On the weekend I went to the Bunya Mountains and enjoyed a relaxing and exercise filled weekend thanks to a very kind invitation from one of my training partners and his wife. We stayed at their beautiful home “Characters”.

On Saturday my friend and I did 8.6km kilometres of hill and rainforest running.
There were wallabies everywhere plus we also feed some parrots!

We also went on a Clydesdale carriage ride into the rainforest and had the yummiest damper and billy tea and sampled roasted bunya nuts. The horses can get up to quite a fast pace, it was very exciting! Please contact Allan Govan on 4668 3115 if you are interest in the horse and carriage ride, you won’t be disappointed.

That evening we enjoyed a delicious 3 course meal at local restaurant Puzzles at Rice’s Log Cabin, ph: 4668 3133. We started with bunya nut bread then I had pumpkin, sweet potato & zucchini soup, chicken for my main, followed by five different desserts on the one plate. The food was absolutely scrumptious and the service friendly and prompt! 

Sunday it was off for a 17km hike through the rainforest to the Wescott Picnic area and back, followed by a huge BBQ lunch back at our gorgeous 3 story accommodation.

We warmly welcome you to our mountain paradise, peacefully nestled adjacent to 1,700ha of subtropical rainforest National Park, where we offer you eco-tourism accommodation and function facilities with the magical Bunya Mountain difference Experience the Bunya Mountains where…Time stops and Paradise begins

To find out more on accommodation at the Bunya Mountains please click here. 

The Bunya’s are the most beautiful place, I had the experience of a life time and I can’t wait to go back!

Yesterday I set off with some mates to map out the route for a trail run across Fraser Island to be hosted later in the year (click here to subscribe for info on the event). I hiked / jogged 25km from Kingfisher Bay Resort to Eurong Resort the width of Fraser Island. We ran though bush, soft sand and beautiful rain forest. The 25km part of the trek took 5:45mins with a few breaks.

After lunch & a recharge break at Eurong the boys headed on further completing another 23km’s going up the beach to Lake Wabby, tackling a huge sand dune and came back around to meet us at the 4wd.

We were all thoroughly exhausted at the end of the day. I enjoyed a huge steak before we got the 8.30pm barge home last night.

It was an AWESOME ADVENTURE but I’m very stiff today!

Another beautiful day in Hervey Bay, that’s what!

This morning’s exercise regime:
10km bike ride, 3km run, 1000 steps, 300 sit ups + some SUPping (Stand Up Paddle Boarding)
…. followed by bacon, eggs and coffee.

The ocean was crystal clear this morning.

Life is good! 

Blast from the past for my readers, some info on my experience in the 2001 Darwin Beer Can Regatta:

Though I did WIN:
2001 -Winner Darwin Beer Can Regatta; Best Beer Can Boat (A trophy)
2001 – Winner Darwin Beer Can Regatta; Best Beach Attire (A cheque) 

 I had the initiative to contact XXXX head office in Brisbane and asked them if they would sponsor my boat and supply me 3,000 sealed cans.

They were happy to do this and freighted the cans in two large boxes to me in Darwin plus supplied some mens XXXX t-shirts, a flag and stickers.
All I had to do then was enclose the cans in chicken fence wire to make my 6 seater catamaran as the cans were sealed.
There were no gluing cans together so I saved heaps of time and knew I would float! (Quite ingenious really!!!) 

I and my team of friends had an Absolute ball!!!

THE TEN CAN-MANDMENTS

1. Thou shalt enter the event in the right spirit

2. Thou shalt build the craft of cans.

3. The craft shall float by cans alone.

4. Thou shalt not drown.

5. Thou shalt not take the name of the craft in vain. Any craft bearing signs or lettering that may be offensive will be barred.

6. Thou shalt not drift from the straight and narrow and end up at Mandorah.

7. Thou shalt not protest too much.

8. Thou shall honor thy Committee.

9. Thou shalt not commit adultery – nothing really to do with the Regatta, but it gives us an air of responsibility and respect.

