It has been weeks since i last updated this blog .. courtesy of my bro hogging the computer and me too lazy to update. Well, i took part in ambank's annual eco challenge recently and here's the account.
It was a gruelling (for the unprepared and equally unfit participants) race which is supposed to last 5 hours. It was a combination of running, cycling, jungle tracking, abseilling, archery, flying fox, lake crossing (more like swimming), clues solving and some mystery tests.
Even since i've been a regular in gym and feel that i'm much fitter now after 5 yrs of eating, working, sleeping and pretty much passing time sitting on my bum, i've been inclined to challenge myself with physical activities. With vincent's (my PT) gruelling training for about 3 weeks plus my own initiatives, i thought i'll be well prepared for the race.
boy, was i wrong!!! don't get me wrong, it was an experience of a lifetime so it isn't just whining about the race here. Instead of 5 max hours allowed, my team spent 7 hours in the jungle!!! And we didnt even complete the race!! Main contributing reason was due to the heavy (pouring dogs and cats type) rain for 5 hours!
It was pure torture for a few moments. I was shivering in the cold and wondered to myself when will we ever get out of the jungle. It was like a neverending journey ... it's like you can hear the noises of vehicles passing nearby or finally getting to a clearing but when you get your hopes high, you are still getting deeper into the jungle. Never ever underestimate Taman Cahaya Sri Alam's terrains in a jungle race. At some point, I was worried whether we had followed the wrong markers and gotten lost.
However, I really had fun pushing myself to the limit (KH thought I was mad to sign up with me being such a princess; he has taken to calling me Jungle Girl now). It wasnt just physical, it was also mentally. I totally dig the abseiling ... I was scared and was hanging on for dear life for about 5 minutes totally unwilling to let go from the ledge. Once I let go, weeeeeeeeeeee ... it was so much fun! Though it was dangerous, but the sliding down in mud and all was also cool. Too bad we couldnt take any pics to show off coz it's really impossible to carry a camera with us into the jungle.
Granted, there were a number of dangers along the path. Like when we crossed a small stream which swelled and the water level at the crossing point was so deep it was at our chest level (poor Soo who went in first and got a shock of her life). Poor Susie who accidentally held on to a mengkuang tree (uhhmmm ... hope i got the name right) and ended up with thorns embedded in her right palm and get this ... the first aid team doesnt have tweezers to pull them out!! (extremely lousy team and highly unequipped for any emergencies!!) My shoes also gave way (the soles came off) in the middle of the jungle and it was extremely dangerous to walk in the jungle as there were sharp twigs, branches and stones on the ground. I was praying the whole way that nothing will befall any of us.
Looking back, I was glad I took part and it was fun being with the 3 girls who have shown so much willpower and teamwork during the race. It has enabled us to know each other better and the best thing is no one lose temper with anyone in the team. I even managed to completely forgot about leeches during the race. I was also feeling proud of myself coz there's no way I'll ever been able to do even a month before the race (had chronic knee pain when I descended Mount Kinabalu 6 yrs ago). Absolutely no fatigue-related problem, fever or flu even after 5 hours of pouring rain. Plus, PowerGel is such an amazing endurance drink!!
Well done The Overcomers!!
Oh, btw, someone did snapped some pics of the race (no idea who he is) ... you can check it here ... http://www.haria-penang.net/bobtahar/?p=50
And once I get my bluetooth connection up ... I'll post my "battle with the jungle" wounds pics (3 bloodied toes, bruises on my left thigh and cuts on my right calf) for all of you to appreciate the experience better (hahahahahahaha !!)
And, watch out for my blog coz Jungle Girl will be going to Taman Negara this coming weekends!! Will be trying out caving and canopy walk for the first time in my life!!
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
