The Murray River Marathon 404Km, Team Peak Adventure

I started to learn to Paddle in a Kayak with the intent to determine if it was possible for me to one day compete in an adventure race.

Back in October 2010, I started out with a couple of lessons with Jarad from Peak Adventure down at sandridge surf lifesaving club in Port Melbourne, after a couple of lessons Jarad had me convinced that it was possible for me to take on a huge challenge, so I committed to go along, originally it was to be a little larger team kayaking in a double along the scenic Murray river...... however it turned out to be one great team of 4 who made the journey to the Murray this year in single Kayaks:

Jarad - Super Star Paddler, who makes every stroke look like he is striding down bay street on a sunny afternoon, filled with motivation, energy and the can do attitude that nothing is impossible




Emma - The woman who sets the pace in this challenge and turns out being tougher than anyone I know, don't be fooled by Emma's gentle personality, one competitive girl here!





Annette - one super human who celebrated her 50th Birthday along the journey and made it happen in a style that only Annette could take on.






and of course Myself - Newbie Paddler, and if some one tells me I cant do it, I make it my mission to do it!





I had the daunting task to paddle a distance further than I had ever done in life and it came about on DAY 1, 29Km from Start to Alpha Checkpoint, now just quietly, I had a couple of things against me (well so I thought) the river was moving quicker than expected, I had a boat I had never paddled in and was a little less stable, and a distance that I consider impossible (no really I did) so understandably I had thoughts of disaster going through my head and one thing I hate more than anything in life Letting other people down, right about now I'm thinking why on earth did I sign up to a team, I'm going to stuff this right up and ruin my team mates experience of the week, on leg 1, day 1.

Setting off at the start line was filled with lots of emotion and hype, lining up in the river, the spirit of people wishing everyone success and my team mates standing on the side line probably saying "can this guy paddle ????"

In any case I was committed, and I had to find a way, before I knew it the gun is fired and I'm away, I let the eager paddlers take off, But surprisingly I managed to get a jump on a few folks which was kind of nice.

some challenging water on day 1, and by far the most enjoyable challenge due to the challenge, I cruised on into checkpoint Alpha in just over 2 hours, WOW is this the checkpoint, I thought I was only half way gone, I had loads more energy to expand and tomorrow was going to see me smash to days effort well and truly out of the water.

Next off was Anette and than Emma, these two woman are sensational, they got in and gave it everything they had, Annette in an Endorphin a much heavier but stable boat, she did not let that slow her down and before we knew it she was changing over with Emma, than Jarad.......... the rest is history we celebrated our success of day 1.

Myself happier than I could have imagined.

The next few days the conditions changed, the river slowed, the heat increased and it was a different river, for me the challenge was learning to adapt and give it everything.

For me a couple of legs are must tells -

Day 1 - above

Day 3 - Arriving in Echuca, this was a great leg filled with people along the shore lines, paddle steamers and the typical Australian's along the river even two in blow up plastic thongs relaxing in the river I recall "Your right mate, your the fasted dude we have seen come down the river yet, just up around the corner and your home, Great work"

This is a very Australian character, I love it, it restore your faith in our community spirit and helping one and other out, but I can tell you it was not just around the corner, 15 corners later and the finish line in sight, now me thinking it was just around the corner I picked up the pace!!!! and gave it everything I had (well almost)

Coming into Echuca was great, the crowds were sensational.

Day 4 - Arriving into Swan Hill, I took the final leg of the race and paddled 21km into Swan Hill, this was great the adrenaline was pumping and I was determined to give it everything, we had slick change overs on the river and I even managed to pull off a river start on this leg, sneaking up on Emma at the checkpoint and doing a quick number change in full paddle!

