Who said endurance athletes couldn't be agile dancers and use their abilities in such a sport to fundraise?! Hmmmmm, well you'd be right. Dancing Queens we are not, but we felt quite motivated by the challenge of doing "the lift" and therefore organised a private showing of Dirty Dancing at a local cinema to help raise money for Anahilt Scout Group.
Billed as an evening for girls to come have the "time of their lives", the movie was preceded in the lobby by a drinks reception and popcorn donated by Golden Popcorn was carried through to the theatre – all film-goers were reported to have "hungry eyes".
A great night was had by all - some had too great a night! - and the fun more than made up for the the subsequent sore muscles experienced by Andrea and Jen after trying to re-enact some of the moves!
Golden Popcorn have posted the snippet about the fundraiser on the following facebook and blog pages -
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/pages/Golden-Popcorn/70752709887
http://goldenpopcorn-official.blogspot.com/
Wednesday 11 November 2009
Friday 4 September 2009
Dynamic Duo Lap Up "Lap The Lough"
Three weeks on from Rat Race victory, the Dynamic Duo took to their saddles again on 30 August 2009 to bike in the 4th annual "Lap The Lough" event – 140km around the circumference of Lough Neagh, the largest lake in Ireland and Britain and the 3rd largest in Western Europe. At over 35km long and 20km wide, it's quite a water feature. . . .and featured quite a lot of water on the day!
The Duo are no strangers to the area but have previously been on the Lough, battling 10 foot waves (we kid you not!) for 3 hours in a kayak to find Phoney - sorry Coney - Island. That day, which was a complete blast, seemed like 3 minutes instead of 3 hours, and was full of our usual hilarity despite the hostile conditions, we decided that together the immense DW ultra marathon kayak would be a piece of cake! Ahem, watch this space!
Anyway, miserable conditions that day (of paddling rather than pedaling) boded well for miserable conditions in the second half of Lap The Lough – but in contrast to everybody else, we were far from miserable! Again we just kept smiling, chatting and laughing . . . much to the annoyance of everybody else, particularly to one guy who was clearly intent on being as miserable as possible.
The event started at Kinnego marina, Oxford Island, and on arrival it was clear that word had spread since last year and the cycle was set for record numbers. In the end over 1300 fools, who had nothing better to do on a Sunday morning, started the challenge. The queue for car parking and registration was massive but moved quickly with everyone eager to grab a goodie bag that included a "designer" t-shirt, which featured a very bizarre moustache reference. In keeping with the theme, each cyclist was also being handed a false moustache – unfortunately electrolysis hasn't worked on Jen and she was told she didn't need one!
Thankfully her legs had been waxed since the Rat Race barber comment (see previous report), as she wanted to be as aerodynamic as possible on her new speed machine and impressively co-ordinated and classy kit that included white shoes, white/black/pink top and the cutest wee white cycle computer. Apparently she has a great personal shopper. Lucky girl. She is also lucky enough to have the other half of the Duo still pedaling a heap of junk and wearing very old kit, so making herself look even better!
Just as we left Shane's Castle the weather took a turn for the worse. Those unhappy campers became even more unhappy, putting their heads down to shield themselves from the rain (oh, was it raining?!), the strong headwind and focus on getting to the finish line as quickly as possible.
We on the other hand didn't want it to end. Too chirpy for our own goods, was one comment! At one stage however, uno of the duo became extremely concerned about the content of the conversation and began wondering just how to get through the last hour of the challenge while listening to chat about the pros and cons of granulated and demerara sugar! Funnily enough nobody joined in this thread of conversation!
It took about 2 hours in the wind and rain from Shane's Castle to the finish line at Kinnego marina, including a good Samaritans stop to help a fellow-female (very much in the minority) who had a puncture. We obviously looked so accomplished at the task that none of the guys asked did we need a hand. Guess that puncture repair task in the Rat Race paid off!
Drowned rats we were as we arrived back at the marina, but prize rats again – full of the warm glow of self satisfaction and another perfect day out.
The Rat Race report ended with "had it all. You know that saying, "Blood, sweat and.." ? Well, two out of three ain't bad!". The same applies for Lap The Lough! But thankfully it didn't ruin the new kit!
Lap The Lough took us 5 and ½ hours and we averaged 15.2 mph for the day. Neagh problem!
An epic day, great performance and the poor weather from halfway made absolutely no difference. Oh boy, white lightning can't be matched!
The Duo are no strangers to the area but have previously been on the Lough, battling 10 foot waves (we kid you not!) for 3 hours in a kayak to find Phoney - sorry Coney - Island. That day, which was a complete blast, seemed like 3 minutes instead of 3 hours, and was full of our usual hilarity despite the hostile conditions, we decided that together the immense DW ultra marathon kayak would be a piece of cake! Ahem, watch this space!
