Hello everyone,  Jeff Prouty and I attended our first workout at Lifetime Fitness this morning.

We warmed up on the treadmill and then worked 3 of the exercises.  We did both exercises A & B…45 seconds on, 15 seconds off and we did 3 reps of each.  We then went to the elliptical and did five 1-minute intervals (high) with 1-minute rests (low) and finished up with the remaining 3 exercises.

Great workout…we sweated a little and now have a better understanding of Phil’s system.

Onward!!!

Just wanted to let you know that the 2011 Stretch Expedition Kick-off meeting was a great success!

We used this opportunity to meet 20+ prospective teammates and to learn more about what we can expect from this experience over the next five months.

We were very fortunate to have Erik Weihenmayer and Skyler Williams, of No Barriers USA share their experiences of the actual race.  Suffice it to say, it’s more than just the race.

We also heard from Peter Bailey of the Prouty Project, explain the Hero’s Journey and how we can help each other as we embark on this special journey.

Phil Timmons and Greg Hayes of Lifetime Fitness shared the physical and mental disciplines necessary in getting ourselves ready for this challenge.  Training begins now!  To begin your training, please refer to the 2011 Stretch Expedition page including a 21-Week Training Schedule, Weekly Training Sheets, Resistance Training Exercises, Monthly Team Training Dates, and more!    Please feel free to ask any questions you may have to get you in tip-top shape.

Our goal is to complete the five person teams in the next 30 days.  We have commitments from eight athletes.  Thus, we have 11 able-bodied, and 6 disabled athlete spots left.  To save your spot, please send a $500 check  (deposit) made out to No Barriers USA, to the Prouty Project.  We’d love to have you on the team!

Special thanks to all who participated last night, and for those of you on the teleconference.

No question in our minds, this will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience and an opportunity to meet some incredible people along the way.

Have a great “Adventure Team Challenge” day!!!

P.S.  For all information handed out at the kick-off meeting, please go to the 2011 Stretch Expedition page on our website.

Kudos to Jayna and Grayce for orchestrating a “stretchy stretch”.  I think we all learned a lot, laughed a lot, and have a new appreciation for “riding into a headwind”.  I’m proud to say 8 of us made it safely and soundly on the “toughest tour ever”.  (Note the headline on the Cape Times newspaper 3/10/09.)

P.S. As I reflect on the first 11 STRETCH Expeditions, it gives me great pride to say:
•  We got 12 of 13 participants to the top of 19,340 foot Mt. Kilimanjaro (1999).
•  We got 13 of 17 participants to the 18,000 foot basecamp of Mt. Everest (2001).
•  17 of 17 participants (including 9 first-timers) completed the Paris Marathon (2005).
•  8 of 8 participants completed the 68-mile Cape Argus Cycle Race in 50-60 mph headwinds (2009).

The Cape Times Cover Page

Click here to see a video of the havoc the wind caused!

We enjoyed a lovely dinner at a South African restaurant that was a little touristy, but we had fun.  At the restaurant we were able to show off our new African drumming skills. 

Group at the Cape of Good Hope

Jeff following the beat of his own drum

Jeff and Mike went out early (6 a.m.) to see the elite cyclists start the race.  These racers actually had to get off their bikes and walk the first 200 meters to get out of the area because people kept getting knocked over by the wind.

Dan got a flat tire the first 2 kilometers of the race and Paul was a HUGE help with repairing it.  Jeff, Grayce, and Jayna, on the other hand, were standing by for Dan’s moral support.  After two tubes, some friendly bicyclists with an air pump, and one hour later, we were back in the game.

Many of us got in a draft line with a bunch of really good cyclists and that helped us unbelievably to keep up our endurance.  We don’t think we can say this enough, “GRUELING HEADWINDS!!”

The 2009 STRETCH Expedition team made it to the finish line between 5 hours and 10 minutes and 6 hours and 15 minutes.  At the finish line, we learned that the headwinds were tacking on 45 minutes to an hour and a half on people’s normal finish times.

Of the 32,000 cyclists participating, only 75 sustained injuries and only one person was blown off the mountain and down the cliff.  One of Jayna’s worries was that she would fall off the edge.  She came out victorious safe and sound.  Great Job Jayna!

We ended our bicycling adventure with some celebratory drinks!  A job well done.
We want to give a BIG thanks to Greg and all of the training to help make this day happen.

**A note from those still in Minnesota at basecamp:  GREAT JOB EVERYONE!  WE ARE SO PROUD OF ALL OF YOU!

Just a few of the thousands of cyclists getting ready to start the race.

Ready to start...bring on the headwinds!

We made it!

STRETCH 2009 Expedition Team

We went to the Ostrich feather capital of the world.  We learned about the significance of the Ostrich industry in South Africa.  Below are Mike and Chuck taking an Ostrich ride!

This is definitely wobblier than my bike.

Chuck is showing this ostrich who's boss at the ostrich farm.

 Mike and Grayce showing big smiles after a challenging ride.

Drafting experts!