Swan Hill coming around the corner to the finish was similar to a marathon, you see that finish line and the pace speeds up, your get your eye on the prize and let it rip, the banks filled with wonderful cheer and support, Annette Spotted me first, shouting support, some dude was swimming across the river and I'm like, wot tha, hes going to hit me, but no it was Jarad and just before I hit the finish line the bugger grabs hold of my rudder and stops me crossing the finish line, I paddle harder and harder till i get across than he fantastically tips me into the water, the journey was over...... and the end had come......

This was a great way to finish, team mates Emma and Annette supporting and cheering on, Jarad being Jarad and causing the crowd on the shore to break into hysterics and than me taking a dip, after a swim I did manage to get myself back in the Kayak and paddle in....

Team Peak Adventure finished third, in the Great Adventure Relay of the Murray River.

If I was to sum up this week id say:

Incredible experience on the Murray with team peak adventure, meeting new people, making new friendships, enjoying a social week, meeting fellow paddlers all coupled with an opportunity to challenge yourself along some of the most exciting rivers and picturesque backdrops in the country. YOU must experience all this, to understand it..........

I will be back next year, and if I am up to speed possibly in the full distance solo....... I need a support crew for this one, so Think about it! or paddle along next to me :)

For those who have not seen my 2011 Plans drop me an email for the info.......

Oh BTW we all raised a few dollars for charity along the Journey, which is just great, excellent work team Peak Adventure.

Cheers
Jeff

DAY 0 - Murray River Marathon - In a Kayak

This morning as I sit here in my calm cafe on Bay Street, I have no idea what is around the corner in less than 24 hours, Ill be paddleing a Kayak further than I ever have EVER in life, Can I do, I'm not so certain.

I will do one thing as I set off on the journey today, Ill try as hard as I can and do everything I possibly can.

for every day I pass the check point Ill donate $100 to a worthy charity, each day I beat my previous days effort and time (wishful thinking) and get faster ill add an extra $50 to the donation.

That being said I really dont know what else im in store for here, 404Km is a long way even if im in a relay team with Jarad and the team.

Anyways Stay Tunded for the updates.......... The Adventure begins

The approach was not quiet right! - so change it.....

When I decide to take on a challenge, its always as I did in business for many many years pick the hardest most difficult challenge, and than work at it, make it look easy and succeed, now in saying that there is a lot that happens in the middle.

I have recently had to reevaluate how I pick my challenges:

There are challenges that help you grow, there are challenges that beat you into the ground (I often pick these to teach myself a lesson, make sure I understand the pain of not doing things as I should).

The first is productive, the second is self defeating, it has taken me a while to figure out the difference between the two.... and I still haven't in its entirety and probably never will.

I had one core principle when I worked in business and was somewhat successful at what it did in a different era - Surround yourself by the best people, talent and thought leadership in what ever your doing, listen to them, learn from them and than give them the credit.

As I have moved into living a different phase of life, I have forgotten some of these principles, I have surrounded myself by the best people I can...... but that is where it has ended, I have failed to listen to them and grow from the opportunity presented - I think many of us are guilty of this, but we often don't put our hand up to take responsibility.

This came up this week, when I had a conversation ( a very uncomfortable one) with one of these people who is by far one of the best people I have surrounded myself with, (for those of you who know him its Steve), and better than I deserve looking back a couple of years ago when the journey started, his motivation and dedication to his profession has him leaps and bounds ahead of his peers, I personally hold the highest respect for him even if I dont always live the value or show it.

I haven't been listening, many people know that sometimes its not enough to just say to me I need to do something, you need to scream it from the roof tops, you need to get me uncomfortable to make the point before I let my guard down, like many of us we have many years of built up standards, values, norms and beliefs..... which can be helpful and in many cases unhelpful as we move to the next level.

I have an outstanding opportunity, many people don't have the opportunity to change there life, and to set aside an indefinite period to do it, I have had this and to continue to not would be a waste of a huge opportunity and not finishing something I have started.

I had and still have one belief that has been holding me back:

"I'm just a guy that got him self a little bit fit, and decided to run a couple of races, I am never going to win a race nor am I in the league or capable of it I should be happy with just finishing the race".

