How have you prepared yourself for the immense physical challenge of walking ?
RD:
I have been conditioning my body to what I expect to experience in Mongolia - pulling a laden trailer weighing over 250kg for over 2,500 kilometres. The two types of training I have been doing are endurance and strength training. Endurance training is to strengthen my physical capacity, and decrease the potential for injury, by specifically exercising the body with activities similar to what I will experience in Mongolia. My custom-designed training programme combines long hours of pulling heavy tires and intense interval burst workouts.
For strength training I concentrate on my core strength and flexibility by combining 1 to 3 hour dynamic exercises to strengthen and develop my feet, legs, shoulders and back. The exercises are designed to strengthen those muscles which will be stressed by pulling my trailer. Yoga, stretching, aerobic classes, and mountain biking through muddy forest tracks compliment my intensive programme.
How will you keep yourself going day after day?
RD:
Personal motivation will be critical to my success. Without it, I’m not going anywhere. Motivation will keep me moving forward. Motivation will keep me focused on my goal. I'm sure part of my motivation has something to do with walking towards a distant horizon. I have had these urges since I was a young lad. An exploratory urge. I want to feel what it's like to discover wild lands on foot, to walk through endless landscapes and to camp away from the normal tourist areas. I want to know and understand the environment better and discover my own personal limits.
Having completed expeditions to the Namib and Karakum deserts, Peak Lenin, and Polar Regions, I have had to learn how to combat extreme fatigue whilst remaining focused and positive each day. I do this by remaining 100% clear about what I want to achieve. I know what my goals are, and stay focused on achieving them. Of course, actions speak louder than words!
It’s also important for me to only focus on what I can control, rather than what I can’t. I try and avoid wasting time and energy focusing on the things that frustrate me rather than focusing on the things that give me pleasure. I suppose the brutal weather would be an example. It’s just a matter of accepting, ignoring it all and keep walking.
How do you avoid becoming overwhelmed by the sheer scale of your journey?
RD:
I try not to think about the overall distance. It’s easier to comprehend when you divide any great distance up into small goals, and in my case into daily goals, even hourly goals. Walking 40 kilometres a day is an achievable and comprehendible goal. My focus will be on completing each day and each day only. Each day is the beginning and when a day is complete, it will be put behind me and everything will be reset.
What is the biggest challenge you expect to face?
RD:
The biggest challenge I think will be the isolation and separation from my family. Having young children will really magnify the whole situation. My previous expeditions have been different. I had no family, no young children. This will be a major challenge for me, but looking at the bigger picture, I will have some fantastic experiences and stories to share with my family. I plan to take a few small personal effects to remind me of my family and friends back home that love me, support me and want me home safely.
Other challenges will be the weather. Temperature fluctuations and severe icy winds will hamper my walk, but as long as I continue to walk, pay attention to detail, and use the superb equipment I have, I will be fine. Mongolia is also infamous for its sand storms which can reduce visibility and last for several days. There’s nothing I can really do about that except deal with it, move forward and stay calm. I may even encounter wolves, especially on the Mongolian Steppe, and plan to carry some pepper spray just in case!
How have you kept yourself focused on turning your dream into a reality?
RD:
I like the quote, The only things in life you regret are the chances you never took. Without following your dreams, you simply have no way to define your success. I’ve defined what I want to accomplish and I continually prepare myself mentally to achieve it. This mental preparation doesn’t happen overnight and you certainly can’t buy it at your local sports store.
I dedicate an average of 3 hours a week to mental and emotional training. More as the expedition start date draws closer. My focus is on performance enhancement through various techniques such as relaxation, tension and stress management (having kid’s helps with this), visualisation and focusing skills.
How can people follow your progress once you begin?
I am being tracked by satellite and Google Maps™, which you can see on my website at http://www.mongolia2010.com/. This will show you my position, my progress, the weather conditions I am experiencing, overall distance covered, daily distance completed, my morale level, and other notes of interest. You can even embed the map onto you own personal website or blog to keep track of me!
I will also be sending blogs, images, film and reports live from Mongolia throughout my journey direct to my website which can also be connected through Facebook, twitter and LinkedIn. Check me out at http://www.mongolia2010.com/ - it’s a great way to experience an expedition from the comfort of your own home, office or classroom!
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