Hammer Nutrition Australia

Kokoda Challenge

The Kokoda Challenge is on again

The Kokoda Challenge is a cross-country bush walking team event where teams of 4 people trek a 96km course through the Gold Coast Hinterland within a 39 hour time limit.

The event was designed to reflect the key elements of the Spirit of Kokoda with 96km representing the actual distance of the Kokoda Track and the 39 hours symbolizing the 39th Militia who were the first of our Australian troops to arrive at Kokoda on 15th July 1942. !

This is one gruelling event, which has broken many an individual and teams apart.
The best thing about this challenge is that you have to work together with each other to finish. Everybody has to finish.
Team Nike/Hammer have won this event for the past 2 years and are back again for a 3rd time.
Each year gets harder and harder as more and more teams take up the challenge.

We asked team member Mike Page to give us a bit of an update on the team and see how they are preparing for the event:

"So here we are again.

I can't believe it's been almost 12 months since the last Kokoda Challenge, but time flies when you're having fun... So Ive been told... ;)

Last year saw a southerner recruited, as I was out with a stress fracture. Wayne Heath took the challenge in his stride and the team shaved another 5 minutes off the race record which now stands at 11hrs 54mins.

This year sees a record number of teams taking part in this great event. Some fresh meat, and a lot of familiar faces, back for more punishment. While no-one is quite sure who will be there on the day, last years runners up, Team Ironman has signed up for more punishment.George Takis, is a veteran of the challenge and the team boasts the likes of Nigel Waddington, who has competed in many ultra running races such as the Glass House 100 (100mile trail run).

Not to be outdone, last years winning all-womens team will be back, with veterans such as Christine McDougall and some new faces. These girls were quick, coming in only 23mins behind Team Ironman.

The build up this year, as usual, has had it's fair share of ups and downs. With our team members Donnie and Nicky in BrisVegas, and Pete and myself on the Coast, we generally train in pairs and only catch up on the odd occasion before the big event. One such occasion was the Mini-Kokoda which takes in a short 30km section of the trail to give teams a taste of what they'll be in for come July.

600 people took to the trail for up to 8 and a half hours to test their mettle against a double crossing of Springbrook Mountain, one of the larger climbs in the challenge. No surprise that Donnie took the event out in 2hrs 45mins. His preparation this year has been better than average with a great result in the 6 Foot Track Marathon earlier this year, finishing 4th. Being Donnie's training partner, Nicky is never off the pace either, and Pete and I were shown how to run up big hills when we went for a bit of a run with her during the mini-Kokoda event. I've never seen anyone make running up hills look as easy as she does.

Pete and myself have had a mixed preparation this year. Pete is generally the most consistent person in training you'd ever meet. Rain, hail, or shine, it'd be a cold day in hell before he'd miss a training session. However, a trip to Tassie in February to trek the Overland Trail, saw him return with a niggling back injury which has plagued him up until a month ago. Since then, he seems to have bounced back ok, and with a few weeks of solid k's, he should be ready come July. And that leaves me. Last year was one I'd rather forget. Two bouts of stress fractures, followed up by an ITB niggle saw 2008 go by without a race, and the first couple of month of 2009 as well. Since then a few months of consistent training, and a couple of 50k races, have seen some form return, and by July, I should be up to speed.

So there you have it. This year will hopefully see the team be as consistent as in the past, but with the race becoming more popular, with more great teams being formed, it's going to be a tough day at the office."

Mike also gave us a history of the team;

Peter Hall has run a total of 30 marathons during his time with a PB of 2:34:28.

Donnie Wallace has finished the prestigious Comrades Marathon 5 times. Twice in the top 10 and three times in the top 15.

He has also gone under 7 hours for 100km numerous times as well has a host of other results.

Nicki Carrol is a Sydney 2000 Olympian, having run a PB of 2:25:51 in the 1999 London Marathon. She is one of only 5 Australian females to go under the 2:30 mark.

Me (Mike Page) - I've competed in Ironman and other ultra distance events. Currently living in the shadow of my other team members!

I hold the Course Record holder for 62km Tambourine Trek and have achieved good results at several local races. PB of 9:48 hrs for Port Macquarie IM."

Also what nutrition plans they had;

Obviously nutrition is crucial to this event - what is the team plan for this year?

We have used Hammer products each time we have competed in this event and they have never let us down.

Our nutrition plan this year will be virtually the same as last year.

The key of course to any good nutrition plan is being able to change it at any point during the race to respond to your bodies needs. Knowing what your body is trying to tell you is the key.

We will be using all of the Hammer products during the event, but probably the 2 that are of most importance are Perpetuem and Heed.

Perpetuem provides the protein required to prevent muscle breakdown during the event, while Heed helps provide the required electrolyte."

Good luck for all the teams in this years event and hopefully they will compete and finish safely and raise their target of $500,000 !

Last year we used a combination of 1 serve of Perpetuem and 2 serves of Heed in 2 litres of water. This provided us with a good base.

Shortfalls in carbs were made up using Hammer Gels and extra electrolyte through Endurolytes.

"

posted by Hammer Nutrition at 10:54 AM