10. Thou shalt go back and read the first can-mandment again.

That’s my New Years Resolution!

And unfortunately it’s not a 6 pack of Pure Blonde BEER, it’s to do with my stomach muscles!!!! OMG

Today’s training 12km bike ride, 1500 stairs, 200 sit ups + 80 push ups! TICK!

Bring it on, HOOYAH!

Today at 10.30am I went to Changes Gym in Hervey Bay for my first ever ZUMBA class.

Ricky Salomao our Instructor is from Rio in Brazil and certainly put us through a FUN & High energy workout!

Ricky was extremely funny as he instructed us how to do our Latin fitness moves to the pumped up Latin music.

The Zumba® program fuses hypnotic Latin rhythms and easy-to-follow moves to create a one-of-a-kind fitness program that will blow you away. Our goal is simple: We want you to want to work out, to love working out, to get hooked.

….. click here to learn more.

Ricky also mentioned to me he would be training people to take over to tackle the Kokoda Trail plus doing adventure & training days on Fraser Island. I’m in!!!!

I can’t wait till he returns from vacation in January so I can start attending regular ZUMBA classes!

Saturday night was the hugest Salsa Party to date with over 200 people dancing up a Salsa storm @ the Bayswater. 

The fun started at lunch time with Hervey Bay’s Jeanette Maynes from Design House and event manager of the Salsa Group parading the incredible Latin dance performers from Vida Latina Dance Co. along our Esplanade at Torquay promoting their upcoming performance; Latin Fantasy “Lolita’s Story’ creating quite a stir ….. click here to read more about the party and view the gallery.

A big Thank You to the Vida Latina Dance Troupe, I Harte Latin, the Bayswater Hotel, Design House, Fraser Coast Chronicle & the Salsa Group and all those who attended making these nights possible!!!!

Recently I had my first go on a SUP (Stand Up Paddleboard) when my best mates husband brought his to town; story here. The following day at Scarness when SUPING he was approached by Enzo who was inquisitive about the boards and bringing them to the bay.

Well, when having a coffee this afternoon at Enzo’s on the Beach Cafe what did a spot but a SUP!!!!!!

How exciting!
I spoke to Enzo to find out the go and to hire one is $40 for an hour or I think $50 an hour if you require a lesson.

To buy a OXBOW SUP brand new from Enzo you would be looking at:
10’6 foot SUP $1,495
Carbon Paddle (light) $395 or Aluminium Paddle (adjustable height) $195
Pads (No slip rubber) $295 

I know what I will be doing this weekend!!! 

Call Enzo today for more info: 07 4124 6375

Yesterday it was off to destination unknown with our local Hervey Bay Beachfit Trainers & Commando! We left by bus at 7am and were home just before 4pm. 

Our first destination being Mt Walsh at Biggenden which we climbed taking 01:16mins to complete. It was extremely steep, slippery and quite scary in some places and you could certainly feel the burn in your calves on the way up and quads on the way down! 

Rangers Warning; only experienced walkers should attempt the 2·5 hour hike to the summit of Mt Walsh. 

Next we were dropped at a gate near Lenthalls Dam and instructed to run to the Boat Ramp. This turned out being over 5km on a dirt road in the very hot sun! We then had to blow up our inflatable kayaks and do 6 laps per team around the lilly pads in the middle of the dam. On completion we undertook an orientation course with several amusing tasks including, swinging out over a river, making a balloon doll, jogging with our legs tied together. All tasks had to be photographed to prove we had completed what was required. This took us 01:46mins. 

By the time we had our delicious healthy lunch we were thoroughly exhausted! 

The team I was in team WON in the end by ONE point! 96 to 95 …. What an extremely well planned course to achieve such a close result! 

I thoroughly enjoyed a low carb beer on the way home thanks to Emma! What an AWESOME day, can’t wait for the next one!

