Sunday, July 21, 2013

My 1st Triathlon

13 weeks ago I started training for my first triathlon by going to Everest Base Camp in the Himalayas. It was almost like when Rocky trained in Russia before he fought Ivan Drago in Rocky IV. The trekking into altitude was a great workout for my legs, and it really translated well to the bike and run for me.

In the 11 weeks since our 14 day adventure, I worked out 4-6 days per week. My trips to the gym consisted of swims, runs on the treadmill, and rides on the stationary bike. On the weekends, I would sometimes take my mountain bike for a ride.

Yes, I rode a mountain bike for my first triathlon. I am not 100% certain that I want to keep participating in other events, so I thought it wise not to spend for a costly road bike.

In the end, the training proved fruitful. I was able to compete in the Pequannock Triathlon today. I finished a 1/4 mile swim, 12 mile bike, and 3.2 mile run in 1 hour and 42 minutes. For me, that is an achievement, and I'm proud of myself for it.

Saturday, July 20, 2013

To Everest Base Camp AND Back!

It's been about 3 months since we trekked through the Himalayas to Everest Base Camp (EBC), but the trip is still fresh in my mind. It was AMAZING!

We took risks and were rewarded. We rose, and we fell. We were flexible, but unbreakable. We feared, yet we conquered. We set goals, and we achieved them.  We embraced an adventure, and we returned enamored by the experience, by the scenery, by the wildlife, by the people, and by the majesty of the world that we now know.

In truth, this was the most challenging activity we've ever accomplished, and we're thrilled to have done it. We flew into (by helicopter) and out of (by turbo prop plane) the world's most dangerous airport in Lukla, Nepal. We battled the rain, mud, and slippery terrain. We traversed steep inclines and declines, valleys, peaks, below and above the tree-line. We encountered dogs, insects, mountain goats, a variety of birds, donkeys and yaks. We braved the skin-burning winds and freezing temperatures. We struggled to breathe normally, and fought the symptoms of altitude sickness. But in the end, we can honestly say that it was all worth it.

Fast Fun Facts:
Time: 13 days
Max Altitude: 17,602ft above sea-level (after 9 days)
O2: 50% less than sea-level
Distance: 80 miles round-trip

Monday, April 29, 2013 - Everest Base Camp - 17,602ft above sea-level