ThatIndieRunner: January 2018

Raees Nathi

2018

Q. Who are you and what you do for a living?

My name is Raees Nathie or more affectionately known in running circles as The LoneWolf :). I am an accountant by profession and aspiring Charted Accountant.

Q. How do you balance your exercise regime and your professional life?

I try my best to keep to an organised schedule that accommodates all my interest and activities. Being a student and working full time means juggling fitness and work which can sometimes be tough but I find myself getting into a good routine that synchronises everything I enjoy and allows for a balanced lifestyle

Q. When and why did you start running?

I started running towards the end of 2015. It started out as just trying to lose some weight and build a better relationship with my mom @farzananathie who had been running the park run at woodlands regularly, she had done 50 parkruns and earned a T shirt, her dedication inspired me to challenge myself to get healthier and more fit, our weekend doesn’t start unless we do our parkrun and we are closer than ever because of it.

Q. What motivates you to go out there, when you do not feel like it?

What motivates me is the sense of freedom running brings me, running allows me to express myself, when I don’t feel like running (which is hardly ever) it’s the fact that I feel like a different person after I run that gets me out there

Q. What is the longest distance you have ran?

89kms Comrades 2016

Q. What gives you the confidence to run in the streets?

I am fortunate to live in a safe suburb and run with an amazing group of people, we call ourselves the cool runners from wendywood knowing I have a group of people (my wolf pack) gives me the confidence to run those long distance training runs fearlessly, but also I think I'll be fast enough to run away from anyone that tries there luck with me (just kidding I know karate from watching karate kid)

Q. What do you think about the lack of exercise?

I believe that exercise is a very important part of life and a lack of it is unhealthy because the body needs exercise in order to grow, without it I don’t think i'll feel good about myself

8. What was your best running experience?

My best running experience without a doubt has got to be earning a bronze medal with 8 seconds to spare at Comrades 2016, but I am fortunate to have been blessed with many good running experiences and doing the two oceans ultra marathon was the most beautiful running experience ever

9. What was your worst running experience?

the worst running experience I have had wasn’t all that bad, I had challenged myself to break a sub four marathon and after a failed attempt at Soweto marathon I was more determined than ever, so much so that I tried doing the Jhonson crane marathon with only one hour of sleep the night before, I obviously didn’t break sub four but just barely managed to complete in 4:06 looking half dead it was the kind help of @yasien_sarlie from @jozixtraining that restored some life back into me even though I was not a member of the club at the time.

Q. How do you push through the pain?

I feel like pain is part of the process of becoming a stronger runner and knowing that working through a niggle or injury will make me stronger and challenge me to train harder is how I push through it

Q. What advice can you give somebody who wants to start running?

My advice for anyone who wants to give running a shot would be to appreciate the small things like running a full Km and then enjoy the journey on trying to increase distance and improve time, because running is the most rewarding thing you can do for yourself

Q. Which Social media sites are you on and how can one follow you?

Please follow me on strava Raees Nathie

I am pretty active on Instagram @rnathie

And snapchat @rae3s

Twitter@RAE3S

#RunRevolution

Sunday, January 28, 2018
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Wild Rice with Grilled Chicken Breast

2018

Sunday, January 28, 2018
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Brianne Mayne

2018

Q. Who are you and what you do for a living?

I’m 33 years old. I am a Contracts Administrator at a property investment & construction company and I love it!

I’m also a running coach as a passionate project.

Q. How do you balance your exercise regime and your professional life?

Organisation is number 1.

I meal prep for the week, iron my work clothes and lay out training gear.

There are days where I wake at 3am to fit in a run, walk the dog, work and then a dinner function. Having food and clothes ready to go makes these days possible.

Q. When and why did you start running?

I played around walking on the treadmill for years. I’d walk for 12 minutes on a low level and then try and jog for 3 minutes. I never got past 1 minute.

One day while I was going through a tough period I walked the dog. He had other plans, making me run with him for a few blocks. It was amazing and the start of using running as therapy. I started walk/running with him a few days a week, letting out all the tears, stress and depression while running.

Q. What motivates you to go out there, when you do not feel like it?

Habit. I train in the morning and have a set routine.

If it’s cold or I’m feeling tired I’ll make a deal with myself that I can just go slower or a shorter difference. I know once I’m out there the endorphins will kick in and I will start enjoying that free running feeling.

