‘Strong’ is a mindset
‘You’re looking strong,’ said one of the coaches as he walked past. He wasn’t in the class I was taking, but he was nearby, taking a private PT client. He took the time to walk past so he could tell me the change he could see in me, since I’d announced, 8 months prior to his entire gym, that I planned to take on the Kokoda Track.
I grinned.
‘I know,’ I thought to myself.
Instead I just said thanks. And that I apprecaited him saying that.
And I really did.
But what I appreciated even more was that I didn’t need to hear it.
For the first time in my life I didn’t require a single piece of external validation to confirm what I already knew – that I was strong. That I could do it. That after 6 months of hard training, I was ready.
That I was ready to take on Kokoda.
Sometimes, it’s important to ignore your family
My family thinks I’m idiotic to be carrying my own pack. My Grandad, bless his soul, concerned and direct as ever, called me stupid. My mother, a perpetual worry-wart, offered to pay the $700 for a local villager to carry my shit for me.
I refused of course.
And now it’s my pride that’s on the line. I want to prove what I already know – that I can do it.
I’m not stupid enough to think it will be easy. Or that I won’t hate most – if not all – of it.
But I’ve come to believe that I can endure it. Survive it. Conquer it.
And that’s all I’m really asking of myself at this point.
Kokoda Track Predictions
- Sleep will suck. I have a penchant for king beds and memory foam. I’ll be getting a blow up mattress and a fold up pillow.
- My mind will falter long before my body does.
- My body will falter long after I think it will.
- I’ll cry.
- I’ll accidentally (or maybe even on purpose) eat meat. Girl’s gotta eat, ya know?
- I’ll have the best shower of my life the day the trek finishes.
Will take bets on any of the above.
Days to Kokoda Track: 24