After an early dark start, and probably not having the best nights sleep with the mix of emotions and fears that raced through my head for one of the biggest events that I have ever attended.   Thoughts of strategy, fear , expectations and so much more kept running through my head last night, plus watching youtube videos of last years obstacles, would really not have helped in trying to get some sleep, and minimising any of  the nerves.  This is not the best thing to do when all you need a decent nights sleep before the big day.  Have I got everything? Am I ready? How do I get over that? When should I have the gels?  How do I stop feeling so cold?  What if I disappoint everyone? What if disappoint myself? If there was any a time to shut the f up, this would have been it!!!

​Grabbing a quick bite to eat (which consisted of the usually pre race brekkie, oats and bananas) and meeting the rest of the team in reception, it was time to head off for the big day.  I can hardly believe that the day is already here, I don't know where the time has gone, I feel so unprepared, there is still so much that I need to learn and do, but now there is nothing I can do about it.  I guess the nerves were slowly kicking in, plus my sleep deprived state of mind. 

As designated driver, I drove half the team to the Kings Domain, a beautiful, stunning location in which the natural beauty of the surrounds really did take your breath away (the cold didnt help either).  We got lucky with the parking space, and snagged a spot right next to the entry, which I know I was pleased about on the way back.  (For a bunch of healthy/fit people, you would think we would be happy to park as far away as possible, but no we paid the $25 for onsite parking).  I guess we were going to do some healthy shit later to compensate.

I remembered to pick up some hand and feet warmers from Dicks Sporting Store, as well as an Under Armour thermal top just to help with any possibilities of feeling cold (so friggin glad I bought these).  There was a definite chill in the air and frost on the ground.  Cant believe (actually I can believe it), that a cold front came through the night before, was going to last the whole weekend and then get warm again on Monday.  I seriously had been watching the weather for the last few weeks, and every day the temperature went down an additional degree, only to get down to -1 the day before (this was going to get cold).  I am not the greatest person when it comes to being cold, and was really unhappy to see it drop so low (if I had it my way, all OCR races would be on glorious sunny days!).  I guess all we could do is deal with it and just be grateful that it wasn't also raining.  I couldn't let a simple thing as being cold affect me and I just tried to stay as warm as possible for as long as possible,

I knew I wasn't the strongest nor fittest person on the team, but I wanted to give it my all, and have a continued positive attitude.  I wanted more than anything to enjoy this journey, and I wasn't going to let a simple thing as being cold affect that.  At the end of the day, it's not everyday that you get to compete against some of the most amazing people in the world.

The guys hit the start line at 8am and the girls at 8.30am, all I could do was cheer the team on, keep calm and warm by the fire until it was time for me to line up.

It was then time to walk up to the start, again I took a deep breath and just took everything in.  The MC was fantastic and motivating, with each speech being customised for each qualifying category, although everything that he said now seems like a blur and then we were off.  No time to think, just go!.  I started at the back of the pack, but was happy with this, I wanted to maintain my pace throughout the race and have a completion time of 3 1/2 hours.  Thinking that this was more than achievable.

You started within the main arena and then it was up a hill and around the corner, the legs were feeling a little heavy and just needed some time to warm up, but I easily got distracted with the scenery, it was just so beautiful and almost took your breath away (that could have also been the cold).

I completely under estimated the terrain and the gradients, and I swear I was going up a lot more than going down.  You can't even call them hills, more like mountains, the goat tracks made meant that you really needed to be quick on your feet just to navigate your way on the course, it really was a twisted ankles dream.

But before we hit all the ups and downs, we got to the first set of obstacles #1 and #2 consisted of some wooden steps and sponsors walls, it was then another short run and onto obstacle #3 the monkey bars.  The wreck bags were #4, in which you had to carry a 30kg bag around a miniature course without dropping it.  At this point I did feel the weight on my lower back, and was annoyed that I am still having some issues with it after all this time, but all you could do is just get on with it (either that or lose your band at this stage).  The wreck bag had to be carried up a hill, under  a bridge, up and down some more hills, some high steps and over the wall.  Once completed you have finished the wreck bag course, you dropped the bag and went onto #5 Pipe Dreams, a pole attached to a frame in which you had to traverse across.

