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Apr. 20th, 2010 07:09 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
hnpccI was going to go and train tonight but I'm firstly really, really tired and secondly still have one enormous blister covering my toe (and about three others, but the toe one's the huge one). Also some weird numb patches on my feet that I think I should probably let recuperate first. The main reason though, was just the sheer tiredness.
I think working yesterday probably didn't help that much either, I managed a full day's worth including DNA extraction, but I was seriously buggered at the end of it. This morning I struggled to get out of bed, and I haven't really caught up. So yeah, I bailed on the training until this time next week I think. Being realistic, I should probably let my feet rest a bit, even though tonight was supposed to be boxing.
It's a bit depressing though - I saw some photos from the day today and all I can think is "God I'm fat." (Well, that and "geez that safety jacket reflects well!") Yeah, I guess I was subconsciously hoping that 100km would be enough for me to suddenly turn into Barbie, or at the very least get thinner or something. Given how much food we had I don't think that that was exactly an option!
This is quite probably the same post-event depression I had on seeing my wedding photos.
If I was going to do it again next year I'd probably aim to finish a bit quicker, which would involve me training to walk faster and/or run bits. (The running would probably kill me.) The average team finishing time was 28 hours, so I'd probably be aiming for around 30, give or take some injuries. Then again, I'd also need a fairly understanding team, given how crap I am at actually walking uphill fast. *sigh*
Anyway.
Things I would definitely recommend for anyone planning on doing this:
1. Get a very good team together and be clear on your aims. It's fine to want to finish first and run all the way as long as everyone on the team is clear on that and people are happy about it (including happy to drop out if they injure themselves). "Very good" here equals supportive, roughly similar speeds, similar aims and able to talk through stuff. The best example of "not so good" I heard was a team where one member was a bit slower and asked the rest of the team for a 5 minute break about 4 hours in - and they spent the rest of the leg pressuring her to drop out at the next checkpoint. This was three years ago and she apparently hasn't talked to them since. She probably could have gotten a lot further if not finished the thing if the other three had been willing to rest a bit more.
2. Walk every part of the trail you intend to do at night at least once in daylight, particularly if it's at all interesting. Then walk it at least once at night, because it looks different. (Actually you could skip the night parts with the Warburton trail, it pretty much looks the same either way.) We found CP2-4 very easy because we'd walked it so many times including at night - CP4-5 was a killer, not least because we'd only walked it once in daylight. If we were doing it again I'd make sure we walked CP4-5 at least twice in daylight and once at night. It's easy to lose track of time and distance in the dark.
3. Train. Seriously, train. Even if you can't make it to the trail a lot (there were teams from interstate, international (go Hong Kong!), and even just from country Victoria who either didn't train on the trail or who only managed one walk on the interesting bits. Training can be the difference between losing or retaining your toenails apart from other things!
4. Get a really good support crew together and (particularly if you're finishing later!) get a large group of family and friends and anyone you can find to cheer you across the finish. Seriously that bit's worth it. :-)
Anyway, I'll put up some photos a bit later on.
I think working yesterday probably didn't help that much either, I managed a full day's worth including DNA extraction, but I was seriously buggered at the end of it. This morning I struggled to get out of bed, and I haven't really caught up. So yeah, I bailed on the training until this time next week I think. Being realistic, I should probably let my feet rest a bit, even though tonight was supposed to be boxing.
It's a bit depressing though - I saw some photos from the day today and all I can think is "God I'm fat." (Well, that and "geez that safety jacket reflects well!") Yeah, I guess I was subconsciously hoping that 100km would be enough for me to suddenly turn into Barbie, or at the very least get thinner or something. Given how much food we had I don't think that that was exactly an option!
This is quite probably the same post-event depression I had on seeing my wedding photos.
If I was going to do it again next year I'd probably aim to finish a bit quicker, which would involve me training to walk faster and/or run bits. (The running would probably kill me.) The average team finishing time was 28 hours, so I'd probably be aiming for around 30, give or take some injuries. Then again, I'd also need a fairly understanding team, given how crap I am at actually walking uphill fast. *sigh*
Anyway.
Things I would definitely recommend for anyone planning on doing this:
1. Get a very good team together and be clear on your aims. It's fine to want to finish first and run all the way as long as everyone on the team is clear on that and people are happy about it (including happy to drop out if they injure themselves). "Very good" here equals supportive, roughly similar speeds, similar aims and able to talk through stuff. The best example of "not so good" I heard was a team where one member was a bit slower and asked the rest of the team for a 5 minute break about 4 hours in - and they spent the rest of the leg pressuring her to drop out at the next checkpoint. This was three years ago and she apparently hasn't talked to them since. She probably could have gotten a lot further if not finished the thing if the other three had been willing to rest a bit more.
2. Walk every part of the trail you intend to do at night at least once in daylight, particularly if it's at all interesting. Then walk it at least once at night, because it looks different. (Actually you could skip the night parts with the Warburton trail, it pretty much looks the same either way.) We found CP2-4 very easy because we'd walked it so many times including at night - CP4-5 was a killer, not least because we'd only walked it once in daylight. If we were doing it again I'd make sure we walked CP4-5 at least twice in daylight and once at night. It's easy to lose track of time and distance in the dark.
3. Train. Seriously, train. Even if you can't make it to the trail a lot (there were teams from interstate, international (go Hong Kong!), and even just from country Victoria who either didn't train on the trail or who only managed one walk on the interesting bits. Training can be the difference between losing or retaining your toenails apart from other things!
4. Get a really good support crew together and (particularly if you're finishing later!) get a large group of family and friends and anyone you can find to cheer you across the finish. Seriously that bit's worth it. :-)
Anyway, I'll put up some photos a bit later on.
