Team Geared Up » Media

TGU Podcast: Episode 3 - Revolution Cycle, First Irish Circumnavigation By Bicycle

Robin Blandford — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 19:35:38 +0000

PODCAST (Team Geared Up) - In episode 3, Robin interviews Simon Evans and Fearghal O’Nuallain who will begin the first Irish circumnavigation of the globe by bicycle in November. Their unsupported expedition will cover over 30,000km, passing through 30 countries and some of the highest, lowest, driest, coldest, warmest and loneliest places on earth.

Play video recording:

TGU Episode 3 - Revolution Cycle from Robin Blandford on Vimeo.

Click play audio only below, listen to the show in iTunes, or download here.

Make sure to subscribe to future episodes in the TGU Podcast in iTunes (or directly).

TGU Podcast: Episode 2 - Team Call, Aislings Ironman

Robin Blandford — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 22:02:09 +0000

CHICAGO, UNITED STATES (Team Geared Up) - The TGU blogging team gather on the phone to discuss the future of the blog, what we’ll be talking about over the next month, and what we’re getting up to. We got as far as item one, Aisling’s Ironman, before the call cut-off. Apologies - but this bit is worth a listen anyway!

Click play below, listen to the show in iTunes, or download here.

Don’t forget to leave some questions for tomorrow’s interview.

Make sure to subscribe to future episodes in the TGU Podcast in iTunes (or directly).

-Robin

TGU Podcast: Episode 1 - Julie McElroy Beyond Boundaries

Robin Blandford — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 15:57:29 +0000

CHICAGO, UNITED STATES (Team Geared Up) - We’ve talked about it for over a year. It was time to just get it moving! In this first episode of the Team Geared Up Podcast I talk with 22 year old Julie McElroy about her trip to the Andes with the BBC documentary Beyond Boundaries (great article in the Times last month).

The series follows a team of physically disabled adventurers as they take on some of the toughest expeditions on the Planet under the guidance of EX SAS Major Ken Hames.

10 physically disabled teenagers cross the Andes, one of the highest mountain ranges in the world. Over a period of four weeks and 400km, these young people will have to fight their way from the edge of the Amazon Basin, climb to over 5000m to reach the snowline on Cotopaxi, the highest active volcano in the world, and then descend to sea level, wading through miles of swamp before reaching the Pacific Ocean.

Julie’s achievements are huge. She motivates people all over the world to overcome their troubles and achieve things for themselves.

Episode 1 - Show Notes
00:00 Julie talks about the Beyond Boundaries trip
01:30 Weather in the Amazon
02:35 A typical day was 8km pushing a wheelchair
03:36 What strengths did different people have?
05:28 Julie continued work with the BBC
06:30 What piece of gear did Julie miss most?
08:32 How did locals react to the Beyond Boundaries group passing through?
09:36 What’s the next challenge?

Click play below, listen to the show in iTunes, or download here.

Julie is looking for her next challenge. Please leave suggestions in the comments :-)

Make sure to subscribe to future episodes in the TGU Podcast in iTunes (or directly).

-Robin

Focus Ireland Four Peak’s Challenge

Aisling Coppinger — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 20:56:42 +0000

DUBLIN, IRELAND (Team Geared Up) Here’s some more of Valerie O’ Sullivan’s beautfiul outdoor photographs taken during the Focus Ireland Four Peaks Challenge, which aims to raise over â‚¬400,000 to combat homelessness. 500 climbers tackled the highest peak in each province last weekend.

Focus Ireland Competitors, Carol O’Brien, Karen Murphy, Lorraine Dunne, Marie Dunne, Tipperary, Climb CorrÃ¡n Tuathail, McGillycuddy Reeks, County Kerry.

Focus Ireland Competitor, Alan Murphy, Listowel, County Kerry.

Focus Ireland colleagues, Neil Forsyth and Niall Keane,with their team ‘Social Climbers, Karen Doyle, Arlane McHugh, Claire Williams.

The Four Peaks Challenge invites teams of between 3 and 5 walkers plus a minimum of two drivers per vehicle to climb the highest mountain in each of the four provinces over one weekend and raise a minimum of â‚¬4,500 in sponsorship to help people who are homeless. The next challenge is taking place from September 12th-14th

During the challenge you and your team will discover the breathtaking scenery throughout four of Ireland’s highest peaks: Carrauntoohil (Kerry),Mweelrea (Mayo),Slieve Donard (Down) and Lugnaquilla (Wicklow). The event is kindly supported by 100-102 Today fm.

Gorgeous photos Valerie and a great cause!

-Aisling-

Qoute from Focus Ireland, photos by Valerie O’ Sullivan.

