May 25, 2009
May 24, 2009
Team's certificate
Just want to share with you our team's certificate for the team's completion of 100km Oxfam Trailwalker 2009.
Eventhough we finished with the walk, we still want to help Oxfam raise funds. Please help us support Oxfam by donating through http://www.justgiving.com/123nboxfamjapan2009. Thank you.
May 23, 2009
The End
We arrived at finish line after 31hrs 26mins hike after a lot of blisters, hurting knees, legs, ankles and back (probably everywhere). We did it. We may not be the fastest but we did it together as a team of 15 people (only on site and many more that wanted to be us but had other commitments). It's not easy. A lot of emotions but we pulled it together.
When one of us felt really down, others will give the other support. It's like a rollercoaster. Support team played a very important role here. Without them, this hike is going to be so difficult that we may not even make it.
I am grateful to everyone. For hikers, thank you for being strong and finish the hike. For support team, thank you for all you did for our team. You may not walk 100k but I feel that you worked as hard as we walked to make sure that we are comfortable and that we were well fed. I'm sure that other teams are jealous when they saw what we ate, when they saw you all were jumping up and down on the trail, screaming cheering us crossing the line and when you gave us massages.
It's an honor to hike with you all (no matter how long/how many kms). Thank you Thank you and Thank you again and again.
When one of us felt really down, others will give the other support. It's like a rollercoaster. Support team played a very important role here. Without them, this hike is going to be so difficult that we may not even make it.
I am grateful to everyone. For hikers, thank you for being strong and finish the hike. For support team, thank you for all you did for our team. You may not walk 100k but I feel that you worked as hard as we walked to make sure that we are comfortable and that we were well fed. I'm sure that other teams are jealous when they saw what we ate, when they saw you all were jumping up and down on the trail, screaming cheering us crossing the line and when you gave us massages.
It's an honor to hike with you all (no matter how long/how many kms). Thank you Thank you and Thank you again and again.
CP8
left CP7 at 8.30 after another morning snack and first aids. We arrived CP8@1313 on May23. Last 7 kms to go. Supporting crews waited for us on the top of Mt. Myojin and walked down with us to the finish line. We changed to our national costume and both support crews and hikers crossed the finish line together.
we are up
We are up at 3 a.m. got ready, had very very early breakfast and left CP6 around 3.50 a.m.
CP6
We arrived CP6@00.41. No drama but a lot of negotiation on where, when and how long we were going to rest. I know that my teammates were looking for a long sleep. I know that they were very tired but I think it is best for all of us to take short rest but more often so I planed to press on. Luckily, I don't have to be the one who gave my team bad news. When we arrived, our support team has already decided that we can rest only for 2 hours. Tents were set up for us. It's like a little hotel. 3 tents with pillows, sleeping bags. Nice. Time to go to bed.
May 22, 2009
CP5
After hiking in the rain from 19.15 p.m., we finally arrived at CP5 @22.22 and covered more than half way. With a lot of slip and fall, we arrived at CP5 with hurting knees, ankles, legs and backs and covered in mud. Lives had to go on so we continued. Of course, after we had before midnight snacks.
Dinner-ramen
ramen on the way before big climb in the dark.
We left CP4 (slightly) behind schedule. But that's ok. Our plan is to meet our support crews at ramen shop on the way. We have been stopping at this ramen shop a few times during our training and we told the owner that we will be back on the day. We knew this place not because it's on the way. During our dry run (the 2nd attempt), we stoped at the parking lot in front of this ramen shop for refiling water, going to restroom, changing for night hike and having bento that our support team bought in advance for us. We ate outside of the ramen shop. T.Y. (one of our support teams) decided to eat ramen and he told the owner that we were training for Oxfam. The owner invited us all for hot tea. Since then, we always stop there.
Today is no difference. We stopped there for hot meals. Before we left, the owner asked us to take group photos with him so he can put it in the shop. Of course, we did. I will definitely go back to check on our team's photos.
19.15 we left ramen shop to continue our hike to CP5 in the rain.