Anyway, miserable conditions that day (of paddling rather than pedaling) boded well for miserable conditions in the second half of Lap The Lough – but in contrast to everybody else, we were far from miserable! Again we just kept smiling, chatting and laughing . . . much to the annoyance of everybody else, particularly to one guy who was clearly intent on being as miserable as possible.
The event started at Kinnego marina, Oxford Island, and on arrival it was clear that word had spread since last year and the cycle was set for record numbers. In the end over 1300 fools, who had nothing better to do on a Sunday morning, started the challenge. The queue for car parking and registration was massive but moved quickly with everyone eager to grab a goodie bag that included a "designer" t-shirt, which featured a very bizarre moustache reference. In keeping with the theme, each cyclist was also being handed a false moustache – unfortunately electrolysis hasn't worked on Jen and she was told she didn't need one!
Thankfully her legs had been waxed since the Rat Race barber comment (see previous report), as she wanted to be as aerodynamic as possible on her new speed machine and impressively co-ordinated and classy kit that included white shoes, white/black/pink top and the cutest wee white cycle computer. Apparently she has a great personal shopper. Lucky girl. She is also lucky enough to have the other half of the Duo still pedaling a heap of junk and wearing very old kit, so making herself look even better! 
Well, we set off from Kinnego at 09:00 on a clockwise route around the Lough. Our chat was animated as usual from the start, with lots of riders clearly loving our conversations and keen to join in and find out more about our personal lives! Obviously we toned it down a bit! Our chatter kept apace with our cadence and the miles clocked up effortlessly. Before we knew it, we were over halfway and at the lunch stop at Shane's Castle, where coffee, sandwiches and biscuits were accompanied by a string quartet – some people were struggling and fairly unhappy by this stage, so we approached the foursome with a request to "take a sad song and make it better"!
A 15-minute lunch stop was long enough for the Duo and as we started cycling again, Jen's confidence in her ability and performance rose as some struggling participants were pointed out to her, particularly those requiring oxygen before they set off again! No doubt some people thought we'd had an injection of it, with one guy asking us how we had enough oxygen to chat and cycle at the same time!
Just as we left Shane's Castle the weather took a turn for the worse. Those unhappy campers became even more unhappy, putting their heads down to shield themselves from the rain (oh, was it raining?!), the strong headwind and focus on getting to the finish line as quickly as possible.We on the other hand didn't want it to end. Too chirpy for our own goods, was one comment! At one stage however, uno of the duo became extremely concerned about the content of the conversation and began wondering just how to get through the last hour of the challenge while listening to chat about the pros and cons of granulated and demerara sugar! Funnily enough nobody joined in this thread of conversation!
It took about 2 hours in the wind and rain from Shane's Castle to the finish line at Kinnego marina, including a good Samaritans stop to help a fellow-female (very much in the minority) who had a puncture. We obviously looked so accomplished at the task that none of the guys asked did we need a hand. Guess that puncture repair task in the Rat Race paid off!
Drowned rats we were as we arrived back at the marina, but prize rats again – full of the warm glow of self satisfaction and another perfect day out.
The Rat Race report ended with "had it all. You know that saying, "Blood, sweat and.." ? Well, two out of three ain't bad!". The same applies for Lap The Lough! But thankfully it didn't ruin the new kit!
Lap The Lough took us 5 and ½ hours and we averaged 15.2 mph for the day. Neagh problem!
An epic day, great performance and the poor weather from halfway made absolutely no difference. Oh boy, white lightning can't be matched!
Monday 10 August 2009
Dynamic Duo Scurry To Victory
Well, the alternative training regimes paid off at the weekend and the Dynamic Duo scurried to victory, retaining their title of Winning Female Pair at the 2nd annual Belfast Rat Race. The event lived up to expectations, successfully combining physical exertion and immense fun. We had a blast and would have said that the sheer enjoyment meant that results didn't matter – but that would be a lie. Yes, before the event started it didn't matter. But once we got underway, had a great start to the first of the weekend's activity loops and had checked out the competition – losing was not an option!
The run-up to the event was filled with last minute preparation, by which we mean accessorising our kit rather than training! If we hadn't won for our physical ability, we would have surely got a prize for our gear and getting into the spirit of Rat Race. This took the form of cuddly rats attached to the top of our helmets (which after an intense testing session in a wind tunnel on the bikes showed little drag and impact on our aerodynamics!) and on top of our handlebars (leading us on our way, these fondly became known as "Rat Nav").
Rat Race started on Saturday evening with the Mean Streets, which challenged competitors to run/scurry/walk/crawl around Belfast city centre to find 24 Check Points (CPs) within a timeframe of 2hr 30mins. Locations of the CPs were issued to competitors 1 hour before the start time, with each team having to mark them on a map and decide the best route to try and collect all CPs. Different points were awarded for each CP and this list was only issued just after the official start, which meant some teams changed their route choices at the last minute to ensure they collected the highest scoring CPs.
