Day 2 was the first really mentally and physically tough and challenging day of InDeep Boot Camp 08. It all started off with a 3:23am wake up, and then a drive to what was supposedly 'Bondi'. When we arrived, it wasn't Bondi at all. It was dark, the waves were smashing against the rocks, and we were instructed to sit and face the front, no headlights or radio on. We sat there for about 15 minutes absolutely scared and anticipating and not knowing what was going on, our imaginations running wild on all the possibilities of what we were going to do.
Out of nowhere, comes a massive figure in a balaclava, and we all jump through the roof. T.J gets in the car, very seriously (and very scarily), and lays down the law:
- No swearing
- No whinging
- No talking back
- No saying "No"
- Backpacks not allowed to touch the ground
- No dropping the weights
- And no talking to T.J unless spoken to
Then one by one, we were taken off by T.J to be given a 'present'. Which was actually a 10 kg weight wrapped in a towel, with duct tape and lovely bit of tinsel to top it off. This was to go in our backpack. We also had two hand weight 'buddies that were never allowed to touch the ground for the whole day.
First of all, we had to walk into the cold clovelly ocean up to our waist. This ensured that everything was wet and heavy before we started. Then we had to complete a penalty straight off as Steph hadn't bought the proper bag and was not prepared accordingly to TJ. This penalty included 2 hill runs, 40 push ups, sit ups and squats with bags on. Then we had to run 18kms to bondi and back.
During this we had many hill runs, stair runs, soft sand runs, shoulder presses and upper body activities. There was no sitting down at any point and we ate cold baked beans for breakfast standing up in waist high water. The last hour involved walking in the water fully clothed with hand weights and back packs on which added another 10kgs. Then we loaded all the equipment on to a surf rescue board and paddling out 300m at Gordon's Bay and across the finish line.
This was an amazing effort and everyone passed the 6hr endurance test thrown at them, even though a few beleived that they wouldn't be able to make it after the first hour. A huge mental accompliment was achieved all round and everyone feels very very proud of themselves. Stay tuned for: Sand Dunes!