Welcome to edition #5 of e-News. It's fair to say that this is a bumper issue. And there has been no more enjoyable and satisfying e-News to put together than this one. This edition has 'something for everyone' and a few big highlights. In the Olympic wash-up we have some performances to celebrate but none more so at Bluearth than Drew Ginn with his partner Duncan Free, Olympic champions in the Men's Pairs Rowing. We feature an exclusive interview with Drew which he completed while he was in Beijing.

The other world wide event that plays out this month is the Para Olympics. Granted, it receives less main stream coverage but the stories, commitment and energy is undoubtedly up there with the best. Check it out on ABC TV.

We profile Northern Victorian coach and country football legend, Mick Wilson. Our Ultimate Activity Challenge tackles the highest peak in the world via a guest contributor and we explore part 1 of a 2 part series of the program element, 'sitting' (also via guest authors). Finally, a story that many may have missed from the Olympics that is in the true spirit of the games.

And, as always we are interested in your feedback, let us know how we are going: enews@bluearth.org.

Enjoy
e-News

Bluearth publishes a quarterly collection of articles called 'Insight Shared'.

It covers a range of topics that are contributed by our coaches and staff and provides an in-depth view on what is informing us in our living/coaching/teaching/being. If you would like to be sent a copy and be added to the distribution list see below.

To receive the latest edition of 'Insight Shared' send an email to: enews@bluearth.org

After the success of current workshops there are still a couple remaining. Watch over coming editions for more dates to be released for the second half of the year.

Click on the 'register' button to download registration form, or speak to your coach to lock in your spot.

AREA	DATE & TIME	LOCATION ADDRESS
TRARALGON	Wed 22nd October 2008 9.30 pm - 3.00 pm	Traralgon Basketball Stadium Catterick Crescent
	To register for any of these workshops, please download and complete the enrolment form (pdf 84KB).

While in Beijing to defend his Olympic title in Men's Pairs rowing with partner Duncan Free, Drew kindly gave e-news some of his time. Enjoy.

1. You've changed partners since Athens 2004, how is your preparation going?
We have really enjoyed the process of learning about each other. Rowing with Duncan has been quiet different to James and I think it has stimulated my thinking about a number of elements of our training. It is great fun working out how to combine and harmonise with a new partner and over the three years I feel we have created a great combination. All the training has been done, we have challenged ourselves to change and improve and now we are ready to perform at our best.

2. In the lead up there has been much discussion around Beijing's air quality. How is the rowing team approaching this?
The air quality has been an issue but more challenging is the humidity and heat. Simply we try to stay as cool as possible before races and mentally we are prepared for how difficult it can be when the stress of the conditions builds. We use ice baths and slushy drinks to cool our core temperature and on the water much of our focus is on breathing and relaxation.

3. As well as the actual time in the boat, what other aspects do you bring to your training program?
It is a really mixture of land and water training. We both do a great deal of visualisation and spend many hours working on range of movement. Over the last three year we have also done a lot of training on bikes and enjoy many of the partner activities from the Bluearth program.

4. This is your 3rd Olympics. What have you learned that you can take into these Games?
The emotions that we go through are natural and I have learnt to enjoy the highs and lows of the experience. In the main I try to stay focused on what we have been working on in training while being aware of the situation. If we have our best performance then that is what will make me most satisfied. That is what matters most not all the other things that can distract us from why we are here.

5. Some athletes say to treat the Olympics as 'just another event'. But lets face it, it's not. How to you manage this potential for hype?
Yeah it's not just another event, but then again it is, if that makes sense. I like to soak up the atmosphere but remain clear about our reason for being involved. We have come here to have our best row ever and so some of the hype is good as it gives you a buzz, but all our training has been to perform our best row. So with or with out the hype we are here to have that perfect row.

For those of you interested in more of Drew's thoughts check out Drews Blog. Especially the entry: Connection: Finding, testing and realising together. If you invest the time you will be rewarded many times over.

Submitted by Richard Corbett

Climbing Sagarmatha / Chomolungma / Mt Everest (Nepali / Tibetan / English respectively) as the highest place on the planet has a very strong lure for many. Since Ed Hillary and Tenzing Norgay conquered the mountain in 1953 over 3500 people have climbed to its summit. Over 200 people have died trying to reach the 8848m peak.