Irish Adventure Photographer: Valerie O’Sullivan

Robin Blandford — Tue, 13 May 2008 09:34:22 +0000

SINGAPORE (Team Geared Up) - Aisling wrote about An Turas Beag at the weekend in Killarney County Kerry, Ireland. The lead up event to An Turas Mor this summer which is part of the World Adventure Racing Series in Ireland.

Valerie O’Sullivan, Irish Adventure Photographer, sent me through some of her photos from the weekend event today. While I believe individual team ones will be available on the official site - Valerie let us post some of the generic ones from her collection here on TGU.

International readers, enjoy this quick look at what Irish Adventure Racing looks like. A bit different to the Moab desert!

And of course…. congratulations to the winners!

Looking forward to seeing the next set!

-Robin.

(Image Credits: Valerie O’Sullivan, Irish Adventure Photographer)

Bear Grylls on Channel 4

Aisling Coppinger — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 15:30:53 +0000

DUBLIN, IRELAND (Team Geared Up) If you’re kicking back at home, starting the long weekend early you might want to check out the Paul O’ Grady Show on Channel 4 this evening at 5pm: Bear Grylls is a guest. Probably plugging his new show which starts this Monday 24th March at 9m: Bear Grylls: Mission Everest.

This feature-length documentary follows the explorer Bear Grylls and his friend Gilo Cardozo as they prepare to fly over the summit of Mount Everest. They will be strapped onto flimsy paraglide chutes powered by backpack motors, or paramotors as they are know to aficionados.

I have my long run done for the week and will be tv bound for the day! Bring on the armchair adventure!

-Aisling-

Image from Channel 4 gallery.

Workout Sounds - Tell Us Yours!

Aisling Coppinger — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 09:13:29 +0000

DUBLIN, IRELAND (Team Geared Up) I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately since I saw a girl swimming with a pair of earphones! Yes, I kid you not, waterproof earphones. Now honestly what music is that compelling that you need to listen to it during a half hour swim session in your local gym?? But then who am I to talk I nearly lost it today when I discovered the MP3 was dead and I’d have to listen to the gym’s radio station while I was lifting weights? Anyway what I’m getting at is, what are your favourite workout sounds? The songs that, when you hear them, you instantly start pedaling faster, running harder, rowing stronger? I have my favourites to start the list but they’re kind of embarrassing cos they’re all at least 10 or more years old. But these are a couple I will admit to loving when I’m in the gym and need fast, loud, angry music!!! (Anger makes you lift weights better, I saw it on Brainiac!)

1. The Cure - Why Can’t I Be You.
2. The Jam - Down in the Tube Station at Midnight.
3. The Pixies - Debaser.

And I know it’s not technically “outdoor adventure” but it’s sporty! I was speaking to a cyclist last night who listens to podcasts while cycling outdoors because it means he can still hear the traffic.

Go on, tell us what you listen to while exercising, no matter how embarrassing!! Unless it’s Rick Astley or something, in that case keep it to yourself……

-Aisling-

Image from Masternewmedia.

Video: Dual Parachute Failure - Chute & Reserve Fail

Robin Blandford — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 13:05:36 +0000

SINGAPORE (Team Geared Up) - I cannot think of a worse nightmare then this happening on your first parachute jump. Both the chute and the reserve chute fail to open correctly. The student is prepared by the instructor for a hard hitting landing by positioning knees together as they spin dramatically towards the ground.

I won’t spoil the ending, but there’s bone crunching arrrrgh noises.

Knew you’d enjoy that.

-Robin.

Solo-ing with a difference

Neal McQuaid — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 13:10:10 +0000

KILDARE, IRELAND (Team Geared Up) - Found this through B3Bouldering this morning in my feed. It’s a an interesting way of solo-ing routes.
I won’t give away the main surprise of the footage, but it definitely gave me a surprise(!) when the guy decided to do what you can see in the snapshot from the movie above. No ropes involved……

Check out the full video here

- Neal :) -

Irish Newspaper: IRON MEN, Sporting Challenges Beyond Endurance

Aisling Coppinger — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 14:12:22 +0000

DUBLIN, IRELAND (Team Geared Up) Even the Irish media are saying it, a standard`marathon just isn’t enough. Check out the Sunday Tribune Magazine today. On the cover is Irish Ironmen Fergus and Alan Ryan from Skerries whose brotherly competition brought them to the startline of the Klagenfurt Ironman in 2005, via a training diary! Read the article for the results, fascinating stuff.

According to Alan:

Initially, you’re going to do one for the experience just to chalk it up and say I’ve done an Ironman and that’s that. But it becomes a way of life, an addiction, but a good addiction

The article covers Mark Pollock, extreme marathon runner and all round superstar. Is there any multi day event that Mark has yet to conquer? You can also read about Antarctic Explorer Mary Casey whose next event is kayak down the Danube or husky-racing in Siberia.

Article by Olivia Smyth.

-Aisling-