Totally unexpected - a slight diversion from my plan!

I was supposed to be spending every hour available to me in a kayak, training for the Devises to Westminster canoe race in March, however last week I received a call from the Germany Adventure Racing team sponsored by Berghaus, asking if I'd be up for a 10 day expedition race in Patagonia. Unfortunately their female team member fell whilst out skiing and broke her leg.

http://www.patagonianexpeditionrace.com/

Funny thing about it is, is that it starts in 2 weeks time. I'm always pretty laid back about my training programme but this is a little too close for comfort.

(Last minute training with some weight in the snow!)

This is a totally 'wild' race where we are out of reach of civilisation for 10 whole days. We have to carry everything with us whilst we cover the 700km race route. Our team plan is to move for 21 hours per day, leaving only 3hrs for sleeping. As always, this may need to be adapted en route.

Ordinarily, I'm confident about the kayaking stages and I'm hoping my Lake Baikal cycle training can be uncovered fairly quickly but I've not done anything like 72hrs of trekking non stop with a 10kg pack on for a long time. I'm just hoping my feet can cope.

I'm stocking up of all sorts of herbal supplements now to try and really build up my immune system and I'm eating as much as I can manage. I've been advise to put on weight, because apparently I'II need it.

As always, one call to Qoroz Titanium bikes and I'm getting my beloved Mountain Won back that I used to cycle over Lake Baikal in Siberia. I've also invested in a super duper new saddle which I'm trying to get used to on my Turbo trainer every morning at 7am for a good few hours.

(On my Turbo, at dawn, on the Balcony of our flat in Cardiff Bay....my boyfriend thinks I've gone mad!)

DW training goes on and on

Our last paddle on Saturday was freezing, wet and wild. Dipping down to 2 degrees, it's the coldest we've paddled in so far and the gusting winds made for a lot of support strokes.

We are still trying to work out who should go in the front seat and hence be in charge of steering....I guess it all comes down to who wants to cross the finish line first!

We're still having lots of fun, which is the most important part.

A right pain in the bum!

After 6 weeks of agony and suspected Sciatica believed to be cause by cycling up steep hills, I've now found out that all I have is a weak piriformis and I need to do more squats!

Following an hour of having my physios elbow in my right buttock...all seems to be feeling much better - thanks!

DW training updates

We both survived our first endurance training session on the canal section of the Devises to Westminster Canoe Race over the school holidays week.

Over a period of 5hrs we got in and out of the boat 32 times, we paddled in driving rain, had to negotiate the dark and ate far too many flapjacks!

It was probably as bad as it could get in terms of the weather, both rain and wind so made for a perfect training session.

Later on this evening,  I'II be heading out for our wednesday training session on the Ely River is Cardiff (not so pleasant) and as the temperature plummets it makes the training all the more challenging.

Devise to Westminster Canoe Race

It's official, my next major challenge is to complete the 120 mile Devizes to Westminster Canoe race that starts on the morning of the 30th March 2013 and finishes (hopefully) 22hrs late as we paddle under Westminster bridge.

Neal, my race partner, and I have been out in the K2 now most weeks for the last few months and things are beginning to flow.

This weekend we head up for our first taste of the real thing as we intend to paddle the first 25 mile section of the race.

It's getting harder as the weather is turning and I know that between now and the race most of my training will be in the dark, in the rain and in the cold. I'm already suffering with cold fingers, following my lake Baikal expedition, so it's going to be a real challenge.

Lots of updates to come!