Category: Series 1

Zoey has an intense love for running. An hour interview almost became two and we only scratched the surface.

I chose Zoey for the A-Z seriesZoey has helped me on my running journey. I clearly remember the moment three years ago when my sister Tracie told me she had found an online running coach, Zoey from Operation Move, to help her train for her first 10 km event. Tracie’s running success in turn inspired me and gave me trust that I too could succeed if I was consistent and put in the work.

Zoey not only loves running but she loves helping others discover that they can be a runner, and not only that, they can dispel false inner beliefs and achieve whatever they once thought was impossible.

Not so many years ago Zoey wasn’t a runner. Her initial motivation to run was weight loss and soon running became central to her personal wellbeing. Zoey also enjoyed walking and would often walk for a couple of hours at a time. Now most of her runs are around two hours – it’s her happy distance.

Zoey, wife and mum of two is also a remote personal assistant. Her businesses enable her to maintain work and home life balance. She can manage her time to be there for her kids while doing what she loves. Perhaps she could earn a higher salary in full time employment, however the sacrifices are worth it.

Her running business started out as a blog with a friend.  Soon she had many requests for help, so keen to do things properly Zoey enrolled in a coaching course with the Athletics Australia.

As an accredited coach Zoey has helped over 100 people participate in her Learn to Run program.  She also coaches individuals and develops personalised training plans. Her newsletter has more than 4,000 subscribers and she has recorded over 100 podcasts which in total have been downloaded 93,000 times.

Zoey has seen lives transform. Running achievements have empowered individuals to make other life changing decisions. This is the aspect of Zoey’s job that fuels her fire. Helping people who thought they could never run, building self-worth and inner belief – this keeps her going.
I feel indebted to Zoey. Her program was a turning point for my sister Tracie and for us both it began a chapter in our lives that has gifted us so much happiness, improved health and beautiful friendships.

Yaz, 17 is in Year 12 at Rochester Secondary College. Until 3 weeks ago Yaz’s year was mapped out. A week for her (& her mum) involved 4 or 5 trips to Bendigo for training, along with school and being focussed on her study. Numerous running events were scheduled in her calendar, now these are mostly cancelled.  School is also changed and is filled with uncertainty.

Like us all Yaz is adapting to change and accepting her plans to compete in the U 20’s 2020 National Cross Country in Sydney, State Cross Country and various road races are now all unlikely. Jaz is taking the positives and reflects that the extra time will increase her chances of qualifying for the Worlds in 2021.

Not deterred Yaz is following her coach’s plan and is training in Elmore where she lives. With extra time on her hands, she is doing other things she loves, including cooking and cleaning!

Yaz is the youngest of 4 children.  He eldest sister Teleah, 22, also loves to run and has been her running role model. Now Teleah has returned home due to COVID-19 so the sisters are enjoying running together.

Life hasn’t been all smooth sailing for Yaz. When she was 13 her health declined. She lost a significant amount of weight and was experiencing chronic exhaustion, which created many issues. Sometimes she’d be part way through a race and her legs would go purple and completely numb. After many tests and investigations Yaz was diagnosed with Coeliac disease. Over the following year she slowly regained weight and her energy returned.

This experience along with her love of running has possibly shaped Yaz’s future career goals which at this stage she thinks will be in health. While the uni entry process for 2021 is now unclear Yaz intends to keep studying.  She also hopes to be competing at Bathurst, in the 2021 Worlds Cross Country event.

Yaz has an impressive collection of running achievements including the 2018 Athletics Victoria Under 18 Women’s Cross Country Athlete of the Year. Her favourite distance is 3kms, with a PB of 9 mins 48secs. Her 5km PB is an impressive 17:30. Yaz also enjoys parkrun, particularly Echuca’s fast and flat course, where she holds her parkrun PB of 18:04.

Yaz loves the competitive nature of running and being outside, chasing her own goals. Her focus at the moment is to continue racing and to do lots of study.  When she needs a break from these activities Yaz will most likely be baking! Right now there’s still a glimmer of hope that Yaz will be able to compete in her final school track and field event at the end of the year.

Congratulations Yaz on having such a positive approach to life and the challenges of the current time.

Recently Wendy heard someone offer advice that resonates with her own philosophy, “run slow and just enjoy

Wendy, who will be 67 in October 2020, has been running for 7 years and is rightly proud of her achievements. Wendy always had a desire to run and when she turned 60 she thought if I don’t start now, I never will.

Her friend and neighbour Deb Whitten played an important part in Wendy’s running story.  Wendy laughs as she recalls Deb knocking on her bedroom window around 6am one morning, encouraging her to get out and run.  This was the push she needed.

Her first run was just to the letterbox and back, but Wendy quickly built up to 5 km. By the end of her first year she was running 10kms.

Running became a much loved activity enjoyed with Deb, her friend Jen McLean and Jen’s friend Karen Willison-Lloyd (Kaz).  These days Wendy runs a few mornings a week wth Kaz and with Jen on the weekend.

