The 200 Mile Grind....

Man, where does one start with a blog on running 200miles (320k!).  I am not exactly sure but I think I will use this platform to comment on a few things, answer a few common questions I have got and generally rant about what was an EPIC outing!So, since hearing about 200mile events about a year and a half ago, I haven't been able to get the thought out of my head....'what would it be like to move as quickly and efficiently over that distance?'  So, after much pondering, planning and consideration, I decided that on my 34th Birthday I would set out to run from my home in Bargara to Kai Coffee Rostery in Warana on the Sunshine Coast.  As most of you probably know by now, I am soon to open my own specialty coffee shop and I am getting my beans from Kai, thus the final destination.  It just so happened that it was nearly crack on the distance too!  Winner winner tofu dinner!I was possibly a little under prepared (from a logistical point of view, not physical) for this event as I have been ridiculously busy organising stuff for the cafe.  I did however have an awesome crew in my mate Andrew, Ambo and good friend Terry, my ever awesome Dad and another mate Rod to meet me on Friday sometime.  With these guys, how could I fail, just wing it.....its just a short run right!?So, after much discussion, packing and crew meetings, at 4am on the 10th of November, 2016 we all met at my place and casually head off for the start of this adventure.  I had my good friend Nix join me for the first bit of the run so this was nice to ease into things.  Once she left I fell into a good routine and the crew quickly found their feet.  Day one was HOT....like we recorded 41deg celsius on the car thermometer!  It was so hot the bitumen was melting and when I stood in patches my shoe print would remain!  This was to be a big issue and one that would slow me down a little, destroy my feet and make nutrition incredibly important!  We quickly came up with a strategy to keep my core cool.  This involved wearing a cotton shirt and keeping it soaked, a hat which would get soaked every stop and wearing a buff (neck bandana) and putting ice in it every stop.  This plan saved me in the heat and certainly contributed to the trips success.Q.  What did you eat and drink?Well, this varied a little between the day and night but generally I had a bottle of fluid every 35-50min (stops) and alternated between water and sports drink.  Then at the car I would have another few cups of fluid (water, sports drink, coffee or soft drink), an electrolyte tablet every hour and eat at each stop.  My food ranged from gels, bars, sandwiches, wraps, chips, fruit, soup, noodles,  home made slices and cake.  I don't remember an event where my nutrition was so spot on.  I really have Terry to thank for this and if it wouldn't have been so on point, I wouldn't have made it!Throughout the first day I had Andrew and Dad join me intermittently however I was trying to get them to save themselves as I knew I would need them through the night and later in the trip.Q.  How were my feet?Well, on day one, just outside Aldershot, my left foot felt like a massive blister pushed out the front of my foot, toward my toes.  It was incredibly painful and I honestly thought I was going to have to walk the rest of the way.  This later also happened to my right foot and again, was incredibly painful.  Given Terry's medical training, he was able to keep my feet clean, patched up and taped.  I have never had to do this before but again, if I wouldn't have done this and taken the time to air them out at 'sleep' stops, I think I would have been stopped in my tracks!Toward the end of the first day, an old mate Marty came out to see us a couple of times which was awesome for some banter and laughs.  We thought we would make Maryborough by dark but it was pretty apparent this wouldn't happen.  After some dinner we eventually got off the highway (thank you Jesus!) and tried to avoid the 'special' people out on a Thursday night in Maryborough!  Oh my gosh!  Dad had joined me on the road at about nightfall and would keep me company for some time!Q.  How far did your Dad do with you?Well, just over 200km!  He is a mad man but I am so super grateful to have had him with me and I wouldn't have made it without him.The first night was relatively un-eventful, just trying my best to keep moving.  The heat sucked the energy out of me through the day so we thought it best that I have a little break/sleep before sun up.  I laid down on the swag for about an hour, aired my feet, ate when I woke and then got back on the road.Q.  Did I sleep?Yep, I had an hour the first night, about 45min restless sleep the second afternoon and an hour and a quarter the second night.  So, three hours in total.Upon getting going again the second morning, I was surprised that my legs and body felt pretty good again.  This was the case after every sleep, I would wake up pretty refreshed and full of running.  This section I again did with Dad and enjoyed the hospitality of the logging trucks.  They were great with giving us room on the road.  Through this period, Rod joined us and we made some good time.  Even with our stops, we covered 50k in eight hours.  Happy with that!  After a little further distance to the next major turn, I had my second little time out and let my feet air out.  Pretty much the whole way they were painful but I slugged through.  Thats what we ultra runners do!  After waking up and having a massive vege burger I was off again.This section of the trip was stunning!  Beautiful countryside, national parks and rolling countryside.  I got a lovely surprise through here from my mate Jody and it was good to see him for a little catch up.  