The weight wasn’t shifting with exercise alone so Belinda put me on a nutrition plan, I did not replace meals or diet in fact I ate more than what I was eating when I was bigger (I still eat ALOT!) the weight started coming off and I moved to 2 PT sessions each week to make sure I was physically strong enough to reach my goals and I’m happy to say here we are 5 half marathons, 2 triathlons and a full marathon completed. I have also run a 10km fun run with a fellow group fitness mate and completed the Vic Battle Challenge with some very special people in my life. One of my half marathons I was able to complete with my two older kids running the 7km with me. I also completed the 16km run 4 kids with my lifetime partner Adam. It’s only been nine months since that first half marathon.

I have had some of the best days of my life on this journey. I’m not going to lie I’ve had some bad ones too. Being diagnosed with two different forms of arthritis this year (one very rare and painful) has been difficult to cope with especially the days I can’t dress myself or brush my hair, in saying that I’ve barely missed a training session in 16 months (lucky for me the bad days aren’t very often and I’m pleased to say I’m doing pretty well so far managing it). Also being diagnosed with CPTSD at the start of this year has been a rollercoaster and one I’ll save boring you with the gloomy details for another day but I can tell you they told me the prognosis for a full recovery for this condition without long term in hospital treatment combined with drug therapy is around 5%. I wake up every day and tell myself I’m in that 5%. I was going to take a long break after the last run (marathon) as it was super hard on my body with the arthritis (although I think it would be hard on anyone’s body). But I haven’t stopped, I’m super excited to be embarking on a new adventure in the Polevault (sport of the crazies), I didn’t choose it I think it basically chose me and my kids love for the sport has got me hooked. I’m looking forward to competing at Word Masters in Perth this October and will be giving it my all in training for the next 8 weeks. I still have plans to compete in a heptathlon (I’m not sure I’m up for it in Perth, we shall see if I can pull it off just don’t tell Belinda she will have a fit!) but it is a goal of mine to complete one at some stage so far I’ve loved the high jump and long jump and I still have my sights on the ironman in Melbourne in April next year if that doesn’t clash with the Victorian Masters which I’ll be entering all the events in the heptathlon (to prove if nothing else I can do it) and Polevault.

I can’t explain how I’ve changed as a person and just how far I’ve come, I guess you’d need to know where I started to fully understand. But I can tell you, I love training, I can’t imagine my life without it now, it’s such a big part of who I am. As always thanks to my beautiful family, the wonderful women I train with (can’t wait to get back to the classes) and Belinda, you’re the reason my life has changed so much. Xo