“Flashback to 10 years ago, I was a triathlete training for three disciplines, long distances and competing at two age-group World Championships. I was racing and everything was comparative to time and speed. Every training session was centred around being fitter and faster.
Of the three, running was my weakest discipline. It was hard. I was slow and it never seemed to get any easier, no matter how hard I tried. Fast forward to today, and oh how times and circumstances have changed! I now have two kids and an equally active husband. I actually enjoy running more than anything and I always make time to run. My focus has dramatically changed too, and although my competitive nature is still there, it is not solely what drives me anymore.
Just over a year ago, a good friend of mine introduced me to trail running, which has placed me outside of my comfort zone many a time! Coming from a predominately road running background the leap into trail was nerve-wrecking and meet with quite a lot of caution. But leopards can change their spots. After being inspired by friends entering Ultra-marathons, I decided it was something I wanted to achieve too.
Currently I am training for my first off-road 50km, balancing family, work and training, and surprisingly dragging myself out of bed at 4am to get my km’s in before the kids wake up. Training looks very different for me now… now I train because I 100% want to, not because I have to.”
Aleisha @aleisha.parkinson
(Taranaki)
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Portraits of runners + their stories
@RunnersNZ
