Author: Suzanna Barry

Excited but shy, sisters Ivy 6 and Isla 9 sat on their dad’s knees as we chatted about the Cladingboel family’s running achievements. The girls clearly share a special bond with their dad.

Running and events have become a part of life for the girls. Their mum Bec started running in events in 2014 and running is now a highlight for the whole family. When Bec registers for an event there’s often a shorter children’s event that the girls like to be part of.

They’ve ran in more events than they can remember – Castlemaine Run Bird Run, Shepparton Running Festival, Run Melbourne, Victor Harbour Triathlon Series and Echuca Moama Triathlon-Club Duathlon.

One of Isla’s first events was the Johnno’s Run 5km at Run Melbourne in 2017. Bec had already ran the half marathon then ran alongside Isla while she determinedly ran the 5kms.

They had so much fun that the next year Bec secretly signed up hubby, Nick, for Johnno’s Run 2018 so that both girls could participate. Ivy walked and ran with Nick and had a few piggy back rides around the 5km course! Isla ran again with her mum. In 2019 it was a family affair again – Bek and Isla’s 3rd year and Nick and Ivy’s 2nd. This year less piggy back rides were needed!

Nick’s introduction to running started with Johnno’s Run and just last month he went from 5kms to a and 50km trail run event at Bright. He had trained consistently, enjoying day trips to Bright with Bec. He just loved the whole experience. It’s now watch this space as I think Nick plans to continue seeking out even bigger challenges.

The girls also enjoy duathlons and triathlons and this year Isla came third in the under 14 age group Echuca Moama Triathlon Club junior championships. She didn’t want to be misleading and made sure I knew there were only 3 in the competition. She won the title and can be proud of it! Her commitment and integrity is impressive – after all she is only 9.

Ivy and Isla’s mum Bec has exceptional athletic talent. Last year she represented Australia in an Olympic distance triathlon on the Goldcoast. Bec’s journey is a story for later in the A – Z Running Sisters series.

Isla and Ivy have quiet natures. Isla loves to swim (it’s her strength) and both enjoy reading books. They have fantastic role models – with parents who set goals, work hard and share a love of the outdoors and a healthy life.

 

Hayley Currie, 36 has running in her blood. Some of her earliest childhood memories are of her
mum being dressed for a run and dropping her off to kinder. Hayley has always enjoyed running
but it’s over the last three years that she’s really got the running bug.

Hayley describes running as an addiction – a good one that makes for a healthy life. She
currently runs four or five times a week and as she’s preparing for her first full marathon in
October, she’s running around 60kms per week.

Hayley is excited to have just run 34 kms, her longest distance to date, and knows that given she
has achieved this she will be able to manage most challenges that come her way.

Hayley’s mum, Julie, is a fantastic role model of determination and is no doubt why Hayley
knows she can achieve whatever she sets her mind to. Whilst she’s no longer running marathons
she’s usually at parkrun each Saturday and runs several times during the
week.

Julie also makes it possible for Hayley to work shift work as a nurse and enjoy running. She often
helps out with Eden and Ruby, special times the girls love.

Hayley is instilling the joy of being active into her two daughters and they love to ride their bike
alongside her as she runs. They also go with her to the grand stand steps at Vic Park oval and
will happily play as Hayley trains.

When Hayley runs alone she’ll often listen to a podcast which she says is a great way to educate
herself. A favourite is the Sparta Chicks.
Hayley has developed great friendships through running. A social media post Hayley put on
Running Mums Australia looking for someone to run with the next day, also resulted in meeting
someone new who is now a good friend.

She’s also met many encouraging and positive people at parkrun that have become special
friends.

Over the past two years Hayley has 7 half marathon events under her belt, and is excited for the
upcoming Melbourne Marathon. Hayley is confident she’ll make the distance – after all it’s only
just over 8kms more than she ran today!
Thanks Hayley for sharing your story! And good luck for your first marathon in Melbourne in
October. I’m sure it will be the first of many!

Triathlete and 19 year old nursing student Georgie Jenkins smiled all through her Running Sisters interview.

Georgie lives at home, travels to Bendigo for uni and works part-time in a cafe. She started running 9 years ago, so she’s been running for almost half her life!    Georgie grew up in an active family and tried many sports. When she was 10 her dad took her to the Echuca Moama Triathlon Club and there she found her love.  At age 14 she saved up for a ‘decent’ bike by working two part time jobs. Now during tri season (Oct – Apr) most Wednesday nights Georgie heads out to training with the club for a 200m swim, 10km bike ride and a 5km run. Out of tri season Georgie enjoys trail running, where she doesn’t run for a time and just enjoys the terrain.

A recent highlight was the 30km Mt Macedon run which took just over 5 hours. At the time she wasn’t sure if she loved it or hated it, but is proud of her achievement. I asked her how she keeps fuelled and focussed for such a long distance and she laughed about the treats stowed in her vest. She aims to complete 10 or 15kms on her own, and then incentivises herself with jelly beans at 20kms and a mint patty at 25kms!

