When Australian National University (ANU) like most Australian Universities decided to continue their semester on- line in the midst of the COVID19 crises, Darcie Morton headed home to Marlo in Victoria.

Marlo is an ideal location to train during the COVID19 crises offering unmarked and quiet bitumen roads for roller-skiing  and bike-riding, waterways for kyaking and Darcie has set up her own gym!

This has meant Darcie, who is studying medical science, has been able to train very effectively at home under her coach Iris Pessey. Darcie has been out each day and together Iris and Darcie have been doing a series of fitness tests that are being repeated monthly, and are important to track Darcie’s development in the event of the winter races not going ahead.

Darice says her training regime has included:

• "I've been strength training with weights in the backyard shed along with dry fire.
• geting out on the water kayaking on the local estuary
• road and mountain bike rides as the country roads around Marlo are really quiet.
• some really good rollerski sessions in the Bogangs, above Orbost."

Both of these last 2 training sessions have exposed Darcie to the devastation caused by the bushfires in East Gippsland when she was overseas competing in Europe and she says it’s been really nice for her to see the regrowth.

“All in all, I am feeling really fit for this time of year and am appreciative that training from home in isolation is something I am used to doing and can do well. I am looking forward to the possibility of skiing this winter and hopefully being able to do some races. Fingers crossed.”

We hope so too, Darcie and along with you have our fingers and toes crossed!

PS It's not been all work for Darcie, as the Morton family have some new ducks!