A little further down the road, I got the surprise of all surprises when my friends from Emerald, Meagan and Sammy turned up un-announced. It was SO great to see them and share some k's together.  Another surprise visit from good family friends John and Helen happened and kept my spirits high.Again at nightfall the wild man joined me and we were to slog together through to the start of the Sunshine Coast.  At one point, Andrew was also with us and a large tiger snake was standing up, only a few meters ahead of us, ready to strike.  If I needed any waking up, this did the job!  Eventually he got off the road and the adventure continued.Q.  What way did you go?We went the back way to Childers and along the highway to Maryborough.  From there we went the back way to Tin Can Bay before heading back toward Gympie.  Before reaching town we turned off and went the back way (I believe Pomona Kin-Kin Road etc) through to Tewantin.  We then followed the David Low Way through to Warana.I was starting to get pretty tired through this section but eventually made the decision to try and get through to Tewantin before having a lay down.  I didn't quite get that far as the section from 10k-5k out I think I spent more time with my eyes closed than open!  I was STAGGERING all over the road and was prepared to literally lay down on the bitumen and sleep!  I was never so happy as to see the support car at that point for my last sleep stop.After waking and re-strapping my feet again, it was time to finish this bad boy!  Although I still had just over 50k to go, I was so close in the big scheme of things I knew I was going to make it.  My good mate Tim came out to see me as I was coming into Noosa and we managed to have a quick chat while I kept moving.  Once we hit David Low Way, I met up with best bud Jason and later Clint, Lisa and the kids.  These boys kept me company and I really appreciate them hanging with me, even though I was slow.  We met Anna (Jasons wife) at Mudjimba and upon getting up from this food break, the body started to break.  My knee which had been hurting on and off through the run cracked it.  I could not run, I could barely walk!  It was so painful!  This was about 25k out so it was going to be a little bit of a slow slog in.  Later I was  able to shuffle about 20steps but that was my limit.  I continued to have friends join me along the way including our good friend for a number of years now, Lionel joining us on his bike at Maroocydoore and it was awesome to have his positive energy the rest of the way. The coastal part of the trip was enjoyable but a tad disappointing as I would have loved to have been running.  My knee just wouldn't let me.  We had a great time though again catching up with Tim and Lisa and plenty of waves and chats with bike riders and runners along the way.  Eventually we got down to Kai and I was ready to be DONE!  Sean (the owner) did a great job of organising a little party and once the running was done, we sat around, ate some food, had some brews and un-wound.  What an adventure!I ended up completing the 320km journey in 57hrs 30min.  In reflection, I really can not believe I made it and that it really even happened!  I am really proud of myself and honoured that I got the opportunity to attempt such a big feat.  I want to apologies if I forget anyone but I just want to say a massive thanks to my crew.  This was a team effort and I wouldn't have made it without you.  My family for their support and my friends who met me along the way.  Sean for hosting us for the finish and Jason and Anna for having all us stinky boys stay.  A HUGE thanks to James, Pete and Karly of Costi Farms (best macadamias round!) for their on-going support.  Without your sponsorship, this event would have been extremely difficult so from the bottom of my heart, thank you for believing in me enough to help me attempt and achieve my adventures!  If any of you want to see more photos or video, please of to my Instagram of Facebook at Adventures and Activism I would love your follow and there are some crackers on there!I think this one will take a while to unwind from but what a memory it will be for a life time!  I can't believe I made it!  If there is anything I have learnt in life its that if you want something enough, set your mind, body and spirt to it and get after it!  Dont let anyone tell you you can't do something you want to!  Life is an adventure to be lived, so whatever you want to chase, go hard at it and give it a crack.  If you fall short or fail, re-assess, come back stronger and do it!  You are incredible and I believe in you!  Life is short, go get it!Lastly, I mentioned that I am in the process of opening a specialty coffee shop/health cafe in Bargara.  This has been a dream of mine for about 4-5years now and it has been a challenge in itself, but it is happening!  As part of the run, I have launched a Go Fund Me page where you can help sponsor some kids by my donating a portion of donations to Kais program, get yourself some free coffees dependant on how much you donate and also help my dream become a reality!  Please consider donating and please share the link around.  I am closing the campaign Thursday so PLEASE do what you can.  If you click here or share this link https://www.gofundme.com/3z-the-journey you will find out more info and how to donate.Thank you all individually for sharing in all my antics!  I am hoping to have the shop up and running by Christmas or at the latest VERY early in the new year so the adventures will slow up a little.  But don't worry!  There will still be plenty of antics The Tattoo Runner will get up to!  Much love my friends!  Have a rad weekend and hope to see you soon!