Fitness Program

While on this camp we have to participate in a fitness program. This includes various runs (3.4 km, 5.5 km, 9.2 km and an 11 km) followed by 100 push-ups and 100 sit-ups. Some other activities that we have to do are power training (sprints and push-ups) and games (footy, soccer, etc.) Every morning we have to wake up at approx 6.30 AM and make our way to the shed. We then have to start stretching and prepare for the run or activity planned.

On Friday the 28th of August we participated in a 3.4 km run. We didn’t really know what to expect on this one. We had to run from the shed in the campsite, along the bike path, touch the rock at the end of the track, turn around, and take the same path back to the campsite. Times ranged from 14 minutes to 35 minutes. My time was 18.05 minutes. After we finish the run we have to grab a mat and start our 100 push-ups and 100 sit-ups. I find the sit-ups quite difficult, as I can’t do them. The push-ups are quite easy.

The next day, Saturday the 29th of August, we did the same distance, 3.4 km. This time we had to try and beat our previous time. Everyone’s times decreased, my time went down to 15.55 minute. This run was quite a bit harder because of how tight and stiff our muscles were. This run I found harder because I ran for all of it but the previous day I walked for quite a bit of it. Today my time was better because I ran for all of it. Then followed by a set of 100 push-ups and 100 sit-ups.

Sunday the 30th of August we did a 5.5 km run. This run was significantly harder. We had to run from the shed to the end of the jetty. This run was harder because there were more hills and I think I ran too fast in parts. I walked for a great part of it. I had alot more pain in this run. All of my muscles were stiff and I found it hard to run, and when I stopped to walk I found it quite difficult to start running again. My time wasn’t as great as it could have been; I finished it with a time of 32.15 minutes. I wasn’t that happy with my time because I knew I could have done better. Then we had to do the set of 100 push-ups and 100 sit-ups. This was really hard because all of my muscles hurt and then after a few sit-ups every muscle in my back hurt.

Monday the 31st of August we did something different to the runs, we played a game of soccer. This was fun because it was something different, but some of the less skilled people didn’t get the ball often. It made it worse by raining half way through our game and then we were all slipping over and injuring ourselves. But overall it was fun. Then we did the usual 100 push-ups and 100 sit-ups.

Tuesday, 1st of September. We did power training. This involved running down to the beach (about 1 km away) from the shed. Once we arrived at the beach we did shuttle runs. These are 8 metre sprints. We sprint to the other side, turn around and sprint back. We did this until Dale was satisfied. After the shuttle runs we changed the distance to about 10 metres and added 5 push-ups at each end. After these were completed we changed to sprints. We had to pair up with someone of equal speed ad then race them to where Dale was standing. Then once we had done 3 of these the slower group ran back to the campsite, followed by the second slowest group followed them. I was in this group. My group had Stuart, Ben, Chester and Harrison. We overtook the other group and got back to the campsite first. This was probably the most enjoyable part of the fitness program.

Wednesday, 2nd of September. We ran 9.2 km, but the people who had higher times from the 5.5 km run did a slightly different run. I was in the group that did the different one. We ran from the shed to the same place that we did power training the previous day but kept on running along the beach. This was quite difficult because there were areas where the sand was really soft and then it was hard. This made it hard because I rolled my ankle a couple of times. Running along the beach was also really tiring. When we had run for about half an hour we met up with the other group, Dale said that when we met up with them we had to turn around and run back to the campsite. We met up with them ad then started our run back. This took just under half an hour. The run back wasn’t as hard because we knew where the better spots for running were. My time was 56.15 minutes. At the beginning of the run, I set a goal to run it under an hour and I was happy that I achieved that.

Thursday the 3rd of September. Today we played a game of Gaelic football. It was really fun. It was the same rules as the soccer that we played on Monday. Our team was made up of Wardli's 3 and 4. We won 7-4.

Friday, 4th of September. Today we did another 3.4 km run. This one was quite easy. I ran for most of it, I think I sopped once or twice. But on the way back I had alot of trouble because my foot started to hurt and I couldn't put much pressure on it, and the previous day during snorkelling I pulled my quad and did something to my knee and ankle and the pain came back during the run. My time was 15.55 minutes. I got then same time as my previous 3.4 km time. I was happy with this time.

Saturday, 5th of September. This morning it was Dale's Birthday, so Bairdy took our morning fitness program. We started off with a run around the oval, while the end person would swerve in and out of evryone else. One everyone had done this twice, we then did a game of dodgeball. We had one Wardli in the middle and all of the other Wardli's throwing balls at them. We had one person at the front and then the other people in a line behind him. We had to throw the ball at them until the front person was left then it was everyone onto him. Once this game was over we played a game of chasey or something. We lined up side by side and then Bairdy would say "Crusts" or "Crumbs" Then the other group would chase them. When we had finished this game we went for breakfast.

