Training For The Trek
Villawood’s Andrew Duggan has been putting in the hard yards preparing for next month’s Kokoda trek with Geelong Youth Engagement.
Steep uphill sprints at Geelong’s Eastern Beach, together with a gruelling program of twisting, turning and gut-buster core-strengthening exercises, have been working Andrew and other Kokoda trekkers into a lather.
Supported by the Villawood Foundation, the GYE Kokoda program provides a life-changing adventure for teens facing different challenges. Together with adult mentors, the GYE team spend 10 days pitting themselves against the tough ask of the Kokoda Track made famous by Aussies Diggers during World War Two.
Villawood executive director Rory Costelloe completed the trek last year, returning a huge advocate for its success with its young charges. Andrew’s up this year and Mike Treloar is in the running for 2025. Great commitment by each of them.
Andrew’s workouts to date have included treks through the Otway Ranges, lengthy Surf Coast beach hikes and more uphill sprints than he’d care to cite. Next week, he’ll be doing it all again, over a six-hour final Eastern Beach training session, carrying full kit.
Good luck AD. We know you’ll smash it!
