12/10/2026
THE OX 2026. 100KM 🏃✔️
What a community, what an initiative, and what a bloody brutal 24 hours supporting families impacted by childhood brain cancer ❤️
For those interested, I managed to get a ticket the day prior after one become available, leaving less than 24 hours to prepare. Not something I’d usually recommend, but this was a cause I wanted to get behind.
A few supermarket trips, sports shops and a Bunnings run later, I was as ready as I could be with what a small town had on offer🫠
From a nutrition point of view, there was plenty to manage.
It was incredibly hot, and knowing my sweat rate is high, I was diligent of getting enough fluid in during those day light hours. By around 35km though, I was having significant gut issues; Regular toilet stops, gas and reflux was an absolute combo. Too much fluid, not enough sodium, carbonated coke.. the list is endless..
At that point, I needed to adjust. I stripped things back to broth, Vegemite sandwiches and plain Saladas, then kept reassessing what I could tolerate.
Across the 24 hours, I consumed roughly 2,200g of carbohydrate and 17 litres of fluid, including everything from LCM bars, pikelets and gels to noodles, chips and sports drink.
I got through and recovered well, but it reinforced something I work on with athletes: a nutrition plan needs to be PRACTISED, INDIVIDUALISED and FLEXIBLE enough to change when things aren’t working.
Even as a sports dietitian, you’re not immune to a rough day out there. As always control the controllable’s, and plan for the uncontrollable’s!
The support, the conversations and more importantly, the people, made this event pretty special🫶 Huge thanks to everyone involved 🙌