Buckle up folks, it’s 2026.
And that means in about five and a half months I begin my full year of leave without pay and in about 10 months should be in Aotearoa/New Zealand and hiking Te Araroa!
And so with my heart and stomach still very full from Christmas cheer - it’s time to get cracking!
My current number one goal is “get strong ass legs” but also my cardio has also gone woefully down since July so I decided to do some benchmark testing so we can track progress.
Where best to begin but the test that all Australian teens dread – the beep test. Yes I voluntarily completed the beep test. Not that I lasted long at all. The results were poor... a measly 4.2.
Just 3 mins in and lungs were not coping and I should have brought my asthma puffer. I continued to do some more laps of running (not at beep speed) so that hopefully I can start building up to that sprint strength.
One thing I quickly realised is that last year I have done so well at training myself to run slow for endurance (to keep a sustainable pace) that the beep test felt so wrong going that fast, and that running back and forth and having to stop start is not an enjoyable way to run. Also, my V02 max is a bit shit. But hey we gotta start somewhere.
While hiking is a slower endurance sport I do want to increase my V02 max mostly to allow myself to not struggle so much with inclines. Which is also why I created another test for myself — the stair run test. The test is simply how long does it take me to do run up and down a staircase in my local area 10 times. Current best 10mins 56secs.
The stairs!
Running aside I also completed two tests my PT set me.
The first being how many single leg calf raises can you do in 30 seconds.
Right leg: 16
Left Leg: 15
And how many single leg sit to stands can you do in 30secs.
I really struggle with single leg sit to stands so needed to give it the princess and the pea approach and add a stack of thin cushions.
With four cushions in play I was able to get the following results:
Right leg: 14
Left leg: 14
My chair and cushions set-up
I am hoping that by the end of the month I can get the same result with at least one less pillow.
Getting strong legs and hiking the TA are not the only things I’d like to achieve in 2026. I also want to:
Read lots of books! I want to read a good mix of fiction but also more women adventure memoirs. There is a cool book club I am thinking of joining here. The only downside is I am more of a read-it-on-your-kobo-from-the-library-via-overdrive girlie than physical book you have to pay $45 a month for so we’ll see…
I want to get my drivers license. Yes I am 33 and I don’t have it yet. I always planned to go for it this year, but after THE CRASH it seems even more important. I honestly find this more scary than solo hiking for 6months. The crash hasn’t helped the anxiety one bit, but hopefully some lessons can help ease the anxiety.
I want to get our garden thriving again. Last year I was away a lot and with all the things the garden became a neglected forest of weeds. I would love to be able to take the time to get it growing, spend time amongst it and eat from the veggie patch again.
Finally I want to keep working at this newsletter. Thus far getting just one post a month out is all I seem I am able to do. But with more practice (and more time come May) I want to make writing a more regular practice. Maybe I will even tell people about it!
Current podcast inspiring and keeping me going while training:
Tough Girl Podcast
by Sarah Williams
Currently reading this cosy fantasy:
Brigands & Breadknives by Travis Baldree
Some actions to stay sane in this world
The news that Israel is preventing so many NGOs from entering Gaza is heartbreaking and all I can think is how many lives will be lost because they can just throw some red tape around it and how actions like this are just as violent as the direct bombing.
So this months action is less focused on donating (but still important please do if you can) but on demanding action from the government.
So please go to a rally or contact your MP.