Q: What distance are you be doing in the BMA Mackay Marina Run and is it your first time running in the event?
A: I am doing my first ever BMA Mackay Marina Run as the half marathon. I didn’t think I would enjoy running that distance; it has been a challenging but rewarding journey to build my strength and endurance up to a point where I now find running long distance enjoyable in training.
Q: How did you get into running?
A: I enjoyed middle and longer distance running at school but unfortunately, I let life get in the way and let it all go by the wayside for nearly 20 years. I forgot how much I did enjoy it and have renewed enthusiasm since running regularly again from December 2016. It has been one of a few things that I have invested in over the last few years that has improved the quality of my life.
Q: What is your training schedule like?
A: It usually involves at least one longer mid-tempo run on a Saturday morning between 15-20km with a great group of runners that leave from the BCC Cinema carpark. In addition to this I probably have added another 2-3 other runs during the week ranging from 5km to 10km which might include the Mackay Road Runners event on a Sunday, a midweek training run from Bluewater Quay, or a dash from Parkside Plaza around the hospital and back on a Friday morning. When I don’t have weekend commitments a trail run is an excellent option, getting a little lost and found in nature on a Sunday morning.
Along with this I have a regular yoga practice between training runs that I believe has helped prevent soreness and injury, improved the quality of my thinking and approach to life, and kept the urge and danger involved with overtraining at bay!
Q: Do you like to run solo or in a group?
A: I find it good to mix it up. Group runs are important to keep you accountable to your training plan when you have the urge to slack off. This has also allowed me to meet a great bunch of people in the running community in Mackay who have helped motivate me and rekindle my love of running. The solo sessions are equally as important though so that I can feel confident in mentally motivating myself when I come across more difficult stages of the competitive events (particularly a 21.1km run).
Q: Do you run with or without music?
A: Mostly without music is great, particularly on group runs catching up with running mates and keeping each other motivated. On the odd occasion I may run listening to an audiobook on a solo run where I need a little more motivation.
Q: Do you have any other running goals past the BMA Mackay Marina Run?
A: I am looking forward to exploring some trail running later in the year including the 15km Recreational Course at the Mackay Mountain Marathon Mountain Bike and Trail Running Festival at Eungella in August. I am likely to add more events to this as the year goes on.