No obstacle race would be the same without having water included, especially when its so cold.  The water crossings were most definitely fresh, making everything muscle and bone go numb.  After getting out of the water, I then hit some hurdles #6 and then came another water crossing.  I am trying my hardest to find some pictures of this this scenery, as words really cannot describe the mist that was coming off the water, the whole thing just looked like it was from a movie.  I am sure even if I do find some pictures, it will never do it justice, it really was just so magical and peaceful.  You could easily get lost in the moment, and forget the reasons why you were there.

The next water crossing required a little more than just a crossing, being slightly longer, keeping the bank to the left, you just kept going along the river, some points hitting waist deep, other parts you nearly lost your shoes, and others just trying to find an easy way along without having to actually swim.  Getting to the part where you actually had to cross the river, I had caught up with a guy from the Mens elite wave, and at the point he mentioned that he twisted his ankle, I went down like a tonne of bricks and twisted mine.  Eeerrggghhh, so frustratingly annoying, especially so early on, but what do you do? Just keep going, its not like I was going to turn around and go back. 

The worst thing I could have done was spent the night watching videos, prior to doing the obstacles.  I am a logical person, so knowing that I will find the most logical way around it, so I can't tell you my technique, or how I did it, I just did it.  I wish all obstacles were that easy to conquer (but I was secretly so pleased that I had done it, a little happy dance happening).

I guess it wouldn't be the Worlds without them hitting you with more obstacles that I have never even seen before, testing you mentally and physically.  Next up was #12 Dragons Back, in which you had to make a leap of faith across a gap  and grab hold of the bar on the other side.  Doesn't look too bad from the bottom, and looks a lot worse when you are up there.  If you started to think about it for a moment, you could easily just not doing it.  The problem I had was when I got to the top, a girl was hesitating a lot, and just freaking out.  I just had to turn around and not let it get to me otherwise I probably would have freaked too.  Once I knew she was gone, I just turned round, took a moment (so I didnt rush) and jumped.  The relief that washed over me, when I got hold of the bar was unreal, luckily there was only two jumps.

Next up was #13 the tyre jump, not sure how I got over it, but pretty certain that it would have been in the most ungracefully way possible, more than likely it would have been a stumble over top.  Really, they do not design obstacle courses for short people, #4 Irish Table was next, the first jump wasn't too bad, next wasn't as easy.  In principle and theory it sounds quite simple, jump up, hook your arms over, swing your legs forward and back (like a podium) and use the momentum to get up and over.  Yeah right.  My way (the ungraceful way), was to hook onto the bottom, swing one leg over the top and somehow get around that way.  Not the most energy efficient way, but at least I got over.  Some hurdles were next and then it was another obstacle that featured in my nightmares #16 Monkey bars.  All I wanted to do was make it, and luckily after looking at the obstacle yesterday, discovered that the bars in the middle were closer together than the ones on the side, so it was the middle I headed too.  I didnt trust my abilities just to using my arms, so I used my legs too to stabilise myself as I went down and then back up.  This just gave me that extra reassurance if I slipped I had something else attached to the bar.  The hardest part was trying to turn around at the bottom, keeping hold of the bar and getting off at the top.  I think I was holding on for dear life, there was no way I was falling off this section (another happy dance I got off).

At this stage I wasn't even sure how long I had been on course, or how far I had come, I was just so happy to get over the obstacles that were haunting my dreams.  I think the adrenalin started to warm me up, so I had given my gloves to Dave, and unfortunately soon regretted it, as the adrenalin left my body and I started to feel the cold again.  Not much I could do about it at this stage.

There were some more mountains to climb and goats trail, my feet were definitely not that nimble to navigate through, then some more obstacles including cargo net, high steps, inverted wall and balance beams, some more mountain climbs and then it was over under the 4ft / 2ft beams. 