However high scores come at a price and in true Rat Race style, they come at a personal cost! The highest valued CP was 50 points, which was located at a barber shop and was the 4th CP that we visited. In order to get the 50 points one of the team had to have a handful of hair cut off (females) or a strip of hair shaved off (males). While Jen was well overdue a leg wax and tried to talk the barber into taking a strip off there, he was having none of it. Jen said to Andrea, "win or lose – on your head be it" …..so, in the name of victory (yes, even at that early stage!), Andrea offered her coiffed head and came out with one handful of hair less to carry around the rest of the course. A visit to the hairdresser is long overdue anyway!
The next highest valued CP was worth 30 points and was in a tattoo parlour, with one of the team having to decide if they were brave enough to get one done, then sign a medical form and then be ushered into a sterile back room where the tattooist was ready with electronic needles whirring and the designs laid out ready to choose. Only at the very last minute, as the needles came to within 2mm of Jen's arm, did the tattooist say that it was all a set-up. This CP was carried out to perfection, with not even the marshals knowing that it was a gag and nobody that had been brave enough to put themselves forward telling other competitors that it was a set-up. Secrecy at its best!
Obviously Andrea was keen to know what Jen had asked the tattooist to put on her arm. She said she had thought of a couple of options before deciding on "Dynamic Duo", but the guy had said that it was too long for her arm (yes, even her biceps!) and he suggested simply DD, which was what Jen went for. Bless. At the same time though, Andrea found it hilarious that Jen should be so boastful about her chest size!
Anyway, by this stage, which was about halfway through the Mean Streets, we realised that we were sweeping up the CPs at a great rate and that there would be no challenge that we would not undertake to get points. Others tasks included having to go into the Empire (about 6pm) and stand up on stage to tell a joke to the patrons; pitching a tent outside Tiso's; wolfing down a bowl of noodles at Foo kin Express; going into the Ulster Hall and drawing a picture; climbing into a high-sided inflatable box full of fairy liquid and getting back out; doing press ups; running through the water fountains at Custom House Sq; leapfrogging over bollards; and doing "keepie-uppies" at a George Best mural.
All this, while running 12-15km around the city centre. The Dynamic Duo managed to collect all the CPs, scoring the maximum 400 points and clearing the course in 1hr 40mins – well within the 2hr 30mins cut off.
So, we got home 830pm Saturday night, sorted out our gear from the Mean Streets, packed new gear for the Nine2Five on Sunday, and were back at the City Hall at 7am Sunday for the most challenging day of the event.
Again we were issued with CP references to mark on a map and a route book of the different activities we would undertake that day. Most of the day would be spent on the bikes, covering the surrounding areas of Belfast and again facing up to different challenges in a bid to collect as many points as possible. Having asked about the nature of the biking, we decided not to use the tandem this year (kindly provided by Dromara Cycling Club) and stuck with our mountain bikes.
The race started at 9am and the cut off time was 5pm (which is why it's called Nine2Five!). The first section took us out on the bikes to the Ormeau Embankment, where we got into a kayak and paddled 2km towards Stranmillis, collected a CP, and paddled the 2km back. We truly are dynamic in a kayak, or so we're told, and overtook a few teams that had got in ahead of us. Or maybe they were just distracted trying to work out did we have head-cams underneath the rats on our helmets!
From here we cycled down to Belvoir Park, where there was a memory orienteering course on foot. A navigation error at the beginning meant we had a 10min warm-up before we started! But hey, other than that the navigation was perfect all weekend!
After completing the foot course we were back on the bikes and down to Shawsbridge, where we had to canoe out on the Lagan and throw a ball into a net, and then sit in an inflatable tyre and tube down one of the fast-flowing shoots. Nicely soaked, but not looking too much like drowned rats, it was back on the bikes and on to Mary Peter's track where we had to gain maximum points we had to do a 100m sprint, jump over 3m50 in the long jump and throw over 7m50 in the shot putt. Which we did in a manner that Mary herself would have been proud!
Back on the bikes again, we were off to Lady Dixon park where there was an off-road technical biking section (not tandem-friendly!). This was the last location in the first loop and so after this we headed back to the City Hall to drop our bikes for a short while and undertake two challenges.
The first was an abseil down the inside of Victoria Square, which Jen had been looking forward to all day with her fear of heights! The fact that she struggled to get to the top of the first flight of stairs without feeling dizzy was a sure sign that this was a huge challenge, but by trusting my words to her and my confidence in her, as well as the guys at the top, she faced her fears and did the descent in style. That's my girl!
The second challenge was back at the City Hall and saw us having to change a puncture, a task that was kindly (?!) hosted by Bike Dock.
