The Highs and Lows of Two "Ks"

Today:
Distance: 18.35 km
Time: 1 hr 40 mins 32 secs
Rate: 5' 29" per km
Weather: sun/part cloud, temp 19 degrees, humidity 40%, wind calm
Week: 36.8 km
Nov: 390.65 km
Year: Target 5000 km less ytd 4331.85 km = 668.15 km to go
Year: 4331.85 km in 47 weeks at 92.2 km ave per week

Not much to write about today's run, the usual home for lunch and back to work, although I did detour to the cool waters of the river for 10 minutes on the way back to work.
Today's blog title is about two people with names that start with "K". They don't know each other but both are very inspiring in many ways.

First "K" is female, most who read this story will know Kerrie Bremner, ultra runner of much talent and an inspiration to all of us who extend the distance at times. I chatted to Kerrie at Deep Space run on Sunday between snow showers. Kerrie represented Australia at the recent World 100 km championships in Italy. Kerrie ran a brilliant 100 km race on the Gold Coast in June this year in 9 hrs 14 mins to rank 10th on the Australian 100 km road rankings for females. Off to Italy she went with solid training in her legs. A little unkind about the Italian organisational skills, something like couldn't put a pasta party together for 3 people, she has had another brilliant run to run 9 hrs and 50 seconds to improve her time and go up the rankings to 8th fastest Australian female of all time. Highs for sure in that, a low being so close to going sub 9 hours for 100 kms. Most of us would be happy to get under 12 hours. Well done!!

Second "K" is Kevin from work, our inspirational bike ride leader, so glad he is back safe and sound from a trekking holiday in Nepal. When the plane crashed in Nepal a month or so ago killing 25 people, we waited for news that he was not on the plane. Luckily, he arrived at the same airport a day later without a problem. He did say that flying with Yeti Airlines is something of an adventure in itself, as in no seat belts, no doors, fire extinguisher that's empty, exit sign upside down, etc. Lovely people the Nepalese, very quiet, so humble.
The high of the trip was the height, reaching 5700 metres above sea level, so far up in the atmosphere where the air is so thin, so little oxygen causing altitude sickness. The low of his trip was being so sick that he was just 200 metres in height from Mt Everest base camp, just couldn't go on. About the distance in Canberra from the War Memorial to the top of Mt Ainslie. How close is that, even with a sherpa carrying 30 kilos of your gear, you with a small pack of 10 kilos, just no more energy to do any more.

Highs and lows we all have them, some times it doesn't matter, some times the timing is all wrong. Some get sick or injured at the wrong time leading into important events. Olympic Games, Jana Rawlinson trying to jump over hurdles, sometimes the timing is perfect, Stephanie Rice in the swimming pool, first time at Olympics and 3 gold medals in a couple of days.

They inspire us all, at least I am inspired to keep going, probably most of us can do no more that lead by example and hope others take the opportunity to get into the great outdoors, even when it is snowing. Maybe some of the DNS's last Sunday could take a hint. It was a great day, cold and different, but great.