mt cootha night walks

went for another mt cootha walk on thursday night, went well, we did middle hill which is in the "middle" and is about the 2nd steepest section. it was about 500m in length but straight up, wasnt the first or last up it but came in the second group, so felt good about that, next week they are doing killer hill but i will be in mt isa, so will miss it!!! will have to wait til i return. 15days until registration for kokoda, cant wait!! have booked our room already for the friday night down at mudgeeraba, just a few hundred metres from the startline, the guys are sharing a room and the girls are sharing a room, hope no one snores!!!

podiatrist visit yesterday was successful, had my orthotics molded (soft) so they should flex when walking not like my cruel hard ones that were torture.

wish me luck in mt isa, will see if there is any hiking opportunities up there (or maybe just drinking opportunities)

Polly's prisoners

Polly's Mountain

Well Alan, Brad and me completed Polly's Mountain (going up and then to environmental centre and then back over - total 14kms). Doesnt sound very far but it is straight up and then long false inclines on the return. It was hot, i drank 3 L and still was dehydrated the sweat was just pouring off me. The guys were very considerate and often stopped to allow me to catch up and rest (they are much fitter than me) but we all finished together and then went to Polly's cafe for lunch. All up took about 5hrs with lots of small breaks, but were able to do the ascent in 62mins, i'm sure we will be faster next time. The track is a old fire trail and it is very rocky, so hard on your ankles & feet when descending, did i mention it is very steep and i am glad i had my walking poles but the guys just seemed to glide upwards!!! we met two other groups also practicing for kokoda so it was great to stop and ask some questions and get more of an idea as to what to expect.

Plan is to Mt Cootha again on thursday (Middle Hill - i think it is the steepest trail, used for kokoda training) so that should be good exercise. We will organise another walk when i return from Mt Isa in 2 wks. So must stay off the chocolate and booze while i am away!!

mt cootha in the dark

this thursday i went to mt cootha to do a night walk from 6.30-8.30pm with brisbane bushwalkers. there was about 12 of us and it was a hot still night. went down hill to the back of mt cootha and then up honeyeaters track back to the top via a fire trail. it was fairly steep and i just poured sweat but was fun and felt that i was able to keep up with the group. next week we are doing a longer ascent so should be challenging.

i also went to see steve manning my new podiatrist and yes my current orthotics are cr*p. no wonder they are causing so much pain, so new ones will be soft and molded to my foot and suited for long distance walking/running. i also bought some funky trail shoes and they were great doing mt cootha alot lighter then my mountain boots.

going to do polly's hill tomorrow, so up at 3.30am, really keen to complete one of the big 4 mountains on the kokoda challenge.