Eco Challenge 2007

Yesterday I participated in my Bank's yearly event called Eco Challenge. My team consist of 4 ladies, Me, Zah , Ilani and Tina and we named our team "pink jambu". Or rather I chose the name because it sounds cute. It is actually a name of a boutique which I saw somewhere in Amcorp Mall, I think.

Basically, we have to finish 10 obstacles in 5 hours time. But sadly this year we did not finish all obstacles. Personally if I were to compare this race with last year;s at Janda Baik, the route from one check point to another were too far.

We started the race with me and Tina solving 10 clues( called score orienteering) and the other 2 members took the bicycle challenge. For the 2nd challenge, it was on road running plus a bit of forest track. This route was quite okay and we had to weave "atap " using coconut leaves at the 2nd check point.

More running after that and this time it was even harder. It was on a road running stretching about 2km. Though it may sound near but the road are hilly and steep all the way to the next check point. And all of us except Tina, were panting and heaving to finish the climb.

For the 3 rd challenge we had to grate the coconut the old fashion way and then ate them. On to the next check point. We had to run in the forest and eventhough it was not as hilly as the one in Janda Baik, the distance was far. We lost much time walking in the forest. Maybe if we did more training before the event, we could have save the time by running.

It was about 12.25 pm we reached check point 4. At this stage I knew we could not make it thru to the 10th. For the 4th challenge it was lake crossing. Not so bad because we did wear a life jacket and a rope was there to hold on to. Halfway across, rained started pouring.

For the next route to CP 5, we had to run thru another long distance in the forest. This time it was harder to run for the tracks were slippery. All 4 of us experienced the many ways of falling down. I think we spent about 45 min, maybe longer, in this leg of journey.

Reaching CP5, we did abseiling. To me it was quite scary, esp at the point where you have to lower down your body horizontally and move slightly, putting your trust on the rope and the strength of your hand. Even as I am writing this my palms are sweaty. I was the last one to come down as I was moving ever so slowly, not brave enough to turn my head and look down.
Luckily, it was not raining when we were doing the abseiling.

To the next CP, another walk and run in the forest. The rain started again and this time the slippery tracks really slowed us down. I was right infront, but each time I had to stop and wait for my team members. One had a cramped leg earlier, the other was being too careful not to hold to torny plants. I fell down many times myself. There were parts where the heavy rain created a sort of swampy areas along the tracks. At some points the water were as high as my waist.

It rained all the way thru until we came out of the forest to a nearby road. We were all cold and wet and tired. The road lead us to the next check point which, if we had reached earlier, we would be testing our skills in archery..tsk..tsk. ( this is the part where i really look forward to doing but sadly to say takde rezeki).

So that was the end of it. We did not manage to catch the time and missed on doing other things like kayaking n flying fox. Sad!!.

I was disappointed that I could not beat at all out timing last year. (this is really a bad year when comes to all this for me, starting with the T hunt). Mainly because, the enthusiasm was not there. We did not trained our mental and physical to really face the challenge. To the members of pink jambu, hopefully next year we will do better.

I hope that the organizer will choose another venue next year. Taman ppertanian Shah Alam are lacking in facilities which makes the event inconvenient to all of us. (No place to bathe, worst part, no water. Parking lots and event place are far - they dont allow cars inside. etc).

Today, I cuti. My body is aching all over.

Assalamualaikum