Soon after this was the first Sternum Checker #24 or the rib breaker, jumping from one log to another and getting over, this doesn't sound too hard, but trust me it was so much harder than I initially anticipated.  I gave it 4 attempts before admitting defeat, each time I would reach the next log, and then just cling to it, it would have been fine if I could just get my leg over and twist myself around but unfortunately this was not the case, and with every attempt came a fail.  It seemed that this particular obstacle did get a few people, so when I admitted defeat and said to the volunteers about cutting my band.  They were so apologetic that they had to do it, and I think they were more upset for me than I was.  I was still happy, I knew I tried and that was the main thing.  I was in such a great place that I didn't want to get too upset and get to hard on myself especially on what I could and couldn't do.  I was just so extremely grateful and happy to be there, so after a quick hug from the Volunteers I was on the move again to enjoy the rest of this most epic day.

My hands were still feeling cold and I had lost all sense of time and energy on the Sternum checker, so when I got to the #25 Platnum Rig within the main arena I just kept slipping off.  The weird thing was that this obstacle was somewhat similar to the #5 Pipe Dreams with a mix of bars, rings and pipe to get through, so I know I can do it, but for some reason every time I got from the ring to the pipe I would just slide straight off, after a few more attempts and waiting in the queue, getting colder, I knew it was time to more on and keep warm.  Unfortunately this was penalty number 2 for me (you accumulate a 4 minute penalty for every obstacle you fail, at this stage that was an additional 8 minutes to my final time).

They had changed this obstacle from the original #27 balance beams to under/overs in the water, and this obstacle would have to be the most perfect place to get cramp, cramp hit as I stretched my leg up and over the beam out of the water.  I had to have someone pull me to safety so I could stretch out my leg.  Stupid, stupid, stupid cramp, I was even more frustrated as I knew my water intake this week has been quite limited, when I should be well and truly hydrated.  The cramp took a little while to overcome it and then I set off again but at a slower pace.  I was also hoping that this wasn't the start of things to come, I still had no idea on time or distance, so really didn't know how far I still had to go.  I had already taken one Vfuel gel to help minimise the possibilities of cramp, plus ensure that I had enough fuel to keep going despite the cramp.  I was still loving every moment, even with the cramp, the experience I can never truly reflect in words the whole experience, it really was so unreal, it doesn't feel like it actually happened to me, even as I sit here and reminisce about the course.  (I don't really think that this would have made much difference, I would have still got cramp at some stage, I just wouldn't have been as wet).  I thought I was all good to go and over the cramp until I hit the #28 Weaver.

It was all going well, weaving under and over the beams until I got to the top section, as I reached over to the next beam with my leg, yep cramp set in again.  I screamed a few apologies to the group of guys that were behind me (at this stage the next wave had already caught up with me), as I needed to wait it out, stretch out my leg (now imagine this, on top of a beam, in which you actually can't go anywhere, after a few moments, some deep breathing and stretching, I was again all good to go after a few more screams of apologies. 

I have to say, at this stage things were not looking good with a twisted ankle and cramp, I was really slowing down, and I was seriously at risk of not finishing the course at all.  I was even more conscious of going down hill and where I was placing my feet.  I stopped at every water station, to ensure that I was hydrated, and some guys helped me out with the cramp by giving me mustard (this apparently helps with cramp), would have definitely tasted better with a hot dog and a salt tablet (really need to buy some of these) from one of the guys we met at the fire pits that morning.

Next up was the quarter pipe #29 and then at the top of the mountain (I am gonna keep saying mountain, not quite but some seriously steep slopes were involved, in my mind it was a mountain).  I knew that I wasn't going any higher and would be making my way down hill again very shortly.  ​#30 Platinum Rig no 2 was located right at the top and unfortunately it was as another fail, which was a little disappointing, but I did keep trying, but knew that this was probably one of my weakest obstacles so wasn't overly surprised that I kept falling.

