Mount Lofty Summit - The 1st Test

For all the lovely people who have been my biggest fans and supporting me through the trials and tribulations that comes with this great wall walk, I just want you all to know that I am working hard for you all - I am not super fit, but I am trying so hard!

Today I walked up to the Mount Lofty summit from Waterfall Gully. It was a 7.5km round trip, and that trek to the top was hard, it was definitely a challenge. I did stop a few times and rested, my heart rate got up to ...160 BPM, and the good old fit bit told me that I walked an equivalent of 99 flights of stairs!!!!

I have had a number of people offer to do this walk with me, but to be quite honest I was unsure if I could manage the trek up and I didn't want to be embarrassed in front of the people who have supported me.  So in typical stubborn me fashion, I arranged a flexi day from work, and I did the trek with my husband - he was amazing, and could have made it to the top much faster but was so super supportive by offering words of encouragement as I made the difficult climb.

I am going to keep going and pushing myself hard over the next 10 weeks before I leave, I need my fitness levels to increase and I have the determination and wonderful support from amazing people to make that happen.

P.s Remember I am doing this not only for myself but to raise money and create awareness for the National Breast Cancer Foundation

PLEASE CHECK YOUR BOOBIES!

Early detection is the biggest chance of survival of this terrible disease!

I am working so hard to get fit for the Trek

Apart from the main reason of my trip to China which is to raise much needed funds for Breast Cancer Research, one of my other reasons to take on this adventure is to inspire myself to become healthier and fitter, for not only myself but also for my young family.

I have increased my exercise levels dramatically.  As mentioned previously on this blog, I am continuing to walk the stairs most days at work, 16 flights up and 16 flights straight back down - honestly the muscles on my calves are really something beginning to look athletic - I have my stair buddies Noel and Anh to thank for keeping me motivated every day!

I have also been meeting up with my personal trainer once a week. Shani from The Fuel Focus is whipping my butt into shape, and helping me to gain fitness and upper body strength.  We are on week 7 now, and while every session is still hard, I am now seeing the benefits.  I am feeling fitter, and I can see muscle definition on my arms that has not been there for a long time. 

I have not missed a session yet, I need to stay motivated and keep working at all of this.  A big thanks to Shani for putting up with my whimpering when things start to get hard and keeping me motivated with strong words of encouragement!

So what next in the way of training for Laura?

1. Stairs will continue - that's a given as long as my stair buddies are there to keep me motivated.
2. Dragon Boat Racing - What is that you say? well I have signed up to do a trial period of yes, dragon boat racing!  That big boat with the dragon head, someone banging drums while everyone else rows - yes that is the one!!!! If I need to improve upper body strength I can't see a better way or more fun than that!  Stay tuned for some pictures and a blog once that adventure starts.
3. 10000 steps challenge.  My work is supporting us to set up teams of 10 people to do 100000 team steps per day or 10000 per person.  We are supplied with pedometers and encouraged to walk more around the office.  I have my little posse of 10 team members and being team captain I hope to inspire my crew to get active.
4. Gym classes and PT sessions I really hope to continue these for as long as I can afford to.  I am still not entirely comfortable to join a large gym class but smaller groups and 1 on 1 with Shani do make me feel less self conscious.

If anyone can come up with more ideas to keep me active, feel free to comment.  For all my friends who have supported my fundraising efforts, been to events, eaten my chocolates, donated to my everyday hero's page and just offered kind words of support, getting fit is my way of showing you all that I am not taking this trek light heartedly!

This trip to China is my Carpediem moment - I will sieze the day and come out the other side, stronger and fitter both physically and mentally than I have ever been!

First target almost reached.....

I am so so so very close the first target!

 

After I reach this ill be aiming for the 5K mark!!!!!

 

A very big thankyou to everyone who has supported me

 

https://nbcfchina2016.everydayhero.com/au/laura-McDonald

Lobethal Lights Tours

Wow I am so behind on posting a blog about my Lobethal Lights Tours.  So so very sorry but with the little people off for the school holidays I just have very little time at the moment.

Any way for this fundraiser, it was a chance to take a group of people up to Lobethal on a bus, show them around and hope that everyone has a great time!!!!!  I ended up running two bus trips up, one on the 13th December and the next on the 20th December.

Both nights were big busy nights up in Lobethal, with the first tour being the opening night of Lobethal and the second tour being the Lobethal pageant night.

I wish I could say both tours went off without a hitch, but well the first night we had promised our group that we would be going to Melbas Chocolate Factory, but alas for the first time in many years, they were closing within normal business hours, it was all good though, because we got to Lobethal in time to walk the main street, buy some cherries, some kids went to Scaletrics car races etc.  I was a great night.

 My second tour was a little more eventful with our bus breaking down just outside of Woodside, it was one of those occasions were as an organiser you think 'holy crap what are we going to do now?' Well luck had it that we stopped outside a lovely little pizza shop and one of the owners came out and offered to take our bus load of people in to Lobethal in an old war Ambulance.  This might not have been the way the guests were expecting to get in, but it did add to the excitement and adventure of the night.  Most of my guests made it into the main street and in time for the pageant, pheww thank goodness for wonderful community spirit.




With a new bus dropped off we then ventured around the streets of Lobethal enjoying the Christmas lights!!!!!

In total for these tours we raised $334.74 for the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

Many thanks to those who attended and helped me towards my goal.