Monthly Archives: September 2010

Stairway to Acon!

Posted on by
Reply
The stairway

Training resume! At last, I am back to climbing stairs at Blk 21 of Tiong Bahru estates 🙂 Too far from home, but I still find this block a better place for me.

We had our first stairs training (the Aconcagua team), but not all members made their first appearance. One has gone overseas, another is busy at work.

Among us, we are making short overseas climb to prepare for the grueling climb next year. Thiam Huat and I will be heading to Mt Rinjani this weekend. Seow Thong and Klaus are taking 3weeks off to climb Kilimanjaro. Carmen and Erdina are left here to train on their own.
 

Being our first stair climbing training (especially for Seow Thong and Thiam Huat), I set a very realistic target for everyone. 3 sets of 30storey stairs with a 10kg load. Our aim is to progressively increase the number of sets from 3 to 10 and the load of our pack from 10kg to 18kg (or more).

As we progressed to our 3rd set, I gave a quick hint to Seow Thong and Thiam Huat to push for another set, and left them with no room for negotiation. Oops! haha, the duo gladly went for another set. Kudos, they have completed 4sets of 30storey. That’s great isn’t? clap clap clap 🙂

Front (L-R) Seow Thong, Carmen / Back (L-R) Thiam Huat, Phei Sunn

Phei Sunn will be climbing Aconcagua this December, while the rest of us will make our attempt in Feb 2011.   It is indeed bored to stair climb alone, glad we can be in each others company.

Mountaineering is such a sport that requires individual’s commitment and discipline to prepare the body for a grueling climb, while still very much a team sport as support from fellow climbing mates have effects to a successful journey.

Carmen (centre), Phei Sunn and I got into this familiar space, where we used to train together for Mera Peak (Nepal) and Siguniang Shan (Four Sisters mountain, Sichuan, China)

This ever familiar scene, climbers with loaded backpack plodding the void deck
Have a look at Phei Sunn’s slim and well toned legs (I am so envy of her)

This hyper bunny carries about 15kg or more and still smiling
Phei Sunn did 10sets, Carmen and I did 6sets (pale in comparison)

Our trekking boots: La Sportiva (Red – Joanne’s), Trezeta (Brown – Carmen’s), Lafuma (Purple – Phei Sunn’s)  I love my La Sportiva boots – much thanks to Campers’ Corner

What a cold looking corridor (spooky?) 😀

30storeys/ 6sets: average 9mins (very leisure pace)
Load: 10kg
Mood: Happy go lucky as this was our first team training on stairs

New Toy

Posted on by
Reply

I have shelved up training for a while. Ace Adventure Challenge is just round the corner. Everything seems going fine but somehow, I still wished I have another week to work on details.  In the midst of drawing out all my gadgets like the climbing & abseiling ropes, the biners, check point signages, reflective tapes and so on, I realized I have misplaced the four precious rope ladders I built. Panic button activated!  

As I danced on the hot pan, one good friend introduce a new toy to me.

I tried climbing on it, it is really not an easy task. It is similar to those SOC ropes course that the army guys used to train on, like those knotted ropes. But for this, it is the horizontal stick that the climber could stand on (provided you step on the two corners with good balance, else you’ll slip), next, it is all about arm power. Somehow, even when you have a good placing on the rungs, you will still need a considerable exertion of the arms. This is worst than the rope ladders I have. Anyone keen to try it?

Mountain Biking

Posted on by
Reply

I went for a ride on Friday morning. Ok, not a deliberate effort for a ride ride, but rather to recce part of the race route that I am planning (ace adventure challenge). Oh my, I am so rusty with my biking skills. I find getting over narrow paths a big challenge, I just cannot keep my handle bar still. Worst, I kept focusing so near to the front wheel that I was not able to fully scan what’s really ahead. I was not able to anticipate the obstacles so I kept falling or having to stop. So myopic!  Metaphorically speaking, it is the like of the ability to see a bigger picture in life than to focus on small gain and to cry over spilled milk.

Mud filled legs are common, but somehow, I am dirtier than others (clumsy!)

And because I am clumsy, I tend to return with bruises and cuts. I guess I am better with carrying the bike than to ride on it. Anyway, I do enjoy riding, just that I am so out of touch with it now, it will take a while before I get back my confidence (which was already lacking).

The bruise I inflict on my own, actually, there are more on the inner thigh. Ouch!

I depended on riding to stay fit when I was preparing for the Cho Oyu climb back in 2007. Then, I was also busying preparing a race, and had not much time to hit the stairs for training. Lots of trail recce on bike and that helped me to maintain my cardiovascular fitness.

If you enjoy mountain climbing, and have no motivation to do stair climbing, you can try picking up mountain biking. It is not a full replacement of stair climbing, but mountain biking can compensate the lack of it.