Where have we been

Hi all, sorry for the lack of posts over the past couple of months!

We have taken a look at 2011 and have some extremely exciting events, training schedules, books, articles and achievable adventures for you to follow and in turn start creating your very own...

eddie

T4 - Achievable Adventure - MTB

Port Macquarie - Tacking Point Lighthouse to Point Plommer (Part 1)

Date: 7/11/2010

Distance: 40km's approx (due to computer failure)

Trip Time: 4 hrs

Ride Time: 3 hrs

Bike: 07' Giant Rincon (slightly worked)

The skies had let go a great deal of rain over the last two days and after being confined to the house during this time (due also to lack of decent surf) it was time to work off all the built up energy. So I planned a trip which would included about 45% tarmac, 55% 4wd trail, and with a good smattering of sand and mud thrown in for good measure, which would take me from south of Port Macquarie to a great little surfing and camping spot known as Point Plommer.

The day started overcast but there was, according to the bureau, a great day ahead. So it was in to the weet-bix and then on to the packing. My equipment for the day was quite limited with a multi-tool, some spanners and tyre levers, camelbak, food and spray jacket (just in case) taking up most of the space in my small daypack. Next was a pre-departure check on the Giant. After recently fitting a few new parts, mainly a new wheelset and crankset, the pre-departure check took a little longer than usual. However at 8.00 am I set off.

First was a detour to the Lighthouse for a quick photo op and "Good Morning" to mother nature, I also received a "Good Morning" from my local Heartbreak Hill at this point. After the Lighthouse it was on to the tarmac for about 12km's to reach the Settlement Point Ferry, which would get me across the Hastings River. The ferry is free for pedestrians and luckily mountain bikers are included in this category. An added bonus is that the Ferry master is always a good fellow to chat to about the condition of the coming road. The outlook: "Not good." I pressed on however, still determined to make it to the Point.

After departing the ferry it was a short ride of 500m to take me to Plommer road - a non-designated public road that receives little maintenance. After about 6km's of relatively smooth dirt which was great to get the cadence up and stretch the legs out, I spotted the first one, a shimmering mass spanning the entire width of the road. As I gaze past I spot not one but many, many more, lined up like sentries. It was apparent that I was to pay in order to make it to the Point. So I settle in for the long haul and throw the bike over my shoulder, genuinely excited about the next part of the adventure. However, after another 1km of 'olympic-sized-swimming-pool' hopping, the sides of the depressions became steeper and increasingly difficult to by-pass. At this stage I met a motorcyclist who informed me that the remainder of the journey to the Point would be much the same, and stopped to consider my options. At that point a 4wd rounded the bend and headed for the next hole, I almost lost site of it as the water cascaded over the bonnet. The decision was made; I would turn around and try again another day.

So a detour for lunch on the beach and the 12k's of tarmac to home would end this adventure.

J-Boy

Coming soon, Part 2; The bit where I actually make it to the end.

T4 Run

Injuries!!

Why the bloody hell do they occur???  I have spent the last 2months asking myself this very question.

3 weeks out from my goal, the Melbourne Marathon I was on my longest run, a timed 3hr run (sitting at about 5:20pace) after arriving home all was good, i felt strong, had plenty left in the tank and my body was in the best shape it had been for many years so everything was going to plan...  The next morning i wake with sharp unrelenting pain in my left knee that I initially thought was residual pain from the run, however that pain didn't go away and after many physio visits, an MRI and a chat with a sports doctor i had pushed myself that hard that i had an overuse injury of the left patella and rest and no running for 2 months was the prescription.

Today I'm back and I realise why (for me) this injury happened, I lost sight of why I run.... After struggling through a slow 8k run about 10mins ago, although it was tough i enjoyed every 36minutes of it and suddenly I realised  why I run,  running allowed me to file, release all my energy, especially after being chained to a desk for the entire day, I loved it.  I wasn't worried about time/splits 4x500's 4x200's sprint work, running was fun!!

So my injury has allowed me to understand why I run, which will assist me achieve my REALISTIC  goals for the coming year, work with a coach and a squad to gather more knowledge and support and most of all enjoy every run like it is my last!!

eddie

T4 Event

Challenge Cairns

USM this week announced a new Ironman Triathlon for 2011. The headline event of the Cairns Adventure Festival will be Challenge Cairns Great Barrier Reef – an Iron Distance Triathlon. This is a full iron distance event consisting of a 3.8km swim, 180 km bike ride, and 42 km run, sounds like fun!

Challenge Cairns will have the highest prize money of any ‘Challenge’ branded triathlon in the world $142,000, making it the second-richest triathlon in the world.

So add this to the bucket list and get training...

For more information on Challenge Cairns check out http://www.usmevents.com.au/Triathlon___Multi_Sport/Challenge_Cairns.htm

T4 Gear

Don't leave home without one!

Did you have any form of Identification on you this morning when you went for a ride/run/surf/swim? I dare say most of you will say no. At the beginning of the year I went out early for my an unusual MTB ride. I didn't wake the family, I snuck out the door at 4.30am and hit trail that not many people know about. Coming back down the trail, I hit a large rock and went over the handle bars, landing very hard and cracking my helmet on a boulder. Slightly shaken I got up, dusted myself off and headed home...

I wonder if anyone would of found me if I was knocked out? I wonder if they did find me, how they would let my family know I was injured and in hospital?

RoadID is a product which I have used ever since, I never leave home without it. Basically the ID carries your emergency contact details and any urgent medical advice. They come in a heap of fashionable styles and colours, you can order them as a wrist, ankle or laces band or dog tags. I prefer mine as a Livestrong yellow wrist band, its one of those things that goes on every run.

If you don't carry any ID on - spend the $30 bucks and order yourself a Road ID. Its a small insurance policy and peace of mind for the family when you are out there living the dream.


Craig Alexander tells you so :)

Be safe on the roads

Racing Calendar

For those who want to take the next step and test their skills against others, Adventure Race has a great race calendar with races broken down into categories (hiking, biking, kayaking etc.) and States with links to all respective websites. Check it out!

T4 - Gear

For the person who has everything...
Whether you love to snorkel, scuba dive, swim, spear fishing, or just like to walk around with snorkelling gear on, you can now record all the action with these awesome video camera goggles!




Supper Cool