Sunday the 6th of Sptember. Dale wasn't working with us this morning so Bairdy took us for our morning program again. This morning it was another 3.4 km. Except this morning we had alot of headwind the way there and then a tail wind on the way back. This session was alot harder te way there, and then I was stuffed on the way back, even though I had tail wind. My legs were still really sore and I had to stop a few times., but on the last 500 or so metres i pushed myself and didnt walk at all. My time was 16.54 minutes. I wasnt very happy with this time, because I worked harder but my time got worse. I hated having head wind. After this we did our 100 push-ups and 100 sit-ups. I finished this early so I did another 100 sit-ups.

Monday the 7th of September. Today we did another 5.5 km run. Moff gave us the chance to start running at 6:55 to get the run over quicker. The sick people walked the 3.4 km track, while the non sick people did the full track. The weather wasn’t too bad, it started raining while we were stretching but it stopped before we started. I ran with Stuart for most of it. My time was 31.40 minutes. I was happy with this time because it’s faster than my other one and I ran for most of it. I didn’t do the 100 push-ups and 10 it-ups because today I was leader and Barnesy ran back to the people at the back to help them out.

Tuesday, 8th of September. Today was another power training. We started off with a 1.2 km jog to the beach. We started off with some sprints, we had to sprint down a slope and then back up it. This was quite difficult, especially the sprint back up the hill. Then Dale made a slight variation to it. We had to do the same thing but when we got to the bottom of the hill we had to do 3 sit-ups. I didn’t think I could do this because I can’t really do sit-ups but I did them easily. Then we moved onto a running course. This was quite easy. Overall this training was quite easy. Then we started the run back to the campsite.

Wednesday the 9th of September. Today was a 3.4 km run. This was quite easy because there was not alot of wind and no rain. I didn’t have alot of trouble with my leg today but I had to stop a few times. I was happy with this morning because I managed to stay in front of Dale for the whole run, but I can’t keep up with him on the other runs. My time was slightly slower than my P.B, it was 16.10 minutes. I was quite happy with my time but I know that I could have done better. Then we did our 100 push-ups and 100 sit-ups.

Thursday the 10th of September. Today we played a game, the warm up was a run to the classroom and back, once that was done we played "crumbs and crusts" We had to pair up with someone of equal speed, I went with Chester. We didnt catch each other, so our score was 0-0. After this we played a game of soccer and then we changed to rugby. This was fun, and this time I got the ball more, which was good. The teams were Wardli's 3 and 4 and Wardli's 2 and 5. This was good because we didn’t have to do alot of training before the 11km.

Friday the 11th of September. Today is the 11km. We had alot of wind, which was bad. We thought it was a headwind but when we got there it turned out to be a tailwind which was good. We had bout 5 minutes of stretching. Once we had finished stretching we had the countdown, we started the run at 7:20 AM. Once we had started running I was running up with Matt, Viney and Arata, The fastest people in our class, I was quite happy that I was running with them but then after a kilometre or two they started getting faster and I fell behind. I still managed to stay in the top 10. I ran for the first few K's but then my legs started to really hurt and I had to slow down. Once I had got my breath back I started running again, I felt really dizzy when I started running again, which was really bad. I kept at a constant speed but had to stop a few times. It got really hard when the sand was soft and when there was seaweed. The first five or six K's was quite easy because the wind was behind me and was pushing me, this was really easy but then when we made it around the beach the wind started blowing on my side, it was here where it started getting harder. I was making goals, so I would keep on running to that point and then I could walk, one goal was to stay in front of Dale but I failed that, another goal I set was to run the first four of five kilometres, I achieved that. Jack Viney stayed in front the whole time, which wasn’t surprising, then Arata, Matt, Seb, Dale, Chester, Chris, Declan and a few others finished before me. My time was 1 hour, 8 minutes. I was happy with this time, because I wanted to get under an hour and a half and I was happy that I achieved that. The 11 km run wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be.

Monday the 14th of September. Today we had a 5.5 km run. I was very happy with this one because I was in front of Dale the whole time and I cut my time down by about 6 minutes. My aim was to run the whole thing, because in the 11 km run I managed to run the first 5 or so kilometre, so I knew I could run it. Even though my legs were hurting I still kept on running. I was happy with my result because I stayed in the top 10 for the whole run. There wasn’t much wind, no rain, and a bit of sun. My time was 25.28 minutes.

Tuesday the 15th of September. Today was a game. We played soccer and Gaelic footy. The game was a bit better because Viney wasn't here tackling all of us. We had to pair up with someone of equal skills and speed. I paired up with Harrison Marks. We had to play on that person for the whole game. Today was really fun, and it was a relief from all of the running.