Quite a few people have asked us about our training schedule for this enormous challenge and where do you begin for something like this. Well, from speaking to people who have completed this row, the main message that comes across is that this challenge is as much mental as it is physical. With this in mind, we are very fortunate to have Neil O’Brien involved with us on the mental preparation. This is a very important side of our preparation and one which we feel will give us an extra edge when we are out there battling the elements.
A key issue will be having the necessary mental toughness to push your body to its limits and beyond day after day for anything from 40 to 90 days. After a tough day of rowing, we're not going to be able to have a nice hot shower, a warm meal and curl up in a nice comfy bed. So this race will be very much about how tough Tori and I are. It will be the ultimate test of our character.
However having said all that, make no mistake about it, we will need to be in the best physical condition of our lives for this race. The key focus for us is building up our endurance because this is what the row is all about. Two important words here are "building up". This takes time and hour after hour of sweating it out in the gym and out at sea. We are very fortunate that West Wood Health and Fitness Clubs are supporting us so we have the use of their superb facilities.
Most of our training consists of a lot of time on the rowing machine, running and a lot of weight training as well as a lot of core work. Other training methods include indoor climbing and pilates. Our main training is rowing at sea in both skiff boats and of course in The Christina. At the end of July we will be rowing our boat up from Arklow to Dun Laoghaire where the marina have very generously allowed us to keep our boat for the next few months. This will enable us to get out to sea on The Christina every day so the intensity of our training has now jumped a level, as the 27th of November gets closer by the day!