Another strength obstacle #31 was next, with a 20kg bucket carry, no handles on the bucket so you just had to squat and lift.  Not the most comfortable of carries, but got through the first 100 metres without having to put it down, the next 100 metres I had to put it down a couple of times to reset.

#32 Pinnacle junior was next, a climb up a rocky face, and then up another rocky interface, and then crawl under the net, which I didnt think was going to end.  It felt like the whole course was designed to slow you down, probably not everyone, but it definitely slowed me down, at this rate I felt I was going at snails pace.  Keeping your footing was key to continuing your momentum and speed, and I wasn't really do a very good job of this.

Another nemesis of mine was approaching #34 Tall Walls, weirdly fear set in, not sure why especially as I had already climbed over #9 Castle which was a lot higher.  AsI had lost my band, I could have help getting me up and over, thank goodness as it would have definitely been another penalty.  At this stage my mind is wondering all over the pace, I kept going dizzy and was not quite thinking straight, probably a combination of lack of food and also being a little dehydrated.  I was still not going to let this stop me.

You had to head down the side of a cliff for #35 Baby Rope Burn.  It was then a small run to the next obstacle #36 Hoist.  Having done this type of obstacle a few times before, I was expecting a tighter pulley, so I went in with all my might, only to find that it was probably one of the easiest Hoist's that I have done with a 30kg bag.

After feeling quite satisfied with the Hoist I headed off and got to the rope climb, not sure what happened here, but I could not get my head around it.  The Rope Climb #37 was hanging out of the water, so I guess this is was threw me, more frustrating then anything as I didnt complete, and annoyingly the rope climb wasn't even that high...

Not long after that I headed down towards #38 Sneaker Thief, a long muddy valley that if you hadn't tied your shoe laces properly, then you were certain to lose your runners along this stretch.   The baby rope burns daddy was next #39, heading down hill, after which you hit the trenches #40 that were filled with water and you needed to go underneath to get past, then it was onto #41 Blackout, which was a dark tunnel (light was shining through) so was easy enough to navigate

The Polish Traverse #43 was an interesting one, as you had to straddle a very large / wide pole and slide your way along the bar. There was probably a more efficient way of doing this, but for me it was definitely easier to straddle. 

Its funny what you mind does, and how you can quite easily forget or blank out or not notice about whole sections of the race as you are so completely engulfed in the task ahead.  This is what happened at #44 the Tyrolean Traverse, this obstacle was above those running underneath, so I hadn't even noticed earlier when I passed below it, that people were traversing above me.  Only one person at a time was allowed on this obstacle, it was completely safe, as if you fell there was a large net underneath.  Basically you had to get across a traverse wire line, it probably sounds a lot more difficult than what it was, as you had the added bonus of having an additional wire above you, so it wasn't like you were tight rope walking across the valley.   All you needed to do was keep your balance.

This got you to the top of the slide #46, which apparently you could reach speeds up to 35mph (56km).  I was especially looking forward to this one, so went full speed ahead and found that about half way down I started to turn, and ended up going down backwards.  I can't remember landing, can't even remember getting out of the water.  At this stage the end was so close, with only  7 more obstacles to get through and through to the finish line.   After getting out the water through the #47 reunion tunnel, it was up and over the 12 foot wall #48.  This one not as daunting as the 10ft one, as there are some variables that didnt make seem as bad, 1. It was slanted and 2. there was a rope that you could get hold of and use at the top.

Another sternum checker #49 was straight after the wall, this one was a baby in comparison to the last one, and was definitely a lot easier to get over.  Another leap of faith, grab and over onto the next obstacle.

At this stage I knew that were no glamour, elegant shots getting over the obstacles (not like the Swedish team), my main objective was to get it done, especially with my terrible form and arse sticking out. 

#50 Tip of the Spear is similar to the one that we had tried at TM Beta Testing, you needed to get across the slanted boards just using the rope.  OK, I didnt complete it then, and I didnt hold much hope with completing it this time, especially as I was still getting cold and tired.  At this stage I was weighing up the options on what I was doing, everyone was watching and cheering, and after a few more fails I admitted defeat.  