Over halfway there now and it was back on the bikes and off to Orangefield for a 3-lap blast around the velodrome. Chris Hoy eat your heart out! The route then took us down Beersbridge Nature Reserve and Comber Greenway to Dundonald Ice Bowl, where we had 6 balls to score a strike in 10-pin bowling (turned out to be our only failed CP all weekend!) and then had 6 pistol shots each to hit the bulls-eye (well, the duckling!) 3 times each for maximum point. We don't quite know what it says about us that we each hit the target in our first 3 shots. But you would be best not getting on the wrong side of us!
The bike route then took us to the Civil Service sports pavilion in the grounds of Stormont, up the hill to Stormont building itself, down the Belmont Road to a gym where we had circuit training to do and then to the finish at City Hall. We dropped our bikes and before crossing the finish line we had to help each other climb up an inflatable, down into shin-high water, and out the other side. From there we had a 20m sprint to the finish – where we knew victory was ours in the Female Pair category. We did the Nine2Five course in 5hr 18min and scored 990 out of 1,000 points.
Rat Race had it all. You know that saying, "Blood, sweat and.." ? Well, two out of three ain't bad!
Perfect race, perfect venue, perfect team, perfect weather, perfect kit, perfect accessories, perfect friendship. You can't get better than that!
Rat's all folks!
The run-up to the event was filled with last minute preparation, by which we mean accessorising our kit rather than training! If we hadn't won for our physical ability, we would have surely got a prize for our gear and getting into the spirit of Rat Race. This took the form of cuddly rats attached to the top of our helmets (which after an intense testing session in a wind tunnel on the bikes showed little drag and impact on our aerodynamics!) and on top of our handlebars (leading us on our way, these fondly became known as "Rat Nav").
Rat Race started on Saturday evening with the Mean Streets, which challenged competitors to run/scurry/walk/crawl around Belfast city centre to find 24 Check Points (CPs) within a timeframe of 2hr 30mins. Locations of the CPs were issued to competitors 1 hour before the start time, with each team having to mark them on a map and decide the best route to try and collect all CPs. Different points were awarded for each CP and this list was only issued just after the official start, which meant some teams changed their route choices at the last minute to ensure they collected the highest scoring CPs.However high scores come at a price and in true Rat Race style, they come at a personal cost! The highest valued CP was 50 points, which was located at a barber shop and was the 4th CP that we visited. In order to get the 50 points one of the team had to have a handful of hair cut off (females) or a strip of hair shaved off (males). While Jen was well overdue a leg wax and tried to talk the barber into taking a strip off there, he was having none of it. Jen said to Andrea, "win or lose – on your head be it" …..so, in the name of victory (yes, even at that early stage!), Andrea offered her coiffed head and came out with one handful of hair less to carry around the rest of the course. A visit to the hairdresser is long overdue anyway!
The next highest valued CP was worth 30 points and was in a tattoo parlour, with one of the team having to decide if they were brave enough to get one done, then sign a medical form and then be ushered into a sterile back room where the tattooist was ready with electronic needles whirring and the designs laid out ready to choose. Only at the very last minute, as the needles came to within 2mm of Jen's arm, did the tattooist say that it was all a set-up. This CP was carried out to perfection, with not even the marshals knowing that it was a gag and nobody that had been brave enough to put themselves forward telling other competitors that it was a set-up. Secrecy at its best!
Obviously Andrea was keen to know what Jen had asked the tattooist to put on her arm. She said she had thought of a couple of options before deciding on "Dynamic Duo", but the guy had said that it was too long for her arm (yes, even her biceps!) and he suggested simply DD, which was what Jen went for. Bless. At the same time though, Andrea found it hilarious that Jen should be so boastful about her chest size!
Anyway, by this stage, which was about halfway through the Mean Streets, we realised that we were sweeping up the CPs at a great rate and that there would be no challenge that we would not undertake to get points. Others tasks included having to go into the Empire (about 6pm) and stand up on stage to tell a joke to the patrons; pitching a tent outside Tiso's; wolfing down a bowl of noodles at Foo kin Express; going into the Ulster Hall and drawing a picture; climbing into a high-sided inflatable box full of fairy liquid and getting back out; doing press ups; running through the water fountains at Custom House Sq; leapfrogging over bollards; and doing "keepie-uppies" at a George Best mural.
All this, while running 12-15km around the city centre. The Dynamic Duo managed to collect all the CPs, scoring the maximum 400 points and clearing the course in 1hr 40mins – well within the 2hr 30mins cut off.
So, we got home 830pm Saturday night, sorted out our gear from the Mean Streets, packed new gear for the Nine2Five on Sunday, and were back at the City Hall at 7am Sunday for the most challenging day of the event.
Again we were issued with CP references to mark on a map and a route book of the different activities we would undertake that day. Most of the day would be spent on the bikes, covering the surrounding areas of Belfast and again facing up to different challenges in a bid to collect as many points as possible. Having asked about the nature of the biking, we decided not to use the tandem this year (kindly provided by Dromara Cycling Club) and stuck with our mountain bikes.
