My Kokoda Challenge journey...Its a long read but hopefully my purpose to effectively stimulate, educate & enrich you beckons! (Its a delayed post as been awaiting photos..more to come) “In the comfort of nature God’s voice speaks most clearly” - Bronnie Ware Since completion of Kokoda Challenge just a few days ago, I have been contemplating the why & how our team managed to execute our intended plans of crossing that finish line as a team of 4. We certainly were not without our challenges in the lead up to the event. The key to the success of our team in crossing that finish line was that we capitalised on differences in individual talent & personality. We shared inequalities of all sorts of kinds, not for better or worse just strengths & weaknesses in various places. During our 105k, 22hr+ journey…we felt the sun’s rays on our back on an arduous climb. We also glorified in the beautiful orange, half moon as it hovered over us convincingly in the dark, cold night. This is all very romantic but individually at times we did all encounter some challenges along the way that may have been physical or mental. My investment in fundraising, my friends, family & client relationships who had entrusted in me and lastly my own values of unconditionally honouring my word in all situations, behaving in a manner consistent with what I believe to be right even when it means I stand alone when others do not agree, courageously kept me from quitting prior to the event. The journey to the start line had much impact on me…lessons, learnings, risks than the actual physical task. Our behaviour as a team on the day resulted in our success to cross that line as the original team of 4 and in fact, we acquired another companion who had all but lost his team members at the halfway mark. In doing so, it just adds another dynamic to the group which can sometimes come at a price but we encompassed it with passion & rose above. Mal’s a wonderful person so that made our job easier & it was awesome to have him finish with us. He stuck by us until the end. Belief of achieving that we would cross that line was never in doubt. My body felt the best it has EVER in any long run (up to 46k) that I’ve endured. I ate enormous amounts of food. I never felt ‘spent’ …rather, full of nature’s energy! I did sprain my ankle at the 41k mark on a very steep, laden thick, deep as snow soft, fine dust downhill just soon after we left a checkpoint. I had just said to Deb, I’ll run ahead to duck to the toilet so when the girls arrive I wasn’t holding them up. However, just as I took off I did an outward roll. Quite a sting at first but by keeping it moving it dulled the pain until the next checkpoint 8k away. Once it was strapped there was no looking back. A pinch of pain here & there when I ran the downhills or over extended on steep uphill gradient but otherwise, it didn’t stop me or slow us down. In fact, I wanted to run to keep it warm, as it was more comfortable that way. Ed from the ‘pink undy’ clan who we had bantered on with as we passed each other by, aptly named me ‘fancy pants’ & had offered me a panadeine forte which I cheerfully accepted. The reality of our KC2014 experience provided at times a momentarily knock to our pride (due to causes) but the success comes from how we individually behaved when faced with those challenges & how we responded for the good of the team. At the end of the day..this was the learn of this event. The diggers strived to keep as many people alive as possible...and that was our order for the day too. That is the only perspective we should be viewing this from.. And we did that. We cared & sought help for our injured so they could go on. We embraced the carnage enroute & got as many of us across the line as possible. My proudest moments were when we adopted other competitors who had lost their teams due to injury which allowed them to continue on to the next check point. We did this on a few occasions. My most heartfelt moment was when I shed a tear for a gentlemen named John who was struggling with 38k to go up a treacherous, rocky fearsome climb which as I approached him from behind, he was wobbling & I thought he was going to face plant the terrain. John wasn’t really coherent or too responsive to my questions if he was ok. I knew he wasn’t, so I handed him my poles and said I will walk beside you & get you to the next check point. As time passed by maybe another hour onwards we found our way at the top, John stumbled and got worse. We made him drink & eat but my greatest concern with about 3k to get to aid, was a long bitumen journey on a notorious road. I was bothered he may stagger into oncoming traffic! (even at 3am or whatever time it was!). But it was John’s persistence on numerous occasions when I asked do you want to finish? He repeatedly said, yes I want to finish. I said then, the only way that was going to happen was to take a rest at the first aid station & pick up another team, as we would have to keep going but we will see you at the finish line. And FINISH he did & I was able to give him a hug & I felt so much joy for him. THANK YOU TO BUNNINGS ALBION, COCA-COLA, COLES TOOMBUL, JACK PURCELL MEATS for all their donations during our fundraising activities. THANK YOU to all my FRIENDS, FAMILY, CLIENTS who have supported & lent a hand during this journey. THANK YOU to the KOKODA YOUTH FOUNDATION & the plentiful, bountiful SCHOOL CHILDREN who ran with joy! They skylarked & offered remarkable supportive comments, energising me & gave me so many reasons to push on & push through. THANK YOU to my main running buddy LAWRENCE KRANEN for embarking on my wild and crazy adventures & for his utmost support and friendship always. THANK YOU TO MY TEAM AND CREW who were relentless in ensuring we would succeed & between each other we were able to keep our spirits high & put aside our differences & march on to the finish. Lastly, THANK YOU to my MOTHER & FATHER for creating me and blessing me with such an incredible gift - my health. It’s not all science… I prayed soulfully to receive the best experience possible for my first 100k event and it was delivered. I prayed for strength of the highest energy. I couldn’t have asked for a greater execution of my run, based on how I felt for the entirety of the event. Post event: I felt exceptional, to my own bewilderment… no soreness & with bountiful energy. God was within. Thank God for that. I am forever grateful.
Posted on: Tue, 29 Jul 2014 21:58:57 +0000