Activity 4 (Sunday) 

Mt Coolum

Mount Coolum is an isolated volcanic dome, 208 metres in height, roughly circular in outline, covering a plan area of approximately 1 square kilometre. Geologically, it is principally composed of sodium and potassium rich rhyolite with some sandstone surrounds. Potassium-argon dating gives and age of between 25 and 26 million years. One of the most notable features of the mountain geology is the striking columnar / crystal jointing patterns clearly visible both on the main cliffs and the faces of the disused quarry….. click here to learn more.

Activity 2 (Saturday)

I ran a PB time of 01:01:01, I’m still yet to crack the hour. Unfortunately I found the km signs along the track confusing for the 10km and half marathon and I was about 7mins off track for some reason…. if I had of realised I was really only one minute off cracking the hour not 7 I could have pushed harder; very disappointing, oh well next time!

I kept to tradition and enjoyed a huge bacon, eggs & coffee after my run followed by some W’SUP (Satand Up Paddle Boarding) in Twin Waters Canel.

This morning I went to Burrum Heads and survived my first attempt at using a Stand Up Paddle board (SUP) which seems to be the latest rage at Maroocydore. The technique had been around since the 1960’s and benefits the user with a strong core workout. I also felt my legs muscles being used while keeping my balance. A new Stand Up Paddle board costs $2,000 +……

Stand up paddle surfing (SUP), or in the Hawaiian language Hoe he’e nalu, is an emerging global sport with a Hawaiian heritage. It can be traced back to the early days of Polynesia. The sport is an ancient form of surfing, and began as a way for surfing instructors to manage their large groups of learner surfers, as standing on the board gave them a higher viewpoint, increasing visibility of what was going on around them – such as incoming swell….. click here to learn more.

Yesterday I ran 10km in the Bridge to Brisbane along with a record 45,265 other people!

The first ever Bridge to Brisbane was 12 years ago.
I was up at 4am to make my way to the event.
At 6.25am the gun went then after half an hour later I finally reached the start line and had to immediately tackle the Gateway Bridge. There was a strong breeze and it was pretty hot in some sections. I finished in 1:07ish, slower than usual but the two bridges took a bit more effort than other runs I’ve been on.

The last contestant crossed the finish line about 11.20am; five hours after the first 10km runners left the Gateway Bridge.

The race was extremely well organised and I was excited to be a part of the big event. Only criticism there was nowhere near enough portaloo’s for 45,000 runners, they could have had at least 3 to 4 times what was provided!

Official Result: I came 11,806th place in the time of I:07:51 ….. (Note to self for next year; don’t have a big night out at the Casino on the Friday before!)

After recently completing my fourth month of Bootcamp I was looking for another challenge and decided a 24km run across beautiful Fraser Island should do the trick.

I thought to achieve this I would need a team of fit, motivated ladies that liked a good laugh & chat!!! Therefore as usual Emma was a definate from the start and Robyn, Yvonne & Heidi (Beachfit Instructor) volunteered at a later date to be part of the “NO EXCUSES” team proudly sponsored by Design House.

On Saturday we laughed, chatted and took numerous photos as we slogged it out through soft sand, bush tracks and rainforest trails. We started at Kingfisher Bay, running past Lake McKenzie and finished at Central Station. There were a couple of close calls when Yvonne nearly twisted an ankle and towards the end we had to resort to some Panadol at the 22km mark to take the edge off the pain in our legs! Having never run more that 10km before (excluding Heidi) we couldn’t believe that all up we would have run more than 19km + of the course.

The 24km distance took us 3:41mins (Heidi coming in at 1:58mins). We achieved this by focusing on ‘bar & spa’ our goal at the end!

Design House also sponsored our 24km finisher’s medals at the end to keep as a reminder of our big achievement. What an amusing & challenging day with some fun & inspirational ladies, who are now the face of Queensland trail running, click here to read more!

