Behind most success stories, there is a team of people who provided support and encouragement while also sharing some of the joys and the pains.

As we started exploring and learning a little about trail running, we were lucky to be surrounded by a number of inspirational people who shared our excitement, believed in us, and helped build our confidence to dare to think about our 100mile challenge.

Richard Poulter @DTR encouraged, motivated, and planned introductory trail runs, every week, for beginners to come and build confidence in the beautiful hilly spaces that the Dandenong Ranges provides. He has not only taken us and many others out each week, but also constantly varied the course to enjoy and feel steep up hill sections, slippery downhills, and constant incredible views, while laughing and sharing positivity throughout the  group. This has helped many of us join the Dandenong trail running group, and other events with a positive group of people. Thank you for your inspiration, encouragement and support.

Ann Burchfield was another inspirational DTR trail runner who ran with us and shared her lessons and experiences from her personal achievements. Sharing with us her highs and lows, and lessons learned along the way, including her amazing adventure running 210km from Bendigo to Ballarat in 2020. Thank you for sharing with us your enthusiasm, excitement and knowledge as we thought about planning this path towards 100 miles.

Our support to start this journey has already come from many sources.  My super cheer squad son who is constantly sharing positive messages and encouragement.  Sometimes he even helps with some stretching and massage at home!  

Our team at Gators with Alex and Kate sharing guidance, encouraging while also providing strength and mobility support. Our great Myotherapists, Belinda, Caitlin and Meg have been providing treatments to help balance and support us along the way to help ensure our recovery and strength is keeping up with our excitement.  

Friends in the running community that share our training runs, our events, and our goals.  They also share the exhaustion, listen to our fears and provide ideas to stay on track so that we balance life and running. Thank you to DTR, Run Ready, & HRG.  Special thanks to Nikki Schwartz who has already been there through niggles and hard days.  She was there when I was returning to running after injury, and she took the time to walk/jog with me when I could do very little.  This also helped ensure I didn’t do too much and contributed to the rebuilding process, step by step all the way back to running. This support was amazing, along wth Andrew and Zac keeping my long term goals in sight, through this slow chapter.  

We enjoy the great support team surrounding us, and look forward to more events, challenges, discussions, laughter and tears in the chapters ahead of us.

Step by step to our goal.