So why would I want to run 3000km?! A conversation with my twin sister comes to mind when I think about this question. When I asked if she would be willing to support crew me on this mission, her words were "I'll sign up for the last week...highest chance you won't make it that far...!". 

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Said in jest this may have been, but it kinda sums up my position in a large family full of banter, where I have grown up feeling I always need to prove myself. 

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Add to this a series of broken body parts that pulled me out of the Rowing World Champs in my 20's (not once, but three times over...!!), so I guess I feel I have some unfinished business with sport too.

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At age 22 I was diagnosed with a heart condition and became the recipient of an inserted cardiac pacemaker/defibrillator. Being told you have a long term condition at that age, I reckon it's probably pretty normal to go through the journey of feeling hard done by, asking 'why me', then eventually learning to accept and embrace it. 

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One of my favourite quotes is that "it's not the throw, but the catch". You can't always choose what life might chuck at you, but you decide how to receive it, and what to do next.

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Being a nurse and witnessing the enormous challenges some patients go through has also definitely helped me to stay grounded when it comes to my own condition, and 100% inspired me to keep pushing my own boundaries.

I guess the best thing I've learned through my own experiences is that you never know how long you're going to get in life to do all the things you want to do. We've just got to make the most of what we’ve got and embrace any opportunity you get while you can.

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For me, anything that both scares me and makes me question myself is definitely something I want to try!! 

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Maybe running 3000km isn't everyone's idea of fun, but in the words of my Dad, 'life is not a dress rehearsal'. You don't get a second go at it. So figure out what makes you tick, and chase after that. Because if you're not doing what you love, you are wasting your time.

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So starting November 26th, that is exactly what I am going to do. 

Brooke