“People say “why?” and I like to say “why not?”. Training, whether running or CrossFit, has become an essential component of my life over the last 9 years.
At school I did ok in the annual cross country and athletics. My parents were both hard workers and neither were into sports, so growing up I never had the support to pursue sports or fitness in general. After a long term relationship break up in 2005 (my eldest daughter was 4) I trained and completed my first half marathon in Kerikeri – unfortunately that was a flash in the pan moment for me. Fast forward another 10 years and after being coaxed by a friend to a local bootcamp in Winton, “it will be fun” she said…..I nearly lost my lunch after a sprinting session – but I kept coming back!
I completed my first (and only) Luxmore Grunt event in December 2015. I recall bursting into tears as I crossed the finish line in a mix of emotion, with no one there to meet me, unable to believe that I had just completed it, but also physically exhausted as I had left it all out there. After pulling myself together, I watched in awe as the 60km Kepler Challenge runners started coming across the finish line… I decided then that I would try the ‘big one’ the following year.
This was where CrossFit Wild South entered into my life, Kepler Challenge was big enough that I decided I needed to strength train to complete it. Since 2016 I have been fortunate enough to enter and complete every Kepler Challenge, kept up with my strength training at CrossFit and have entered longer distance events as my level of fitness and mental strength grows.
My solid support network of my husband, children, granddaughter, family and friends keep me motivated as I strive to make them proud with my training and crossing the finish line at events. There are too many pros to list as to why I keep going, keep training, keep pushing… but I know that I will do so as long as I am physically able.
Do what makes your heart sing!”
Tash @run.n.lift
(Winton)
Photo taken on the Kepler Track
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