RUN FOR YOUR LIFE

IF 2020 IS DRAINING YOUR MOJO AND YOU NEED A RE-BOOT, CONSIDER ERICA KING’S LIFE-CHANGING DECISION TO REINVENT HERSELF – AND HOW SHE DID IT, ALL BY HERSELF

By JENNI GILBERT

In 2002, working dozens of hours a week at her dental consulting business and “feeling overweight and tired at 38”, Erica King wanted to find new meaning in her life. She decided she needed a new challenge and – as you do! – picked training for and running the New York Marathon, even though she was not a runner. Nine life-changing months later, she achieved her goal.

“I desperately needed something else in my life,” she says. “The thought of turning 40 was really playing on my mind. I did not want to go into a new decade feeling unhealthy and overweight."

“So I brainstormed every option imaginable and thought that I would learn to run. I had never run before. I’d just gone to the gym and done lots of aerobic classes." “Then I thought: if I am going to learn to run, I need a huge goal that will keep me motivated – so I’m going to run a marathon. If I am going to run a marathon, where in the world should this be? New York of course! One of the most incredible marathons in the world.

“Yep, that was my goal. Everyone around me, including my family, thought that I had lost my mind. I was in no way athletic. In fact, as a kid at school I used to forge my mum’s signature to get out of PE.”

As a “complete non-runner” at the outset, Erica couldn’t do 100m without puffing. It took her nine months to go from zero to crossing that finish line in New York.

“I had no idea how to train for a marathon and no one to support this training process. I researched online but this was 2002 and there was almost nothing to help women with running,” she says.

“So I slogged it out solo. It was seriously tough. Every muscle in my body screamed `what are you doing?!’. I learned through trial and error about building slowly, including alternating walking with running and taking rest days. There were many days that I thought my goal was impossible, but I had made a commitment and that was it.

“It was probably three to four months into my training that I started to feel good when running; that my body recovered better after the long Sunday run. I wasn’t worried about my pace. For me it was all about achieving this goal.”

Erica started to love the time on her own away from the office, to just enjoy the cool, fresh air: “This was my time. Being alone with my thoughts became my favourite time in the day and spurred me on towards that start line."

“And to arrive at that start line in New York with 35,000 other runners from all over the world was absolutely incredible.

“There were marching bands, singers and entertainers along the entire course, plus two million cheering spectators. I loved every step and soaked up the incredible atmosphere with pure joy in my heart. “Even though my body was pushed to the max I was swept away by the extraordinary atmosphere of celebration. As I was getting closer to the finish line and entered my lap of Central Park the screaming spectators who called out my name helped me keep going.

“To cross that finish line and have the medal around my neck I cried tears of both elation and exhaustion. I knew in that moment for the first time in my life that I could truly achieve anything. Nine months of hard slog was worth it to experience being part of such a mind-blowing world event.”

Since 2002, Erica has run 31 marathons around the world, including all world major marathons (“a very exclusive club1”): New York, Boston (three times), London, Berlin, Chicago and Tokyo. To celebrate her 50th birthday, rather than “hide away”, Erica ran 12 marathons in 12 months to prove once again to herself that she could do anything she decided.

ERICA’S TOP TIPS TO GET A MOVE ON Before you start running, do five mins of a dynamic warm up – leg swings (about 20 each leg) and cross-body leg swings (again, about 20 each leg), high knees for 10m x two repeats, butt kicks for 10m x two repeats and skips for 10m x two repeats.

If possible, at some time in the day use a foam roller to stretch out your muscles more. Do this in front of the TV for five to 10 minutes.

As you increase distance and time per run, have a bath with soda crystals (eg. Epsom salts), as this significantly reduces muscle soreness and injury.

A good physio; acupuncturist; chiropractor is also great for runners for prevention rather than waiting for an injury.

