Running for Remembrance: Honouring the ANZAC Spirit ANZAC Day – 25th April Commemorates the Sacrifices Made by Australian and New Zealand Service Men and Women ANZAC Day in Australia is a day of reflection, commemoration and remembrance of service members’ sacrifices. In honouring the ANZAC spirit, every year on the 25th of April, a service at dawn marks the moment in 1915 that some 20,000 Australian and New Zealand troops landed on the shores of Gallipoli, Turkey. Gallipoli was the scene of the first major military action engaged in by Australian and New Zealand forces during World War 1. D ..read more

Run Towards Resilience Run Towards Resilience: Putting One Foot in Front of the Other In the fast-paced whirlwind of life, where challenges and uncertainties abound, finding solace and strength can be a daunting task. Amidst the chaos and the shadows of despair, there exists a steadfast companion that whispers resilience into my weary soul – running. Yes, running, a simple yet profound act of putting one foot in front of the other. It is often the guiding light that keeps me moving forward even when the world feels bleak. When the skies are dark and full of storms, the world can feel desolat ..read more

Empowering Other Runners to Achieve Success Embracing the Journey Together When we take on the role of empowering other runners to achieve success, we embark on a journey filled with mutual growth and fulfilment. It has been a privilege to encourage and support others to achieve success and I was able to do this most recently over the weekend. My coach, Kat Watt asked for someone to help pace some of her Little Athletics runners at Bibra Lake Parkrun this past Saturday. I teamed up to pace Kat’s youngest son, Caleb, to a huge personal best time of 24:44 over the 5km distance – an incredibly im ..read more

Unleashing the Thrill: Marathon Running Race Recaps Why Running Race Recaps Actually Matter Running race recaps are basically like snapshots of all the sweat, tears, and euphoria of a freaking race day. They’re not just a chance for us runners to brag about our personal bests (PB’s) or wins (although that’s definitely fun), they’re also super valuable for all you fellow running enthusiasts out there. The Build-Up: Pre-Race Jitters We all get nervous before a race, wondering if our training was enough, if we’re really ready. But fear not, my race recaps are here to offer guidance, inspiration ..read more

The Power of Running Introduction The power of running lies in its benefits to physical and mental health and well-being. Although physical fitness and strength are important reasons to run, it is how running makes me feel that is most valuable. The Physical Benefits of Running Running is a full-body workout that engages the cardiovascular system, strengthens muscles, and improves endurance. It boosts metabolism, burns calories and promotes overall physical health. Moreover, running releases endorphins, also known as “feel-good” hormones, which can elevate mood and reduce stress. Running is n ..read more

Running is both a solo and social sport When I first started running for my enjoyment, it was very much a solo endeavour. I was a shift worker for a long time, which excluded me from participating regularly in group sports or clubs. Running was always something I did solo. It was time for me to be alone; aside from the odd friendly smile from a passing runner, I was otherwise alone. Then, I ran the Melbourne Marathon in 2019, and things changed dramatically. I returned from Melbourne on such a high, buzzing from the big city marathon experience. I linked up on social media with other runners ..read more

Six weeks into my rebuild A Major Milestone in My Recovery Journey I am beyond thrilled to say that I am making steady progress towards my goal. The photo above was taken on August 2nd last year, during one of my weekly runs with two amazing running buddies, Francesco and Savannah. We ran around the river as we often did, and even though I don’t miss the early alarms, I miss the chatty runs with great company. After this particular run, my injury was officially diagnosed through an MRI scan. The pain had been plaguing me for six long months, but with the diagnosis in hand, I stopped running u ..read more

I’m a runner, so I just run… So I mostly ignore the benefits of cross-training and strength conditioning until forced to. Does this sound familiar? It was definitely true for me. I only considered alternative exercises that might benefit my running when a grumpy knee or a tight hamstring pulled the proverbial handbrake on my training. Otherwise, cross-training was what I did when I could not run. Strength conditioning was what I did when a physiotherapist insisted upon it. The problem with this approach is the benefits of cross-training and strength conditioning become tangible only once we ar ..read more

What is Running for Life about? My blog was initially created in 2019, one of the most challenging years of my life. It is about how running has helped and continues to help me get through some of the most difficult times of my life and how the benefits of running extend beyond physical fitness. In September 2018, I finished working in a role that left me with psychological injuries I am still addressing today. I had been studying part-time for my psychology degree since 2015 and was heading into my third year in 2019. I decided I could study full-time if I were not working, so I enrolled in a ..read more

Are you interested in running stuff? I’m excited to share that I have updated the Gear & Gadgets page, under the Topics menu on Running For Life. Head on over to check out my recommendations for running shoes, apparel, tech gadgets, workout gear, and equipment. I am not much of a shopper. Having experienced some debilitating episodes of social anxiety, which can make it seem impossible for me to leave the house, I prefer online shopping. But I do love a bargain, and I love running gear. It is an exciting day when new running shoes arrive or I discover a new brand of running apparel, par ..read more