Spit to Manly .. Manly to Spit ...Spit to Manly .. Many to Spit

SUSAN : Coach Pete thought it would be a great idea to do the Spit to Manly .. Manly to Spit ...Spit to Manly ....Manly to Spit ...with our packs on .....oh joy. So Stu, Kelly , Nadi and Stu's mum for a " cameo " appearance set off at 6.00am in the dark for this epic - walk/run ..... It was a lovely day and the views all along there are " A1" and no matter how many times ( well the 4 times ) we got to the look out we never got tired of it. It was hard work but 5.30hours later is was done and we felt good ....... and then we all backed up the next day with another run ........

A long walk in Lane Cove National Park

SUSAN : There are so many new places I have discovered whilst training for this race ... I spent 8 hours walking in the Lane Cove National Park .. it was nice to be out and about in the solitude of the park . I used the time to practice nutrition and a few new items of " kit " ... there is a lot of new kit required for this adventure ... quite interesting really as we have to carry all our stuff so that will be minimal .. but the minimal still requires a lot of thinking about ......

STU: Training Run: The Six Foot Track. Started off pretty well with plenty of the people on the steps to stop us smashing the quads on the way down into the valley. weather was very pleasant with no rain and a nice temperature. The furthest I had run was 42.2km and the longest time I had run was 4:25. Passing the 4:25 mark I felt elated, I am running the longest I have ever run! Yea! Then it hit me and the self doubt started to creep in, can I make it? what happens after 4:30? how do you know? I started to get short of breath, but I was hardly strorming along so not effort related! What's going on?? You have not trained for this! the penny dropped. Right, time to take a minute and have a word with myself. 'Pull your sh*t together' comes to mind of what I was thinking. Had something to eat, had a drink, caught my breath and started running slowly, maintaining easy breathing. Hey Presto! I'm back in action. Lesson to self (and anyone else maybe): listen to your body. I think I know when it's not the effort that's making it hard but something going on with the top 6 inches (where most peoples brains are). Anywho, felt strong and ran home with Kingy in under six hours. Mission accomplished. SUSAN : An Olympic pose with finishing medals ! Thanks Stu for pulling me along on that run !!

Sand Dunes at Wanda ..... hard work

SUSAN : Part of our training is to run ( well a loose term as rather difficult to run uphill on sand !! ) on the sand dunes at Wanda - down in the Shire ....... and just for good measure we start with a run along the beach for an hour or so as a warm up and then hit the dunes. It is tough work but really good training and you really know that you have had a work out when you finish that session. Stu and I have met a great group of training buddies who are also completing this run and a BIG thanks to Pete Wilson who has stepped in as our coach ........some times I struggle to thank him .. but I know I will when the going gets tough out in the Kimberley's ...