Teacher, health blogger and runner Chriss Mogg, aged 24 from Newcastle, NSW shares her healthy philosophy, favourite places to run and training tips.
Starting out …
I’ve only started running and exercising as an adult. I have definitely made up for lost time (and kilometres), though. I was actually quite a couch potato as a child and teen, and regular exercise wasn’t a part of my life. When I married a physiotherapist/running enthusiast it wasn’t long before he convinced me to battle through the initial motivational and physical struggle of breaking into a regular running habit. With his influence and a lot of my own determination, I developed regular running and exercise habits. Running and training consistently has become a part of me that I can’t (and would never want to) live without.
What is your motivation?
I’m all about finding out what my body can do, and enjoying the physical, social and emotional benefits that come from living an active lifestyle.
I feel like I’ve lived two lives: One completely sedentary and one very active – and so I know exactly how both lifestyles affect my daily quality of life. I’ve found that being active and making healthy choices is undeniably worth the time and effort. I am happier, stronger, more alert, more engaged and more resilient (mentally and physically) than I’ve ever been.
Chriss’s typical training week:
I’m all about variety. Unless I’m working towards a race event for running I incorporate a range of different training in my weekly program. A typical week looks like this:
- Monday: Morning HIIT training followed by an easy afternoon run.
- Tuesday: Morning yoga with a weights session and in the afternoon a tempo run and/or HIIT.
- Wednesday: Steady run
- Thursday and Friday: A walk with my dog and some yoga.
- Saturday: Rest day
- Sunday: Long run (anywhere between 15 and 20km).
How do you fit training in around your life and commitments?
I’m always busy, but I love it. The key for me was learning to love early mornings. My training sessions book-end my work day; I exercise in the morning before work and in the afternoon straight after work. After deciding to do this consistently for a few months, it soon became habit and is now an absolute given.
I wake up at 5am to make this happen. I feel like I have an extra hour of life each day that is just for me, or to share with my husband doing what we both love. If anything, prioritising training in my daily schedule has helped me learn to manage my time more efficiently.
Where do you love to run?
I’m really lucky to live on the North West corner of Lake Macquarie, NSW where there is a stunning backdrop to my runs. I love the calm blue water, the fresh air and the safety of the bike path on my regular running route. I also love the lakeside bike path for the fact that so many other people are out there doing their version of fit and healthy living, which is so motivating and inspiring!
Other favourite spots in NSW include:
- Newcastle coastline: Bar Beach to Nobbys Head for its stunning views and the killer hill.
- Fernleigh Track for it’s peaceful setting.
- Trail running in the Blue Mountains for the challenge and the breath-taking views.
Favourite fuels?
I’m a big fan of plant-based eating, although I’m not a vegan/vegetarian. The majority of my diet is made up of vegetables with a small amount of quality lean meat, nuts, seeds, eggs, legumes, whole grains and fresh fruits. I pretty much aim to stick to non-processed, fresh food. This is because it makes me feel healthy. Plus I just LOVE fresh, healthy food.
My favourite pre-race fuel for running (which hasn’t let me down yet) is be peanut butter and banana on toast. For regular training, I much prefer running on an empty stomach (usually first thing in the morning), and timing a run so that it comes just before a main meal. I enjoy refuelling with muesli, fresh fruit and yoghurt for brekky. For lunch or dinner; or a gigantic salad with fish, seeds and quinoa and pumpkin.
* For the rest of the article (including Chriss’s style tips) see page 16, in our February 2016 magazine.
