WHERE’S YOUR SENSE OF ADVENTURE?

“We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing”- George Bernard Shaw

….So we began the wording on the invitation sent out to our Rancan Sisters Fitness members. We were hoping to evoke an instant reaction with recipients questioning themselves and their own sense of adventure. We were not unhappy with the results.

This was the first of a series of outdoor adventure events that we have planned. We wondered how all those Pilates, Yoga, Weights, Powerplate, Cardio training sessions would assist us, when we were out in the open and let loose on an obstacle course. Registrations were open to men and women but, given that it was a Friday, the final gathering was an allwomen group. Participants varied from corporate working women – taking the day off because they couldn’t resist the challenge – to stay-at-home mums finally doing something for themselves, fitness fanatics on the lookout for a different workout and women who just wanted to have fun, laugh and play for the day.

From the outset, there was incredible team energy. It all began with friends encouraging friends to sign up for the day. Then there were others who just willingly jumped in the ‘deep end’ and signed up without knowing what to expect. Everyone was carrying such a mix of emotions inside: ‘trust’ in us and where we were taking them, ‘risk’, in stepping outside their comfort level, ‘excitement’, in trying something completely different and ‘fear’ of the unknown and for some, heights.

The big day arrived. The outdoor adventurers’ arrived, ready for action. We were fortunate to have perfect weather conditions – because the park operates in rain, hail or shine. The group had been briefed to wear comfortable clothes, training shoes, training gloves, remove rings and pack a dry set of clothes (in case it rains, not for any other reason). One of our girls thought it may have been an April Fool’s joke played on her by her friends, it was April 1st aft er all. We carpooled to the venue and there’s nothing quite like a car full of women to find a multitude of topics to workshop and discuss. This certainly helped burn off some of the nervous energy.

Treetop Adventure Park is set amongst the beautiful Aussie bush. It’s so eco friendly that unless you already knew, you wouldn’t have known the platforms and ropes course existed, they were so well camouflaged.

The group was fitted out with harnesses and helmets. Tim Spencer, our guide for the day, briefed us on the safety tips and the training course. The sequence of clipping carabiners on and off the wire, hooking the flying fox wheel attachment-detachment and use of all the equipment at first seemed near impossible to remember. However it is necessary (as we found out), that unless you complete the sequence in the correct order you cannot proceed. Th e initial elevation of the training course is 2.5 metres off the ground – that was somewhat daunting! Everyone passed the training and we headed off to the GREEN level.

Here we mention adrenalin: Adrenalin is a hormone produced by the adrenal gland. When it is produced in the body it stimulates the heart-rate, dilates blood vessels and air passages. Adrenalin is naturally produced in high-stress or physically exhilarating situations.

We were all pumping with adrenalin, navigating our way through the ‘entry’ level course. It was only a very short time before we were discovering our own personal strengths and weaknesses. Our day-to-day lives really are too easy and comfortable. The first course ends with an exhilarating and lengthy flying fox, and the shrieks of fun (and/or fear) were proof of that.

“By escaping our own routine we discovered a new-found sense of adventure.”

When adrenalin is released into the bloodstream, it acts to increase the heart rate, blood pressure, dilate the pupils, elevate the blood sugar (by the increased hydrolysis of glycogen to glucose), and redistribute the blood fl ow away from the skin.

Forget the theory – for us our heart rates were elevated and pupils dilated as our clammy hands and drips of sweat highlighted the adrenalin surge. The team energy was amazing. With a glance back at the women, I witnessed the words of encouragement, the caring and guiding hands, and the unbroken chain of instructions and feeling being passed along to the next person.

The BLUE course was next. It was reportedly medium diffi culty, and yet it was getting very diffi cult. We regrouped; further tips were given such as balance techniques to keep the core switched on.

The start was a struggle – an unstable obstacle, which left most of the group exhausted. A lot of upper body strength was required for the following obstacles. Th e course has been designed as a psychological as well as physical challenge; you are constantly presented with problems that need to be solved under pressure. Th ere is little or no information when you get to a platform. Th at’s a character building exercise in itself! Fatigue was setting in, so was frustration.

Onto the RED course. It’s red for a reason, because the height of the course steps up and we were climbing from a platform to a moving obstacle, 15 to 20 metres off the ground. We negotiated our way through cargo nets, Tarzan re-enactments, balance logs, and high wires with the relief of the intermittent fl ying foxes.

By this time we were truly exhausted, so only a few of the group opted for the extreme challenge of the BLACK course.

This is a new addition to the park. I’m surprised we didn’t run into a koala we were so high up in the trees. Th e attempts to spot the climbers on this level were near impossible.

The wow factor on the BLACK level is the 200 metre flying fox, BUT it’s in the middle of the course, not the end. Following the fl ying fox is a series of extremely hard challenges, monkey bars, trapeze and more ‘bird on a wire’ impersonations. If anyone was thinking they were cruising through the GREEN, BLUE and RED then they were put to the test on the BLACK level.

It was a sensational day. Everyone was handed a certifi cate that marked their participation and personal achievement on the day. What was most amazing though was the enthusiasm and excitement of the group. Each of us looked at the world from a new perspective – literally and emotionally. By escaping our own routine we discovered a new-found sense of adventure.

The entire group has agreed to return to attempt the next level. We’ll definitely be adding this as a regular quarterly event. He heee…by then, the memory of the ‘next day’ muscle soreness will have worn off .

Did I mention, there is a world-first night course, where each participant wears a miner’s headlamp to conquer challenging leaps of faith under moon light? Come on girls….any takers?