So, I was silly enough to volunteer to take part in Bay Primary School’s “A Blazing Race.” It’s like The Amazing Race but it happens within the Fish Hoek/Simon’s Town area and there are 24 challenges over the course of 6-7 hours with only three 10 minute breaks. I had no idea how physically demanding this “little event” would be. I swam in 14 degree sea water, climbed up ropes to a height of approximately 10m and then had to swim back to shore. Let’s just say I have new respect for Navy Divers.

I also sprinted more in one day than I did the entire year and I walked and walked and walked and did lots of running. When my team mates and I weren’t running or walking, we hauled half a tonne of ice, had to take a ride on a crane to find one car in a parking lot, trawl through a mall looking for clues and even endured a nasty obstacle course and other mental puzzles. And all this was supposed to be fun?!?!

I spent the day after in bed because the muscle pain was so bad that I was physically ill. Being the Mad Scientist who studied Human Life Sciences, I know that the body is an amazing creation. I was surprised that I didn’t end up in hospital and thanked my little body for keeping up with my brain as well as fighting through the agony. I also learnt the value of the healing powers of Deep Heat Bath Tonic.

Just when I thought I was done with all the superhero physical stuff over the weekend, Monday’s show was all about Martial Arts. Great.

But I quickly cheered up when I heard that Quentin and Winston Chong plus their crew from Dragon Power Martial Arts and Fitness Centre would be in studio doing live demonstrations. Muaythai is a brutal sport and watching those guys kick and punch at such close range scared both Ayanda and I. But it was Quentin’s eloquent explanations of the technique that calmed us both down and helped us understand this ancient art. Quentin is also one seriously hardcore dude. He broke a board with his head and split a chopstick against his throat! And his bro Winston smashed through THREE poles with one kick and there wasn’t even a scratch on his leg!! Now, just imagine standing within 2 metres of all this action.....

Ladies, I’m not going to lie: Those guys are hot! Between the tattoos and knowing that they could break bones with a single kick, it’s hard not to admire them....ok, they have super hot bodies too. And we even got one half of the gorgeous Top Billing DIY team, Aidan Bennetts, showing off his Muaythai skills!

All in all, it was a rocking weekend. I may have been in a lot of pain for most of it but, hey, I thought it was fun. Now, I need a new challenge. I don’t want to waste my brilliant start to fitness by just sitting back and doing nothing.

Maybe I’ll try my hand (or is it foot?) at Muaythai.