Now North's Director of Stakeholder Relations & Club Culture, McDonald is still feeling the pain after completing a tough ten and a half hour walk from Docklands to Donvale in the Upstream Challenge on Saturday.
"We started at 7am and crossed the line at 5.30pm, so it was a big challenge," McDonald told NMFC.com.au.
Still recovering, he believes the 50k journey will be the best preparation for his upcoming trip to Utah.
"After about 20km you start to feel it in your back and I'm not in the best physical condition at the moment, but once we saw one of the participants Ben in the wheelchair, it reminded me that we don't have too many things to worry about and he gave us all motivation to keep going."
Having played 155 games for the Kangaroos from 1982 - 1992, McDonald has experienced the demands of being an elite athlete, but at 51-years of age this was one of his toughest tests.
"It was probably the hardest thing I've done since I did a marathon which took me five hours about seven years ago. This was solid and tested your body but there were two 13-year-old girls in our group so I thought 'I can't give up'," he joked.
"I would definitely recommend people get involved next year. We had a lot of North Melbourne support amongst the 'Arden Street Hikers' team. It's a big mental challenge but physically it's achievable, if I can do it, anyone can."
More than $300,000 was raised by the Upstream Foundation which will go directly to Disability Sports & Recreation, FareShare, the Isabelle & Marcus Fund and the Leprosy Foundation. The Upstream Foundation was founded back in 2005 by Gordon Hoen and Neil Tilley who were business partners with the desire to make a difference within the broader community.
"Gordon's been a great supporter of the club, he's been to the majority of the Utah camps and he's going again this year. He's both a match committee member and a Shinboner member. Every time we get an opportunity to give back at North, then we take it," McDonald said.
"Upstream do some great work and we're proud to be able to help them in any way we can."
McDonald arrives in Utah next week and is already planning the first high-altitude test for him and Hoen, as well as incorporating a bit of fun.
"There's this hike that's three peaks that we'd like to give a good crack, I'm sure this recent training will certainly help us get there.
"And hopefully there's a lot of snow in Utah so I'll be in good nick to resume my sledding activities down the mountains."
