Hey, keep your fingers crossed that my Achilles tendon that I had surgically repaired earlier this year holds up!
And it seems to be as I start ramping up the cardio exercise and I must say it makes a pleasant change to the weight training.
As part of training for the mountains I am working towards a 100 kilometre-running race (I use the term running sparingly) through the mountains that I regularly hike and that takes place in September 2014.
And I’ll need every bit of that time to prepare, and the last mountain running I did was in one of the world’s toughest endurance races, the Speight’s Coast to Coast Adventure Race in New Zealand in 2012.
And yes, that Kiwi brother-in-law of mine is hot on my heels pushing me, again!
I’m also planning to cycle the iconic Birdsville Track in outback Australia in April 2014. It is roughly 500 kilometres in length and the aim is to ride as much as I can on my Canondale 29-er Mountain Bike.
Dream big I say, and of course, live to the motto that “those that don’t think it can be done shouldn’t bother the person doing it.”
Cheers, Baz – The Landy
Anyway, I’m pleased to say I’m back into full swing up in The Shed, making that 4.30am journey up the garden path, passing the dogs, MilO and Jack, who wave me through with complete indifference.
And yes, I hard you whispering, “crikey he needs it!”
I must confess to being an early morning person, I guess you’d have to be to manage a 4.30am start each day, but it does have its advantages.
In between the clanging of weight plates being moved, interval sets on the rower or spin bike, I can stand outside in the pre-dawn silence and marvel at the stars in the sky…
Our wondrous universe…
How bloody good is that, hey!
Yep, I’m a daydreamer, that’s for sure…and by the look of it, TomO has caught the day-dreaming bug!
Hey, it’s good to be back at it!
And remember, if all else fails, just remain out of control and see what develops… 😉
I tossed and turned in the early hours this morning, hindered by a plaster cast on my left leg, some minor discomfort in my right foot, and an aching neck, possibly brought about by not sleeping in the usual position I might normally.
I’m not one to create bucket lists to be honest, but my mind’s eye did turn to the climbing I have planned over the next few years, I could see those tall peaks in Nepal and Tibet with me making my way to the summits.
I think it even brought a smile to my face…
And of course my attention focused back to the here and now, the recovery I need to make from the recent surgery, the exercise program I need to undertake, which will include trail running and hill running; high intensity training on the rowing machine and out on the water on one of my racing kayaks, and I’m even contemplating Muay Thai boxing for specific conditioning.
Not to forget the technical mountaineering skills, getting back out into the Blue Mountains to hone those skills with the team from the Australian School of Mountaineering, especially self-rescue skills.
After all it is great until it goes all wrong, so best I have the skills to deal with that!
Even practicing something seemingly easy, but in reality is quite difficult, handling ropes and tying knots with large snow gloves on.
And for someone with a handful of thumbs, and even has trouble tying shoe-laces this is something I need to work on…
I’m sure I must have breezed in and of sleep, but as the first rays of light were piercing the eastern skyline that “crink” in my neck ruled out any more sleep for me. Mind you, normally I would be heading for The Shed at this time of the day to exercise…
I lay there, this time no thought of a bucket list, or climbing, or exercising, just my mind’s eye counting down the minutes to my chiropractic appointment with Greg, the owner of Sydney Spine and Sports Clinic in downtown Sydney.
I have had my body adjusted by the team at the clinic at least once every fortnight for years, and needless to say I am a great fan of this centuries old treatment…
And we usually get a couple of laughs in between the contorted positions I’m placed in.
Nah, I’ll stick to the surf ski, ocean and the waves, you’d be nuts to do what he’s doing.
And it isn’t all about the horses, there will be the fashion as well…
And just about anyone you speak to today will have a “tip” for the Melbourne Cup, so here’s mine, Maluckday, by half-a-head. Why, ’cause I reckon it is Ma-lucky-day, that’s how scientific a selection can be!
Good luck to all the punters!
