Introducing fisiocrem sponsored athlete Carmen, a dedicated mum pushing hard towards her goals and participating in multiple sporting activities.

Carmen’s favourite activities are running and functional training at her local F45. She has found a great balance in her fitness journey and is shifting her focus from triathlons to Hyrox. She says, “I’ve learned that missing training sessions is a normal part of life with young kids.”

Carmen’s most treasured run was the Two Oceans Half Marathon in Cape Town, South Africa. She was mesmerised by the natural scenery, especially as she watched the sunrise over the Table Mountains. However, Sydney holds a special place in her heart, as it is where she completed her very first marathon.⁠ 

Carmen’s biggest fitness achievement is completing her first marathon in 2023, the Sydney Marathon (42.2 km). It was an incredible experience, especially considering the challenges she faced along the way. During her training, she had to balance her preparation with the demands of raising three kids under five and supporting her husband, who had just started a new company. They also bought a new house and moved mid-training block. Carmen focused significantly on mentally preparing for the infamous 35 km wall that everyone warned her about, and she was proud that her grit and mental strength helped her get through the marathon without feeling like she hit that wall. On race day, she encountered a setback, spending 40 minutes hobbling to a medical tent to strap her ankle, yet she still finished under her goal time, with an official time of 5:42:07, despite a heatwave. Additionally, Carmen raised over $1,000 for ‘At The Ark Inc’ her charity of choice, making the journey even more meaningful. The support from Daniel and their kids (Leo, Isla, and Cruz), her coach Zac, and her friend Kylie, who ran alongside her, played a crucial role in her success. It was a day filled with challenges, but crossing the finish line felt like the culmination of her hard work and dedication.

Carmen says her biggest supporters are, “My husband Daniel, my children and my coach Zac. They all inspire me and keep fueling my passion for running. Along with my friend Kylie who cheers me on each race.”

Preparing for a race involves both mental and physical strategies for Carmen. Physically, she follows a well-structured training plan tailored by her coach, which helps her build the necessary endurance and strength. Mentally, she spends a lot of time visualising the race and focusing on overcoming any negative self-talk that may arise, silencing that inner critic.

Carmen says, “I remind myself of the hard work I’ve put in and the support I have from my family and friends.”

Introducing fisiocrem sponsored athlete Joel, an active runner and dedicated family man based on the Gold Coast. 

In 2017, while living in Tasmania, Joel experienced atrial fibrillation and briefly flatlined in the hospital. This resulted in him being on beta blockers and aspirin for 12 to 18 months, which led to a significant decline in his physical activity. He struggled to even mow the lawn without feeling exhausted, contributing to considerable weight gain. In 2019, his family relocated to the Gold Coast, where doctors cleared him to resume an active lifestyle. Inspired by the fitness culture, Joel embarked on his running journey, well after believing he would never be active again.

Joel likes to inject some humour into his race day routine to ease his nerves. In addition to that, he ensures he has trained sufficiently to meet his goals and has a solid race day plan in place. He approaches goal setting with a “good, better, best” framework, allowing for unexpected circumstances that may arise during a race. “On race day I make sure I have planned for details like finding parking, doing my warm-up, and knowing how to reach my start zone. All of which help reduce my anxiety.”

Joel grew up running in Launceston, Tasmania, a city rich with stunning landscapes ideal for jogging. “I lived near an area that connected several picturesque spots, creating fantastic running loops.” Some of these spots included: Cataract Gorge, Duck Reach Power Station, and Trevallyn Dam. These locations provided a variety of trails, ranging from paved paths to rugged terrain, featuring steep hills and numerous stairs. After heavy rain or during water releases for power generation, the sight of the powerful white water rushing over the dam walls was truly breathtaking. “However, coastal sunrise runs on the Gold Coast were equally spectacular.”

Joel says, “My wife and children. They are my greatest motivators and supporters, inspiring me to set an example of a healthy and active lifestyle. Also for accepting the need for more running shoes even though I just bought a pair.”

His wife puts up with the alarm going off every 10 minutes until he finally wakes up for his morning runs. She also drives the kids around during his races. Joel’s son, who is becoming quite fast, believes he will soon outpace his dad, which drives Joel to train hard to maintain his title as the fastest in the household for as long as he can.