The race started at 9am and the cut off time was 5pm (which is why it's called Nine2Five!). The first section took us out on the bikes to the Ormeau Embankment, where we got into a kayak and paddled 2km towards Stranmillis, collected a CP, and paddled the 2km back. We truly are dynamic in a kayak, or so we're told, and overtook a few teams that had got in ahead of us. Or maybe they were just distracted trying to work out did we have head-cams underneath the rats on our helmets!
From here we cycled down to Belvoir Park, where there was a memory orienteering course on foot. A navigation error at the beginning meant we had a 10min warm-up before we started! But hey, other than that the navigation was perfect all weekend!
After completing the foot course we were back on the bikes and down to Shawsbridge, where we had to canoe out on the Lagan and throw a ball into a net, and then sit in an inflatable tyre and tube down one of the fast-flowing shoots. Nicely soaked, but not looking too much like drowned rats, it was back on the bikes and on to Mary Peter's track where we had to gain maximum points we had to do a 100m sprint, jump over 3m50 in the long jump and throw over 7m50 in the shot putt. Which we did in a manner that Mary herself would have been proud!
Back on the bikes again, we were off to Lady Dixon park where there was an off-road technical biking section (not tandem-friendly!). This was the last location in the first loop and so after this we headed back to the City Hall to drop our bikes for a short while and undertake two challenges.
The first was an abseil down the inside of Victoria Square, which Jen had been looking forward to all day with her fear of heights! The fact that she struggled to get to the top of the first flight of stairs without feeling dizzy was a sure sign that this was a huge challenge, but by trusting my words to her and my confidence in her, as well as the guys at the top, she faced her fears and did the descent in style. That's my girl!
The second challenge was back at the City Hall and saw us having to change a puncture, a task that was kindly (?!) hosted by Bike Dock.
Over halfway there now and it was back on the bikes and off to Orangefield for a 3-lap blast around the velodrome. Chris Hoy eat your heart out! The route then took us down Beersbridge Nature Reserve and Comber Greenway to Dundonald Ice Bowl, where we had 6 balls to score a strike in 10-pin bowling (turned out to be our only failed CP all weekend!) and then had 6 pistol shots each to hit the bulls-eye (well, the duckling!) 3 times each for maximum point. We don't quite know what it says about us that we each hit the target in our first 3 shots. But you would be best not getting on the wrong side of us!
The bike route then took us to the Civil Service sports pavilion in the grounds of Stormont, up the hill to Stormont building itself, down the Belmont Road to a gym where we had circuit training to do and then to the finish at City Hall. We dropped our bikes and before crossing the finish line we had to help each other climb up an inflatable, down into shin-high water, and out the other side. From there we had a 20m sprint to the finish – where we knew victory was ours in the Female Pair category. We did the Nine2Five course in 5hr 18min and scored 990 out of 1,000 points.
Rat Race had it all. You know that saying, "Blood, sweat and.." ? Well, two out of three ain't bad!
Perfect race, perfect venue, perfect team, perfect weather, perfect kit, perfect accessories, perfect friendship. You can't get better than that!
Rat's all folks!
Tuesday 21 July 2009
Rat Race - A Rat Whether You Win Or Lose
With under 3 weeks to go until the 2nd annual Belfast Rat Race on 08/09 August, the Dynamic Duo are fresh (?!) from some alternative training regimes and finally gearing up for the event. One of the pair has just returned from checking out "all things rodent" across the Atlantic (Disney, Florida, to be precise! Taking the Mickey?! In her training!) and the other has been rubbing shoulders with champion mountain bikers and seeing how it's really done in Cave Hill – one of the locations visited in the Rat Race in 2008. If only know-how translated into practice! But let's hope some of it rubs off on the team as they start some late training and hope to defend their title of Winning Female Pair in the inaugural Belfast Rat Race last year.
The Rat Race is a physical and mental adventure challenge that uses the cityscape as its playground starting at the City Hall. In Belfast 2008 the event lasted for 8 hours on the Saturday, but in 2009 there is a new format for Belfast with participants able to choose whether to do 3 hours on Saturday evening before the 8 hours on Sunday. The Dynamic Duo have chosen the longer "weekender" option. It is a team event in which participants run, hike, bike, abseil, climb and kayak the streets, structures, waterways and urban landscape, whilst navigating their way around a course that's only revealed to them just before they begin.
The course is designed in different sections and loops that do not all have to be completed, so that people of various fitness levels can participate and get a feel for adventure. The elite teams will clear up the whole course, others will manage only a couple of sections, but everybody gets the same amazing level of fun that the Rat Race promises. Particularly with the special tasks, which last year involved potato peeling (which Andrea still has to practice, but Jen doesn't as she is the domestic goddess in the team), an inflatable bungee run, towing a 4X4 jeep, river tubing down the Lagan and climbing up a margarine-greased ramp. Who knows what 2009 has in store?
