Tribewanted: Vorovoro

The four peaks challenge, advertised on the website as a plesant walk over the islands peaks, which it is. Scrambling up peak one and meandering down to the back beach, then a tough hike up to the tree peaked two. Anotehr scramble up 3 and a great view over the pearilous ridge, bounce down the rocks, Ho Ya at the graves and plough on through the jungle of four before the best bit, the steep out of control descent to the lunar beach and mangroves. Then the last bit home along the beach.

A walk that can take anything from 2 to 4 hours. However there are three other sides to the peaks besides the gentile stroll. The quick walk of about an hour, throwing yourself down the slopes and pausing only briefly on the peaks. The reverse peaks, doing them back to front for a different perspective of the island. Then there is the real challenge – the run.

I arrived four weeks ago, and hit the peaks with Jale and Ben on my first attempt to only lose them on the down hill slope on Peak 2 as they confidently threw their bodies down knowing every rock and tree almost inside out. However i did manage to complete with a little detour around the headland. I found out they had done sub 30 min for the first time, an awesome effort! Smiles all round.

This however set a presedent for the remainder of my time on the island, could we lower the peaks time further?

The following sunday we all set off again, Jale however not feeling great dropped off the pace, leaving Ben and i. Ben led all the way to the bottom of peak 4 where i “got on my Linfords” and went for it, Ben and i came back with a new record, much to Jale’s annoyance.

And so it went on for the next two weeks. Ben went away and Jale saw this as the ldeal time to get the record back, but again the timing was all wrong, leaving him even more frustrated.

Ben and i then on Thursday did it in prep for the Ironman, and again broke the record. This only stoked Jales fire even more, he arrived back from a training day with Timosi on the main land, straight into his trainers and up the peaks to record a 28m14s – another record.

As i knew my time was limited and Jale had duped me into an island swim, in prep for the Ironman, i had to go all or nothing on Sunday to record a 27m58s, the first sub 28. id waited all day and just went for it, twisting my ankle in the process of throwing my body down the slopes. The smile didn’t last long though, nor the record!

Jale was straight up, left what he was doing (playing top trumps or something similar) didn’t even say goodbye and smashed my new record with a 27m40s.

It has been a great challenge each week, with both of these guys and their never say die attitude throwing everything at the peaks conquering them in the process. Can the time be lowered further? Only with another perfect run with perfect conditions. I would urge anyone to give it a go.

So now remains the Ironman, the peaks plus a swim without fins around the island. I’ve done both, but not together. Is it possible? Yes, but only with an almost perfect run and perfect conditions for the swim. The tide, the swell, the sun, the fear of sharks and most importantly the currents. Ben and Jale are in great shape with a great attitude to keep going even when their bodies are saying no, however come Wednesday lets ask the ancestors for the best possible conditions to aid them in their monumental challenge, im gutted to be leaving and missing out, but with their rivalry and inner motivation i expect another record to be set come Wednesday. Good luck boys.