We left CP4 (slightly) behind schedule. But that's ok. Our plan is to meet our support crews at ramen shop on the way. We have been stopping at this ramen shop a few times during our training and we told the owner that we will be back on the day. We knew this place not because it's on the way. During our dry run (the 2nd attempt), we stoped at the parking lot in front of this ramen shop for refiling water, going to restroom, changing for night hike and having bento that our support team bought in advance for us. We ate outside of the ramen shop. T.Y. (one of our support teams) decided to eat ramen and he told the owner that we were training for Oxfam. The owner invited us all for hot tea. Since then, we always stop there.
Today is no difference. We stopped there for hot meals. Before we left, the owner asked us to take group photos with him so he can put it in the shop. Of course, we did. I will definitely go back to check on our team's photos.
19.15 we left ramen shop to continue our hike to CP5 in the rain.
Hey! Raj Here...
I'm on my way to meet the team to take the Shinkansen to Odawara.
Muddy hiking shoes. Check! 1.5L of Pocari Sweat. Check! Onigiri with
some sort of protein although I have no idea what it is. Check! Game
Face. Double Check!! :)
I'll be mostly posting updates on my twitter feed, including Google
Map links of our location and pictures of us getting dirtier and more
exhausted!
Here's the feed: www.twitter.com/raazgupta
Jenny's and my tweets also appear on the sidebar of this blog ----->
Alright so here we go!!
Muddy hiking shoes. Check! 1.5L of Pocari Sweat. Check! Onigiri with
some sort of protein although I have no idea what it is. Check! Game
Face. Double Check!! :)
I'll be mostly posting updates on my twitter feed, including Google
Map links of our location and pictures of us getting dirtier and more
exhausted!
Here's the feed: www.twitter.com/raazgupta
Jenny's and my tweets also appear on the sidebar of this blog ----->
Alright so here we go!!
May 21, 2009
Pei's Count Down (12 hours to go)
This is it. I have been waiting for almost a year for a chance to officially cross the finish line. Just 12 hours to go.
Disappointed from the result last year, I'm determined to finish it this time as a team. With my teammates, my support crews and all supporters of any kinds, I know we can do it. And not just do it but we will do it well. We have been training together as a team among hikers with support crews. We all are waiting for this day.
Many people think that I have been hiking for long. I just started when I moved to Japan (less than 2 years ago) I was hooked. To hike 100km is not easy but I know I can do it. To do it as a team is a big challenge. Luckily I have wonderful teammates and support crews who will stand by me no matter what. That's such as good feeling and honor that I have a chance to know and hike with everyone. I can't believe that we can talk all day long while climbing million (that how I feel) peaks and at night we can even sing along. I don't know the result yet. But I do know we will come out from this stronger than when we started. So let's do it, team 1-2-3.
To end this, I'd like to thank all of you and my team. You got my words. As a team leader, I promise that I will do everything to motivate, to energize and to encourage my team to cross the finish line. No one will be left behind. See you at the finish line!
**I will be posting our team updates on the blog. You can email me at arsrairas-mntwn@ezweb.ne.jp during the hike. I would love to hear from you. Like Jenny, your encouraging words especially during the wee hours of Friday night/Saturday morning will be like energy to keep us going like energizer bunnies.
Disappointed from the result last year, I'm determined to finish it this time as a team. With my teammates, my support crews and all supporters of any kinds, I know we can do it. And not just do it but we will do it well. We have been training together as a team among hikers with support crews. We all are waiting for this day.
Many people think that I have been hiking for long. I just started when I moved to Japan (less than 2 years ago) I was hooked. To hike 100km is not easy but I know I can do it. To do it as a team is a big challenge. Luckily I have wonderful teammates and support crews who will stand by me no matter what. That's such as good feeling and honor that I have a chance to know and hike with everyone. I can't believe that we can talk all day long while climbing million (that how I feel) peaks and at night we can even sing along. I don't know the result yet. But I do know we will come out from this stronger than when we started. So let's do it, team 1-2-3.
To end this, I'd like to thank all of you and my team. You got my words. As a team leader, I promise that I will do everything to motivate, to energize and to encourage my team to cross the finish line. No one will be left behind. See you at the finish line!
**I will be posting our team updates on the blog. You can email me at arsrairas-mntwn@ezweb.ne.jp during the hike. I would love to hear from you. Like Jenny, your encouraging words especially during the wee hours of Friday night/Saturday morning will be like energy to keep us going like energizer bunnies.