If juggling is one of the special tasks in this year's Ratrace, then the Dynamic Duo are set for the podium. Being mothers of two young children (Jen has Charlie 9yrs, Olivia 7yrs; Andrea has Fraser 6yrs and Alex 2yrs) and both working mothers too, it is a task itself to fit in training and events with home and work life. However the two have mastered the juggling act and are keen to show other women that it is all do-able, that the fun and adventure is out there to be had, and that the kids benefit from it all too. Kids love that their mum is racing, not to mention loving to get to call you a Rat! The enthusiasm they see in you, will naturally translate to them and before you know it they just love being in the great outdoors doing sport and seeking adventure too. It's not easy fitting it all in, but it's do-able. Can't get out for a run because the kids are at home? Get them on their bikes and they can cycle along while you run. And a three-wheeler buggy and a kids bike seat means you can always run or cycle with a toddler.
Speaking of bikes, one of the decisions for the team ahead of 08/09 August is whether to go solo or tandem. In 2008 the Dynamic Duo won the event on a tandem bike (kindly provided by Dromara Cyling Club and the only one in the race – but seemingly a trendsetting idea!), which was enforced because one of the pair had only one functioning leg due to injury. Given the choice to be "normal" this year, do we go for it?! Will have a tandem makes us "different" this year if others decide to follow our trend from last year?! Hmmmm, wonder what other human-powered wheeled vehicles we could come up with to use?!
Anyway, whatever the event has store, whatever the weekend brings, come rain, hail, sun or shine, the Dynamic Duo can not wait to join the Rat Race and do what they do best – having immense fun while doing a little physical activity! Winning would just be the icing on the cake….and it's always worth remembering that "The trouble with the Rat Race is that even if you win, you're still a Rat".
The Rat Race is a physical and mental adventure challenge that uses the cityscape as its playground starting at the City Hall. In Belfast 2008 the event lasted for 8 hours on the Saturday, but in 2009 there is a new format for Belfast with participants able to choose whether to do 3 hours on Saturday evening before the 8 hours on Sunday. The Dynamic Duo have chosen the longer "weekender" option. It is a team event in which participants run, hike, bike, abseil, climb and kayak the streets, structures, waterways and urban landscape, whilst navigating their way around a course that's only revealed to them just before they begin.
The course is designed in different sections and loops that do not all have to be completed, so that people of various fitness levels can participate and get a feel for adventure. The elite teams will clear up the whole course, others will manage only a couple of sections, but everybody gets the same amazing level of fun that the Rat Race promises. Particularly with the special tasks, which last year involved potato peeling (which Andrea still has to practice, but Jen doesn't as she is the domestic goddess in the team), an inflatable bungee run, towing a 4X4 jeep, river tubing down the Lagan and climbing up a margarine-greased ramp. Who knows what 2009 has in store?
If juggling is one of the special tasks in this year's Ratrace, then the Dynamic Duo are set for the podium. Being mothers of two young children (Jen has Charlie 9yrs, Olivia 7yrs; Andrea has Fraser 6yrs and Alex 2yrs) and both working mothers too, it is a task itself to fit in training and events with home and work life. However the two have mastered the juggling act and are keen to show other women that it is all do-able, that the fun and adventure is out there to be had, and that the kids benefit from it all too. Kids love that their mum is racing, not to mention loving to get to call you a Rat! The enthusiasm they see in you, will naturally translate to them and before you know it they just love being in the great outdoors doing sport and seeking adventure too. It's not easy fitting it all in, but it's do-able. Can't get out for a run because the kids are at home? Get them on their bikes and they can cycle along while you run. And a three-wheeler buggy and a kids bike seat means you can always run or cycle with a toddler.
Speaking of bikes, one of the decisions for the team ahead of 08/09 August is whether to go solo or tandem. In 2008 the Dynamic Duo won the event on a tandem bike (kindly provided by Dromara Cyling Club and the only one in the race – but seemingly a trendsetting idea!), which was enforced because one of the pair had only one functioning leg due to injury. Given the choice to be "normal" this year, do we go for it?! Will have a tandem makes us "different" this year if others decide to follow our trend from last year?! Hmmmm, wonder what other human-powered wheeled vehicles we could come up with to use?!
Anyway, whatever the event has store, whatever the weekend brings, come rain, hail, sun or shine, the Dynamic Duo can not wait to join the Rat Race and do what they do best – having immense fun while doing a little physical activity! Winning would just be the icing on the cake….and it's always worth remembering that "The trouble with the Rat Race is that even if you win, you're still a Rat".
Sunday 24 May 2009
Mournes 2009 – What Mountain?
A group of 10 intrepid explorers (blindly following 2 leaders) set off from the Carrick Little on 23 May in good cheer, despite the dismal weather, helped by a hearty serving of great coffee/tea and home baking (1 of the leaders is a domestic goddess!) in the car park. The conditions were surely the worst in the history of rambling (according to one source) and with visibility down to 20 metres, the question being asked was "What mountain?".
