Wow that feels so crazy to write!
There has been so much going on with me in the past few weeks, so I have a lot to catch up on!
Last week I started filming with “A Current Affair”, who are doing a feature piece on me for my 2nd Everest attempt. We filmed in my school, with my friends, and did some interviews and more filming at home, at the gym and even hiking in the Dandenongs! So grateful to be able to share my story and hopefully to inspire young people to keep pushing on towards their goals, despite setbacks.
Dad and I have prepped most of our important mountain fuel – we researched different types of carbohydrates (the body’s main energy source) to consume and the easiest way to get them in whilst at altitude. We settled on putting powdered maltodextrin and fructose in our water, and we have carb-loaded gels as well. We will also carry caffeine gels for when we need a quicker burst.
I have also just signed as an athlete with Paddy Palin, (Australia’s oldest outdoor store company) and I’m so excited to part take in community events with them and show off their wonderful gear in the beautiful Himalayas.
I am also grateful to be supported by Montane, a UK mountaineering brand, who is supporting me with my 8000m down suit and some other key pieces. I used their older model down suit on Manaslu, Ama Dablam and Everest and it was incredible so I’m very excited for this newer version.
Going into this expedition, with a lived experience on how heavily the mountain impacts you, I am really prioritising my health, not just within training.
I recently did a blood test, to check for any unlikely (or so I thought) deficiencies. Turns out I was very low in iron, which is crucial in red blood cell production, and thus, oxygen transport efficiency. So I had an iron infusion which should hopefully fix all of this!! I’m taking lots of vitamins, protein, creatine and eating well.
Training has been going great as usual, just obviously tiring.
Last Sunday I got my new record in the Dandenongs of laps of the fire track! I did 6 laps which totals to about 2400m of vertical up and down. I was carrying about 12kg throughout too! I’m so excited to get to sleep a lot on the trek into base camp and lower my intensity of training 😅
We’re on the home stretch now!!