Jenny's Thoughts Before the 100km Hike
Alright guys, we're down to the home stretch. The Oxfam charity hike will start in about 24 hours. I've been training for this since February, have lost about 10 pounds, have developed all sorts of muscles on my legs (not to mention all sorts of blisters on my feet - disgusting, yeah), AND we've raised about $4,000 for charity. DAMMIT I'm ready to hike for 30 hours straight! We are so ready!
You know the funny thing is I have never really been the sporty, outdoorsy type. As a kid, my Long Jumps were never long, my Long Reach just didn't reach anywhere, I could not - still can't - do a cartwheel (I know!) and I can run (like anybody else) but somehow running feels unnatural to me (on the other hand I think watching tv for 6 hours straight without moving a muscle AND partying all night are both valid olympic categories). I try to do all sorts of sports - swimming, badminton, tennis - but I am just not good at any of those. I'm a geek, which to some is at the opposite end of the spectrum, and I'm good at being a geek. Anyway my point is you don't have to be much of sporty type to be able to do this 100km hike. All you need is a good motivator and energizer (Pei), teammates whom you can talk to (and sing with) for hours (Yukiko and Raj), an awesome, unselfish support crew (you know who you are), friends and family who would support you no matter how far you wanna go, and a boyfriend who wouldn't let you give up even if you throw a tantrum and scream, I wanna give up! I wanna give up!
Much, much love and thanks to you guys, and we promise you, we will not give up! See you at the finish line!
**Btw I will be posting twitter updates and photos on my twitter page http://twitter.com/jennypot27. And you can email me at galang-jnnfr@ezweb.ne.jp during the hike, your encouraging words especially during the wee hours of Friday night/Saturday morning will be much loved by my team :)
You know the funny thing is I have never really been the sporty, outdoorsy type. As a kid, my Long Jumps were never long, my Long Reach just didn't reach anywhere, I could not - still can't - do a cartwheel (I know!) and I can run (like anybody else) but somehow running feels unnatural to me (on the other hand I think watching tv for 6 hours straight without moving a muscle AND partying all night are both valid olympic categories). I try to do all sorts of sports - swimming, badminton, tennis - but I am just not good at any of those. I'm a geek, which to some is at the opposite end of the spectrum, and I'm good at being a geek. Anyway my point is you don't have to be much of sporty type to be able to do this 100km hike. All you need is a good motivator and energizer (Pei), teammates whom you can talk to (and sing with) for hours (Yukiko and Raj), an awesome, unselfish support crew (you know who you are), friends and family who would support you no matter how far you wanna go, and a boyfriend who wouldn't let you give up even if you throw a tantrum and scream, I wanna give up! I wanna give up!
Much, much love and thanks to you guys, and we promise you, we will not give up! See you at the finish line!
**Btw I will be posting twitter updates and photos on my twitter page http://twitter.com/jennypot27. And you can email me at galang-jnnfr@ezweb.ne.jp during the hike, your encouraging words especially during the wee hours of Friday night/Saturday morning will be much loved by my team :)
May 9, 2009
Our Team's Fund Raising Night at Sam & Dave
May 8, 2009
We have held our team's fund raising night at Sam & Dave in Akasaka. Although it was raining and it's Friday after the long holiday "Golden Week" in Japan when a lot of our friends are still away for vacation or worse busy working, we had almost 70 people attending the party. Thanks to all of my team members both hikers and support crews for inviting their friends and thanks to all of you who came to show your support to our team. I also want to thank Teresita for gifts for raffles and Joe Bryant, my neighbor and Tokyo Apache Coach for 4 basketball tickets. We raised 71,900 yen tonight. The money will be used to support our team and also donate to Oxfam Japan. We did good deed tonight.
We have held our team's fund raising night at Sam & Dave in Akasaka. Although it was raining and it's Friday after the long holiday "Golden Week" in Japan when a lot of our friends are still away for vacation or worse busy working, we had almost 70 people attending the party. Thanks to all of my team members both hikers and support crews for inviting their friends and thanks to all of you who came to show your support to our team. I also want to thank Teresita for gifts for raffles and Joe Bryant, my neighbor and Tokyo Apache Coach for 4 basketball tickets. We raised 71,900 yen tonight. The money will be used to support our team and also donate to Oxfam Japan. We did good deed tonight.
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