Embrace the ride

Of late I have spoken to a few of my more adventurous friends who participate in multiday expedition adventure racing. I hoped they might provide me with a nugget of wisdom about on how they train or how they sleep during races.

The nugget I got was simply that they are all resigned to the fact that at some time in a race your fitness will be eroded by sleep deprivation to a point where you  behave emotionally and physically outside of your desired zone. (I certainly know about that!). Training can only increase the time before you reach of that point. If you don’t reach the point then you have not worked hard enough. “Embrace the ride” I was told.

My fitness has always been a bit of a weak link for us. I have a desk job, I have comfortable existence in the city. Not really the material that makes a “hard core” sailor. For the RNI I used cycling and Pilates to try and stay as injury free as possible, it worked and I made it round pretty unscathed. However, we both knew I could have done better.

This time I have decided to employ a scientific approach to my training, using the services of Sam Osborne a sports scientist to get the most out of my training.   Sam has a BSc in Sport Science and now is training to be a physiotherapist. In addition, she is a talented yacht's women having competed most recently on the Women's Match Racing World Tour and being a member of the New Zealand Olympic Match Racing Squad. I sailed 420's with Sam in 2005.

Sam Osborne (centre) after winning the

2009 Buddy Melges Women's Match Racing Challenge.

Sam is taking the guesswork out of getting fit for me. For the next six weeks I will be working on my cardio base and make sure my core is in the best shape possible. The program is as follows:

Monday - Pilates reformer class + Cycling technique class

Tuesday - rest or make up day

Wednesday - 60 minute road cyle + Pilates reformer class

Thursday - 60 minute road cycle

Friday - Strength

Saturday - long ride with the my girls cycling group

Sunday - Random activities, 2 hours plus, sailing, tramping etc.

For Pilates I am going to Peak Pilates www.peakpilatesgroup.co.nz/,

my cycling technique class is with Tony O'Hagan http://www.challenge-yourself.com/index.asp.