordan (he is a flipping machine) and climbing partner Irene. Over  the next 36 hours we completed a total of 106km of stair climbing between the three of us. It was Epic, great and special friends made and some amazing records set.  Looking forward to the challenge this year where I would like to take part as a full athlete and complete the 200 reps /100km over 36 hours on my own. so look out for Irene and myself dressing in pink - the pink mountain ladies!

We have hit the hiking trails and have managed 2 hikes this year and will be going of to another on Sunday. This one will be a bit more of a challenge thank goodness the last one was beautiful but a bit too easy. This one is in a nature reserve and we will be hiking while sharing the veldt with various animals so I am really looking forward to this trail.  If it runs out to be suitable we will use it to take people on our Mentoring Mountains Programmes.  My two sons usually join me for these hikes and its really special to be able to spend this time with them.

I have finally joined the Park run gang and am looking forward to my first park run on Saturday at 08h00, actually can't wait to do a bit of trail running in a safe environment, have also roped in the entire family to join me. If I am up to it will do an easy Westcliff stairs session in the afternoon, need to take it slow as I need my pins for the hike on sunday.  On the days that I am doing my day shifts at the fire station I have been running up and down the 7 storey tower in my full uniform as I get fitter I will add my huge Paramedic jump bag - for now I would like to live another day so its just the uniform and steel capped boots, besides if I fall down I will be turned onto my back with the weight and be frantically waving my arms and legs like a tortoise on its back, would not look very cool.

This year we have two big expeditions - Kilimanjaro from 31 May to 8th June 2014 where Irene and I are hoping to have 25 climbers with us. Irene and I have been to Kilimanjaro before and summited  via the Umbwe route, considered the most difficult of the 8 odd routes, It has a 63% summit success rate. We have partnered with Adventure Dynamics so are looking forward to a well organised and fantastic experience for our climbers. Having climbed kili before I understand the challenges and the training necessary so am feeling confident of bagging a second kili summit.

The other epic challenge is far more gruelling and nothing short of insane. Lots of fast driving, fast trail running and climbing to achieve our goal, in a none stop adrenaline race against time.  Will need to step up the training, loss some weight, get a damn side more fitter.  Have been making sure I train at least 6 days a week with one rest day. its hard when you work shifts but will be worth the effort.

On a lighter note: why does no-one warn you about the gym locker rooms - they are traumatic on the eyes to say the least and that's saying something as paramedic not much scares me. Except the gym locker rooms. Eish ladies I don't know but I was brought up with a bit of modestly. I am certainly not a flasher - not that I have a body to flash but hells bells people - do you really have to stand starkers - then walk around the change rooms. This morning was a prime example - dog tired form a night shift I go in to have my post night shift swim and "wam" in my face is this very large naked - yip butt naked bootie  - 1 metre away. No man people!  I nearly ran for my life, thought I was getting attacked by some wild animal. I am so afraid that (A) there are hidden camera's lurking in each corner which is recorded for the gym staff's entertainment and (B) I would die if I bent over for all to see my bootie. Why is it that most of the time the gym change room is filled with ladies that, like me at the moment, I will admit it,  really should not be indecently exposing themselves. Come on gyms what about some sort of mobile screens for some modestly. This one lady who was not very young either (think you got the picture) walked around butt naked the entire time hoping off the scale, several times, not sure if she thought it was going to change each time, and faffing around,  eish bending over - all the while I went off to shower, then dressed and still dried my hair, each time I had to walk around her as she seemed to enjoy pacing around the entire circumference of  change room floor. Lady the gym is upstairs!!

be safe out their guys, keep fit, keep going to gym and reach those goals!!