30km Brisbane Kokoda Challenge, June 3rd 2012

It was a few weeks before the actual 30km challenge that a friend of mine started asking for someone to fill in his previous partners position who could no longer do the run.  Feeling up for a challenge I decided i would say yes and participate.  It would be the following day that i would start training and after that session reality hit me that i may not be fit enough for this 30km challenge.  It ended up being only about 6 days of training all up in those three weeks so as the day finally came i was incredibly nervous.  I had committed to this event and despite my nerves nothing would stop me from enduring whatever i had to to cross that finish line and endured we did.  Through creeks with no stepping stones, up steep climbs, and through misty, muddy paths we trekked.  With each hill closer to the end seeming taller and taller and each path longer and longer we were wishing to see the end around each corner, pushing on, i did not allow my mind to give in to the pain of my blisters and agony in my knees, stopping would surely mean i wouldnt be able to start again so I kept my legs moving.  We started the race at 7am and crossed the finish line in 4:45:43 hrs achieving the goal we had set a week prior to finish in under 6hrs.  Our second goal was also achieved of finishing amongst the top 25 teams.  Out of approximately 180 teams we came in at 24th.  We were very pleased with our efforts and this was a fantastic experience to expand potential within ourselves and raise money for a great cause while we were at it.  To find out more about the Kokoda Challenge Association you can visit: http://kokodachallenge.com/about

The Kokoda Challenge has motivated me to get back into fitness

Sweet victory just metres away.  To be applauded as we were running in was an incredible feeling