Morning running helps set up my day, my head is clearer, I’m more productive and my mood is positive. Knowing that also helps me get out the door.

Q. What is the longest distance you have ran?

42.2km. I’ve done 2 marathons and I love them.

Q. What gives you the confidence to run in the streets?

When it comes to safety, I had my dog running with me for some time before I ran alone. I know my streets and neighbourhood very well and know what areas are safe.

I used to worry about people seeing my gangly running style in public. I would wear black, slump into myself trying to blend in. Every time I hit a small goal my confidence would grow and my posture would strengthen. Now if I’m having an anxious day where I want to hide, I’ll find my favourite gear, throw on some uplifting songs and let running do its magic.

Q. What do you think about the lack of exercise?

Movement is incredibly important for both our physical and mental health. I think the lack of exercise is a big part of why depression and obesity is a growing issue.

I aim to get women into running because I’ve seen how much it has built up my confidence and self-esteem and decreased my anxiety and stress levels. I no longer turn to alcohol and fast food to feel “better”.

Exercise and diet go hand in hand. I’ve battled an eating disorder and through running I’ve been able to get past that. To run well I know I need to fuel my body properly and so I make better choices.

Q. What was your best running experience?

I ran a 30km race in the heat of summer with a terrible hangover. I’d used alcohol to try and get over heartache and felt horrendous.

3km into the run I was hurting, realising I was only 10% of the way in. I kept putting one foot in front of the other, crying at moments when emotions got to me.

I had one guy, who I later found on Instagram and thanked, high five me as he ran past. It lifted my spirits and I knew I could do this.

The turnaround point was amazing, the support from other runners made my day and something I will always remember. We filled up with lollies, water and salt tablets. I ran 15km back to the finish line where I burst into tears in the arms of my best friend Courtney, who had flown interstate to support me and run the 15km herself.

I learnt a lot from that run and now when life throws something at me I throw my running shoes on rather than heading to a bar.

Q. What was your worst running experience?

Running 21.1km in Aussie summer heat, through streets, hills and trails without any water or money. I am used to my city Brisbane having water coolers all over the place and took it for granted. I got incredibly angry and emotional almost crying.

Unfortunately it left me tired with a headache for the rest of the day, which isn’t fun when you’re on holidays!

Q. How do you push through the pain?

I love music while I’m running and my ipod is filled with uplifting running songs.

I’ll also talk myself through it, “let’s make to the next kilometre” or I imagine the coffee at the end!

Q. What advice can you give somebody who wants to start running?

Start slowly with some walk/run intervals. It can be disheartening at first when you feel like you can’t run past 1 minute, but if you are consistent you’ll find the fitness will come quite fast.

I also recommend running groups such as parkrun. It is a supportive, encouraging environment with runners of all experience levels. I had one of my athletes do her first 5km walk/run at parkrun this morning and I am so excited. She’s hit that goal and now has the confidence to focus on building up the running time.

Q. Which Social media sites are you on and how can one follow you?

Instagram:

@miss.bee.mayne

@bee.run.coach

#RunRevolution

Thursday, January 18, 2018
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Adam Thompson

2018

Tuesday, January 09, 2018
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The Inconvenience Of Losing Weight: Choice

2018

Part 1 (Choice)

Standing on a mechanical scale with the needle shyly teetering away from the 100 kg mark. Standing on a digital scale, console in hand, with a rapidly beating heart while the led is blinking.

Once,

Twice,

Three times… then a number appears, a result not far from 100. This reading less than the mechanical scale reading. So which machine is accurate? A disagreement between analogue and digital.

However, this should not matter, this is not the point. The point is, it is close to one hundred…

A few months ago, One Hundred kilograms, seemed like a foreign concept. Too heavy, Too substantial, Too generous, too everything and now it is almost my reality. By that I mean, I am literally one jelly tot away from this reality. Well… I can’t live like this. I miss the old me, I miss my old clothes, I miss my old pace. I long for the days of short shorts and long socks.

So… how did we get here?