Life is defiently not about just finishing the race, its (as I had to be reminded this week) about doing the best you can do, every single time you front up to everyday life, every challenge..... and being happy with what you have done!

By me thinking I'm only ever going to be fit enough to just finish the race means, I will never ever win the race.

This has meant I have to set my self the challenge to WIN the race, what ever that is, and for a while I'm going to need to be reminded of

1. It is possible for me to win a race and
2. I need to stay focused and continue to listen to those around me .

Now this is when we come back to taking on the challenge, will I take on the self defeating challenge or will I take on the challenge that is productive, the answer is take on both, you can have big challenges, BUT you need to have a lot of little ones in between to give yourself the change to grow to it, than even the self defeating challenge is no longer self defeating.

The "BIG" Challenge Ive set myself is the North Face 100 on May 14 and 15 2011, running 100km through the rugged blue mountains in NSW.

I now need to do a few things, set myself lots of little Challenges in between so this one is not self defeating, I need to re-arrange my life with even smaller things:

1. Put food in my kitchen and cook at home, no longer can I afford the luxury of unhealthy eating (breakfast, lunch and dinner) at cafes and restaurants with the unknown in the food working against me.

2. I need to work hard every day at training, be and stay committed to WIN and GROW!

3. I need to believe I can WIN.

4. I need to learn to listen and do not be afraid to ask or accept help from others around me.

Do I have this completly upside down, let me know ?

Cheers
Jeff

The Murray River Marathon - What have I got myself in for ?

The Murray River Marathon is turning out to be something that I might have signed up to a little before I truly understood how tough it really is going to be, today I asked myself a couple of questions:

1. Am I capable of it ?
2. Do I have enough time to become capable of it ?

In any case these questions are irrelevant, I'm already committed to it.

Ive found that I do quiet enjoy doing the Kayak thing for a few reasons, its not so much the enjoyment of competing in a race, that I just love falling out of a Kayak - but rather its all about the journey.

You suck up all the courage you can, you give it all you can - and you sometimes have some setbacks, how you bounce back from these set backs is the difference between success and failure.

Pushing your body and mind far beyond anything you mentally believe you are capable of, pushing the boundaries on whats comfortable to what scares you to the core, than pushing it just that little bit further each day, every day, until you get more and more comfortable and you achieve the impossible.

For me paddling a Kayak 20 Kilometers at a time in the ocean and staying alive is the impossible - 50, 75 or 100 Kilometers would be for me the equivalent of NASA landing on the moon.

So that means I have to work harder than I ever have before, and I will try, and try just one more time every time until I nail it.

This huge event is a 404km, five day flat-water race along the mighty Murray River - bordering Victoria and New South Wales, Australia. The race starts in Yarrawonga on the 27th December and heads downstream through Tocumwal, Picnic Point, Echuca, Torrumbarry and Murrabit before finishing in Swan Hill on New Years' Eve.

If ooooops I should say WHEN I finish this one, it will set up 2011 for an amazing year of bigger and better challenges - I might even get one of the adventure races knocked over in the New Year!

55 Days and counting down - Wish me luck!

In the community we live there are many people who always have more unfortunate circumstances and challenges than we do, so ill be picking a charity to inspire me on this journey and donate to along the way. Every day if we just help someone less fortunate out, talk to someone you wouldn't normally, ask someone if they need a hand than the world becomes a nicer place to live ~ to you it may not be huge to the other person it could just be helping them achieve the impossible.


Cheers
Jeff

Jeff takes on the Adventure Race Challange: Kayak, Bike and Run.....

I have been looking for a new challenge to take up towards the end of the year and here it is:

As always it has to be a stretch for me, and the recap on the last 18 months is:

14 Marathons, 1 70Km didn't quiet make the full 100Km of the North Face 100, Kokoda trek, shed ed 20 something kilos of body fat and now:

An Adventure Race
1. Kayak (Enter a event and finish)
2. Bike (Enter a event and finish)
3. Run (Have this down, as long as its no greater than 70 kilometers)

Now we all know last time I set myself a super challenge, I didn't quiet make it (The Iron man thing). so I'm going to hold off telling anyone what that is the, actual date and time (because I don't know yet) until I have mastered the Kayak leg of the challenge.

