Family going the extra mile for Jetty 2 Jetty

Four avid runners are travelling more than 13,500km to compete in this year’s Jetty 2 Jetty Fun Run.

Melissa, Martin, Sebastian and Axel Kotte had already planned a month-long trip from their home in Sweden to visit family and friends when they heard about the annual event and decided to sign up.

“My close girlfriends were trying to organise a weekend away with me while I'm home and as we were discussing dates one of my friends mentioned she'd signed up for the half marathon,” Melissa, who grew up on the Sunshine Coast, explains.

“We got talking and I decided to sign up.

“When I told the rest of the family they also wanted to sign up - even my sister has signed up to run the 5km with Axel as he is only eight years old and wants to run with someone.”

Family affair

While it’s their first time taking part in Jetty 2 Jetty, they’re no stranger to similar events in Sweden.

“My personal favourites have been Tough Viking - an approximately 10km obstacle race - and Midnattsloppet, a 10km race in the middle of the night through the streets of Stockholm,” Melissa says.

“For Sebastian and Axel a favourite was Tough Viking Kids.

“Another favourite for them was when we had an event for our athletics club where they got sponsors to pay a certain amount for every lap run around the athletics track in one hour.

|“Their Swedish grandparents didn't count on them being as fast or having the endurance that they did.|

“Sebastian was only eight years old and ran 24 laps (9.6km) and Axel was five years old and ran 19 laps (7.6km).

“They raised a lot of money for the club that day!”

In training

Melissa says the family likes to stay fit, regularly hiking together, and Sebastian and Axel both play soccer and do athletics.

“Martin and I run regularly, usually three times a week.

“To prepare for J2J we have increased the distance of one of our runs, as we will be running the half marathon.

“Sebastian and Axel run so much with football and athletics that they don't need to do any special preparation,” she laughs.

Jetty 2 Jetty will be a vastly different experience for the Kottes with its coastal route taking in stunning views of Moreton Bay, but Melissa says they relish the outdoors.

“We live by the forest and lakes with loads of trails so we do most of our running there - in the winter when it's snow and ice we do more road running.

|“It's so important to stay active, especially as a family with parents setting good examples for their kids.|

“J2J will be a fun event for the whole family with levels that suit everyone.

“If you are after a challenge it's also great to have a goal by signing up for a fun run.”

Sign up now

Jetty 2 Jetty is on Sunday, July 17, with five races to choose from – the Kindred Half-Marathon, the Moreton Daily 10km, the Moreton Daily Wheelchair 10km, the Planet Fitness 5km and the Sesame Lane 3km.

Register before Wednesday, June 29 to receive a personalised race bib.

Standard pricing ends Sunday July, 3.