The new Real World/Road Rules Challenge, The Island, is officially upon us -- and we've got some of its key players blogging about their experience, right here on Remote Control! First up, Real World: Hollywood's Dave, who reveals the intense training he did before coming on the show, as well as the surefire strategy he mapped out to try and win this psycho smackdown...
I was really excited to be part of this new Challenge. The preparation I did for it was ridiculous -- normal weight training but I upped my cardio a lot. It could not have been matched by anyone else on The Island. An ex-college football player, college lacrosse player, and triathlete, I was recording 11 mile runs around an hour. I made sure I would be a Rookie not to sleep on.
The fact that I was the only RW: Hollywood cast member on the show didn't bother me -- I felt no added pressure. I had already met mostly everyone on the cast and felt like I was on good terms with them. Did I still think they would cut my throat for the treasure? Sure. I wasn't worried about that though. I am a savage competitor. So I planned to do this show completely different from how I was on RW: Hollywood: No drinking, no hooking up, and no being naked! Ha! Anyone who watched the Hollywood season knows I can do all that very well.
Before we hit the water and started swimming to shore, I wanted to set the tempo. So I said screw the life jacket and jumped in. My backpack weighed me down a little more then I thought it would, but still I was the first Rookie to make it on the beach. The lack of real food, bath products, hot water, etc. was pretty gnarly, but I could handle it.
This was clearly a different style of Challenge than usual and killing off the Rookies first was not necessarily the right way to go off the bat, but I was still cautious with the Veterans. For that reason, I spent a lot of time with other Challenge Rookies, talking to the Vets just once in a while. I usually stayed away from being seen only with one group -- people always noticed when cast members would go off and be talking quietly. I'm a big believer in The Secret, so a lot of times I would be off thinking positive thoughts about furthering my hosting career and clothing company, winning the challenge treasure, my relationships back home and just life in general. There was A LOT of down time. When you're not wanting to gossip, hook up and party it can become very boring. I was there to win, not grab ass. I just wanted to battle everyday and fight to stay on the island...
Think Dave will make it to the end of the Challenge? You Tell Us: Which castmember has the best chances, and who's just one elimination away from being booted back to the 'burbs?