WHEN I WAS 13, I wanted to be an Olympic swimmer. Running was something I did to keep my fitness up. It also helped me take my mind away from chasing the black line at the bottom of the pool. I used to think running 10 to 15 minutes at that age was pretty cool.
I’M SUCH A BEACH PERSON and always make sure I run near the water. These days, I try and run 3 to 4 times a week. When I travel interstate for work, I always arrange accommodation near where I want to run rather than where I need to be for business.
I ALWAYS FOCUSED on ensuring my run was my secret weapon when I competed. I did 18 training sessions per week in my peak years, with at least four of those purely running. This included a hard track session and a long run.
IN THE ’90s I did the Gold Coast half-marathon (1:12) and the City2Surf (47:10). I still try and do the occasional charity fun run now, but more just to enjoy and support the event rather than to do the race.
I CAN’T RUN now without stretching beforehand. I’m 49 years old now and the body isn’t quite what it used to be. I try to do 60 minutes of exercise every day, as it makes me feel great. It is my stress relief and gives me some real clarity.
I STILL DO a lot of paddling, but more so for some cross training these days. I run a number of morning paddling groups out on the harbor for general fitness sessions.
MY FAVOURITE PLACE to run is the Northern Beaches of Sydney. I take my daughter to nippers there and she loves it. I also use this time to do some sand running, which reminds me of competing back in my Ironman days.
WELLBEING IS the centre or my life. I love sharing my knowledge with others to help them understand the benefits of healthy living. This is one way I feel like I can give something back.
MY LIFESTYLE and work is very much focused on health and fitness. I run a series of training sessions and have a wellbeing information website with 15,000 subscribers following my tips and tricks. I also have my own fitness clothing range which I really enjoy being part of.
