What are you training for?

I wanted to challenge myself this morning. I wanted to be able to get to the top of the Kokoda Track steps without stopping.

Sounds easy - well if you saw the video from the last time I did it, you might realise it's not as easy as it looks as it's virtually straight up the Mt Eliza escarpment.

But training is all about beating your personal bests, and I have always considered that the Kokoda Track steps have beaten me - what I didn't know 2 weeks ago though was I actually had a glandular infection and sinusitis. I sorta figured the sinus infection, but the glandular bit - no. But it probably explains why I've not felt particularly well for a while. Anyway, antibiotics or no, I was going to push myself a little harder today.

First time down the steps was a warm up, at the bottom I shook off the stiffness in my knees and started the climb back up - 155 steps, plus long stretches of uphill walking to get to the top. I stopped once. Catching my breath at the top I realised a major mistake in my plan... no water, and no fountains...darn. 2nd time down and back up I took the first part of the climb slower and didn't stop until I got to the top - yee ha. But now I made a second challenge for myself - 5 times up and down - at around 300 steps per return trip that would make a good 1500 steps - and I did it in about 40 minutes - but time wasn't important. Fitness was.

There were a lot of people there this morning, most of them wearing hiking boots and backpacks, and me being me, chatted as we passed.

3 were training for a climb to the Base Camp at Everest, another gentleman was training for a 190km walk around the foothills of Mt Blanc and was planning on doing Kokoda up and down 10 times. Then there was a 60 something lady who had trained on Kokoda for a walk across Spain a couple of years ago,. When she got back she carried on her twice weekly regime - saying she didn't want to lose her level of fitness. Well, talk about fit - she beat me up the steps, she was also going to do the 242 steps of Jacbobs Ladder (1 way) therefore 484 return - 5 times and climb Mt Street on the outskirts of Kings Park also 5 times - and she would do that before going home.

But as you and I know, you have to start somewhere - but it does make my 12km City to Surf walk look a little weedy in comparison.

As my 60 something walking companion said though - it was good to find out what others were doing - as they would inspire you to achieve your own personal goals.

And it is true.

So - what are you training for?