This was followed by "are we nearly there yet?". Having only made it 1 mile up the track to the beginning of the off-road section, the answer was a resounding no.
The girls veered off to begin the climb up the Mourne Wall towards the summit of Slieve Binnian (3rd highest peak in the Mournes at 747 metres), with conditions deteriorating. About a third of the way into the ascent, two men passing on their descent advised the group to turn back and head for home because of howling gales and 10 metre visibility.
A few momentarily considered the option of return but at the threat of a splinter group, one of the girls rigged herself up in balaclava and peaked cap to assume the guise of a paramilitary and coerce them into continuing. It was later pointed out that the guise faltered given the balaclava was pink and flowery, and that the girls kept going in the name of being "iron". As the British politican Ironlady famously said, "U-turn if you want to, this lady's not for turning".
So the whole group stayed together and followed the leader up into the mist, making the summit after 1 hour 50 minutes. Given the girls' inexperience (clearly shown when, on seeing somebody on the slope with walking poles the comment was made "my, he's brave coming up on crutches"), everybody made the top with impressive ease and so begged the question again, "What mountain?". (?!)
After a 30 minute break for packed lunch, it was decision time. Call it quits and head back the way we came, or continue on across the top to descend North Tor and loop back to the car park. It was a case of follow the leader (1 of the leaders is an Ironwoman!).
Across the top to North Tor the visibility was atrocious, the mountain mist turned to proper rain and hail, and the wind was howling. The adverse elements did not deter the girls however, with the chat and laughter reverberating around the mountainside and spirits remaining extremely high. They finally emerged from the clouds around North Tor for a comedy descent in the mucky, rocky terrain to the path homeward bound - a gently, descending track of 3 miles to the car park.
The weather started to lift before the descent to the track, allowing everybody to take in the beauty of the Kingdom of Mourne and to end the day with the sun on their faces and the wind at their backs. The 3-mile amble back to the car park also boosted the group's feeling of self satisfaction because with the mountains now clear, the summit route that had just been achieved above could be clearly seen from the track below. "Oh, that mountain" were the concluding remarks.
Group: Alison, Dianne, Fiona, Gillian, Gillian, Grace, Joanne, Karen, Linda, Wendy.
Many thanks to the group for helping us raise funds for a small local maternity unit to buy an underwater sonicaid, and also start providing basic items for underprivileged mums and their newborns.
This was followed by "are we nearly there yet?". Having only made it 1 mile up the track to the beginning of the off-road section, the answer was a resounding no.The girls veered off to begin the climb up the Mourne Wall towards the summit of Slieve Binnian (3rd highest peak in the Mournes at 747 metres), with conditions deteriorating. About a third of the way into the ascent, two men passing on their descent advised the group to turn back and head for home because of howling gales and 10 metre visibility.
A few momentarily considered the option of return but at the threat of a splinter group, one of the girls rigged herself up in balaclava and peaked cap to assume the guise of a paramilitary and coerce them into continuing. It was later pointed out that the guise faltered given the balaclava was pink and flowery, and that the girls kept going in the name of being "iron". As the British politican Ironlady famously said, "U-turn if you want to, this lady's not for turning".
So the whole group stayed together and followed the leader up into the mist, making the summit after 1 hour 50 minutes. Given the girls' inexperience (clearly shown when, on seeing somebody on the slope with walking poles the comment was made "my, he's brave coming up on crutches"), everybody made the top with impressive ease and so begged the question again, "What mountain?". (?!)
After a 30 minute break for packed lunch, it was decision time. Call it quits and head back the way we came, or continue on across the top to descend North Tor and loop back to the car park. It was a case of follow the leader (1 of the leaders is an Ironwoman!).
Across the top to North Tor the visibility was atrocious, the mountain mist turned to proper rain and hail, and the wind was howling. The adverse elements did not deter the girls however, with the chat and laughter reverberating around the mountainside and spirits remaining extremely high. They finally emerged from the clouds around North Tor for a comedy descent in the mucky, rocky terrain to the path homeward bound - a gently, descending track of 3 miles to the car park.
The weather started to lift before the descent to the track, allowing everybody to take in the beauty of the Kingdom of Mourne and to end the day with the sun on their faces and the wind at their backs. The 3-mile amble back to the car park also boosted the group's feeling of self satisfaction because with the mountains now clear, the summit route that had just been achieved above could be clearly seen from the track below. "Oh, that mountain" were the concluding remarks.
Group: Alison, Dianne, Fiona, Gillian, Gillian, Grace, Joanne, Karen, Linda, Wendy.
Many thanks to the group for helping us raise funds for a small local maternity unit to buy an underwater sonicaid, and also start providing basic items for underprivileged mums and their newborns.
