Trekking is one of adventure racing’s foundation disciplines and arguably is the one that should be given the highest respect. Strengthening your feet, doing the endurance training for the demands of trekking and developing strong navigation skills are key to successful trekking – whether the stage takes two or 36 hours. All three elements should be trained and trained again. As adventure racing legend Ian Adamson says in his book, Runner’s World Guide to Adventure […]
Tag Archives | Lisa de Speville
11 Maxims to improve your fitness
I love fortune cookies. It’s the frivolous words of wisdom and positive prophesies that I enjoy more than the cookie itself. While preparing a special treat for a night-time, orienteering event that I organise, I went in search of pearls; those wise words that motivate and inspire and say it like it is. These 11 are my favourites. 1. Ask yourself: ‘Can I give more?’. The answer is usually: Yes. I’m not much in favour […]
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Practical and sentimental kit choices
People are magpies, indiscriminately hoarding items that may be of use. And when they pack for races, they tend to do the same, throwing in this and that ‘just in case’. I asked a number of adventure racers to reveal the unusual items lurking in their backpacks and crates, whether they’re practical or sentimental kit choices. To eat or to share Tasty treats offer comfort to both the provider and the recipient, who may be […]
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Your race is too expensive
I like marketing guru Seth Godin and I’ve been receiving his daily blog posts for a few years now, says Lisa de Speville. Locally, there has been recent discussion around a mountain run that has bumped up its entry fees – in the region of around R3,000. That makes my R480 for Forest Run look positively puny – yet I don’t have many of the bells-and-whistles that this event has in place. A few people […]
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Go Multi magazine presents mega Christmas Gift Guide
The November/December 2013 issue of Go Multi is brimming with insightful and latest-findings advice on lifestyle, nutrition and fitness from the magazine’s small army of experts. The lion’s share of pages goes to the annual Gift Guide featuring 65 great gear ideas for the upcoming festive season. “For cool stuff to further your adventures, look no further!” says magazine publisher Deon Braun. If you’d prefer to dose up on some top-drawer reading, there are three […]
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FEAT: The annual adventure celebration
Almost a year has passed since the last Fascinating Expedition & Adventure Talks (FEAT) evening, where 10 South African adventurers took to the FEAT stage to relate their tales of adventure – in only seven minutes each. This October the audience will again be spellbound as they briefly journey over continents and oceans, up and over mountains, outside our borders and within our own country. “FEAT has been going since 2010 and this will be […]
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Expedition Africa: Adventure racing has come of age
With the third Expedition Africa now done and dusted, all the happenings can now be brought together and put into one final report. I braved the cold to bring you up-to-date reports on my ar.co.za website. Read the race report here HQ is dismantled. The media room is devoid of laptops and cameras. CP markers have been collected. Racers are home – or still travelling home. ‘Friend Requests’ zip around as everyone involved reaches out […]
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Training Partners: How To Get Over First Date Jitters
“I hope I’m not too slow…” “I’m not feeling strong enough…” “Will they hold me back?” Meeting up with someone – even a person you know well – to run, ride or paddle together for the first time can be more daunting than a first date. Regular first-dater and multisporter Lisa de Speville, explains how it doesn’t have to be. There are expectations (will you be compatible training partners) and doubts (around your own […]
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FEAT Award announced
FEAT Award to contribute up to R10,000 towards an adventure Following the success of the inspirational live FEAT events, where South African adventurers speak – for only seven minutes each – about their recent expeditions, FEAT proudly announces a new FEAT innovation: the FEAT Award.
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Team www.AR.co.za going to Abu Dhabi Adventure Challenge
Team www.AR.co.za going to Abu Dhabi Adventure Challenge In June, six adventure racers – four women and two men – were selected from written applications for the Teamwww.AR.co.za squad. Over a period of two-and-a-half months, these Gauteng-based squad members have attended paddle coaching sessions, training on dams twice a week through the dead of winter to improve their technique and proficiency.
