Perspiration

Our own little visiting Mountain Cat (a neighbour’s cat who keeps us company while we write)

This is just a quick blog.  We wanted to show you some recent training photographs from our latest session with Jared on Thursday night.

We have talked lots throughout this blog about what becoming fit and challenging ourselves physically meant for us.  In many ways we have been attempting to capture our experience and share it with you.  On a similar vein JK found an incredibly interesting essay by Henry Rollins about parallel issues – have a read: http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2009/03/16/iron-and-the-soul/

As we are sweating and pushing ourselves we need your help to purchase uniforms for kids in Gergerung, Lombok.

So PLEASE purchase tickets to our fundraising film night – Alice in Wonderland in 3D @ the Elsternwick Classic on Sunday 13 March @ 6.30pm – and donate… There is still a lot of room on the thermometer to fill! 

If you want tickets for the film night contact:

JK (j.kingsleyATunimelb.edu.au) or MP (mariaplattAThotmail.com) - just replace AT with @

Can you imagine the tickets are only $20 (a bargain!).  Remember purchase tickets before the night...contact one of us about pre-purchasing.

Onto another big issues – DONATIONS.  Many of you are secretly asking; how do I make a donation?  Good question.  Simply click onto ‘donate’ icon on the side of the page and the instructions are clear from there.

Salam, Mountain Katts (aka Maz and Jem).

The Mountain Katts are powered along by the support of Smart Records System (http://www.smartrecordsgroup.com.au/) taking care of all your filing and document management needs.

Some recent training photographs with Jared at Schwart'z Crossfit Gym (more coming soon - Toby + Josh don't get too excited!).  We are wearing our running packs and training wearing what we will on the run.

Big Announcements

Team supporters:

The Mountain Katts want to welcome the Smart Records Group as our first team sponsor.

They are helping the Mountain Katts prepare and undertake the 84km trail run from Wangaratta to Bright.  Their support is invaluable!

Smart Records Group provides efficient storage and document management and prides itself on providing a first class service at a reasonable price.  For more information on their services see the links:

Document Storage Melbourne

Document Scanning Melbourne

Archive Boxes Melbourne

We would also like to thank Lululemon Athletica Chapel Street store who have been extremely supportive of our challenge. They generously supplied us with some free apparel to help our run… Wonderful people and great product.

New flyer:

We also have also developed a flyer for people to put up in offices, tearooms or the like to support this worthy venture to fund school children in Lombok.  If you would like a copy please email Jeremy – j.kingsleyATunimelb.edu.au. Special thanks to Lizzie who did all the hard work in putting it together.

Fundraising Movie Night:

TICKETS NOW ON SALE!!!

TO PURCHASE tickets contact:

Email: JK (j.kingsleyATunimelb.edu.au / 0409 446 112) or MP (mariaplattAThotmail.com / 0408 393 502)

Details: Sunday March 14 @ 6.30pm (refreshments and nosh will be available before the movie).  We will be screening Johnny Depp’s new movie, Alice in Wonderland in 3D, to contribute to our fundraising goal. This will be held at the Classic Elsternwick. All tickets will cost $20 (3D films are more expensive than normal cinema tickets - but well worth it).  Payment must be made before the night so book now!

PLEASE BUY TICKETS NOW… and don't forget to donate.

Keep checking our blog and engaging with us.  We need all the support we can get - 84k is a long way.

Cheers, M+J.

Visualising Lombok

We thought that we should add some new photographs from our time in Lombok.  Our 84k run is motivated as a challenge to us and gives us (and you) an opportunity to help the people of Lombok.

PLEASE remember to DONATE… Your money is helping children learn!  There is nothing more special than this.  Also, we would love your comments… We are feeling lonely here!

Salam, Mount Katts – Going Loco for Lombok.

Photographs from a small market in Mataram.

The view from the roof of our house in Mataram.

Women leading from the front

Korperasi Annisa is a non-government organisation that aims to alleviate poverty amongst women in Lombok.  Their programs also extend to supporting the education of children across the island.

It runs a range of activities including literacy and numeracy programs, microfinance and gender education for families.  MP has worked closely with Annisa while we were living in Lombok and saw them in action in Gegerung.

They are a great bunch of women who are quiet inspiring and who we trust and respect. They will be responsible for distributing the funds for the uniform packs.  It is wonderful to be able to work with a local group undertaking exciting social development programs, such as the one this fundraising is supporting.

