Day 23

Thursday 23rd Oct Today I had to take my daughter to an appointment so I decided we should walk to the train station to catch the train and then tram to her appointment instead of driving. It was only a 1.5km walk there and the same back, but that’s still 3kms towards my goal, and I’m saving petrol haha. I then did a further 20.1km run in the evening to end on 23.1kms for the day. With only 8 days to go it’s time to dig deep to finish strong. My body is aching and all my joints and muscles hurt but I can rest after this challenge. Stay strong 💪🏼 and dig deep everyone! We got this! RFDS is such a great cause and I’m glad to have been apart of this challenge! Donate if you can 🫶🏼 https://www.oceanstooutback.org.au/fundraiser/monicafoster Share

Day 22

Wednesday 22nd Oct Today my daughter joined in her kayak while I ran 10.7kms then walked 5kms and totalling 15.7kms for the day. My body is really feeling pain now especially my knees but I’m determined to push through. Please get behind my fundraising and help get me to my target and give me the motivation I need to keep pushing on for the next 9 days. I’m $550 off my target and if I get there by Sunday I’ll aim for 1000kms https://www.oceanstooutback.org.au/fundraiser/monicafoster Share

Day 20 & 21

Tuesday 21st Oct Day 20 - I planned on attempting 80kms after having day 19 as my rest day, however the champagne hangover got me so I only managed to get 26.6kms in over 2 walks. Day 21 - 53kms in total which consisted of a mid morning 35km run whilst my youngest was at school. Then an 18km run after dinner. Almost at my km goal but still a bit of my fundraising target so please donate if you can 🫶🏼 https://www.oceanstooutback.org.au/fundraiser/monicafoster Share

Day 19

Sunday 19th Oct Day 19 - an unplanned rest day. I had planned on going to the beach with the kids and catching up with a close friend (all of that did happen) but the beach trip turned into champagne at 9am followed by more champagne whilst enjoying the sun and a much needed mental health catch up with my best friend and her kiddos who are like adoptive children of mine. So tomorrow my goal is to attempt to get 80kms (or as close to that as possible). Share

Day 18

Saturday 18th Oct Day 18/31 ✅ I fell asleep quiet early last night after running 45kms so I was up at 1am and went for a 10km run followed by a 6.7km walk. I had some food and did another 33km walk later in the morning, followed by an afternoon walk of 5.2kms. It’s safe to say I’ll sleep well tonight after doing a total of 54.9kms over 4 walks/run. Please donate is you can. Let’s keep the flying doctor flying ✈️ https://www.oceanstooutback.org.au/fundraiser/monicafoster Share

Day 17

Friday 17th Oct I got a 45.1km run in. I was going to go out for an evening walk but mum came home with wine so I thought I’d have a glass with dinner and call today a success. Share

Day 16

Friday 17th Oct I managed a 32km run. I was trying to do 40kms but the body was just too sore from the 68kms I got in yesterday. I managed to get 2 more donations from friends today but unfortunately didn’t get the double donation match even though one of the donations was made within 15 mins of the Qld time for it being open. Bummer for me but that’s okay as all the money is going to the same place to help fund the RFDS. I’m currently $550 off reaching my target, and if I can reach that $1000 by the 26th I’ll be increasing my km target for the 4th time. I initially signed up pledging 200kms but before the challenge started I increased it to 620kms and then yesterday I increased it to 800kms. Let’s get those donations in and I’ll push even harder and get 1000kms. Currently I’m at 406kms. https://www.oceanstooutback.org.au/fundraiser/monicafoster Share

Day 15

Wednesday 15th Oct Today I woke up still lacking motivation but determined to put some kms in towards my target. This year has been a big struggle for me with my heath and I have been bed ridden from April-July due to medical issues from anaemia to heart problems, then add in the deaths in the family, my 8 year olds ADHD/ASD and my 12 (now 13) yr olds multiple suicide attempts since July. I started my first ever walking challenge last month in September walking 100kms in 7 days for suicide prevention and I managed to get my eldest daughter out with me which I thought was helping her, then school holidays hit and things were great and she went to NZ with her dad but things took a turn and she is still under a 24/7 suicide watch in my care, I’ve tried getting her walking with me this time but she won’t, all she wants is to get back to school but the school still won’t let her back given what’s going on with her. I came across a post from such a beautiful person on the O2O fb group telling people who were struggling with donations to put our link in the comments, so I did and 2 very kind souls Robyn Carmichael and Julie Puttock who I have thanked personally made a donation to me which really gave me that boost I needed. I did a morning run which I managed to get 52kms in, and my afternoon walk I got a slow 16kms in making it 68kms for the day (my best yet). I am going to feel it tomorrow. Magnesium and ice baths come at me haha. I have increased my monthly target from 620kms to 800kms so after today I am 374/800kms in. Whilst I do this walk to raise funds and awareness for the Royal Flying Doctor Service, I also do this walk for me as given the things I am currently dealing with if I don’t keep my mind active I will fall into another PTSD depressive hole. If you can donate it will not only help this vital service but it will also give me another boost to increase my km target to 1000kms. Thank you 🫶🏼 https://www.oceanstooutback.org.au/fundraiser/monicafoster Share

Day 13 & 14

Tuesday 14th Oct I got a 20km walk in on both days. Motivation is lacking and body is hurting. Hopefully I get some more donations in to help support this great cause. Currently I have done 306/620kms so almost at the halfway point. Share

