Another one off the list

Well, it is only two weeks until I tick the next one for this year off the list.

It is an endurance event, where I am going to run 100ks in a day, actually, hopefully 20 hours. It is called the North Face 100.

Here is some information from the web site for the event:

The highly-anticipated 100km endurance running test-piece, staged in heart of the rugged and spectacular Blue Mountains National Park, is set to return. Lock it in the calendar, lace-up your running shoes, it’s time to start training!

For the third consecutive year, The North Face invites runners of all kinds to step up and take on one of the toughest running events of the year, The North Face 100. An event that is certainly not for the faint hearted, or only elite runners, but is open to all those brave and willing enough to submit their selves to the ultimate endurance running challenge.

A glance over the starting line of The North Face 100 reveals a mixed bag of runners from ultra-marathon aficionados in search of the ultimate test-piece, to seasoned road marathoners making the transition to off-road trails, and probably the biggest bunch of all - recreational runners with an adventurous spirit, a desire to explore their personal limits, and achieve something incredible.

It is a really exciting event, and one that I can't wait to get through. Pumped.

To save me blogging too much about it here, see below the information from another blog that I write about the endurance events that I am completing.

Go to www.antonguinea.com.au for more blogs, or more motivational products.

Here it is:

Well, yesterday, it is only 14 days until we will be running 100 kms as part of the North Face 100 trail running event on May 15 and 16. So, the big question is, am I ready. I think the answer to this question is very philosophical. Are you ever ready to run 100 kms (and walk some, of course)?

I think the answer lies in - well, what are you trying to achieve? See, there is no way, that I would be ready to win the race - 5 weeks training probably is not enough time for that. The next goal that the organisers set is a 14 hour mark. So, if you win, you get a gold belt buckle, if you finish within 14 hours, you get a silver belt buckle. Then, the clincher, if you finish within 20 hours, you get a bronze belt buckle. Apparently, they are a sought after item, these things.

So, the question really is not whether you can finish or not, but what time you can finish in. It might take you 28 hours (the cut off time) - but you have still finished.

To be even more specific, my question is - am I ready to finish this thing in 20 hours and get a bronze belt buckle. I think yes. Actually, it is a big yes. I am quite confident that the work I have done will get me over the line. Also, Marc is going to run all the way with me, to make sure I don't die trying. That will be very handy, for sure.

This week, working at a remote mine site, restricts the training time. Last week involved a 35km run on Sunday, in 3.38 (not too bad), then 5 x 10 km runs from Wednesday to Sunday at average pace. I had one ride with Julie (wife) which was fun, but then, two mornings on the exercise bike was very uncomfortable, and tightened up my legs. I regret then, now, but hey, you can't look back.

Next week will be some 15 km runs, and 10 km runs, through to Sunday, where I will do 40 kms and test my nutrition plan for the North Face 100, to make sure it will work.

Overall, how is my body travelling:

1. Mentally, yep, all good, very positive, and ready for the challenge
2. Physically, average, not as good. Hammies are tight, but that can be fixed with stretching. Knee is playing up, under the knee cap - more stretching required. Slight blistering from my inserts last night. Nothing major. Overall, nothing physical to stop the run, that is for sure. NO EXCUSES.

By the way, Marc did a 110 km run overnight, as part of a Relay for Life event in Kiama, NSW. He is a machine (and 50 years old by the way). Go the boy. Very impressive.

So, what happens after the North Face 100 - well it is about 9 weeks then until a 96km walk, as part of the Kokoda Challenge on the Gold Coast. That will be a little bit of running, also, so the training will help there, too. Two weeks later, it is up for an 18 run as part of the Gladstone, QLD, Relay for Life. This year, I aim to run 100k as part of that race. Last year, I ran/walked 80 kms, so want to go 20 km better this year. Bring that on.

Then it is triathlon season, with a half ironman and ironman down for later in the year, with an Olympic Distance triathlon in between them. Pumped. Bring all that on. It is certainly panning out to be a big year of endurance.

