total received funds
Sponsor our team and help us raise money for Oxfam Australia.
We're well past our target of $7,000
Sponsor our team and help to overcome poverty and injustice.
We've raised $9,122.
We're walking 100km. Help us make a difference.
Iron Ladies are gold fundraisers Help us reach our target of $7,000.donate to our team
our top online donors
- Bunnings BBQ $1,041
A great event to take us over our 'pledge line'!
$1,000 is enough to run a family violence workshop in the Solomon Islands.
- Lola Greenwood $500
- Benchmarque Group $300
where does the money go?
14 February
Bunnings BBQ fundraising effort
Sausages may not be the best fuel for a 100km event, but they are certainly a great way to raise some money! Last Saturday the IronLadies managed to raise $1041 at a sausage sizzle at Bunnings in Box Hill - this effort has seen us surpass our original target of $5000 - woohoo!
18 January
Yes we can "Hack it!"
Sunday was team Iron Ladies first adventure onto the Oxfam trail itself. We decided a jog/walk from Checkpoint 3 (Grants Picnic Ground) to Checkpoint 4 (Olinda Reserve) (and back again) would be a fantastic introduction to the course - and it did not fail to impress. It was an absolute treat being able to enjoy the serenity of this magnificent track. The highlight would have to be the infamous Hacketts Road. The journey up sent all of our heart rates through the roof and coming down had our quads screaming. The photo is from left: Jodie, Flip and Dee nearing the top. A great day out! Looking forward to discovering the rest of the track over the next few months.
06 January
Two Bays "Fat Ass" Trail Run- Jan 3
Dee, Vicky and Jodie set out early on Jan 3 to participate in a fantastic event called the "Two Bays Fat Ass Trail Run", an unsupported 28/56km trail run from Dromana to Cape Shank (and back but we weren't that crazy), The Two Bays Trail is a fantastic walking trail through some awesome bayside and mountain terrain. The first six km was tough with a very large elevation gain. As this was Dee's first ever trail race, she did amazingly well, only four short weeks after ironman. More fun events to come, here is a photo of Vicky 3km from the finish with the spectacular view from the trail.
17 December
Busselton Ironman- Dee Greenwood
The day started well as l had a good sleep and felt well prepared physically and mentally. Leading up to the event l felt excited and was really looking forward to it, nervous of course but very positive. I think for me l had no expectations about the day or course as l had not done it before so l went in with a clean slate. I had my usual breakfast and then we headed of to the bike compound. We had heaps of time to set up our bikes and put our wetsuit on, which is so important cause if I don’t have it on properly l don’t go in feeling confident. Had a warm up swim which helped settle the butterflies and away we went. After the swim l was slower than usual in transition, not sure why except l did not have a helper. I also noted that my heart rate monitor was not recording a heart rate. I thought typical this monitor always stuffs up when l need it the most. I decided then that l am going to get a new one. Never mind I’ll just race according to how I feel. I was going pretty well on the bike until my feet started to heat up and during the bike I had to get off numerous times to relieve the pain. It felt like my toes had crumbled and broken the hotter it got. Unfortunately this blew out my expected bike time by about 1 hour and they ran out of high5 on the bike course so I had to have a few pieces of banana. I was so very happy to get of the bike and it took a little while for my feet to feel normal again. My transition again was really slow. My sister in law was following my progress on Ironman Live and rang my mum to ask what on earth was taking me so long. My mother suggested that I was in the toilet queue. I got stock of myself and off I went on the run, tentative steps at first and then l got into a rhythm. You mind plays tricks out there and l was thinking l am never going to make it within the cut of time; again I took myself in hand and said yes you will just plod on.
17 December
Part 2
I felt good on the run and was very grateful when the sun started to go down, it was very hot. I am glad l did not know what temperature it was, I just kept thinking it is only supposed to be about 30. Subsequently I found out it was 37. If I had known that it probably would have messed with my mind. On the third lap the excited started to enter and a felt a few tears welling up. Then I saw a Labrador dog and wished my dogs were there a bit more welling up. In fact tears are welling up now. I new I was going to make it to the end and here those immortal words you are an IRONMAN. You never get sick of hearing that. I had 3 goals going into this event, complete, complete without dying or severe injury and to complete the event under 14 hours. Oh well two out of three isn’t bad and there is always another event to achieve goal 3. Now the new goal OXFAM 2010
01 December
Team Update End Nov
What a great start we have had with our fab supporters (financial and psychological). We have had a team training event, a15km race at Jell's Park - Oxfam TRAILWALKER starting point, which was fun but very hot. We also attended the information night (poor Flip was unable to attend due to the home team being injured, moving and a lot of work commitments.... busy times on the Shelton front). This fantastic evening provided us with insight into footcare, moral building on the trail, trail information in a virtual walk/run through and some real life trail stories from last year's inspiring US4 team. We are PUMPED and have our next event(s) mapped out (Jan 3 being the next big one). In between Dee has to complete her next Ironman in Busso, I competed in my first off-road duathlon (last before Oxfam I'm afraid, my clumsiness led to a bruised bum, bruised helmet and lost sunglasses), Vick's managed to have a couple of car bingles (no doubt after some crazy training session) & Flip has been training with the stars (more info to come in her next blog). With Xmas upon us the festivities may be stepping up a notch but we will be sure to see the new year in bright eyed and bushy tailed with TRAILWALKER firmly in our sights.
