mud mud and more mud

hi we decided to try the first two mountains (nimmel and fairview) and then return (approx 28km), what we didnt think of is what has happened with all the rain, coming down the first mountain, brad when for a big slide down and the back of his pants where like huge skid marks, of course we paid out on him as it was so funny. there was heaps of teams out training and it started raining again, so up the second mountain it was all mush and bog, just like the real kokoda track, it was so slippery. we made it to the half way mark and when we turned around it started pouring, and as a prepared girl guide i had my new rain jacket but before i could stop and get it out of my back pack i was soaked, so ended up just continuing walking in the rain (as once your soaked you cant get any wetter). the way back was full of slipping and sliding and the funniest was rodney on his butt sliding down about 20m, but of course we just missed it and didnt get to show it on the film. by the time we made it back at about 2pm, my feet were really sore with the descents as your toes end up hitting the front of your shoes and this is how you end up with lost toenails, i had taped my feet but they were wet and so more exposed to blisters. we survived and look forward to next weekend, 42km (binna burra to o'reillys), only 10 wks to go and have to up the training. went to a kokoda seminar with the winning team (nike hammer who complete it in under 12 hrs) and got some good tips and confirmed that we are doing lots of things right. anzac day today and it has helped remind me why i am doing this event and i even did my small part by polishing the war memorial placques in my church, which had not been cleaned for many years. it was good to look at the names and think of each of them and what their stories were. mateship, endurance, courage and sacrifice

syd and nathan

hi again, last weekend we did about 25km from Syd Duncan Park to over Mt Nathan and return, this means we got to do hell fire's pass (down and joy of joy back up it), the most amazing thing is we were back at the car by 11.10am. we were just flying (for us anyway), met a couple of teams and we didnt see any snakes. i'm enjoying training this time and looking forward to our next big hike in 2wks, doing mt nimmel and fairview and then return, we havent done this before, so should be a good test. the following week we are doing binna burra to o'reillys and back (42km) its fairly flat but is hard just due to the time on your feet, it certainly is getting darker and a little cooler at 5am, i'm looking forward to winter and rugging up when you hike. i have a whole month off in april, so the plan is to train hard and keep the kg's coming off.