Georgie exercises daily to maintain her fitness. This might be a gym session, time on the bike, a run or a walk. She usually runs 4 or 5 times a week, completing 5, 7 and 10 – 15 km.  Georgie also loves parkrun. She finds it’s the most effective thing for her running as she pushes herself. Georgie sometimes goes to Cohuna parkrun, a track she really enjoys. Her parkrun record goes back 3 or 4 years ago and is a very fast 22min, 25 secs.

Georgie’s recipe for self-improvement is consistency always and developing a plan and sticking to it. She warns against increasing distance too quickly and recommends parkrun as a great place to start, where people finish 5kms anywhere between 16 to 60 minutes.

In the back of Georgie’s mind is a goal to complete a marathon – and now she’s put it out there, she says sure it’s going to become a reality! Georgie’s aim with running is to enjoy it.  It’s not about setting too big a goal that it becomes a struggle or a chore, and she recommends the way to succeed is to set a goal for the year.

Fiona Newton loves a chat, so an interview about her running story was jam packed with detail.

Fi, 47, started running at 40 and there’s no stopping her. Her first event was 5km at Run for Kids
in 2012 when she was enticed to participate as it would mean a girls’ weekend away.

With little preparation time, a few days before she ran 5kms for the first time around Scenic Drive
in Echuca. Five years later the Scenic has become a familiar track.

Fi lives on a dairy farm at Bamawm Extension and works hard. Often milking morning and night,
Fi plans her week to fit in running.

A mum of 4, Fi’s needs to be well organised. Mason, her youngest is still at kinder which means
a drive into Echuca from the farm 3 times a week. She will often pick up farm supplies, do the
groceries and if she can will go for a run.

One of Fi’s running sisters is Hayley, a nurse who lives in Echuca. This week on their midweek
run during kinder they clocked up an impressive 30km.

Fi explained that running is important to her because farm life can be isolating and running is an
opportunity to socialise and connect with others. She tries to make it into parkrun on Saturday
mornings and quickly pairs up with a running buddy. It doesn’t bother Fi if those she runs with
just nod, and comment occasionally, as Fi is happy to do the talking!

Recently Fi has discovered a love of trail running. During these events she runs the flats, climbs
the hills and enjoys the scenery. Her first trail run was Nail Can in Albury with girls from the
Echuca Running Group.

Fi has exciting goals for 2020, and one of those is to complete the 50km Ultra-Trail Australia in
May. This is the world’s 3rd biggest trail running event, held in the Blue Mountains National Park.
With Mason heading off to Fi’s training schedule will increase a notch and she will likely run up to
55 kms a week.

Fi manages to fit in numerous events each year, and has been part of the Johnno’s Run team in
Run Melbourne for the past four years.

Fi is a running sister with loads of determination. She was raised by community minded parents,
and has a kind and generous heart.

Thanks for sharing your story Fi!

Emma is a “running mum” with two adorable boys Josh 7 and Will 4. In usual times she fits in
running around her kids, her work as a childhood educator, gym and her social life. The last eight
weeks have been different of course, and a new focus for Emma has been assisting her boys
with home learning. Running, riding, walking or scooting has been their daily outing and has
helped to keep the little family happy and healthy.

Emma, 32, started running when she finished school. At first she would run down the road, and
then walked and ran until she built up to 5 kms. Her main aim was weight loss, and now she finds
it’s a time to release stress and a time for herself.

When Emma became a mum she was passed on a pram from her sister Jenni and started
running more frequently with her kids in the pram. This pram, now 12 years old, has clocked up
hundreds of kilometres. A proud achievement for Emma was a sub 30 minute Parkrun with Will
and Josh in the pram! In the last six months the boys have become too big for the pram and it’s
been re-gifted to another running mum. This means the boys are now on their bikes and Emma
runs behind, often struggling to keep up with the fast pace.

In 2018 Emma became a single mum, and running helped her to adapt. Running was a time
when she could “zone out” and release the “feel good” endorphins.

In 2018 Emma also completed her first half marathon, the Run Forrest Trail Run in the Ottway
Ranges. Since then she’s completed the Run Melbourne half marathon as part of Echuca
Moama’s Johnno’s Run team. Her time was a fast 1 hour 55 minutes, a minute better than
expected. Her secret to success was focusing on a training plan and sticking to it.

Unfortunately, in September 2019 a back injury stopped Emma from running, and walking
became the new norm. After six months off and ongoing physio and osteo Emma has recently
started again. She is slowly increasing the kms each week, and is enjoying the great feeling of
happy running vibes again.

Emma feels grateful to live in such a beautiful location with many fabulous tracks and paths that
are perfect for running, walking and riding. Emma and her boys are often seen running and riding
along the Campaspe track or out on the Five Mile mountain bike track in Moama.
Emma’s goals are not focussed on personal bests, distance and running events, but are to
simply enjoy the ‘happy vibe’ running creates, and to of course keep up with her boys. She also
hopes to be running well into her 40’s and 50’s.

Running is an important part of Emma’s lifestyle. It helps her feel strong and happy, keeps her fit
and it’s what she loves to do!