At the start of each year Jen (who is in her 70’s) and Wendy plan the year’s events.  Most months there is something to look forward to.  Running takes them all over Australia, and more often than not they’re running for a charity.  However it isn’t 5 or 10 km runs, they want to make their travel worthwhile so generally their goal is a half marathon.

Kaz is Wendy and Jen’s unofficial coach and captain, planning their training to ensure they are ready for their events.

Wendy explained that running is good for her brain – “running is a mind game, you have got to beat the mind”.  Running is the fuel for her tank, giving her energy for the day and keeping the aches and pains at bay.

Another aspect of running that Wendy enjoys is the special friendships.  She describes her running friends as soul sisters. She loves how they encourage each other and loves seeing other runners up early and starting their day in a positive way.

Wendy runs for enjoyment, soaking up her surrounds, whether it is running alongside the river in Echuca or through capital cities.  Running rejuvenates her and makes her feel alive.

Wendy has a goal to be running well into her 80’s.  She has no desire to run fast, and never checks her running pace.

Wendy is a granny to 3 little girls and a boy. Her first grandchild named her “Ninny” and coincidentally her running sister Jen shares that same name.  Wendy and Jen are known fondly as the “Running Ninny’s”.

Thanks for sharing your story Wendy and for being such a great example to all women in our community.

Not only is Veronica McLeod a talented runner, she’s also a skilled time manager.

Somehow Veronica fits in 5 or 6 runs a week, a full time job and is a mum of two children and 7 foster care children.  This year she has also made debut into cricket which she has approached with enthusiasm.  Determined to contribute as a valued member of the team she’s currently putting in many hours of practice at the nets.

Veronica’s running journey was initially prompted by weight loss goals, but now it’s something much more.  It’s a family activity that she enjoys with husband Mal and their children, and it keeps her fit. Veronica also likes to be a good role model to her family.

Running has helped Veronica develop great friendships and has connected her to the community.
She enjoys running with various local running groups, and is often seen with one of these groups pounding the pavement at day break.

Veronica started running in 2014 at the age of 36.  Although running  has never been easy she is proud of what her body has been able to achieve. In the last few years she has competed 7 half marathons and in 2018 a marathon. Even fighting a bout of pneumonia didn’t deter her achieving her marathon goal, not that she’d recommend this!

Running in 2020  is not about events for Veronica, but is more about company and friendship. However one event on her list is Run Melbourne.  The McLeod’s love to be part of the Echuca Johnno’s Run team who participate to help build homes for people with disability. They feel it is important as Veronica  grew up with an uncle with disability and saw the struggles he went through to be included in the community.  It makes her heart full to know her kids are also passionate about being involved. Two of the children  currently in their care have disability and she wants them to enjoy access to quality services when they are adults.

Veronica has a large dose of determination,  has proved the power of consistency and has fantastic focus.  However another admiral trait is her support of others.  If you’re running in an event and hear a shout from the side lines it could well be Veronica cheering you on!

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Note from Veronica – a special thank you to coach Laurie Edmonstone.  Laurie has changed the lives on many #runningsisters in our local community.

Once upon a time Tarli Bird thought it was only Olympians who represented their country. Little did she know that her talent would take her to international running scene where she would compete in Japan, Paris and New York.

Tarli is one talented running sister who focuses on running for enjoyment.

Tarli, 33, is a Fine Arts graduate, an art teacher, acclaimed artist and elite athlete.

Her day consists of running, teaching, running again, and spending time in her studio. Friday is her “short run day” or maybe her day off, and Sunday is her ‘long run’ day. A regular week for Tarli includes running around 130 kms.

Running became a passion for Tarli during her university years. She lived on campus at Monash and in the evenings would run around the grounds.

Tarli humbly attributes her running success to her coaches and mentors Lesley Grimes and Trevor Vincent who taught her to run for love rather than achievement. Fourteen years later she still values Lesley’s advice and guidance.

At the beginning of each year Tarli attends a retreat with her coach and fellow runners at Falls Creek. This is an ideal location to escape the heat, get motivation and set up for the year ahead. This year it was  cut short as they were evacuated due to the devastating bushfires.

Tarli loves fun run events especially Run for the Kids in April and Run Melbourne in July. She likes to have a winter goal to provide an incentive to train in the colder months. While her focus is on her own PB unsurprisingly Tarli was the first female across the line at Run for Kids 2019.

A highlight of Tarli’s running journey is representing Australia in Japan in 2013. She was part of an Ekiden relay, a Japanese term for a long-distance relay running race. Tarli ran the last leg of the mixed gender marathon. She enjoyed the excitement and was amazed by the supportive crowds lining the streets.

In the past Tarli has combined travel and competing internationally, however she’s decided holidays are more enjoyable without the distraction of a race. So for now her focus is on site seeing and visiting galleries which aligns with her other great love and area of talent – art.

Twice in 2019 Tarli was handpicked by a committee of art industry experts to showcase her work at the Other Art Fair in Sydney. She relished mixing with other artists and the opportunity to sell her work.

Tarli is not one to draw attention to her achievements and is a role model of humility and determination.