09 November
A new 'future' training partner
This week saw the arrival of my future training partner to our household – an 8-week-old black and white Border Collie puppy, Jess. Much energy has already been used up chasing this puppy around, it is like having a really active newborn baby! I’m sure this is going to be an extremely interesting and hopefully fun experience. The heat also arrived in Melbourne this week and made training a bit more challenging. Managed to run early on Saturday and avoided the extreme heat but this week we are all going to have to don the sunscreen and hats and head out in the heat. It was only two years ago that Melbourne Oxfam occurred on a 40 degree day with fires resulting in the route having to detour a number of times. So training in the heat and getting the body used to the possibility of weather extremes is part of the plan. The Ironladies are this week looking forward to our first ‘group event’. This will take place at Jells Park on Sunday. Victorian Road Runners have a fun run organised, either 5/10/15km. It will be a great opportunity to test the legs and get together and we are all looking forward it.
29 October
Weekly Update Oct 29 (Jodie Palmer)
Oxfam is now on my facebook site, it is official, I am hooked. It helps that our friends, family and collegues have shown such huge support for the cause. Amazing! The Iron Ladies team members are busily going about everyday life and fitting in their training sessions. I've been managing a couple of double run sessions a week and a lovely session on the mountain bike. Flip is wearing holes in the pavement pushing Master Harvey about in his pram, nothing to be concerned about here, she's mastering sleep deprivation and getting her internal organs back in place following his birth (no mean feat). Dee is, as usual, preparing for Ironman...maniac (I want to be her!). Vicks is celebrating her birthday and training the house down with her running/pilates/etc. We have our first official team run/race next month, BRING IT ON!
19 October
Weekly team blog by Flip Shelton
“This is it.” I am having a Michael Jackson moment. We’ve had two meetings over vanilla Slice and lattes and now our team of “Iron Ladies” has registered for the 2010 Oxfam walk and with emails out to family and friends requesting donations, there is no turning back. After a week with lots of wet stuff from the heavens – which of course is brilliant for the general health and hydration of Melbournians – there were plenty of false starts in trying to get outside to some training done. I am officially the ‘anchor’ or ‘weakest’ link in this chain of four, having had Harvey 15 weeks ago (today) and at my un-fittest for a decade but to borrow from another song – the only way is up. Whilst the other Iron Ladies have been running hills, doing pilates, mountain biking and swimming, I have been pushing a pram through the aisles of the supermarket and around various pram-friendly ‘tracks’ I have devised near home. This challenge is as exciting as it is scary and on that note, it’s time to toss the kid into the pram and hit the road. Flip.
14 October
Iron Ladies team bio
The “Iron Ladies” team is made up of 4 women who between them have completed 15 Ironman events (3.8km swim 180km bike 42 km run). They are also responsible for 5 children, 2 dogs and a cat. Here is a little introduction to the team.
14 October
Flip Shelton and Jodie Palmer
Flip Shelton:I am a writer, presenter, broadcaster, muesli maker and mother to one small child and have completed four ironman events. The 100km Oxfam Trailwalker has been on my TO DO list for as long as I can remember. I first heard about it through friends who live in Hong Kong and have completed many. Finally, with the help of my wonderful teammates Jodie Palmer, Dee Greenwood and Vicky Kuriel, the Oxfam Trailwalker will be ticked off that list in April 2010. I first met and trained with these ladies for triathlons, over ten years ago. Since then we have completed various endurance events including Ironman– hence our name. Between us we have done a combined total of 15 Ironman events, so we have seen each other at our best and our worst. Training also includes a lot of coffee consumption and eating which is another thing I am passionate about! All of my teammates are passionate, inspired and inspiring women in their approach to life – both professionally and personally and we are all looking forward to the challenge of the Oxfam Trail walker physically, emotionally and of course financial as we raise money for those less fortunate than us. Jodie Palmer:I am in awe of the Oxfam TRAILWALKER event and very excited to be part of participating and fundraising for the event. I spent a lot of time travelling when I was younger and was astounded at the disparity between the “haves” and “have nots”, both here in Australia and abroad. I am mum to Annabelle (3) & Bentley (1), who take up a lot of my recreation time, for which I feel quite fortunate. I am a cancer biologist and am now working part time in obtaining funding for clinicians and researchers in cancer research. I have participated in three Ironman Triathlon races, three marathons and a lot of fun run/short triathlons. I have just discovered mountain biking which I love but am still terrible at. The Iron Ladies team is made up of some of the bravest people I know and I look forward to shar
14 October
Dee Greenwood and Vicky Kuriel
Dee Greenwood: I have always thought that completing Oxfam Trail walk was something l would like to do and how lucky that 3 friends felt the same way. Exercise and raising money for charity is a great combination. I am mother to the 4 legged varieties, Henry, Gordon and Marsha and little do they know they are now part of the training team. I am a Continence Nurse at a Public Hospital so by the end of our Oxfam journey everyone’s pelvic floor will be in top notch condition.I have completed 6 Ironman triathlons and am hoping to complete my 7th at Busselton in December. I am very excited about my Oxfam journey. Vicky Kuriel:Exercise, fitness and various physical challenges have always been a part of my life. I am passionate about just about anything that gets my heart rate up and at the same time challenges me to move out of my comfort zone. Over the years I have participated in 2 Ironman triathlons and an endless amount of shorter triathlons, fun runs, open water swims and cycle events. The downfall of my passion is that it is a selfish endeavour where at the end of the day, all the physical, mental and spiritual gains belong to me. Oxfam Trailwalker allows me to use my physical fitness to benefit others, specifically those a lot less fortunate than myself. My two beautiful kids, Charli (4) and Elijah (2) have given me a greater perspective when it comes to exercise and fitness. In April 2010 the Iron Ladies will complete the Oxfam 100km for reasons that extend way beyond personal gains, I feel honoured to be a part of this team.
