Top 5 things I learned walking 60km #coastrek
Top 5 things I learned from walking 60km #sunshinecoastrek (Anna).
- You are capable of so much more than you realise.
We were all up for this challenge, BUT we were not as well prepared as would have liked to have been.. Life just kind-of got in the way of our training. As we laid out our supplies in anticipation for the following morning’s walk, we were all nervous about what we were undertaking. My gorgeous brother-in-law, who himself had recently undertaken a 60km charity walk sent us a message and his words of advice were “to literally take it one step at a time” and that is what we did. We had no expectation of time/ how long we would stop/ how fast we would go/ no strategy.. but we just kept putting one foot in front of the other, one step at a time and before we knew it – we had done 60 km! I cannot tell you how proud and elated we were to finish and finish so strongly.
- It feels good to step outside of your comfort zone… really!
Our comfort zone definitely does not lie in walking for almost 11 hours to cover a distance that we would barely drive in the course of a couple of days, so for the four of us, this really was a big step outside of that zone. The funny thing about your comfort zone, is just that – it is comfortable. We feel good there. Most of us like to stay there, most of the time (me included!). To step outside of it means putting yourself out there and shock horror, perhaps failing! But what I did realise is that the longer you stay in your comfort zone, you never realise just what you might be able to achieve.. You stagnate a bit. One thing I’m pretty sure of – stagnating is not my ambition.
- Nutrition really does matter.
Being as underdone as we were, we paid a lot of attention to what we were eating and drinking and how often. And guess what? It really does matter. Whether it is during an 11 hour walk or just during your everyday life – nutrition makes a big difference and really does matter. Remember that food is your body’s only fuel – avoid the cheap and nasty and feed it the premium stuff! (To read more on whole foods nutrition click here).
- Your tribe makes ALL the difference!!
We talk about it all the time here at Soul Sister Health – find your tribe. Your tribe are those people who help to keep you accountable, who motivate and inspire you to better health! I had the privilege of walking with 3 girls who I am so proud to call my Tribe (in fact our official team name was OUR TRIBE! ;-)).
We had such fun, talked non-stop for 11 hours and managed to still have stories to tell the following day! We passed so many teams who looked sad, a little down-trodden and were really struggling. Some who had fragmented and split from their group of four. And a couple of teams, who even asked us to pass on some of our energy! There is no doubt in my mind that our group of 4 did what we did because we were a TEAM and were in it together. Our Tribe made all the difference and I would do it all again, with those 3 chicks, tomorrow.
- Last, but not least, the Sunshine Coast is truly a stunning part of this world. Stunning.
Anna x
