The Soundtracks - TWJ 2010

"Happy trails..." cause it's flat.

CP2-CP4 done! Favorite part of the course so far...not just because it was flat and a respite from those crazy big bumps, but it was pretty and scenic, gorgeous weather and Fuji was in full view again...guess we are on Fuji-overload right now, because in 3 short weeks Nat will be here and Fuji will then be gone forever, roll on in fog. We know you are coming. Early start, precious coffee time - thank you. Met lots of trail runners yesterday. We wanna be runners, but we just carry way too much stuff...high maintenance hikers. Time to re-think the day packs. Probably don't need so much lipgloss and food.

Trace's new stability tights are fab, shoes are good, ITBS is ok for now. Minor mishap not having any change smaller than for 5000yen on the bus. Finally negotiated a bus pass - the driver so kind, happy and super helpful. And we only made him 1 mintue late. 

Have taken our drive-by photogaphy shooting to new heights and we are now walk-by shooters. The Hakone Check-Point staff were in hysterics seeing us bowl through the historical site furiously snapping as we merrily wandered on. Love the course taking us through local backstreets. We are now fans of gateball. We just need the hats to pull it off.

Heading out again on the weekend, insufferable Golden Week traffic and all, to do CP4-CP5 and 5-6. Until then back to training and working on the wardrobe.

Here are the CP2-CP4 ups, downs, walk-bys...

 

Today's walking inspired track:
Walk this Way -Aerosmith & Run DMC

Today's walking inspired quote:
As people are walking all the time, in the same spot, a path appears.~ John Locke

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"Keep on walking til the sun comes up..." or til the wind knocks you down...

What's up with the big hills, Oxfam dudes...??? This course is killing us. Back training over the weekend; rain, hail, a spot of shine - plenty of FOG and WIND!!!!!!! Good hair is not happening and not likely anytime soon. Where are you GHD? Trace can now add "Wild Man of Borneo" to her long list of Oscar-winning impressions. Unruly - beyond words.

Beginning to CP 2 knocked off, despite getting lost on the way to the Start. As always our tactic of following some random individual who looked like they were going where we were didn't pay off...But we finally made it to Shiroyama Track and Field.  Met lots of fellow trailwalkers along the course. So friendly and helpful. We're a bit hopeless on any down section - our knees and joints are not faring well...but we've discovered we are pretty strong going up - could go up for days...and we will be...Power up those peaks. Ups and downs, we keep going. Fabulous scenery, snakes (again) and Fuji always there, mist and all.New shoes bought on Sunday. Love ART SPORTS in Shibs. Physio Monday. Off again tomorrow 4.30am start. And our new favorite Rest Stop ASHIGARA - with it's STARBUCKS (and probably horrendous traffic) waiting at the end..

Start to CP 2 Highlights...

Big, big, big THANKS and BIG LOVE and HUGE SHOUT OUTS to Jan & Geoff and Pili for their WONDERFULLY generous donations via our Justgiving page! LOVE you guys!

Today's walking inspired track:
Running Up that Hill -Placebo

Today's walking inspired quote:
The other day when I was walking through the woods, I saw a rabbit standing in front of a candle making shadows of people on a tree. ~Steven Wright

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"And I would walk 500 miles..." but maybe not right now.

Ok, Soundtrackers...we're back and still alive...barely from our first attempt at training on the REAL course. A bit late to post this... Thought we would knock off the end section first...and we did...again barely...20 km of hell and hilarity with a cast of thousands along the way. From absurdly grotesque papillion canines, to Verdi bounding through the hills blissfully unaware of what was ahead, to making friends on the course, basking in the view of beautiful Fuji, snakes, and only a couple of meltdowns towards the end, plus guiding Ness straight into trees, roots, branches, ravines and all manner of nature...oh...it was ON!

Learnt a lot: shoes are fabulous, need more walking sticks, more food would be good, not happy about my skins leaving a spot of nappy rash, working on the apparel, should probably consult the map more, would like to do the course in reverse and so on...cable car would be good and possibly some signs that say stuff.

Some highlights:

We could still walk the next day, so that's a bonus. Definitely need to stretch more. Heading out soon to try the Start to Checkpoint 4 - 36km of pain. But this time we've got Hamish and Andy podcasted...Just 4 weeks to go.

Big, big, big THANKS to all our recent *MARVELOUS* DONORS via our Justgiving page!

• Natalie
• Jude & Dave
• Maxie
• Micheal
• Nick
• Greg, Hayley, Jacob, Kai & of course Sally...
• Alan & Cheryl
• Marie
• Frankie
  

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! We are almost at our target.

Today's walking inspired track:
Walk on the Wild Side -Lou Reed

Today's walking inspired quote:
Everywhere is walking distance if you have the time.  ~Steven Wright

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Hello team...

Gotta love the Soundtracks. Here we are...Meet the team.

Today it's all about Ness and Verdi...

Ness… Is visually impaired. She lost her sight fully as a teenager. This has never stopped her from living out loud. Not a chance. She rap jumps, she skydives, she can karate chop, she plunges headfirst into life. She travels the world, independently, accompanied by a very special companion, Verdi, her seeing-eye dog. She is an inspirational and motivational Australian Institute of Fitness certified executive Master Trainer and Punchfit Instructor. She is also an Australian Vision Impaired Para-Athlete and Gold-medalist at the 2005 Australian Goalball Nationals. Her drive has seen her excel internationally in two disciplines; Goalball and Powerlifting. She has a degree in Industrial Design, is a whiz on the computer, gives an amazing massage and is ready to add “Trailwalker Japan” to the list.

