Trans Australian Foot Race

Wow, the Trans Australian foot race is one of the most gruelling events I have ever competed in. Imagine running 3,000 miles across Australia. Well that’s exactly what I did in January this year, and as crazy as it sounds I am looking forward to next year’s event. It’s not every day that you can say you have run from the west coast of Australia all the way to Australia’s capital, Canberra. But that’s exactly what I did when I competed in this years Trans Australia Foot Race, all with the assistance of my trusty hydration pack, could you imagine not having easy access to fluid in an event like this?

My preparation for the Trans Australian Foot Race was good, but there was some strong competition in this event, with a field of competitors from around the world. I thought for sure I would show the American and European Competitors a thing or too seeing I was used to the harsh Australian conditions. But I have to say, there was one competitor from Istanbul, who had obviously done his home work and came prepared with custom made hydration pack, which held not only all his necessary kit and fluid, but was also custom made to fit his body perfect.

Well ok, it wasn’t custom made, but he had shopped around until he found the hydration pack, that met all of his needs. He had even sat down before the event and worked out his exact fluid needs for each day based on humidity and temperature expectations. Now that is commitment and I thought I had really prepared – it just shows you the lengths that some people will go to so that they get the competitive edge over everyone.

I can’t say I did to badly though, because at the end of the day, or I should probably say six weeks that the Trans Australian Foot Race takes, I was able to stay up with my mate from Istanbul, I have to thank my trusty hydration pack for that. While everyone was dropping because they didn’t have enough fluid intake my Istanbul buddy and I just kept going neck and neck, drinking from our hydration packs as we continued running along into no where. I never realised how straight and boring the Nullabor Plain could be when you are running.

All in all though I felt great during this gruelling event. I was able to keep my fluid intake up, so the harsh Australian temperatures didn’t affect me too much and better yet my hydration pack has its own storage compartments, so I had everything from food and first aid kits at my finger tips so I didn’t have to stop for anything (except the odd Camel crossing the road) throughout the event. I suppose you are wondering where I came at the end of the event, well I didn’t win this one, but lets just say, I did well enough to make myself proud and to me, that