Fearnley out to conquer the Kokoda Track

6 Nov 2009, 6:38 pm   -   Source: AAP
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Australian wheelchair athlete Kurt Fearnley is setting off on a 12-day journey to crawl the Kokoda Track in Papua New Guinea.

Australian wheelchair athlete Kurt Fearnley is setting off on a 12-day journey to crawl the Kokoda Track in Papua New Guinea.

The three-time Paralympian, who last week won the New York marathon, will be joined on the 96km journey starting on Sunday by 15 friends and family members.

The 28-year-old said it is an honour to attempt the famous trek.

"My job is to race for and represent Australia and the Kokoda Track has a huge significance in Australian history," Fearnley said.

"For me I think it's going to be a bit about figuring out who we are."

Fearnley says he feels confident he will be able to conquer the rugged terrain with the help of his companions.

"I think Kokoda will be the toughest single experience I've had in my life and I know that but I'm also excited about it," he said.

"I'm a little bit worried, which is human I think, when you're doing something like this.

"I see myself as able-bodied and beyond that I have 15 of the closest people around me who are there to help if anything's needed and to make sure we all get through it together.

"I'll require help of course, there's no way I'd even contemplate doing this if I didn't have the right people around me, but I feel really confident asking for a hand from any of these blokes."

Fearnley's training has included crawling up to 100 flights of stairs and navigating his way through the bush near his home in Newcastle, NSW, on top of his regular training of up to 50km a day in his race wheelchair.

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