The attraction is partly because it is the highest place on earth but also because in mountaineering terms it is relatively easy. This combination has created a thriving industry for Nepal and to a lesser extent Tibet, and provides employment for many local people as porters and guides. The Sherpa people of the Khumbu Valley on the southern flanks of the mountain, have become famous as high altitude guides so much so that 'sherpa' has become an adjective to describe porters and guides in the region.

Most summiteers use bottled oxygen and depend heavily on local guides for their success. Some notable exceptions are Reinhold Messner and Peter Habeler who made the first recorded ascent without supplementary oxygen in 1978 and then Mr Habeler went back in 1980 and climbed it alone and without oxygen and up a more difficult route. In 1984 an Australian team got two people to the summit on a new route on the difficult Tibetan Nth Face. This expedition was notable for its alpine style (they were self contained and didn't have the benefit of a massive team), they didn't use supplementary oxygen and they were all vegetarians! Like Habeler before him – one of the team – Tim McCartney-Snape went back a couple of years later and walked solo from the Bay of Bengal to the top of the mountain alone and without oxygen.

There have been many other fascinating approaches to the mountain which are worth reading about; try Everest by Walt Unsworth or White Limbo by Lincoln Hall and for Mr McCartney-Snapes incredible journey look for the video Sea to Summit.

If you have a good level of fitness, a few spare dollars and are not scared of heights anything is possible.

Submit your ultimate physical activity challenge: enews@bluearth.org

Submitted by Cam McMullan & Mark McGrath

A sitting is a practice many of you may have been introduced to through your Bluearth coach. The obvious question is what is a sitting and what is it for?

Peoples lives today are filled from the moment we wake up to the moment we go to sleep. Many of us would have experienced lying in bed at night not being able to turn off the thought streams and consciously or not feeding this stream energy and identifying ourselves with these thoughts.

Kids are no exception. It could be argued that their lives are filled for every waking moment with many adults feeling they have to entertain kids at every opportunity.

School is no exception. This eagerness to please or entertain kids is training their attention spans to be shorter and creating a generation of instant gratification. The practice required is self-evident, creating a daily practice around looking internally.

A sitting allows time for no-thing, time to notice the thoughts in our head and thereby re-lease identification with thinking as an identity. So from this point of view a sitting is for anyone and everyone. This does not mean everyone will be comfortable with a sitting. In fact the people who are most uncomfortable with stillness and silence are the very people who need to become familiar with the practice.

Present moment awareness is an opportunity for us to understand more fully what we truly are and to rest in the moment without "more important" things entering our space. Enjoying a sitting presents an opportunity to simply sit in the moment and notice the background. Noticing the background can begin simply by noticing your own thoughts and how they fill our minds incessantly. There is always something to do or plan; we are constantly evaluating the last interaction or experience. All of this leads to constant noise.

Next month: How to go about a 'sitting'.

October 15 is ride to work day. It is a national day where everyone is encouraged to celebrate the fact that they ride to work or encourage those who may be considering starting.

There are events around the country so check out the attached web link to find one in your area. There are prizes for registering and plenty of Free Breakfast 'sites'.

It's hard to deny the physical, health, economic and environmental benefits.

Some may have seen or been aware of this story but we feel it is worth telling as it points to qualities that that we value highly: patience, persistence and perseverance.

Japanese Olympian Hiroshi Hoketsu first competed in Equestrian show jumping at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics age 23. In Beijing, after a gap of 44 years he competed in Dressage age 67!

After a few false starts and near misses in between Olympics it was his horse 'Whisper' that inspired him to qualify for Beijing. Although, not the oldest Olympian in history, it is arguably the largest break between representation.

Competing in Hong Kong where the horse events were held, Hoketsu was unflappable even as planes took off overhead. Unfortunately, Whisper was not as composed, spooking and resulting in major marks being deducted.

Proving age is no barrier, one expert commented "He has one of the most beautiful riding positions I have ever seen."

And when asked in a recent interview whether he would continue to London 2012 he replied: "I don't know, but what I can tell you is that I will continue to ride."

We here at e-News salute you Hiroshi Hoketsu.

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