Marc and I are actually looking at the Racing the Planet series over the next four year. Pumped about that too. That involved 5 x 50 km runs in 5 days at different places around the world. Very excited.

Anyway, until next time, keep ticking them off the list.

April taken care of

Well, after a week at home last week, I was able to place some focus on my lovely wife, and make her feel loved. The three things were a moonlight beach walk, a nice dinner for two and a love letter. Well, the moonlight walk was taken care of by an evening drive along the Gladstone foreshore (not quite a beach, but similar). Dinner for two was lovely, at the Library Square Brasserie in Gladstone. The love letter has just left my email, and it was very nice, and I await a reply tomorrow. I hope she likes it. In summary, April was love month at the Guinea's, and I really enjoyed being home and connecting emotionally with my wife Julie (and the boys, Toby and Zac). I really hope Julie enjoyed it as much as I did.

So, what will May be? Not sure as yet, stay tune. I am thinking that I might contact one of my heroes (or authors). I love reading, and have read some amazing books recently. For a blog about book reading, check out: http://reading52booksin52weeksin2010.blogspot.com/. Contacting my favourite author sounds like a great idea.

Anyway, what else is happening in May. Well, the 100k run in one day will be out of the way in mid May. Only 3 weeks away now. That will be tough. I am not sure if the 5 weeks training will be enough. Anyway, time will soon tell. Looking forward to getting it out of the way. For more information on how that event goes, check out: http://enduranceandexhilarationin2010.blogspot.com/.

Life is great, really.

If you need anymore lfe improvement ideas, check out: http://www.antonguinea.com.au/.

Keep ticking things off your list.

Anton

Easter

We really did have a great weekend. We spent Easter on a little Island off the Queensland coast (Curtis Island), where my parents have a Holiday home. It was great, we were joined by friends, and we fished, swam, walked, four wheel drove and generally lived the dream.

I must say though, that I missed the opportunity to do anything really romantic with my wife, and given that April is romance month for me - with the 101 things to do in life for 2010 - I probably should have made more of an effort. My excuse is that we only really had one day together, as we had friends for the other two days, and Monday was spent travelling home and cleaning up after the weekend. I will think about it this week, and make up for it next Saturday or Sunday night. Julie will love it. Maybe romantic dinner at a nice restaurant, or an evening walk up town or something similar. It will be great fun, what ever we do. The kids will be cranky, as we will probably leave them with Uncle Joe, or at home. They will be fine, as they are now 10 and 12, and big enough and ugly enough to look after themselves.

It was though, nice to share the nice bottle of wine that I bought after the Mooloolaba triathlon with my wife. She actually said that it was nice - she rarely drinks wine - so that was a nice moment last week. We have not finished the bottle, and we may not for a while, as I am thinking of doing another six week stint without drinking. I have another sporting event coming up, so might go alcohol free for six weeks. The sporting event is the North Face 100, which is another one of the 101 things to do (a 100k run). At that event, I should meet Dean Karnazes, too, who is a superstar in the field of long distance running, and that will be two things ticked off the list in one weekend. Yee hah.

In relation to other 101 things to do this year, we are looking at surf boards on ebay (given that we did not purchase one when we were away last weekend. I think surfing lessons are not far away. I am really pumped about that, as I have always wondered what the secret with surfing is. I have always loved Occy and other great surfers, and admired their skill levels. We will end up getting lessons at Agnes Waters, I am guessing, so that will be fun just going down there for the weekend.

I am not really sure how to know that I have 'learnt to surf' and to be able to tick it off the list for this year. I am guessing that lessons might be enough. Maybe being able to stand up is the real test - not sure, and I will let you know when I actually have a go. I will keep you posted.

The other thing I am starting to think about is parachuting. Now that sounds scary, and I am not sure why I signed up for that this year. I have never done it, and it scares the crap out of me, but other people seem to be able to do it, so it can't be that hard (my life motto, when it comes to crazy stuff to do). I will have to ask Professor Google where I can do it, and line it up for a weekend later in the year. Actually, if I plan it soon, I can lock it into the calendar now. Maybe Julie will like to do it, too. I will ask her - will be a good bonding experience. More to come.

