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