Perth Trekkers

[lilstreety]

Hi, I am 40 year old female and I am completing the trek towards the end of this year. I am currently reasonably fit – do three hours of very physical karate a week and walk/jog regularly. Just wanted to know what training has worked best for those in or near Perth. Thanks

[Boss Meri]

Hi, thanks for your post. I am not from Perth, but irrespective of where you live:

1. Find the biggest hill in your area and walk up and down as many times as you can at least 4 times per week. It does not have to be a mountain as long as its a hill. I asked one guy on the Gold Coast last year if he drove out into the hinterland to train. He replied if I did that I would only be able to train once per week on the weekend. No, he replied, I drive my car to the closest hill in my area where I live…park my car….then with my pack walk up and down until I am exhausted…then jump in my car and drive the couple of k's home. As its only a short drive from my home I can do this quite a few times each week.

2. If you live anywhere near a high rise building……walk up and down the stairs at least four times per session. Single steps going down…..whilst going up, try and alternate between a single…then reach for the third step skipping the one in the middle of the two. Keep going to the top like this. Back down again. The next time round try and reach to the third step every now and again. If you keep this up you will do Kokoda quite easily.

3. Should you not have a hill and/or high rise building to train in….then lots of bicycle riding or an exercise bike to build up the muscles above your knees.

Hope this helps.

[dcorker]

My husband and I are from Perth in our late 40's and completed the track earlier this month. Along with doing hills we did a lot of training on Jacobs ladder. The last month we were there almost every week day, doing double steps non-stop for at least an hour. I don't know how many times we turned to each other on the track and said 'thank god for Jacobs'. It really made the difference. We attempted the track last year but my husband fell ill with a virus on the 3rd day and we were flown back to Port Moresby for medical assistance. Last year we had not done a lot of Jacobs but were very fit. Our legs were aching severely by the end of each day so when we decided to attempt the track again, we really concentrated on becoming stronger in the legs. It was the best thing we did and I can't stress enough how important it is to climb stairs of some sort. On Kokoda much of the climbing is like going up steep stairs and if you don't have leg strength, you will struggle. I'm happy to say we completed the track this year with no problems at all and physically we were up with the fastest in our group…..STAIRS, STAIRS AND MORE STAIRS. Good luck and I hope you enjoy the track as much as we did….life changing experience.
Donna

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