Team work will be the key to the Soundtracks success on the course. Ness will require a combination of dedicated guiding plus some handy harness work. At times on the course she will be fastened to another team member. The team plans to walk through the night. Both to try and make it in a time under 36 hours and also in some small way experience & understand the darkness of Ness’s life.

At just 23 Ness is originally from Melbourne, Australia and has now lived in Japan by herself for going on 8 months. She plans to stay 2 years. She is currently working as an English Conversation Teacher in Tokyo and as a Personal Trainer.

For more about Ness and her life please visit her Blog: http://www.urbanft.typepad.com/

Verdi…Is Ness’s Seeing Eye Dog. He is only one of 5 working chocolate-colored Labradors in Australia and the ONLY one in Japan. Plus he is the 5^th special member of The Soundtracks. He was named after the famous composer and is Ness’s constant companion, opening the world to her. They are quite the site in Tokyo and attract a lot of attention everywhere they go. They take the train, the bus, walk everywhere and follow the “yellow brick road” (the tactile guides you see all over Tokyo). They get lost, get stared at, get found, get helped, get misunderstood, get loved. Whatever the situation they are always positive and enlightening to everyone lucky enough to meet them. They continue to visit Japanese Elementary Schools together, presenting their story and educating people of all ages.

Verdi is now licensed with Guide Dogs Japan, passing his test with flying colors and bounding off escalators (it’s a very special technique!). He can understand several commands in Japanese and at special occasions will even BOW. He is highly intelligent, intuitive and recently had a touch of Hay Fever…yes, he’s really assimilating to Japanese life. Verdi has been in Japan now 8 months (that’s 4 and1/2 dog years…) Oh, and he’s super cute. He’s now 5 years old and has been with Ness for more than 2 years. Verdi will join The Soundtracks on the Trailwalker course from CP8 to the finish. He is super excited to be able to get out of the city. During Trailwalker he will more than likely be in “harness” – his special frame to support guiding Ness. When in harness please do not touch him under any circumstance as he is working. When the harness comes off he plays and plays and plays. He loves hugs, food, snuggling, music, tv, and his impressive toy collection. His favorite 2 toys right now…a squeaky sushi and a pink cupcake minus the strawberry. The Soundtracks have promised him a new cupcake upon completing Trailwalker.

Big, big, big THANKS to all our recent *fabulous* DONATORS via our Justgiving page! You are all simply SPECTACULAR!!!

• Steve
• Lisa
• Graham & Val
• Renee
• Kellie

And extra special THANKS to JILL for her very generous  cash donation of $100AU. So wonderful! We are almost to our goal! Thanks for sharing this with us. Stay tuned as tomorrow we learn all about Trace...

Today's walking inspired track:
Hound Dog -Elvis Presley (for Verdi, of course...)

Today's walking inspired quote:
"I have a great dog. She's half Lab, half pit bull. A good combination. Sure, she might bite off my leg, but she'll bring it back to me." Jimi Celeste

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"What a feeling..."

Hi Soundtrackers!
Now we find 75% of us back in Japan, just missing Nat. Today's blog post  title in recognition of my new Flashdance pants - thanks Trace. Thinking of wearing them on the trail. Love them...thanks Lorna Jane. All good here on the training front. Doing lots of abdominal work shovelling those Easter Eggs down.
Ness: Attacking Mt Takao with her Mum and Verdi in tow.
Trace: Killing it with the whole Taylor clan and Hayley in the 2009 Pier to Pub Ocean Swim Classic last week in Hervey Bay. (3rd in her age group! 1.6km done in 32 mins) FABULOUS!
Nat: Demolishing Mt Cootha.
Dee: Doing a bit of treadie work and spring cleaning cross training.
Verdi: Wondering where his easter egg is...
PS: Big, Big, Big THANKS to all our DONATORS this week...especially TAHIRA and JEMAL. THANK YOU SOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH! Love it!

Today's walking inspired track:
Straight Lines -Silver Chair

Today's walking inspired quote:
I can remember walking as a child. It was not customary to say you were fatigued. It was customary to complete the goal of the expedition. - Katherine Hepburn

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"What's the story...morning glory."

Oh, we've been training soooooooooooooooo hard...just no time for a blog update...hahahaha...Buying glorious cake, wedding expos, undertaking a massive spring clean and swanning around Brisvegas is where the TRAINING IS AT!!! No seriously there has been a bit of huffy puffy going on...Here's the weekly wrap up...

• Ness: Powering through media interviews, buying suits. Feeling the strain and burn...on the credit card.
• Trace:  Running her little heart out and pumping iron each and every day, all the while keeping Kai enthralled with stories of wild rhinos and rides on the top of buses in Nepal. Really. Off to Harvey Bay tomorra to cheer the Taylors in their Ocean Water Swim.
• Nat: Swimming, Running, Flying. Home now and runners on the the big Wedding Expo this weekend. Brides and Grooms take your marks.
• Dee: Hating the cross trainer but the 37 cakes I've bought myself have to be worked off someway. Planning all day happy Tokyo Cherry Blossoms pleasantness gently viewing time tomorrow. Love the Sakura.
• Verdi: Loving his fav foods...peanut butter and brocoli and relishing being home. The big mikan misses you V.
  

PS: Big, Big, Big THANKS to MATT & CORTNIE for their GENEROUS Donation! Love you guys!

Today's walking inspired track:
I go walking after Midnight -Patsy Cline

Today's walking inspired quote:
I can feel the wind go by when I run. It feels good. It feels fast. ~Evelyn Ashford

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