Team Update

The Mountain Katts in training!  


April is quickly approaching!  So we thought it was an opportune time to give you an update as to our progress.

The photographs throughout this entry are from last Friday morning's running/conditioning training with Jake. Watch out for new photos in the coming days!

Training

It has been a tough week of training where Jared and Jake seem to have upped the rhythm of training.  In fact, all three sessions that we had pushed us to the edge…  “Strength and Endurance” seems to have been the theme. Despite being tough it been an exhilarating challenge. Alongside our training we have also been out pounding the pavement-a long run (approx 22km) and two shorter runs a week. We've never had so many great excuses to carbo-load in our lives.

Surprisingly, despite physically working so hard it has in many ways energised our writing (our other marathon – dissertation writing – is at the business end of things).

Donations

We have as of today raised just over $500 (as you can see from the thermometer).  Thanks to all those who have already given.  Your support is greatly appreciated!

For those who have not given already, please give sooner rather than later.  It is for a very important cause (see posting: “Team Name and Accepting Donations Now” from 19 January 2010 for more details).  The school children of Gegerung will benefit greatly from this support, which will provide them with the basics for their education!

TO DONATE: Click on the “Donate” icon on the side of the blog.

ALSO – some people have asked for a flyer so they can leave it in their office tearooms, etc.  This is a great idea so we will be preparing an A4 flyer for people in the coming week or two. 

Film Night

Sunday March 14… @ about 6.30-7pm.  Lock in the date.

We will be having a fundraising screening of Johnny Depp’s new movie, Alice in Wonderland in 3D.  The function will be held at the Classic Elsternwick.  Ticket information and further information will be posted in the coming week.

Support Crew

Initially we were not going to have one…  But we have since come to our senses and realised that to get through 84km, the Mountain Katts are going to need the TLC only a  support crew can provide. So we have enlisted the help of Dora and Michelle to help and encourage us before, during and after our 84km run.  JK's Mum Dora, being the legendary cook that she is, seemed the perfect choice.  Michelle, a qualified family therapist may also have to draw on her professional skill set in case of any spats along the way (hee hee!). Their assistance will be fantastic! Anyone else who is keen to help (any masseurs out there?) or just cheer just let us know!

Sponsorship

NEW!  This is a new opportunity we are offering to businesses.  Undertaking this adventure is not cheap – we have needed to purchase many things, such socks that avoid blisters or bladders for our backpacks so we can keep hydrated or accommodation before and after the run.  Therefore, we are seeking businesses to support this adventure through sponsorship.  The terms and type of sponsorship will be discussed with each business. Your logo/business info will be prominently displayed on this blog and during the run!

Contact JK for further information (0409 446 112).

Followers / Comments

 

To become more actively involved and part of “Team Mountain Katt’s” become a follower.  This will keep you updated to new postings.  It is worth doing this as we have postings 2-3 times a week. Otherwise we only tend to email to notify you of updates from time to time.

Also, please do not hesitate to tell us what you think of our adventure or about a particular posting in the comments section that is below each blog entry.  We really appreciate knowing your thoughts.

Keep enjoying the ride...

Cheers, M+J

Pictorial snapshot of Lombok

A Sasak (the local ethnic group) dancer at a community celebration

We thought that you should all have a little bit of a cultural taste of Lombok... Our 84k trail running challenge is for people we care about.


Lombok is a special place with a rich historical, ritual tradition and cultural heritage.  Yet, it faces many social and economic issues. Hence our fundraising efforts...


As you might be able to tell we also double as the Tourism Office of Lombok - we are happy to field questions about holidays to this wonderful corner of the planet!  We can also help those who would like to have more grounded culturally-sensitive or adventurous options (such as trekking Mount Rinjani) for their holidays. We have so missed our calling as travel agents...

These are some photographs taken during our time living in Lombok in 2007-8 (finally some family-friendly photographs after JK's near R-rated pics last time!).  The first below is the musical accompaniment for a wedding parade, then JK becomes invisible amongst the mass of humanity at a ceremony in one of Lombok's largest Islamic boarding schools, a great nature shot and finally the Hindu festival of Hari Nyepi which see's each Hindu community building an intricate monster to parade down the main street of Mataram.  

