Publication:The Fearless Times Issue 3 2009/A Marathon Effort
Whilst on deployment for Operation Slipper, forty members of HMAS Toowoomba, competed in a full marathon event - 42.2 km or 703 laps around the flight deck, in a bid to raise money for charity.
The participants ran as part of a team or individually over a four hour period. The direction was changed every 15 minutes to ensure an even impact on the runners' bodies.
Organiser and Toowoomba’s energetic Physical Trainer, LSPT Nicole Gunthorpe said she was absolutely thrilled by the number of people who participated and the amount of money that was raised.
“The number of people who participated was unbelievable. I didn't really expect to have that many runners,” LS Gunthorpe said.
In total, over $3500 was raised for the Ship's charities.
“There are many considerations when conducting a marathon at sea. We were lucky to have had great sea and weather conditions on the day, although it was a little hot out there… and we had heaps of people who came out to support the runners too, so there was a great atmosphere.”
LS Gunthorpe, herself an elite competitive triathlete, said the idea really gained momentum with so many people wanting to challenge themselves.
“I think there are a lot of people on board who are physically fit and like to raise the bar for personal achievements. Their enthusiasm and their ability to encourage others just to give it a go made sure that the event was a success. The opportunity to raise money for worthwhile charities gave them an extra incentive to push themselves that little bit harder too,” she said.
The day of the marathon also coincided with CPOCTL Simon Butterworth's fortieth birthday. His love of running, the challenge of pushing through a pain barrier and his desire to run a marathon distance was the motivation to run the full four hours on his own. In fact when LS Gunthorpe mentioned to him that she was considering holding the event it was CPO Butterworth who provided much of the encouragement to get the marathon up and running.
“I decided on my thirty-ninth birthday that I would attempt my first 42.2 kilometres as a fortieth birthday present. I wasn't really planning to run an official marathon event, it was just the distance I wanted to achieve,” CPO Butterworth said.
“The most enticing thing about this run was the fact that it took place on an FFH flight deck in quite hot conditions. Running hundreds of laps around what was a very tight circuit on a steel deck really tests your mental toughness not to mention your body. Besides this, I got to do it on the RAN's finest warship, HMAS Toowoomba. Beats the Gold Coast Marathon hands down!”
CPO Butterworth completed 666 laps, only falling short of his goal by three kilometres, and raised over $800 himself. It was truly a marathon effort. At the finish, in acknowledgement of CPO Butterworth‟s inspirational achievement, all of the participants fell in behind him to cross the line as one team.
Overall a total of 406 kilometres was run by the participants on the day. The marathon was one of several sporting initiatives held during our deployment on Operation Slipper, making Toowoomba easily one of fittest ships in the Fleet.
100 Club
From the beginning of the deployment some of the crew members have been recording the number of fitness sessions they do with the physical trainer onboard. With this in mind the goal is to complete 100 Sessions with Clubs (the physical trainer) to receive a well deserved training singlet. The following people have made 100 Sessions so far with Clubs: CPO Butterworth, AB Whitfield, LEUT Young, LS Sommerville, AB Hazelman, AB Turco, PO Jelleff and CPO Fogg.
Biggest Losers
At the beginning of the trip the Biggest Loser Challenge was set to give several of Ship's Company the opportunity to lose weight, increase their fitness level, and enjoy the sense of achieving a personal goal. After 5 long months of self-control and determination by quite a number of very worthy challengers, the outstanding winner of HMAS Toowoomba's Biggest Loser Challenge is CPOMT Andrew Bowering. At the beginning of the deployment CPO Bowering weighed in at 111kg and at the final weigh in was 86.8 kg, losing a massive 24.2kg! This represents 21.8% of his original body weight lost. He is truly a fraction of his former self. CPO Bowering's new nick name is now 'half a bow'. On behalf of Toowoomba congratulations to CPO Bowering for an outstanding achievement. He will receive a $500.00 gift voucher to Rebel Sport courtesy of the RSL. Also, congratulations to all the participants who have either achieved their goals or are now well on the road to doing so. Well done and keep on Punchin'.
