I'm now officially only two sleeps away from what is looming as the most difficult challenge I've ever attempted.  I've completed three 100km Oxfam Trailwalks in the past but this is something completely different.  It's not the total distance that's the most daunting (although 400kms is a long way), it's more the concern about keeping up with the pack.  I'm sure tomorrow night will be pretty sleepless as I think about the challenge of the day ahead. 

As someone who until a couple of months ago was just tooling around on a MTB, these distances are pretty new to me.  We're riding 160km on both days one and three, and this is where I'm weary about coming unstuck.  I really don't want to be hitting the wall at the 120km mark and still have a fair way to go.

One thing that my trailwaking experience has taught me is how to deal with some of the mental aspects of endurance events.  When you're covering vast distances over long periods of time it can be quite easy to allow negative chatter to get into your mind.  I've managed to pick up a few mental tricks to keep me focussed and thinking positively even when I'm feeling the pinch physically. 

Another thing that I've been able to use in the past to keep focussed is thinking about the reason I'm doing the challenge.  With the entoure Noosa ride the reason I'm putting myself through such a grueling challenge is to raise money to support the work of the Day of Difference Foundation.  Taking a tour through the Royal Children's Hospital in Brisbane a few weeks ago really brought home how important events like this are in raising much needed funds.  Having met some of the staff, children and their families I'm confident that what we're doing will really help.

Thanks to everyone who has donated so far, but we can always use more.  If you are able to donate please go to my sponsorship page.

See you on the road.

gz

With only five days to go until the start of the entoure Noosa ride (400km in 3 days) I've been working on my iPod playlist.  I'm expecting to be on the bike for over 16 hours over the three days so will need a good selection of tunes to keep me motivated during some of the tougher stages.

I've been doing training rides on shuffle and it certainly has been throwing up some interesting combinations.  Yesterday's ride for example gave me everything from MGMT to Motorhead, Ratcat to Ride, New Order to NWA.  Those who know me well would be unsurprised that a couple of Smiths songs made it through, but I'm not looking forward to hearing the opening line to This Charming Man while riding up a hill.  Punctured bicycle on a hillside desolate might just be tempting fate.  It even came up with a bit of Derek & Clive yesterday, and whilst not really conducive to riding, I did learn some useful phrases for the next time I get buzzed by a car that comes too close.

Anyway, as I said 16 hours is a long time, so I'm calling for some playlist suggestions.  Please leave me some comments with your recommendations.  Better still, let me know what type of riding the songs are suited to.  I reckon I'm going to need some hill-climbing material as well as tunes suited to long straight sections working up into a headwind.

We're also still looking for more donations to support the great work that Day of Difference are doing with critically injured kids.  Please support the cause by donating on my sponsorship page.

See you on the road

gz

It's less than three weeks to go now before the big Noosa ride and I'm starting to feel a bit apprehensive.  The training is coming along well enough, but 400km is still a hell of a long way.

On Friday a group of the riders did a tour of the Royal Children's Hospital in Brisbane to see where the money we raise will go.  There are over one million children aged 0-14 in Queensland (28.5% of the population) and the hospital is at the epicentre of treatment and care for all of these kids.  We were joined by the guys from Day of Difference who were able to explain how the foundation has been able to assist in the support of critically injured kids in the past.

We all know what a great job the hospital does in caring for kids, but walking around the hospital and meeting the staff gave me a real appreciation of exactly what they're up against.  We visited the ICU and heard from the staff about some of the kids who are currently being treated.  The sophistication of the technology they are using is amazing, as is the sheer amount of it.  If the funds we raise are able to help in the purchase of just one of these pieces of equipment we will have done something special to help these kids. 

The area that probably affected me the most was the Burns Unit.  You really don't want to think about children and burns, but I was surprised at how common these injuries actually are.  We're all familiar with scalding from hot liquids and this is a common injury, but I wasn't aware just how common campfire burns are in children here in Queensland.  I was even more surprised to learn that treadmills are also a major source of friction burns in children.  Prevention of accidents is obviously crucial, but the treatment the hospital is able to provide is quite extraordinary.

As a parent you always hope that your kids won't need to use the care that the hospital provides, but meeting the staff and some of the kids demonstrated to me what an important cause this is.  If you would like to support this fantastic cause you can donate through my sponsorship page.

See you on the road.

gz

Only a bit over four weeks left until the big event.  On Friday 9 October we ride to Noosa in the Entoure Cycle Classic Noosa 2009.  My sponsorship total is growing steadily.  Thanks to all my sponsors who have committed to support the great work that Day fo Difference Foundation is doing with critically ill kids.  My sponsorship page is here, for those of you who would like to support this good cause.

The training could be going a bit better, but I've been trying to get as many kms into my legs as I can before we head off.  This past weekend was looking promising for a long group ride on Saturday morning, until some heavy rain put paid to that.  I got the message on my way to the meeting point at 5am that the ride was off, back home to bed then.  Still, dealing with cars can be a bit of a challenge at the best of times, so definitely not something I'm keen to do during a downpour.

Riding the stationary bike at the gym is definitely no substitute for the real thing so after puffing away indoors for a while I took advantage of the afternoon sunshine to take a ride out to Nudgee.  One of my current favourites is a quick spin out to Sandgate. 

It's good to hear that Big Mal Meninga will be riding to Noosa also.  Mal has been drumming up a bit of publicity on Nova for the event.  It will be a bit intimidating having Big Mal on the ride, but I reckon if he can deliver one of his famous motivational speeches before we head off I'll be ready to ride to Noosa and back and pull off a few big hits on the way.  I still remember the classic footage captured by the Ch 9 camera before Origin one year when Mal was giving the Maroons a real rev up before kick-off. 

I'm due to join a group ride in the morning, but given that's only five hours away I may give it a miss.

See you on the road.

gz