Red Devils are ready for 2023

Soccer Lvsl

MOE Unitedhas appointed senior men’s player Harley Robinson as coach of its women’s team for the 2023 Latrobe Valley Soccer League season.

The Red Devils have every intention of fielding awoman’s team for the first time since 2018. Training has commenced on Monday nights from 6.30pm. If thereare any females interestedinhavinga kick as an outlet for fitness or to be involved in aclubwhich promotes social engagement and enjoyment,you are welcome to come along and have atry out at Olympic Park, Vale Street Moe (next door to the Moe Outdoor Swimming Pool). For more information, you can phone Robinson on 0400 119 415.

Moe Unitedseniors, reservesand second division preseason trainingisalsowell underway.

Coaches are Kevin O’Farrell and Connor O’Hanlon.

RUNNING

By TOM HAYES

RUNNING for acause is Traralgon local, Blake

Bourne, as he attempts to not only break aworld record, but raise thousands of dollars for charity in the meantime.

Last week, Bourne announced his world record attempt which will take place at the start of August, to run across the Simpson Desert.

“On August 3rd I’mattempting to breakthe world record for the fastest person to cross the Simpson Desert on foot,” Bourne said.

“I’ll be running 380 kilometres, from one side to the other, in less than three days and eight hours.”

The current record is held by Pat Farmer, who ran 379 kilometres in three days, eight hours and 36 minutes, back in 1998.

Bourne is adetermined individual, seen in his previous projects.

He has begUn aboxing career, which is now on hold for this endeavour, as well as owning and operating Blake Bourne Photography.

Manyfactors have contributed to Bourne’s hunger to do this world record attempt.

“Just to challenge myself,agoal to work towards givesmea reason to wake up each morning,” Bourne said.

“What I’m doing this run for is to raise money for Black Dog Institute.”

The Black Dog Institute is anot-for-profitfacility for diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mood disorders such as depression, anxiety and bipolar disorder.

“I’ve been through afew mental health battles myself,” Bourne said.

“I’ve seen mates go through the same thing and watched mates lose people to suicide

“The impact and seeing how it affect their lives,I don’t want anyone else to go through that pain, so I’m doing this to hopefully spark some change and bring those numbers back down because they’re not looking good.”

On the journey with him will be asmall group of three, including himself.

“My dad will be driving -he’llbethe support vehicle and have food and water, and then I’ll have avideographer...to come along and record it,” he said.

The conditionsofthe Simpson Desert can be unforgiving; temperatures can range from extremely high to extremely low and the terrain is mostly sandy which is hard to train for.

“I’m expecting to burn around 15,000 calories a day, so I’ll be just trying to get in as much food as Ipossibly can,” Bourne said.

“Obviously it’s going to be achallenge to get in that much food.”

With the calorie deficit that Bourne is facing, he is expecting to lose anywhere between 10-20 kilograms during the run.

Bourne has been training with marathon runner and online running coach, Sean Bowes, who has provided Bourne with aweek-by-week schedule to continue to progress.

“Training is good at the moment, at the moment I’mdoing onelongrun aweek, and my kilometres are increasing by two (kilometres) every week,” Bourne said.

“Soatthe moment I’m up to 40 (kilometres) and then at the end of this month I’ll be doing two long runs, so two 50-kilometre runs.

“I’ll peak in July, do three 100-kilometre runs, back-to-back-to-back, and then leave at the end of July.

“For my run I’ll be doing 120 kilometres aday forthree anda bit days.”

For now, Bourne will be continuing to ramp up his training, slowly doing longer runs as he edges closer to August.

To learn moreinformationabout Bourne and his run, go to blakesbigredrun.com whichgoes into more detail.

Donation information is also on the website, where youcan contribute to Bourne’s $38,000 goal -$100 for every kilometre ran.

“100 per cent of the donations go to the Black Dog Institute,” Bourne said.