OMG! Only two weeks till we’re off and walking! Again! For the last few months 3 of us have been training for the Oxfam Trailwalker Sydney event. Doing really long walks seems to get into your blood. Maybe it’s the challenge, the scenery, the team work, or the chance to raise money for good causes. Or maybe its just the chance to eat anything we want, because we’ll burn it off! We will burn it off, won’t we?

This is our second Trek for Timor. Last year, a group of us went down to Kangaroo Valley and really enjoyed the challenge of the walk and the beauty of the Valley. Not to mention the superb organization, wonderful volunteers and fabulous muffins at the checkpoints. We couldn’t resist the chance to do it again in our own backyard.

There’s a little bit of trepidation though. With 10 feet in the team, there’s 50 toenails under threat, 20 knees to strap, countless blisters to anticipate. This year’s Trek looks like a real challenge. Lots of steep ascents and descents, some creek crossings, firetrails and, of course, that big climb at the end.

The real excitement hasn’t hit yet, but it’s building. The lists are being made – have we got enough trail mix, carbs, chocolate, electrolyte drinks, band aids, blister blocks, spare shirts and extra socks? Have we trained enough?

We’ve done enough long walks to know that fitness is just part of it. The thing that makes the real difference is how well the team works together, supports each other, and encourages each other to take just one more step. A good support crew is vital – they feed us, encourage us, massage our sore bits, and make sure we don’t spend too much time at the checkpoints. Without each other, we wouldn’t make it.

So, ready or not, Trek for Timor, here we come!

Sharron from the Bush Lemon Tarts