One of the most common questions I get asked is, "How can I get into adventure racing?". It's a question too that has directed much of www.AR.co.za's content. This week I attended a celebration of Runner's World SA's 150th issue. Did you know that this was how I got into AR?
Runner's World SA was the first international edition of the magazine and it was launched in May/June 1993. South Africa set the trend 14-years ago and the publication is now available in most countries and in 11 languages.
I became a regular reader in early 1999 after receiving a copy in my goodie bag from the Bedfordview 21km (now the Dischem 21km, held early January every year), my very first half-marathon.
About 3-months later I got a call from my underwater hockey friend (I was playing Provincially at that stage) asking, "Have you got the new issue yet? Go get it. There's something in it that's just up your alley." I shot off to the shops and snapped up a copy. It was the May 1999 issue and the "something" was a double-page on the new Old Mutual Hi-Tec Adventure Racing Series.
Too soon to assemble a 4-person team to enter the first 180km race in early July '99, I targeted the 250km race at the end of July '99. Hooked, we lurched to the 500km at the end of September '99...
Where www.AR.co.za is now an introduction, guide and reference to adventure racing for so many, Runner's World was my introduction.
And, I would never have guessed 8-years ago that I would become a regular contributor to what is my favourite magazine. I'm proud and honoured to be part of their family.
Runner's World SA, congratulations on this milestone. Thank you for your support of adventure racing and a toast to many, many more years of issues and kilometers.
This 150th issue is exceptional. It's a whopping 144-page publication with loads of great content. Go get it.
Friday, 24 November 2006
Friday, 17 November 2006
Put your foot down
I've been training consistently (5-6 times a week) for about 15-years now. I also always train in the evening but the main problem with training in the evenings is d.i.s.r.u.p.t.i.o.n.
Talks, dinners, functions, socials... these things always happen at night. If I've got to be somewhere at 19h00 I probably have to leave around 18h00. This crunches into training time and I find that I keep compromising on my training frequency and duration to do x, y and z. Training in the morning? I'm an owl, not a lark, and I realised more than 10-years ago not to even attempt the morning training thing. It is just never going to happen for me.
Over the past 5-months (new job, many social functions, juggling AR.co.za....) I've allowed too many disruptions. On Tuesday I finally said, "Enough!".
We diarise business meetings, birthday parties and races and we should treat our training schedule in the same way. I used to do this but somewhere along the way I lost my rigidity and became more... flexible. I'm returning to my old ways.
My fitness, health and sanity is my top priority and it is something that it important to me in terms of pure enjoyment and pleasure and as a mechanism that allows me to compete in anything that catches my attention regardless of distance or duration.
Pumpkins, join me and climb aboard this bus for a trip to Focusland. Focus on you. Focus on your exercise, activity and nutrition. Focus on things you want to do and focus on those things you want to achieve. Your company (or the one you work for) is not going to collapse on the ground in a crumble of rubble. In fact, I can guarantee that your dedication to you will make you more efficient, productive and happy. And that's really what it is all about eh?
Talks, dinners, functions, socials... these things always happen at night. If I've got to be somewhere at 19h00 I probably have to leave around 18h00. This crunches into training time and I find that I keep compromising on my training frequency and duration to do x, y and z. Training in the morning? I'm an owl, not a lark, and I realised more than 10-years ago not to even attempt the morning training thing. It is just never going to happen for me.
Over the past 5-months (new job, many social functions, juggling AR.co.za....) I've allowed too many disruptions. On Tuesday I finally said, "Enough!".
We diarise business meetings, birthday parties and races and we should treat our training schedule in the same way. I used to do this but somewhere along the way I lost my rigidity and became more... flexible. I'm returning to my old ways.
My fitness, health and sanity is my top priority and it is something that it important to me in terms of pure enjoyment and pleasure and as a mechanism that allows me to compete in anything that catches my attention regardless of distance or duration.
Pumpkins, join me and climb aboard this bus for a trip to Focusland. Focus on you. Focus on your exercise, activity and nutrition. Focus on things you want to do and focus on those things you want to achieve. Your company (or the one you work for) is not going to collapse on the ground in a crumble of rubble. In fact, I can guarantee that your dedication to you will make you more efficient, productive and happy. And that's really what it is all about eh?
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