Meet Peta-Maree

If there ever was a ray of sunshine in our team, then Peta-Maree would wear the crown. Always bubbling with energy; her witty comments and infectious laugh get us through many a tough run or strength class. She is always amazed at what she can achieve, but with her determination, I’ve never had any doubt. Meet Peta-Maree…

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Tell us a bit about yourself.

I’m a wife, a mother of 3 amazing children (aged 7, 9 and 11) and I’m a paediatric nurse who’s recently left the hospital system after 18 years. I am currently working as a school nurse in a private school – yay for school holidays!!

Tell us a bit about you and running – How? When? Why?

I’ve always loved the idea of running; I’ve just been really rubbish at it! I used to tag along with my father as a kid when he’d go for runs and loved it. Fast forward an awful lot of years, and I started to go to Panania parkrun and ended up, eventually, signing up to Rachel’s Learn to Run in July 2017. Little did I know what I was getting myself in for!! Unfortunately, due to injury I didn’t get to graduate with my fellow Learn-to-Runners. I was more devastated than I ever thought I would be about that!

Eventually, after more injuries, I FINALLY graduated at the end of Term 1 this year. Since then, I’ve gone on to do the Blackmores Sydney Running Festival 10km in September, and the Three Bridges Run 8km in November, and am looking ahead to 12km in the Rachel’s Runners’ Cronulla run at the end of the year.

Going for a run now is just part of my week. My kids are always kind of shocked on the rare occasion when I’m not heading out the door for Run Club on a Tuesday, or to parkrun on a Saturday, and I still can’t believe that I voluntarily get up at stupid o’clock to go running on Sunday mornings. It’s now just become part of my routine, and the benefits to my overall well-being are amazing. That’s not to say it’s ever easy, or that I’m particularly good at it, but I get it done and once I can breathe again and the endorphins kick in, it’s amazing! I’m so lucky to be surrounded by an amazing group of people that encourage, support and build each other up.

What’s the best thing about running for you?

All my new fabulous friends! The “runners high” is something that I never bought in to until I started running and experienced it for myself. I love that it can help remove the stress after a difficult day at work. It helps me to re-centre, which is something I never would have thought I would say about running!

What’s your favourite piece of running equipment?

My Garmin watch, my visor and my running friends!

What’s your biggest challenge with running?

BIRDS and also, definitely the mental side of things. My brain gives up a lot faster than my body.

If you could invent a running or fitness tool or toy what would it be?

It would have to be a device that somehow ensures that birds don’t get too close/anywhere near me. That being said, I do become highly motivated to get through segments where I *know* that there’s lots of birds…

Any tips for fellow runners?

Just get out there and do it!