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!