Monday 18 May 2009
Info for 23 May Mournes Trip
Directions:
Carrick Little car park is 8.6 miles (approx 15mins) from the traffic lights at the far end of the Newcastle promenade, to be exact!
At the end of the promenade, veer left along the A2, signposted Annalong. After 5.2 miles you will enter a 40mph zone and 1.1 mile further on you will see Quarter Road Filling Station on your right. Immediately after/at the filling station turn right into Quarter Road (signposted Silent Valley 5 miles). Continue along this road for 2.3 miles (sharp bend to left after 1.2 miles) and come to a small walled car park (Carrick Little) on your right, opposite Oldtown Road.
Aim for 10:00am (those that are always late, aim for 09:30am!) – we will start walking about 10:30am.
We will provide:
Coffee/tea/sweet treats at the beginning
Lunch on the mountain – filled rolls (please advise your preference BY TEXT spicy chicken/brie and grape/ham and cheese), cereal bars, chocolate bars
Mountain experience?!
Good craic?!
You bring:
A desire for fun
Mug (for car park use at beginning, not being carried!)
Small rucksack or bumbag
Water/juice for 4-5 hours walking (approx 1.5 litres each UNLESS there's a heat wave and you'll need more. Dream on!)
Desired extra snacks such as jelly babies, bananas, whatever!
Waterproof jackets (and bottoms if you have)
Sunscreen (Dream on!)
Change of socks/shoes for driving home (full change of clothes maybe!)
Carrick Little car park is 8.6 miles (approx 15mins) from the traffic lights at the far end of the Newcastle promenade, to be exact!
At the end of the promenade, veer left along the A2, signposted Annalong. After 5.2 miles you will enter a 40mph zone and 1.1 mile further on you will see Quarter Road Filling Station on your right. Immediately after/at the filling station turn right into Quarter Road (signposted Silent Valley 5 miles). Continue along this road for 2.3 miles (sharp bend to left after 1.2 miles) and come to a small walled car park (Carrick Little) on your right, opposite Oldtown Road.
Aim for 10:00am (those that are always late, aim for 09:30am!) – we will start walking about 10:30am.
We will provide:
Coffee/tea/sweet treats at the beginning
Lunch on the mountain – filled rolls (please advise your preference BY TEXT spicy chicken/brie and grape/ham and cheese), cereal bars, chocolate bars
Mountain experience?!
Good craic?!
You bring:
A desire for fun
Mug (for car park use at beginning, not being carried!)
Small rucksack or bumbag
Water/juice for 4-5 hours walking (approx 1.5 litres each UNLESS there's a heat wave and you'll need more. Dream on!)
Desired extra snacks such as jelly babies, bananas, whatever!
Waterproof jackets (and bottoms if you have)
Sunscreen (Dream on!)
Change of socks/shoes for driving home (full change of clothes maybe!)
Wednesday 29 April 2009
Mournes 2009
The Dynamic Duo are planning a girls-only, fun-filled and exhilarating guided walk in the Mournes on 23 May 2009 to raise funds for a small unofficial charity.
The money will help equip a local maternity unit with small essential equipment, the first being an underwater sonicaid, and also start providing underprivileged mums with basic items for their newborns and themselves.
Itinerary:
10:00 Coffee and cakes (provided by us)
11:00 Hike
13:00 Lunch up the mountains (provided & carried by us!)
NB aiming to return to car park 16:00 , but depends on how leisurely we decide to be!
A fabulous, sociable trip to the Majestic Mournes - our own outdoor playground, right on our doorstep!
The money will help equip a local maternity unit with small essential equipment, the first being an underwater sonicaid, and also start providing underprivileged mums with basic items for their newborns and themselves.
Itinerary:
10:00 Coffee and cakes (provided by us)
11:00 Hike
13:00 Lunch up the mountains (provided & carried by us!)
NB aiming to return to car park 16:00 , but depends on how leisurely we decide to be!
A fabulous, sociable trip to the Majestic Mournes - our own outdoor playground, right on our doorstep!
Tuesday 3 March 2009
Winning G.I. Jane (S) !
The Dynamic Duo were the winning team at GI Jane on 28 February - proving their dynamism once more ! Not under too much duress to ditch their lipstick (although there was no way they were ditching their lycra! . . .that was safely hidden underneath the fatigues!), the Duo eagerly turned up to the Meningitis Research Foundation's first ever Northern Ireland GI Jane event in Castlewellan Forest Park.
The "ladies only" sponsored challenge event involved a special military style "warm up" (during which Andrea was literally floored by Jen's aggressive streak!!) and then participants had to rotate around 6 physical and mental challenge zones! Now, mental we don't have a problem with! LOL. 
Such a fantastic event - allowing girls to take part at a totally pedestrian pace (which was the majority), stopping numerous times for food and drink, and only a handful of girls racing it (yip, that was the Duo!). Give us war paint rather than lipstick any day! Fighting talk! And boy, did we talk throughout the whole thing...even at race pace!
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