It was easy, I have done it before. It begins with bad food choices, junk food tastes so good. You can’t have one slice of pizza when they are sold in pairs. Also the 24 hour burger joint is so convenient after you leave the office when everybody else saying their bed time prayers. It’s also convenient when the kitchen all of a sudden reminds that it requires a lot of your time. That sweet packet that has a permanent space in your laptop bag, gives you the strength to power through those long hours between lunch and knock off time. We shouldn’t forget how refreshing that fizzy drink is on a hot summer’s day and on a cold winter’s night. It complements every meal, I think it’s been engineered that way.

The easy way out is too pull the covers over your head when the alarm wakes you up to go run. You get so good at evading the run, that you can snooze your alarm without opening your eyes. Even when you are awake, you seem to have a dictionary of excuses

· I am too tired

· I won’t survive that session at the ARENA, I am too unfit

· I will run tomorrow when I have more energy

Bad choices brought us here, bad choices resulted in me almost needing new clothes. Bad choices gave rise to this moment, me standing on a scale anticipating this number.

So… what shall we do?

We make good choices, it won’t be easy. We choose to be a part of team 5AM, you know the team that tags #whileyouweresleeping under their Instagram posts. We choose to visit the ARENA more often, especially after a stressful day at the office.

We also make good food choices. The first step is to get breakfast right, a huge improvement from having no breakfast at all. The next step is to get dinner right, no more pizza and definitely no more 24 hour “magic” food. You will drive past their shop because you are changing and will learn how to make your own magic in the kitchen. Step number 3, taking leftovers from dinner as lunch, saving you calories and money. Obviously the fizzy drinks need to be replaced with water, water complements every meal. That’s just the way it is, no engineering. The sweets need to evacuate and make space for better things, a change is coming.

#RunRevolution,

Atlegang

Monday, January 08, 2018
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Kai Steward

2018

Q. Who are you and what you do for a living?

My name is Kai Binta Steward I’m 20 years old. I’m a full time student at a community college in my hometown, and I work part time at a hardware store.

Q. How do you balance your exercise regime and your professional life?

I’m still trying to figure that out, I usually dedicate my mornings to running and the rest of my day always seems to go a little bit better in the days that I do run.

Q. When and why did you start running?

I’ve been running since high school, but I didn’t really fall in love with it until I graduated which was in June 2015. I started running because it’s the only thing that can clear my mind within seconds, it’s my stress reliever, it’s calms my anxiety. It’s my form of therapy.

Q. What motivates you to go out there, when you do not feel like it?

I know that my day will be ten times better if I get a run in, that everyday I run the faster and the stronger I get. And that no Victoria Secret model looks the way they do without putting in work.

Q. What is the longest distance you have ran?

In high school I was a sprinter so the furthest I’ve ever run was 10 miles when I would train with the cross country team, but as of recently the longest is 5 miles.

Q. What gives you the confidence to run in the streets?

Running is literally the only time I’m not worried about what other people are thinking, I’m in my own head that is clear and ready to go take on whatever the run has in store.

Q. What do you think about the lack of exercise?

It actually really affects my mental health, in the beginning of this year I slacked in my exercise and it was the first time I have physical symptoms of anxiety, my body craves movement, and when I don’t get my source of therapy it attacks it’s self.

Q. What was your best running experience?

When I ran for the first time without worrying about the distance or the pace, it was actually in the afternoon after school during finals and I was feeling so swamped and my mom told me to go on a run. So I did and I just ran until my mind stopped racing and I was tired, and I never felt so free.

Q. What was your worst running experience?

I think just anytime someone stops their car or yells something at you, it just throws me off for a second, I’m slightly paranoid so I have to get that person out of my head or it’ll ruin my run.

Q. How do you push through the pain?

I continue to think that I’m okay, my body it okay, this is just my mind testing me to see how far I can really go. Sometimes it works, sometimes I just slow down. I’m a work in progress.

Q. What advice can you give somebody who wants to start running?

To just go, put some headphones on play a playohat gets you pumped or happy and just go, it doesn’t have to be far or fast, you’ll know if you like right away at least for me I did.

Q. Which Social media sites are you on and how can one follow you?

I’m on Instagram which is @bintababe and I’m on Twitter @kaibinta and I have a tumblr i-am-kai, my Facebook is Kai Binta Steward

#RunRevolution

Wednesday, January 03, 2018
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Raees Nathi

Wild Rice with Grilled Chicken Breast

Brianne Mayne

Adam Thompson

The Inconvenience Of Losing Weight: Choice

Kai Steward

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