Having just completed the 50km distance at Ultra Trail Australia last month, Jodi is the epitome of focus, determination and hard work to reach a goal. Having learnt to run her first 5km in late 2016 was not a deterrent for this strong woman who set her sights on one of the toughest trail events in the country, if not the world. Meet Jodi…
Tell us a bit about yourself.
I am a 47 year old married mum of two adult children and a solicitor working in employment law.
Tell us a bit about you and running – How? When? Why?
In 2015 I committed to changing my life and joined a gym to lose some weight and get fit. With 20 kilos gone and wanting a new challenge, I started running in October 2016 at Rachel’s Runners Learn to Run sessions, graduated in December and then pretty much stopped running. In May 2017 I was at a conference in Leura and sitting with a wine in hand watching the Ultra Trail Australia folks come through the aid station. Right then and there I decided I was going to do UTA50 in 2018 and I contacted Rachel pretty much the next week to get ready for it. I had done some distance events before so I knew I had the kilometres in me but am just only realising now how much work there was to be done to be ready!
What’s the best thing about running for you?
Definitely getting me out of my head and out of my comfort zone, and as I have gotten better at it, the awesome feeling of freedom that running in a beautiful place gives you, and of course the new friends I have made through RR – oh and the toning of the legs has been a bonus!
What’s your favourite piece of running equipment?
My Garmin, especially when it clicks over to finished!! I also love my headband that keeps the sweat out of my eyes. 🙂
What’s your biggest challenge with running?
Getting through the first 3 km without stopping – it takes me that long to find my rhythm.
If you could invent a running or fitness tool or toy what would it be?
I would like a feature on Garmin that says you have just run enough to earn 2 glasses of wine, 3 glasses of wine, a bottle of wine…or a radar that you could put on your hat that warns you about spider webs before you crash into them and start the special ‘get this web off me’ dance!
Any tips for fellow runners?
Enjoy the fact that you are doing what some people will never be able to do, and maybe that a heart attack probably hurts a bit more than what you feel in the first 5 minutes of your run so keep going, it will pass.