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“You just have to keep telling yourself, telling your body, to put one leg in front of the other.”<\/p>\n
Kraev said the daily hurdles \u2013 both physical and mental \u2013 were a defining part of the experience.<\/p>\n
“Every single day was a different challenge, whether it was weather or mental, I think that made it really unique,” he said.<\/p>\n
Both men also managed injuries before and during the trek.<\/p>\n
Beltsis had recently undergone collarbone surgery, making his 8km pack difficult to carry, while Kraev completed the walk with a broken finger, severe sunburn and a bout of heatstroke.<\/p>\n
“I didn’t know I had this willpower to walk for so long,” Beltsis said.<\/p>\n
“I don’t think I’m going to complain about sore feet at work ever again after this \u2013 it’s incomparable.”<\/p>\n
The men thanked each other and their families for their support throughout the nine-day hike.<\/p>\n
“We had so much fun talking to each other and getting to know each other even more after already being friend for seven years,” Beltsis said.<\/p>\n
“It’s an adventure we’ll remember for the rest of our lives.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
AFTER nine gruelling days, more than 275km and 377,000 steps, Evan Beltsis and Anton Kraev limped to the Queenscliff lighthouse as hard-earned heroes. From their finishing point, they looked across to where their adventure began on December 1 at Point Nepean, all the way across the bay. “Seeing Point Nepean and where we started, I […]<\/p>\n