Another ramp wall, I tried to stay focused and looking at the wall, all I was thinking about was running up the wall and not through it.  After a couple of attempts and a lot  encouragement from the team, I actually made it to the top and up and over.  I was so pleased, that I could just feel myself beaming with pride.  This didn't last long as I slowly approached #52 Skull Valley

I eventually made it to the third skull, but kept falling off, lack of confidence, fear and not being able to feel my fingers were all contributing factors.  The warped wall was up next #53, the final obstacle before the finish line.

​The funny thing about this obstacle, was that some of the Australian team actually constructed it, watching it being put together, it didnt look as daunting, but standing in front of it, completed, looked a lot scarier.  The walls seemed to be getting me every time, but with a little bit of persistence and few more attempts, I eventually got hold of the top, clambered my way up, across and down the cargo net and across the finish line.

I didnt keep my band and nor did I compete every obstacle.  In an ideal world, I would have breezed through the whole course.  It would have been easy to get up and over each of the obstacles, but at the end of the day I am just soooo happy to have been there, to be part of the most amazing team in the world, and have one of the most incredible, amazing experience.

I have new goals and objectives, I have come so far in the last 10 months, that I know if I qualify for next years OCR Worlds, I will be able to conquer those obstacles that defeated me this time.  I know and understand my weaknesses and where I need to improve, and I have a year.

There were so many amazing, inspiring people that I have met along the way, and having only just started my OCR journey, I looking forward to whats next.  This whole trip, reminded me so much of why I love this sport and the people, community and the challenge.

 Conquering your fears and working through them to become a better, more wholesome person.  I am so proud of what I have achieved especially as I would have never thought in a million years, that I would be participating in the World Champs.  That is something dreams are made of.  I would be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed in myself for failing, but all I can do it learn from that and grow. ​

It has come with me to the USA OCR World Champs, as well as accompanied me on many cycling trips, gone to the gym, walking and even found its great to carry your shopping of you ever feel like walking to the supermarket.  Of course it will also be coming with me to the numerous amount of events that are coming up over the next two months.

Some Specs if you want them, Im super happy with mine, especially with how comfortable it is.

I have taken numerous sports gels to get me through a variety of OCR and running events, most usually disagree with me, or are just too sickly to even have.  Having tested Fuel before using at the OCR World Championships, they provided me with a great amount of energy and fuel to get me through the whole course.  I had 5 flavours to choose from, but I personally favourited two of them (Vanilla and Fudge Brownie).  They were the perfect pick me ups when I was suffering from the cold and wet and needed that extra boost to keep me going.

These will forever be on my gear list for all my events, and I will be taking some extras my next endurance event including the 12hour Spartan Hurricane Heat in December.

The mesh material kept my feet nice and cool, as well as helped rain out the water after trudging through the rivers and water obstacles. 

Plus you have to love a shoe that looks good as well as comfortable and practical.

Love these shoes, and will continually use them for my future obstacle runs.

SOS Rehydrate kept the whole Australian team hydrated before, during and after the Ocr worlds.  These are great at replenishing lost electrolytes during exercise, so now I continue to use them before and after my gym workouts,

There a re a variety of flavours to choose from, but I can't seem to get past the berry flavour.  

Barefoot inc provided the team with safe laces (Best invention ever).  I so wish I had invested in these months ago.  If you haven't gone out and got some, get some today, especially if you suffer from your laces always coming undone during events.  Not just obstacle races but running events, triathlons and / or even cycling.  Not once did I have a problem with my shoe laces coming undone, now I use them for everything.  Plus with  variety of colours to choose from, you can choose a pair to go with your runners (like I did).

I am now finding that if I run past someone at an event tying up their shoelaces, I end up screaming at them about safe laces, and they are the best thing ever.  

Once you start using them you will never look back, and you will wonder why you haven't started using them sooner.

Barefoot Inc also provided some toe socks, which fit like a foot glove, really comfy and stops any possibilities of sand and mud getting caught in-between your toes.  It also removes any traction sores between the toes.