Until next time, keep ticking the things to do off your list.

Anton

February Challenge

Well, the February challenge is done and dusted. The challenge was to go to a live performance of some sort.

I thought I would pick something that was a little unusual (for me at least)

Last night, for the first time in my life, so it was quite an experience, I went to a Jazz concert.

It was just a great evening, and something that I want to do again soon. The band that was playing was the Tal Cohen Trio, with Jamie Oehlers. I have included the information from the Perth Jazz Club web site below, to provide more information. They played at the Charles Hotel at North Perth.

Look, for a country boy from Queensland, with not a great deal of culture, mind you, last night was just great fun. The music was lively, the performers pumping, and the audience engaged. It was not a huge audience, perhaps 70 people were there, enjoying the fun. The four guys played for an hour, had half and hour break, then got back into it.

The Bassist reminded me of the shaggy out of Scooby Doo, he was lanky and gee he could play that instrument. He rocked, as did the drummer and of course Tal and Jamie.

Get this, some of their songs were like 10 minutes long. They just kept going. In one song, they could go up, down, loud, soft, slow fast and anything in between. The four lads really enjoyed what they were doing. I loved the way that they moved when they were doing solos, they were just engrossed, and passionate - living the dream. Good on you boys.

I have played the alto sax for a short time, so I love that instrument. The bass and the piano and the drums were also smoking, too, and when you put it all together the music was quite groovy. Most of it appeared to be written by Tal, I am guessing, given his short announcements (gee, he needs to work on his speeches though, his stage presence behind the microphone was very ordinary - but that is not why he was there after all) prior to each song. He talked about Bach's Prelude there at one stage, which sounded a little like he was speaking Chinese, as I have no idea, but audience seemed to get a little excited.

The one thing that I thought about was, how much do these blokes get paid for their efforts. It really can't be much. See, there were about 70 people there, all having paid either $10 or $15 entry. Now, that can only equate to between $700 and $1,000 ish. And there were four of them, and the house needs to take a bit, I guess. So, really they would get paid next to nothing, I would presume. The next thing that went through my mind was, so what. Really, I reckon there was no other place those four blokes wanted to be on Monday night. They really were loving it.

The question is, is money everything. Maybe not, you know. Look, I like earning a good wage, as we all do, but is there a point where you just live the dream. See, if you are living your passion, the theory is that you will make heaps, and this is generally true. Maybe these guys make heaps outside these small shows (Tal and Jamie appear to work at a Music School, so they get a wage there, presumably). It is really none of my business, it was just a thought. Two things are for certain, though, they are at the top of their game, and they are loving what they are doing. Good on 'em! How many people can really, truly, say the same.

FYI, here is the information that I found on the Perth Jazz Society Web site:

TAL COHEN TRIO ...with special guest JAMIE OEHLERS

Mon 15 Feb 2010 @ 8:00pm

Admission Members $10 Student members $5 Non members $15

DON'T MISS this energized evening of hard bop, original ideas and virtuoso performance! Joining pianist Tal Cohen and special guest, the supreme tenor saxophonist, Jamie Oehlers, will be two of the most promising musicians that ‘stoke the fire and burn the fuel’ – bassist Karl Florrison and on drums, Sean Phillips.

TAL COHEN left Israel at the age of 16 where he studied classical piano and traditional Jewish folk culture. Upon arrival in Perth Tal received a music scholarship to Churchlands and in 2006 gained entrance into jazz at WAAPA. Tal is currently completing his Masters degree under the guidance of Jamie Oehlers - that makes for a stream of musical consciousness that will literally ‘blow your mind’.

Western Australian jazz saxophonist, Jamie Oehlers is one of those phenomena that comes along once in a generation. Already he has a string of awards to his name including Winner of the 2003 White Foundation World Saxophone Competition and Winner of 2007 Bell Award for Australian Jazz Musician of the Year. Jamie has not even reached his zenith so every performance is an exciting voyage of discovery for both audience and artist.