14th August 2010

As the nerves mounted and we'd planned The Commando's entrance with excitement.....Jenna and I got our group ready and headed through the carpark at Park Beach. There was complete silence amongst 32 nervously excited participants - unaware of what kind of session was over the sand dune, waiting for them on the beach. 'Are you ready for the workout of a lifetime?' I cried, they responded - good, they were still breathing. 'Are you ready for The Commando!' They responded louder and more excited. Without thinking, my 'Commando Chant' started, the 32 crew responded again, with more enthusiasm. Now we were pumped.

The blood rushing, the adrenalin pumping, we headed over the dune, past the lifeguard tower and down on to the beach.....hmmmmmm but where was he? He said, "be on the beach at 11am sharp or be punished." Now, Jenna and I knew where he was, but no one else. Pretending to look for him over hills, in tyre piles and quad bike they were unaware. I heard the sound in the background and signalled for everyone to turn and face the water. In the distance was a jetski, but it appeared only the lifeguard was on it. As it approached, the crew of 32 cheered "It's him! He's on the Jetski!" Wow, this was cooler than I ever imagined. This made it real for everyone. As the Jetski came onto the beach (and nearly tipped!), Commando Steve dismounted in an orderly fashion, ripped off the life jacket and started running up the beach - the crowd went balistic! I was laughing, cheering and crying - this is what it's all about.

Then there was a voice of command "2 single files, start running!" He spoke - we moved! Here we go, game on! The session had begun! I heard a trainee "hey, what happened to the hello, I'm The Commando"!  haha, I said, "Shut up and run or we'll be in trouble!" Jenna and I lead the teams around onto the reserve for our 'warm up'. My kind of warm up I must say - push ups, squats, burpees, plyometrics - ahhh yeah, the joy.

For the next two hours, we were his. In his control, no idea what was going to happen from one minute to the next. I checked my watch - 11.05am. We ran back onto the beach to face the ropes and tyres - our new friends for the remainder of the session. If people tried to lead, we'd be punished. If we didn't work together - we'd be punished. If we failed to get from A to B in time - we'd be punished. If we took too long to set up for the next drill - yep, you guessed it, we'd be punished. Burpees, pushups and lots of hilarious faces!

He didn't care if you were super fit, never exercised or were in the middle. He ensured everyone worked together and got the most out of each other. This wasn't an individual session, but each individual I am sure took home their own memories and what they got out of it. For me? Well, it just instilled in me that I'm doing the right thing. I'm in the industry for the right reasons and I love, without a doubt, what I do.

I didn't know everyone that took part in the challenge - but it didn't matter. I was proud of each and every person. Their ability to push themselves - some of them beyond limits they had ever put themselves through before. For some, nearly visiting 'vomitville' several times didn't stop them. They just kept on going! Unreal hey!

The next time I checked my watch it was 1.47pm - where the hell had the time gone!

To say this was a great opportunity for the participants who took part was an understatement. To say this was great for Coffs Harbour - well, you've only got to check out the photo's.

Collateral Consultancy is here to 'Infect People With Life' - and if we can use motivating people like Commando Steve to aid us in our mission, then we will, and we will continue to do so long into the future. We are here to make a difference to each and every person we come in contact with, so we hope we have given you all a little bit of our 'infection' to love your life and live it with energy, good health and enthusiasm!

Thank you Commando Steve for your passion, motivation and total all round awesomeness! You have inspired us all to never give up and you made sure that 'There were no excuses'. You rock! We hope you enjoyed your day in Coffs Harbour as much as we did having you here. You have made a difference to everyone that was there - from as small as Jemma - your 8 year old water bottle girl to those of us who have been in the industry for as long as we can remember.

So until next time everyone - Want, Believe, Move, Become & Live the Collateral Infection.

2nd July 2011

For the second year running, 32 people are about to be put through a fitness session like never before. As we meet along the Jetty I inform the crew that they are about to get extremely dirty, wet and it's probably a good idea to remove their sunnies! The call is made to Commando that the team are ready and waiting. We head down to the beach, knowing that somewhere in the bushes Commando Steve is lurking with intent!

Out he comes - about 200m down the beach. The crowd cheers and claps (if only they knew what was about to occur). As he closes in, I can feel the nerves and anticipation of all of the participants. Some were excited, some looked like they were going to be sick, some were nervous and some just looked like they wanted to go home!

He stops, clapped his hands and said "How are we team?" Some people answered, some people just stared.....and then instructions were given to get in two lines (sounds easy doesn't it - hmmmmm)

From then on we jogged North along Jetty beach. Lunging, pushups, squats, jogging, burpees (in the only part that was filled with water of course).....(and that was the warm up)!

Back to base, waiting for us were tyres & kettle bells. Kettle bells swings first to really get the blood pumping and then he upped the anti again! In a circuit like pattern we had to, as a team, do 100 tyre presses, 50 kettle bell swings each and on the minute, 5 burpees each. Sounds easy? If you thought this was easy or looked easy, you either weren't trying hard enough or need a reality check!

From here we had to drag two tyres from base to a set of witches hats about 150m down the beach.....sound easy? In the middle of that were 2 logs, held down by star pickets. As a team we had to get the rope, tyres and every team member UNDERNEATH the logs. So we dug, and dug and freaking dug! Then drag the tyres to the witches hats, turn around and do it all over again and again and again! As fatigue set in, it was great team work for both teams that got us through.

Once we got to the end, there's nothing like throwing in some lunges and burpees just to make sure that whatever wasn't hurting or trashed, soon was!

As I looked around the team throughout the challenge I was so proud. I was proud that some of my clients were in there and having so much fun; I was proud that everyone was working together; I was proud that we all came together as a group of like-minded people and got stuck into the session

As the session comes to a close, Commando gives a speech that puts silence across the beach. I think he could've given that speech and that was it!

We all have our mentors and people who inspire us in life - this guy is mine. Whether he's Commando Steve or just Steve Willis - he is my inspiration. He is motivating, inspiring and he is real. He is honest, humble and bloody awesome.

So another year passes and the photo's are taken after the session. Everyone is pumped, tired, covered in water and sand - but everyone is smiling.

I love doing what I do. And even though, building up to this each year, my nerves and stress levels are tested- it's when it's all over that I realise that it's all well worth it. To see a group of people busting their arses together; not competing with each other & just doing one task at a time; encouraging each other; not being intimidated or trying to be like anyone else; just getting in and having a ball; sets in concrete even more, that this is my calling in life and will be for many more years to come.

I thank each and every one of you for coming along and being a part of the 2011 Commando Steve's Coffs Harbour Challenge. I did say that this would be it - but I did say that last year too!

Commando is keen to make a return to Coffs Harbour and his only request is that we make the session alot longer!

Thank you to the following people for helping make this day possible:- Pete, Pandy & Neill from Emerald Beach Plumbing, Eliezer from Robinson Livestock, Mark from Coffs Harbour City Council-Landscaping Division, Dean from A&A Tyres, Jamie Coad for the use of his car and trailor, Scott Lambert for helping set up, Jemma & Brayden Coad for being so helpful leading up to and on the day-you guys rock, and to Shelley - the most amazing person-you did so much to reduce my stress, get things organised, pick equipment up, took photo's and so much more.

Lastly, thank you again to Commando Steve. I am not sure if you realise the impact you have. Thank you for being so awesome.

Until next time........train hard, stay focused and remember when things get tough - Suck It Up!

Colleen Mieni

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