Heat Acclimatisation?

[Kerryn]

Hi,

I live in Melbourne and I'm doing the trek in July, so I will be going from the middle of a Melbourne winter to something much hotter and more humid. Has anyone ever tried heat acclimatisation before? I've been reading about it and it sounds quite beneficial (especially since I'm not usually a summer person to start with). I'm going to be in Cairns for 6 days before I start the trek, but have read that it can take 3 weeks, so was contemplating jumping on an exercise bike for a couple of hours a day in a warm room in the 2 weeks leading up to when I leave for Cairns. Has anyone had trouble going from a cold winter to the Kokoda Track? Any tips/personal experiences/opinions appreciated.

Cheers

Kerryn

[Ian E.]

Hi Kerryn,
I trekked in September/October and trained through an Adelaide winter. Did all my training in a long sleeved sweatshirt, fleece & tracksuit, even at the gym (attracted many a strange look). The layers of sweaty clothing definitely helped with acclimatising to the heat and humidity.
Cheers Ian

[Geoff Hardie]

Hi Kerryn,
I too prepared in the hills east of Melbourne at Powelltown and Warburton for our crossing in late August 2007. Our last training walk a week beforehand up Mt Donna Buang was in fact in snow. I also do not enjoy humidity and I did have a bad reaction whilst spending three days in Popondetta before commencing our crossing from Kokoda. This planned three day break was indeed fortunate as I believe it was the time I needed to acclimatise even allowing for this difficulty. The first day of our crossing was the short walk to Hoi Village, from thereon I was fine.
I have only visited Cairns once in early October. Perhaps your planned six days there in July will be adequate and certainly more beneficial than my preparation. I am not sure that just putting on extra clothes during training indoors necessarily duplicates the humidity you will experience in PNG.
In Melbourne, the Victorian Institute of Sport created a special room to help athletes preparing for the Beijing Olympics to cover this problem.
The issue certainly is something to be taken seriously for us southerners coming out of a Melbourne Winter. There is so much to enjoy thoughout the crossing. Thorough preparation will ensure you miss nothing due to exhaustion, and help avoid illness &/or injury.
Best wishes for your continuing preparation.
Cheers,
Geoff Hardie

[Thommo]

Hi Kerryn,

I live in Cairns, and we did the treck in September last year from Kokoda to Owers Cnr. July in Cairns is not very hot or humid compared with October to March, but will still be a big change from Melbourne. Are you coming up to do any training in this area or just for relaxation? If you want any info on walks in this area will be happy to help.

Thommo

[Kerryn]

Thanks everyone for your thoughts. Thommo, Cairns is mainly a holiday but I'm thinking it would be good to do a walk at some stage while I'm there. Do you know of any that are good that I will be able to get to without a car (i.e. by bus or something)?

Thanks again

[Thommo]

Hi Kerryn,

A good walk in Cairns is the Blue Arrow. It starts in the Botanical Gardens and is very close to the city centre. Transport by bus is right to the start of it. I have attached a link that gives you more info, it says that it will take about 5 hours but you should be able to do it 2 to 3. It is not as rugged as it sounds in the blurb, but is a good walk and will get the heart pumping.

Thommo.

http://www.queenslandholidays.com.au/things-to-see-and-do/blue-arrow-walk/index.cfm –

[petedowling]

hi kerryn, I trekked last April and trained through a Melbourne summer. My training was varied cycling/swimming/walks with daypack and graduated heavier pack. My advice is not to get too caught up in trying to cover for every contingency and every variation. The trek by its very nature is unpredictable. Completing the trek is a mindset that you will conquer whatever is put in front of you. The thing that will assist you in knowing you will complete it is a very good level of overall general fitness with a a special emphasis on graduated steep hill work. Its all about having the miles in your legs and the confidence to know that you can draw on your fitness reserves when you find the going tough. Applied Physiology Laboratories at institute of sports or at various University Phs Ed Faculties have their place for elite athletes. The trek is all about commonsense and a rational approach to fitness training. Implement the AFL Legend Ron Barassi theory of training about when the going gets tough its time to put your head down, pullup your socks and go twice as hard. you will only strike trouble if you have not done the training and have no socks to pull up. Have fun and enjoy the training wherever you are.The location is incidental.
regards

Pete

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