The event was organised by Greg from traQ (Trail Running Association of Queensland):

Another tough day in paradise! Yes that’s some of our runners relaxing in the spa pool at Kingfisher lodge, Fraser Island. This group of four were tempted to enter by their BeachFit instructor Heidi, never having run further than 10km before. All four finished the 24km to Central Station, resisting the tempting fallback option of stopping half-way at Lake McKenzie.…..click here to read more.

We had a fantastic time, the event was really well organised and can’t wait for the next one!!!

Today after seven months from my initial test I decided to test My Real Age again, which you can do here;
Click here, What’s your Real Age?

I’m very happy with my new result, now being -2.4 years younger than my real age!
Bootcamp must be working!
NO Pain, NO Gain!

What is Your Real Age?
Are you happy or is it time to do something about it!!!

[Related Story here]

Fraser Island Adventure 2009: (24km) Sat 22 Aug

Once a year opportunity for an affordable visit to Queensland’s most beautiful offshore island, limited places for 50 runners and 30 overnight walkers.
Online entry open, link here.

Two options;

24k: Run from Kingfisher Bay Resort via Lake McKenzie and Pile Valley to lunch at Central Station. Lift back by bus including stopover at Lake McKenzie.
Walkers to Lake McKenzie also welcome. 

Trek: 4WD bus drop-off to Central Station campsite; walk your chosen route out, for example returning to Kingfisher Bay via Basin Lake and Lake McKenzie.

Chop Chop you have till Friday to register! Click here to find out more….  

[Information & images via TRAQ]

This morning it was up early at 7am for an 8km run with the Fraser Coast Runners & Walkers Club.

We started at Gataker’s Bay at Point Vernon running around to the boat ramp just past the Gables then back being 4km, repeating this to complete the 8km. 

It was a beautiful morning and the scenery was sensational with magnificent views of the whole Bay! On completion we enjoyed a coffee, snacks, a chat, congratulated the winner’s on their race times & prizes were drawn. 

What a friendly bunch of people to let us join in there run and social activities. I can’t wait for the next one! 

For more information on the Club and upcoming walks / runs please click here .

Sunday it was up early for the Viridian Noosa Half Marathon 10km run.

My friend Emma & I had a perfect day with over 2,000 competitors taking part on a totally flat course along the scenic Noosa Sound & Gympie Terrace. The organisation, registration & race kit systems, volunteers and overall event was extremely professional and well run.

The only negative for me was the race started at 8.05am so it was after 9am by the time I finished making it pretty hot for me to be running in the sun at this hour of the day.

Other than that we had a fantastic run and fun time in Noosa. I had the best meal ever the night before at Krung Thep a Thai restaurant overlooking the Noosa River where I enjoyed delicious Satay Chicken washed down with Crown Lager!

I took 6.06 mins off my best time completing the course in 01:01:27mins though at the 9km mark I was really debating why I was running this far!

We thoroughly enjoyed and deserved our beer and spa after the race. (One must have balance it their life!)

Not sure when I’ll do my next 10km run as it certainly takes it out of you, especially backing up with Bootcamp at zero five three zero hours the following morning!

Yesterday, after an exhausting few days of Bootcamp, exercising & latin dancing, I decided I better have a back & shoulder massage to ease out some of the pain & stiffness before this Sundays 10km run.

Through word of mouth I have found a very good masseur who works from home.
The environment is clean, friendly, comfortable & very relaxing. 
Cheryl Virgo of Virgo’s Natural Therapies is very professional finding knots and pain in different muscles I didn’t even know was there till she felt it out. I can then certainly feel the pain and tightness that she works out with ease using various massage techniques.

Cheryl  specialises & is qualified in;
-       Polarity Therapy
-       Foot Reflexology
-       Therapeutic Massage
-       Remedial Massage
-       Hawaiian Hot Stone Massage
-       Aromatherapy
-       Shiatsu

Contact Cheryl today if you would also like a relaxing and revitalising experience on 0416 169 915 or 4123 6630.  Appointments required, servicing Maryborough & Hervey Bay areas.

I can’t wait for my next massage!