Over the weekend I joined a great group of runners from all over the country at Matt Cooper's Ultra Made Training Camps, held amongst some of Australia's highest peaks.
The time in the mountains was incredible. The runners spent 3 days dancing across trails in all sorts of weather, practicing lightness and presence when running, learning about nutrition and eating lots of good wholesome meals, resting and relaxing, sleeping, doing yoga and stretching, and drinking quality coffee.
Despite being at the camp to help out, I still left feeling as if I had learnt so much. My achilles injury had lessened with each hill and soak in the icy mountain streams, and my body felt invigorated with the sensation of running again. Mostly though, it was good to be reminded of how important it is to run with our feelings, or instincts, and not to overthink each step:
"All that we are is the result of what we have thought.
The mind is everything. What we think we become."
- Buddha
(click on the photos to view in detail)
Our first group run together; a silent, mindful session at night to focus on breathing and the lightness of our step:
Alpine flowers on Heathy Spur Trail (Close to Falls Creek):
Mel and I enjoying the colder conditions, the mist, the hail and sleet, the lightning and thunder!:
Thunder brewing in the high plains:
Alpine flowers:
Alpine Daisies:
A runner emerging from the mist on Heathy Spur:
Group shot!:
Last day of running, about to climb up to the summit of Mt Bogong (1926m):
First morning light through the majestic gum trees:
Alpine joy:
Group shot on the summit of Mt Bogong:
