Always nice to be home; but within hours of getting on the plane to return home my mind is working on ways to get my butt on another plane. This travel and racing bug is a nasty itch that I've had for almost a decade. Trips don't scratch the itch; they make it flare up even more! Post-race blues don't help either. I suffer from them after races, waiting for them to subside over a few weeks. Finding new events and travels helps ;)
Abu Dhabi Adventure Challenge
We finished up 39th out of the 49 starters; a result I'm quite happy with considering that the race was more difficult than last year and that, unlike the other participating teams, our team is selected for inexperience, not performance.
 |
| Steven, Lisa, Zelle and Lizelle |
 |
| Teams Cyanosis, http://www.ar.co.za/ and Mzansi |
My new desert gaiter design, which four teams - including us - wore, worked brilliantly. At the second desert checkpoint I took off my shoes to see what the sand situation was and not a grain fell out! Not a teaspoon and not even a pinch. My socks held some ultra-fine powder sand, which was easily dusted off.
I really enjoy the social aspect of the race and the cancelled paddle day (Day 5) allowed for much time to catch up with old friends and to make new ones. I'd been missing this special aspect of the race because the previous days had been long stages and non-stop rush-rush-rush from stage to transport to camp to prepping for the next stage.
My posts from during the race, photos and final thoughts on the race and female-dominated teams (still to be written) can be found on our team blog at http://www.teamwwwarcoza.blogspot.com/.
New home
At the end of November I gave notice on my cottage, where I've been living for almost two-and-a-half years. I'd sworn to be out by next winter because this place is a freezer but opportunity has presented for me to leave month-end. So, now that I'm back it's all about packing.
Before I left for Abu Dhabi I rented a storage garage. It's something I've had on my mind for ages because I have so little storage space here. And I also don't like living surrounded by stuff I don't use often - even if it is stashed in cupboards. I prefer a big open spaceAnd from adventure racing I've got things like tents, water cannisters, crates, banners... So, even after this move I plan to hang on to my 5x3m garage.
Books
Part of the packing process includes working through my books - yes, they are my vice. I've got a super collection of polar expedition, mountaineering and such books that has grown steadily over the past decade; I've even got a number that have been autographed - one of my most favourite is Ranulph Fiennes' 'Mind Over Matter' on his Antarctic man-haul expedition with Mike Stroud. I pass on fiction without hesitation but tend to hang on to my adventure books.
I've resolved to put aside some of the good-read expedition books that I'm not as deeply bonded to. I've got some friends in mind who would love to read them.
Summer flower mix
I arrived home to see my front flower bed looking lush after the rains that Jo'burg has experienced while I was away. I tossed in a 'Summer Mix' packet a few weeks ago and have been waiting for the seeds to take. The flowers won't be out before I move but I'll definitely plan to run past in late January.
 |
| Cosmos on the left and general summer flower mix on the right - this bed is going to be so pretty and colourful. |
Team Yogaslackers, so named for their practise of both yoga and slacklining (and doing yoga moves on the slackline) also teach acroyoga, a multi-partner discipline that combines acrobatics and yoga. On the 'social' day they did a demonstration and then invited us to give it a try. I absolutely loved it and learned a number of fabulous party-trick moves and stretches.
Acroyoga, also known as trust yoga, is not as much about twisting like a pretzel and humming as it is about using your body weight and that of your partner in counter-balance moves. It is incredibly graceful. I've tracked down some workshops in Jo'burg for January.
There are definite strength, core and balance parallels to pole fitness/dancing, which I've been doing for over 2.5 years.
This is a video on YouTube of Jason and Chelsey from Yogaslackers working through a series of moves. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqMh4SRnd9E
 |
| I've done the move on the left, both as base and flyer. Amazing hamstring stretch. Images from http://www.acroyoga.org/ |
It's December, a holiday period when blood stocks are always low because of the high volume of accidents on our roads. Last month I began encouraging you to donate blood this month and to send me a photo of you at the donor clinic for a photo montage. I've only got two photos so far.
It doesn't matter in which country you are - go and donate blood. Please. It will only take you 15-30 minutes from when you walk in the door and start on the forms to when you walk out after donating and downing some cookies and juice. And email me your photo.
I'm going to my local Bruma SANBS clinic on Wednesday. Probably at about 09h00. If you're in the area, join me there. Otherwise, go to your nearest clinic or mobile unit (http://www.sanbs.org.za/).
Forget about spending hours in malls spending money on stuff that your friends and family don't need. Rather spend a half-hour at a donor clinic as your gift during this season of giving.
No comments:
Post a Comment