An assessment with a difference

Back to normal for a while!
After an excellent week ice training in the crevasse infused glaciers
of Chamonix followed by the sensual overload that is the Moroccan
Sahara, then a patriotic outburst over a glorious weekend of unrivaled
pageantry (we still do it best), I now have my team for 2 days at St
Mary's University, Twickenham for another physical assessment, but
with a twist.

Charlie and his team have devised a particularly painful and demanding
day and a half.
We will dine together on the Thursday evening and enjoy each others
company and a small libation, but at 06.30 on Friday morning, Richard
will take us for an early "beasting" in Richmond Park before we spend
2 hours with Sarah and Juliette for our psychological assessment. -
lest we imbibe too heartily!!

But on the Thursday, amongst a plethora of tests and tweaks, Charlie
has inserted the frightening words of " a simulated pulk pull with
depleted oxygen"!!! What depraved sadistic madman thought of that? The
London Dungeons will seem a breeze compared to a day with Charlie and
his team!! But there is a reason for everything, of course.

In Antarctica the plateau is at 3000m (over 9,000 feet) - the
equivalent of putting the 3 highest peaks in the United Kingdom on top
of each other - Snowdonia, Scafell Pyke and Ben Nevis - but due to the
elongation of the atmosphere at the Poles, that is equivalent to 4500m
(14,700 feet) at the Equator.

So we will spend 30 minutes each on an inclined treadmill with 30kg
weights on a pulley system breathing through a tube fed with the
depleted oxygen one would expect on top of the Matterhorn - where each
painful step can take minutes! And, as we do this, Charlie and his
team will prick holes in our ear lobes and extract blood for their
devilish tests - lactate levels actually!!

Anyone fancy joining us??

Hurrah
Manley