Looking down at the 1500m start line on the red Olympic Park track. To the left, girls toes hard against the line, covered by speedy looking bright coloured spikes. To the right, more toes encased by spikes with stripes and swooshes. I look down at my toes. Trainers, or as Dick (Telford) calls them “big shoes”! How am I going to medal in the Victorian State Schools 1500m Championship with my “big shoes”, yellow Preston Girls polo shirt and blue netball skirt (compulsory PE uniform in my school days!)?
“Dad”, I said after finishing mid-field in the race. “Next year I want to win a medal.”
And that’s how running began for me!
I am delighted to be the ambassador for “Running Australia”. I am excited about the opportunity to make myself available for Australia’s Recreational Running Community to answer burning questions, provide my own quirky remedies to commonly experienced running situations and share my experiences.
One key question I asked myself now that I am in the middle of my professional running career is, “Why don’t we learn from those before us?” Specifically, if I’d known what I knew now I may have experienced less than seven stress fractures over nine years, where I wasted valuable training and racing time.
As the ambassador for “Running Australia” I will share with you how I progressed from a recreational runner with elite potential to an Australia World, Olympic & Commonwealth Games marathon runner. Each month I will provide the building blocks for achieving your personal best, topics include:
- Why don’t we learn from those before us?
- Eating well and eating enough.
- Injury prevention and overtraining – ties into the next two columns.
- Life Balance.
- The importance of knowing where we want to go and what our priorities are.
- Running in hot weather.
- Making it happen, making it fun and doing it together!
- Self belief.
For those who like a bit of interaction, “Running Australia” members have the opportunity to post their burning questions and I will respond to a selection of them each month. Each response will progress to the FAQ section, to share with others within the “Running Australia” Community. The FAQ knowledge base will grow as membership and community interest develops, providing the opportunity for each and every Australian Runner to “learn from those before them.”
Check out iRun and don’t forget to register !!
Lisa Weightman x
Related posts:
- Athletes Commission for Athletics Australia
- An Inspiring Young Lady, Sophie Whittaker (Yr 4, Stella Maris P.S in Beaumaris)