Meet the author

I run because I can… not because I am good at it!

I started ‘proving’ to myself that I could run back in 2016 when I decided to enter a 12km run from Glenelg to Adelaide CBD. It seemed completely impossible. I trained by running in the evening, trying each day to go a little bit further. 2km, 3km, 4km, and so on. Before the big day, I had only managed to run 7.5km without stopping. I just found it really difficult.

So race day came. I followed two guys who were running at a lovely slow pace. I just said to myself, ‘stick with them’. Not only did I stick with them, but I ran the entire distance. I don’t even remember my time, but it wasn’t fast. It was about completing, not competing.

I thought wow! This is awesome! A runners high hit me. In true impulsive form I signed up next for a half marathon in Brisbane. I had until August to prepare.

The preparations were similar to my previous 12km event. Really tough. ‘What have done’ I thought. Why I am I so stupid to think I can run 21.1km.

Fast forward to race day. Again I felt unprepared having I had only managed to practice a full run of 14km. In my head I thought about how steady I ran the 12km. That was game plan. Slow and steady.

Sure enough - I was slow and steady. My time was around 2 hours 36 minutes. I ran all the way. I finished with blisters and my feet but felt seriously proud of myself.

Running has never been easy for me.

Over the next few years, I tried time after time to run different events but never found the strength and fitness to run any great distance.

It took until 2023 to run my next half marathon.

Here I am today. It is July 2024 and I can just about run 5km. So I must be crazy to think for one minute I can run an ultra?? This blog is all part of the plan.

My goal is to complete the Yurrebilla 56km trail in September 2025. The event is hosted by the South Australian Road Runners Club each year and I have thought about it on many occasions.

I am not a running coach and have no experience in coaching physical activities. Everything that I talk about is my own thoughts, my own style, and my own method.

I run because I can.