And to add some extra inspiration, ill be donating $2,500 to a worthy charity when I cross the finish line of a seriously tough adventure race, and in the lead up ill give $500 to a charity for each of the 3 milestones above I reach.

The Kayak thing is really turning out to be a challenge, I have been out a few times, however some more successful than others, and I continue to look like a five year old being dunked in the water - I have some work to do (And no I'm not taking any photos of it - I know how much enjoyment you would all get :) ).

But like someone said to me this morning, when I was getting more than frustrated with my limited kayaking abilities, don't give up so easily...... that's a challenge in its self.

Now the goal is set, time to get serious, like months gone past I'm getting focused.....

Watch this space, as the adventure starts.

Cheers
Jeff

The San Francisco Marathon

The Wall Street Journal described the San Francisco Marathon as "The Marathon even marathoners Fear!" and the reason they say "the course is not for the casual runner", now how and why on earth did they let me in, looking even further it is understandably the hills, with the Ups and Downs that sucks in even the most experienced marathon runner.

Just when your on target and think you have it wrapped up that enticement of a down hill catch up of minutes entices you do let it rip, but trust me, as I did in this years San Francisco Marathon you pay for the time gained as your knees are pushed up high into your hips and hips up high into your rib cage.

Your Stride is eliminated, but that the challenge of doing one of the tough runs in the world, far from the toughest but a good test and benchmark for the running season, you must however set yourself up for success rather than failure, this means setting realistic goals and being excited by getting what you aim for, not letting people's opinions of a non-sub 4 diminish your achievement, even if you miss that one by minutes......

This weekend started out on the Thursday, in many respects the journey to this marathon makes the weekend just as exciting as the Marathon its self.

Thursday 6am training session, off to the office, work, plane to Sydney, work till 2am, up at 5.30am to the office by 6am, meetings, reports, work till 11am, off to the airport to not miss the 11.50am check in time, and yes I made it with 10 Min's to spare.

More work till the plane takes off, yes I really did, lots of phone calls, last minute contracts, questions etc. you don't realise how much you do till you are trying to clear half your day to be offline!

Finally the Qantas 747 takes off and I'm blacked out for 14 hours, now a few more hours of tidy up and I'm ready for the weekend.

Arrive in San Francisco 9.10am Friday morning Thank goodness for the time zone catch up, now I have a huge day of enjoying the warm weather, shopping and shopping.....

I was also trying to get all my Hiking gear for Everest and Island Peaks climbing later in the year.....

Around comes 5am Sunday morning and up I get, shower, cloths on and down to the lobby, sussing people out and eventually pairing up with a mum and her two teenage kids from San Diego, these folks doing there first Marathon were supper excited, so I ravelled in the conversation..... we were all coming first by the time the taxi hit the start line, I had around 5 Min's till start time, and before I know it I'm off.....

Pretty happy with the fitness I have done this better than last year, the pace was steady and I was not focused on any particular time.... Hit the Bridge always a spectacular sight and experience to run the 1.8 miles across.....

The Hills, the people all fantastic, I hit the half marathon finish and was very comfortable, I was thinking I could very happily finish at this point....

But on we head for another 13.1 miles, this is when the real work starts, every one knows the race is run in the second half and even the last few miles.....

I got sucked in by the 3.50 pace group catching me, so I paced on for about 10 miles with these guys, hoping to stay ahead of the time, evert time they leveled I sprint ahead and give myself some breathing room, than when we hit the Castro.... one very long down hill for a few miles, was when I got carried away, down hill I must have gained a good 5-10 minutes over the pacers but this was a fatal mistake in coming in on a sub 4 time..... from this point my stride significantly reduced, pain crept in and the muscles stiffened up, 3 miles out the pacers pass me on a small incline that my leg muscles just couldn't keep up with.....

