It is the Summer of 2020, and even though it is only January, this year has already literally gone up in flames.
With the start of the summer season already breaking records with hellish high temperatures, Australia has lost approximately 10 million hectares of land to raging bush fires, with smoke covering major cities and travelling over to New Zealand and even as far as Chile.
New South Wales has lost more than 1800 homes to 130+ separate fires, the border of Victoria and New South Wales endured a combined fire 'mega blaze' and Victoria has to declare a state of emergency due to the 1.2 million hectares of damage caused by the fires, including three lives lost. South Australia declared multiple evacuations and lost 80 homes in the Adelaide Hills region, as well as about a third of the states vines that provided grapes for the Adelaide Hills wine industry. Western Australia has also been affected, as the fires across the Eyre Highway has cut off the only trade route from South Australia.
It has also been estimated than more than a billion animals have been lost to the fires, with many creature orphaned or left without homes. If you would like more information, this article provides a good summary: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-50951043
I personally live in South Australia, and have had work colleagues, family and friends affected by the fires, with state temperatures consistently reaching over 50 degrees Celsius and gusting winds providing fuel to these ongoing blazes.
In just these last few weeks, Kangaroo Island - Australia's third largest island - has suffered a great loss, with more than a third of the island lost to fires, as well as an estimated 25,000 koalas and other wildlife, unique only to this island, lost to the inferno.
If you know me, or have read my previous blog, you will be aware that Kangaroo Island holds a special place in my heart. My friend Rhi and I trained and ran our first half marathon with Kangaroo Island Marathon and we are both completely devastated by the sheer annihilation that has occurred on the island.
This week, we saw that the Marathon organisers had posted a new upcoming event for 2021 on their Facebook page, declaring that "Kangaroo Island might be injured but the running community is standing with you on the start line" and have offered 10% of their race fees to the KI Mayoral Bushfire fund. Cue blubbering snotty tears.
Rhi and I both agreed that while the island is still currently suffering under the recent carnage, the promise of an upcoming event this attracts more than 500 people is a fantastic way to bring income and tourism back into the island. Tourism is such a huge factor in the community and we are more than happy to contribute.
So, after a few nervous and wide-eyed discussions, Rhi and I agreed to register again for the 2021 Kangaroo Island marathon on 1st May 2021, and cannot wait to see how Kangaroo Island has risen from the ashes!
Our official training will start in the coming months, so please feel free to subscribe to my blog as I continue to provide updates on how we plan to tackle 42kms of beautiful Kangaroo Island terrain!
Read the next post here: So, you've registered for a marathon.
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