Don’t run more than two days in a row. Cross train in between – it means significant injury reduction strategy and adds in strength training to your program. Cross training can be a combination of things like Pilates, yoga, cycling, spin bike, a strength gym program, or swimming.

At least one full rest day each week, essential.

Never start a run dehydrated and make sure you know where the water fountains are where you are running so that you can stop along the way. Regular small sips of water is a great strategy, especially when the weather is hot or humid. On longer runs an electrolyte drink is great to ensure not just hydration but energy levels as well.

Nutrition is an essential part of any fitness program but for runners even more so. Time meals around your run – avoid eating too much before a run; eat a combination of good quality protein and carbohydrates in even quantities following a run to improve muscle recovery.

BE A DIVA In 2009, Erica started Running Divas because there was nothing specifically for women who wanted to run.

“I also wanted to share my love of running with other women and build a community to share our journey together,” she says.

“Running Divas was very successful and supported thousands of women to achieve extraordinary goals. Running is so much more than completing a run event, although this is brilliant and uplifting; something that you never could have imagined yourself doing changes you in the best way possible. You gain greater confidence, improve self-esteem and better body image, which then flows into every area of your life. You are a happier more joyful person which then means you a pleasure to be around. You are a better partner, mother, friend, leader, co-worker, business owner.

“It was my true love in life. I absolutely adored supporting women to achieve their goal, it enriched my own life tenfold. This community gave women a safe space to be themselves, to share and be fully supported with zero judgement. That is what I am most proud of achieving.

“It was with great sadness that I gave Running Divas away, it was a part of my soul but life goes in different directions and that is okay.

“I have decided after much reflection to utilise my business development skills and start a new business called Life Lessons Erica King; 30 life lessons in 30 days.

“The essence is to assist business owners at any point in the life cycle of their business to improve productivity, profitability and efficiency. This is my superpower!”

Watch that space!

BEST FOOT FORWARD Erica says: “After much trial and error, I believe that you need to wear a mix of brands of running shoe”.

Her key advice: • Buy your running shoes half a size bigger than your regular shoes. Your toes should not touch the top when you stand up. This allows for room as your feet swell when running and, so, help prevent pain and injury. Consider what style of run shoe suits your run experience. As a beginner, I recommend going for a more supportive style. As you increase in kms you can then try on a neutral shoe with less support. Don’t start running in non-supportive flat shoes: you are guaranteed to become injured quickly.

Buy two different brands and styles – one that is more cushioned for longer runs and one that is lighter for shorter runs, sprints and intervals. Don’t wear the same shoe two days in a row. Swapping is a much better strategy.

DON’T PUNISH YOURSELF To Be Perfect

EVERYTHING CAN BE OKAY – REACH OUT TO OTHERS WHO YOU THINK HAVE IT ALL TOGETHER. YOU MIGHT BE SURPRISED

By TERRY CORNICK

My mind loves to compartmentalise and segment things so it can attempt to process them: ideas, events, thoughts, feelings.

A challenging upbringing, tragic events and trauma pushed me so far into a shell that I never thought I would emerge.

During the okay times, this was okay with me. My introverted character and lack of self-esteem meant that hiding was easier and far less painful than attempting to be “happy” in front of people - or, worse, open up to the ridicule of others - until the occasional but inevitable explosions of emotion, anger and tears (in private usually). Life would then quickly return to the blur. My Great Escape, as I call it, took me to the other side of the world traveling. Less than two years later I was back in Australia for good, and the deepest, darkest scene of my life.

After a night out on the Gold Coast I stood on a balcony peering and leaning over, looking at the bus station below, contemplating that this was an ideal time to jump and end the pain in an instant. Thankfully, I stepped back.

After a few more substantial blips and obstacles, somehow my life started to become what others would term a “success”. More money than I knew what to do with, travel, a waterside apartment and a beautiful partner. One of my best mates teased me at work and called me Mr Perfect.

It was a chaotic scene backstage. I came close to taking my life on a handful of occasions but thankfully backed down.