The rest is history, this was a very successful weekend, but again a lesson learnt about listening to your head and not getting carried away with the moment!

Crossing the finish line like a champion, I held my head high on this occasion, getting my medal and making my way back up to nob hill, to the hotel.

But let me tell you no more shopping or sightseeing, straight off to the airport, and I'm on a plane to LAX, into the louge when time aligns to Australian time, and fit in a days work before boarding my flight back to Australia......

A lost bag in Sydney, but they got it to me later that night.....

What can I say now all kitted out for Everest, I have the enthusiasm to get my body back to its peak by October....

In the mean time a half marathon in August, and hopefully some else that spikes my interest before October....

Cheer
Jeff

Gold Coast Marathon

I choose the Gold Coast Marathon as the benchmark for the San Francisco Marathon, in an effort to see how my fitness was or how much work I would need to do in the next 3 weeks for the main run.

However, like most things in life, the best layed plans never go to plan:

Friday had come around and I started work at 6am in order to get an early departure from the office, heading down to the airport, I felt ok, but a few hours later on the flight my stomach started to tell me things were just not right.

I boarded a mini bus in Brisbane headed for the Gold Coast, which was kind of fun, the bus was full of people doing the marathon, a couple from NZ, a Couple from Melbourne and a couple from Geelong doing their first ever marathon.
The two hour bus ride went like a flash, marathon and adventure stories being told amongst the group, I even found myself giving words of wisdom to first time marathoners HOW Funny !!!!!!
My biggest piece of advice, 1. Finish and 2. Make sure you let everyone know wear that finishers medal! You earnt it! – But really no pacing, GU’s and all things running

I ended up struggling through the night, cracking open my first aid kit with anti nausea tablets, and a few other things......
Went and registered Saturday Morning than back to the hotel to rest, by 8ish I was in a world of pain, stomach cramps, and a few other undesirable things......

Taking strength from my last commitment to never give up by 10ish into a taxi and off to the medical centre, now this Dr Mitchell was awesome, he knew exactly what to give me to get me ready in 7 hours, and more than that he was a positive person, he even told me of how he had seen Steve Monagetti a few days earlier with exactly the same thing, and how he was going to try and run a 3hr marathon...... hmmmm now the parting words he left me I hope you do run the marathon......

Ok off to bed and waking 6.30am toss and turn will I won’t I, remember you must try! I get up and jump into my running gear, than into the taxi, pin on my bib, put on my shoes in the taxi, now Face book and Angela was a huge motivator, calling me nuts and egging me on!
I got to the start line, no food in two days, can’t keep down fluids, stomach cramps and I am going to run a marathon in a world of pain before the start.
I started, no watch no goals apart from finishing, I just ran, and ran and ran, the difference was I stopped and composed my stomach cramps, I slowed, I walked, I crawled but I never ever gave up.
It was the mental strength required to achieve...... this had a special meaning; it proved to me I could do more than I thought I could.
I finished in a little over 5 hours, far from my regular times, but I had such a smug glowing sense of satisfaction, back to the hotel, shower pack up ....... oh #@$% the stomach cramps UNBEARABLE, into the shower, than out BOOK the next available flight to Melbourne, off to the airport slumped over and waiting for a airplane.....
Really sore, off for a massage Monday – than trying to get well again!
This was a benchmark alright, will I beat it in San Francisco – I am reluctant to make a prediction if the last two challenges can tell me anything, anything can and will go wrong, be prepared for the unexpected, be comfortable with being uncomfortable......
Than every challenge will be a success...........

Stay tuned for San Francisco in a couple of weeks, than later on the Mt Everest Base Camp and Island Peak at 6,119 meters

Some Serious Challenges ahead!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cheers
Jeff