The most memorable experiences in Joel’s life from running largely stem from the lifelong friendships he has formed through the sport rather than the running itself. “My best friend, who is also a runner, connected in high school in Tasmania where we frequently trained together.” They participated in national events, competing both alongside and against each other. Now, nearly 30 years later, their friendship, rooted in their shared passion for running, continues to thrive.

Introducing fisiocrem sponsored athlete Lauren, a nationally recognised Triathlete based in Queensland.

Lauren has been participating in triathlons for many years and enjoys the diverse challenges they present to both her body and mind. “I’ve found that if you just start, you’ll often complete something you didn’t think you could.”

Lauren’s greatest achievement so far has been completing the 2024 World Triathlon Multisport Championships in Townsville last week. This triathlon competition consisted of a 3km swim, a 115km bike ride, and a 30km run, all under the intense heat and humidity of Townsville. Lauren dominated her age group (Female 25-29) and placed 1st overall with a time of 6:18:18 to claim a podium finish. ⁠

Lauren says her biggest supporter is, “My family and friends, whose encouragement and selflessness are crucial to my successful triathlon journey.” On the sports side of things, Lauren’s training buddies, both near and far, motivate and push her to achieve her best. They also remind her of how far she has come and what she still has yet to achieve.

As a visual person, Lauren places her triathlon race suit and an A3-sized poster of her next race in her room. This way, during tough training sessions she can look at these items for motivation. Also, to physically prepare for a race, Lauren remains consistent with her daily training and focuses on the small details that make a difference.

Lauren says, “My favourite running destination would be Cairns or Townsville along the esplanade or a trail run in the bush/mountains. I enjoy the mix of both.”

Introducing fisiocrem sponsored athlete Robyn, a 72-year-old running enthusiast based in sunny Queensland.

Robyn’s favourite activity at present is running, specifically parkruns. Robyn and her husband do a lot of travelling and completed several parkruns in Tasmania recently.

Robyn’s biggest achievement is completing the Queenstown Marathon at age 67 and securing first place in her age category. Robyn says, “I hadn’t run before, but I thought I would like to be involved.” Since then, she’s run several marathons on the Gold Coast, Noosa, Sunshine Coast and New Zealand. Robyn’s first Gold Coast Marathon involved her running in a Charity Group called Hummingbird House (a hospital for terminally ill children). 

Robyn says her biggest supporter is, “My daughter Rebecca, who initially pushed me into running 10 years ago. Along with my husband Shane, who is an amputee and can’t run but supports me in my running.” Robyn says, “I have now run 156 parkruns which I thoroughly love doing. It helps with my regular event training.” Her grandkids also support her running journey because they love having a nanny who runs. 

Robyn says, “I conquered my Gold Coast Marathon goals earlier this month all thanks to my training, it really paid off.” She ran the 5km race and placed 3rd in her age group. Afterwards, she participated in the 10km race, achieving a personal best and securing 1st place in her age category. She didn’t expect these results with so many runners competing across the race weekend. Robyn aims to reach Perth by the end of the year with her virtual run around Australia. She’s also considering participating in another event later in the year to push her limits.

Introducing fisiocrem sponsored athlete Matilda, a 26-year-old based on the Gold Coast, who is an age group triathlete competing in amateur level races throughout the year. Matilda’s favourite activity is triathlons. She is planning her upcoming events for the year and aiming to smash a PB time.

Matilda is currently training for the half marathon at the Gold Coast Marathon. She plans to achieve this goal by gradually increasing her mileage, focusing on consistent, steady improvements. Held every March, she has participated in this event for three consecutive years. She says, “It’s one of the bigger races with a great atmosphere, lots of people, and a strong sense of community.” Mentally, she reminds herself of all the work she has done to get to this point, focusing on the process and believing in her ability to succeed.

A memorable experience for Matilda was finishing the Noosa Tri for the first time. It was her first Olympic distance triathlon, taking over three hours to complete. Matilda says, “Crossing the finish line, just six months after starting in the sport, was an unforgettable and incredibly rewarding moment.”

She trains with a coach and a training club, where they motivate and support each other. Her coach, Marcus, pushes and supports everyone to achieve their goals. Matilda says her biggest supporter is, “My coach and family, they are always motivating me to be my best and cheer me over the finish line.”