little eco footprints: April 2012

That's me on the left and my Wildendurance team mates. In four weeks our team 'Just us' will be walking 100km in less than 36 hours to raise funds for the Wilderness Society.

It's a crazy challenge that is already pushing me to my physical and mental limits.

But it is so so worth it.

Why I am happy to walk 100km for the Wilderness Society

I truly believe that we can't rely on our governments to save the environment (and that's coming from someone who's been working for government in the conservation field for almost 15 years). I agree wholeheartedly with the following sentiments from the Wilderness Society:

"Do not be fooled into thinking that governments save the environment. Almost without exception, they will be dragged, kicking and screaming, to the right decision, by a concerned, determined community."

I consequently have a lot of respect for the Wilderness Society and their campaigns. It's a community-based, environmental advocacy organisation whose purpose is 'protecting, promoting and restoring wilderness and natural processes across Australia ....'.

The funds I raise will go towards their Healthy Rivers Coal Seam Gas campaign. I chose it because It's an issue that is close to home (and in the future may be even more so). The Wilderness Society is fighting for an 'independent, transparent, robust and scientifically-based assessment of what coal seam gas will do to our rivers and our environment.' Sounds reasonable to me.

Why I'm happy to walk 100k for me

But to be honest, the main reason I'm doing the challenge is not to raise funds for the Wilderness Society - I'm doing it for me.

I'm turning 40 in a few weeks. I spent way too much of my thirties on my bum in front of a computer. I'm overweight and disconnected from nature and from the real me.

My forties are going to be different.

I'm determined to regain my strength and fitness; to reconnect with nature; and to rediscover myself.

Walking 100km through the beautiful World Heritage wilderness of the Blue Mountains seemed an apt way to see in my forties.

I need to focus and neglect Little Eco Footprints for a few weeks

That's me on the left. Flat on my back exhausted during a 35km training walk in the Blue Mountains last weekend.

The walk was uncharacteristically hard for me. So much so that I took myself off to the doctors once back home.

It looks like I experienced the devastating impact stress has on our bodies.

I was closer to the truth than I'd realised when I recently wrote 'wanting to do too much is almost as toxic as wanting too much stuff'.

I hadn't realised I was stressed. I thought I was simply buzzing from a fun and busy week. But I'd been running on adrenalin all week and my body protested at me trying to take it on an endurance walk.

If I'm going to complete the 100km I have to learn how to relax. I have to learn how to do less.

For the next four weeks i'll be focussing on training for the walk and am dropping everything I can. So this space will be neglected until after the walk (5th - 6th May). I know you understand.