Day 12

Sunday 12th Oct ***update - got another 5.5kms in as my fur baby needed a bath so it was a lap around the lake before a swim then home for a bath*** I only managed a very slow 11.5km walk due to lack of motivation. I have been feeling a bit down as I’ve only had 1 donation plus my self donation despite the constant shares and asks for donations with friends/family and asking friends and family to share my fundraiser plus all my blog posts and texts to people not on social media. Hopefully I can get some more donations rolling in to bring up mood. Tomorrow is another day and I just have to keep reminding myself that I’m doing this for a good cause. Share

Day 11

Sunday 12th Oct I only managed to get a 16km run in as I had a bit on. Currently sitting at 249kms towards my target. Share

Day 9 & 10

Friday 10th Oct Day 9 - I got 10kms in before an appointment then planned to do another 30km, however my body went into shutdown mode and I slept the rest of the day and night. Day 10 - I woke up feeling good, had a good stretch and ran 35.6kms then walked 2.5kms to cool down. Currently I am 233kms in towards my goal. Still struggling to get donations but I’m hopeful they will come. Share

Day 8

Wednesday 8th Oct 12km slow run this morning before the heat with my fur baby Gucci, then a 12.4km walk on my own (I would have gone further but cold beer was calling me on this hot day, so mum to the rescue picking me up from the pub 🤣) Each day is tough on the body and my 2 bad knees but we keep pushing on supporting and raising awareness for Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia doing the Oceans to Outback challenge. Stick me in the wind tunnel and I can fly hours on end, get me in the sky and I will jump pack and repeat from dawn till dusk but ask me to walk or run and that never happens, so me doing this challenge and setting the target I’ve set is a massive stretch but I am determined to exceed that target. Everywhere I walk and everyone I talk to I am always speaking about this challenge and why it’s such a good cause to donate to, now whilst my donation haven’t increased I know I’m still making people aware. Yes I know I didn’t have my RFDS O2O shirt on today but that’s because I hadn’t done laundry yet (I’m sure you all get it 🤣) Share

Day 7

Tuesday 7th Oct Today I did 2 indoor runs totalling 28kms as my little fur baby was not keen to go out and just wanted to stay curled up in bed. I know I could have still gone out for a walk but I don’t like walking by myself as I lose motivation 🤷‍♀️ I only logged my dedicated walks or runs on the O2O app, I leave out my normal daily steps as for me I do that anyway and I wanted to challenge myself as much as I can (everyone’s situation is different though). These last 7 days only counting my dedicated walks or runs I have logged 161km, done 181,756 steps and spent a total of 27 hours and 14 minutes either walking or running 🥵. Now that is absolutely insane for me as I am in NO WAY at all this physically active for walking or running. Plus to do all of this with torn ligaments in both of my knees is crazy, but what’s that saying “no pain no gain”. Officially I have pledged to walk/run 620kms over the 31 days, however unofficially (in my head) I am aiming for 1000kms this month. I have not changed this in the O2O app yet as I want to see what the next 14 days are like with my knees and my blistery feet, but if by day 21 I am tracking good for the 1000km mark I will update this in the O2O app. Any donations will be amazing help to boost my motivational levels🫶🏼 Share

Day 6

Monday 6th Oct Today I woke up with no motivation or energy to do anything and was just going to spend all day in bed, however a friend said just get out there and do 3-5kms so your muscles don’t seize up. I managed to get 12.3kms, it’s not the 20km minimum daily goal I set for myself so there’s a little disappointment there but for not wanting to walk anything to getting what I did I am grateful for that. My total kms so far over the 6 days is 133kms. Share

Day 5

Sunday 5th Oct My body is really starting to feel the pain now. My feet are covered in blister so it hurts putting shoes on, my knees ache and so do my hips but I keep pushing on. I split my walk into 2 (both indoors and outdoors). I walked 11.86kms along the beach, I would have done the full 20kms however the soft sand kept putting a lot of strain on my torn knee ligaments so I couldn’t keep going and chose to do another 8.56kms indoors to total 20.42kms for today bring my total banked kms to 120kms. Share

Day 4

Saturday 4th Oct Today I woke up mentally drained and not wanting to get out of my PJ’s so I only did an indoor walk. After 3 days I was sitting at 67km and my daily goal is at least 20km. My thought process was if I do my 20kms today I’ll end on 87kms, however then I thought why not push and try and finish day 4 with 100kms towards my goal, so I spent 5hrs walking and running 33kms with 2 busted knees. I almost gave up at 30kms but I dug deep and pushed through. Share

Day 3

Friday 3rd Oct I managed to get 21.7kms in over 3 walks today. My first walk was outside doin 8.7kms then I did 2 inside for 5kms then 8kms. Currently I am 67kms down and only 553kms to go. Doing this with 2 busted knees is challenging but I can do it 🤙 Share

Day 2

Thursday 2nd Oct Today was a slow start as I’ve torn ligaments in both knees. I woke up, massaged my legs, stretched and applied fisiocrem before putting my braces on and setting out for walk 1 of the day. Given my injury I just wanted to take it a bit easy, so I did 5kms then went home and iced my knees. I will do 10kms of indoor walking then this afternoon I will set out to do another 5kms to total 20kms for the day. Share

Day 1

Thursday 2nd Oct Today kicked off the start of my 31 day challenge raising funds and awareness for the Royal Flying Doctor Services. I initially set a goal to walk 200kms over the 31 days, however changed it to 620kms just a day before the challenge started. I wanted to try and push myself whilst raising awareness for such a vital service. So at 3:54am I set off trying to attempt a 50km walk, however that didn’t quite go to plan and my fur baby Gucci decided to dart right in front of me just after the 10km mark and trip me over. Now to avoid falling on my face I stumbled and twisted my right knee but I pushed on and ended on 25kms for day 1. After getting home, icing and strapping my right knee I noticed my left knee was also hurt so I’ve had to strap both to continue the remainder 30 days of walking. Share