More photographs of Lombok and the village that we are working to help will be provided in upcoming blogs.  This will just give you fine folk a little bit more background to Lombok and Gergerung (the village we are fundraising for - see the posting: "Team Name and Accepting Donations Now" from 19 January 2010).  Remember to DONATE... No pressure...


Also, we would love to hear your feedback on what were doing so please make as many "comments" as you want - which you can do below (and to keep up-to-date or just be one of the cool gang become a "follower").  More training information to come - get ready for some hot and heavy imagery... Grrruuurrrr (Mountain Katts in action!!!)

Being outside the comfort zone (or the end of being Fatboy…)

"You only ever grow as a human being if you're outside your comfort zone."

The late Percy Cerutty, famous Australian athletics coach.

Well by way of training update, yesterday MP and I were very much outside our comfort zone on a 22k run that was made extremely tough by the twin forces of a VERY hot day (when we finished it was already 30 degrees) and there was some crazy strong winds to contend with.  On top of this MP had a fall just after the 5k mark and gave herself some good grazing and bruising on her knees, hands and shoulders… but being a country chick  nothing stops her!  The run which ended with a lap around Albert Park lake nearly stopped both of us in our tracks with the combined forces of heat and wind (there is no wind breaks around the lake), but we got there in the end… Percy Cerutty would have been proud!

By way of explanation this blog posting is a personal one for JK.  It is an opportunity to celebrate my journey.

Over the last year things have changed for Jeremy – his past position as the big little man is over (MP has also changed, but she had a leaner physique to start with).  Now I am just a little man…  I have lost weight, but grown as a person.

This transformation also links to one of the reason for this 84k challenge and blog… beyond receiving support for school children in Lombok (something which is extremely important to us – we lived there for almost two years).  It is an opportunity to push my boundaries.  But in many ways most importantly, I am doing this with my fellow adventurer and partner, Maz. 

Training for this trail running challenge has been a learning experience.  Every run and training session is an experiment.  How do we mentally and physically prepare? And since it is only Maz and me doing it, how do we work together as a cohesive team (84k is a LOOONNNGGGG distance if we argue the whole way!).  With each run and training session we are testing everything from the mechanics of our stride to whether we have appropriately sweat absorbent socks… In answer to the later question, after testing our new socks we have found a great sweat absorbent sock!  Small things mean a lot along the way.

But back to me, for a long time I had disconnected from my body, forgotten how it felt to push myself hard and challenge my boundaries.  I had become overweight (an understatement) and disconnected from the physical world.  Outdoor activity was just NOT for me or so I thought…

When I was younger I was a sprint runner, but in recent years I had forgotten how much I loved feeling the fluidity of movement.  But this changed over the last year, as I have been training and loosing weight (about 20% of my body weight).

With this said, for those who want to know the facts and figures, in order to make the whole picture measurable:

Date	Weight	Waist measurement
Nov 08	83 kilo
20/1/09	81 kilo	103 cm
9/3/09	77.4 kilo	95 cm
8/6/09	74 kilo	89.5 cm
16/10/09	73.6 kilo	87.5 cm
4/12/09	68 kilo	83 cm
22/1/09	64.6 kilo	79.5 cm

Photographs below show a more visual example. 

Personal trainers and gym culture… In the past never did anything for me.  I thought it was a commercial rort.  But it need not be.  Everyone’s path in life and looking after themselves is different – someone will fall in love with a big “globo” gym, while another loves karate, but for me going to a gym has pushed all my limits and was exactly what I needed. 

Whatever the vehicle one needs goals and pushing our boundaries to 84k is our goal now… and we will get there, but there is plenty of learning and training to go.

Before finishing it is worth saying some thanks.  Schwartz’s Crossfit Gym deserves a big thankyou for giving my training a home, but most importantly the philosopher of fitness Jared McClelland has given me so much (and Jake Moller is also an inspiration as our current running coach).  To Jared, you have given me an amazing starting point… and a thirst for more training and knowledge – an enormous gift.

I have a long way to go still, but I am proud of myself.  I have lots to learn, but I have confidence that I now have a fitness and sporting trajectory.  On with the adventure!


Remember to DONATE.  We can’t do this alone!

Cheers, Jem.

Mid way through a tough work out... Below - Oh, my goodness... I was a whale.