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Meet Mel Reber, single mother of two on a journey for a healthier and happier life. Mel, a fisiocrem sponsored athlete, discovered the love of running and lost 50kg!
She started with a healthy eating plan and walking 1-2 km a day, increasing the distance slowly. A month later Mel participated in her first parkrun and joined a gym. Six months later she completed her first 10 km event.
“I couldn’t believe it when I finished and was a ‘runner’ considering where I had been just 6 months earlier.”
“At the end of 2018 I was at my goal weight of 80kg which is a 50kg loss from 2013, 25kg loss from the beginning of the year.”
At the start of 2019 Mel completed her first half marathon and by the end of the year she had discovered trail running was her passion and completed Blackall 100 50k ultramarathon in Queensland.
When asked about what motivates her, Mel says “My kids are ultimately my motivation, they drive me to be a better version of myself. I want to show them that being active should be a natural part of life.”
“I also have so many people surrounding me who are constantly kicking goals and making me want to push harder to achieve mine. I have an amazing tribe supporting me.”
“2022 is starting off slow and steady due to my recovery from surgery. So the year is all about getting stronger and fitter and working up to my big goal of tackling the Sunshine Coast half marathon in August and chasing my PB set in 2019.
MEL’S TOP RECOVERY TIPS
“My biggest tip is regular stretching! Also, listen to your body, apply fisiocrem and have rest days.”
“I just believed in myself and never gave up”
Brisbane based fisiocrem Sponsored Athlete Geoff Harcourt knows a thing or two about keeping fit.
“I am a Physical Education Teacher in primary schooling and believe that we must keep ourselves active throughout our lives. My goal as a teacher is to show the students how age doesn’t stop you, and how beneficial it is to be able to have fitness later in life. I like to compete with the students, and quite often been involved in running races and athletic events.”
“I started running after being a volunteer at the Bridge to Brisbane in 2010. I was handing out shirts to all the finishers and thought, if they can do this, so can I. After 20 years of going to the gym every second day, I just gave it up, and started to run.”
Like many runners starting out, Geoff began by running around the block and tried to get a little bit faster each time. He soon joined a running group called Moreton Bay Road Runners, which was where his passion, knowledge and skill for running really accelerated.
“Over the years, I have certainly gained a few injuries, but this has only made me more determined to better my running style.”
“My first big personal fitness achievement was doing a half marathon every week as part of a Facebook group challenge. This lasted for 64 weeks.”
Geoff is also looking to complete another achievement in November this year when he takes part in the fisiocrem GC50 Run Festival on the Gold Coast, QLD, and becomes an ultramarathon runner.
He also is proud of doing a Couch to 5km program for local residents of his area for the last two years – a free event which helps introduce people to running.
“It was humbling and joyous to see some of these people continue their running or join a running club. One lady we ran with all the way to her first half marathon.”
Geoff’s biggest motivation is his running buddy and colleague, Andy.
“He has improved immensely and has a drive that doesn’t stop. When he is tired, worn out and simply buggered, he just keeps going. Which in turn means I have to keep going.”
Living in Brisbane, Geoff feels that he was lucky that coronavirus didn’t have as much of an impact on his life as it did in other states.
“The only adaption was the Gold Coast Marathon, which was to be my first marathon. My training for this run started in January 2020, and due to it being cancelled for 2020 and 2021, my training still continues. Even though I have done two marathons since, this event still seems to be my marathon goal.”
GEOFF’S TOP RECOVERY TIPS
“While running feels like something we can do easily, and most times that is the case, it still puts a lot of pressure on our bodies. Therefore, rest is
important, along with rehydrating after a run. Dynamic stretching before a run is a great injury prevention technique. Don’t just go out and run fast every time; slow down, do different training sessions, and remember we run for run and enjoyment. Keep it that way.”
My biggest achievement was doing a half marathon every week as part of a challenge, which lasted 64 weeks.
Meet Kel Walker: 53 year old recreational running coach from Sydney, fisiocrem Australia Sponsored Athlete and regional Ambassador for parkun Australia, with a 20+ year veteran career in the Australian Defence Forces and Law Enforcement.
Throughout his life Kel has always loved fitness and sport, having taken part in Rugby League, Cricket, Rugby Union, Tennis and Squash. It wasn’t until just 2014 that Kel completed his first Half Marathon, and has since gone on to complete seven marathons, seven half marathons, 122 parkruns and a variety of other events.
Although he has excelled at multipe sports, Kel continues to love running. “At the moment I still love running marathons and feel that I have unfinished business with the distance.”
Kel’s training schedule consists of 5 to 6 sessions per week. Tuesdays and Thursdays are speed training days, Saturdays are spent at Parkruns, and Sundays are set aside for long runs.
Covid-19 has challenged Kel this year, as it has many athletes from all over Australia. With several events either cancelled or postponed in Sydney and Melbourne, Kel found himself in uncertainty and unsure which goals to work towards.
“I was lucky that I was still coaching at the time and a lot of my training was alongside my athletes which meant I was still getting sessions done, otherwise I really think that I might not have been doing much training at all…Now as the weather is improving and I am no longer heading out in the dark to train, it is getting easier and I am averaging 40 – 60km training weeks.”
Kel’s upcoming goal is to run a Boston Marathon Qualifying time, and to complete all six world major marathons. To achieve this, he is working on consistent training and working on his speed pace.
“I am not really limiting myself to a specific timeframe but I am hoping that next year I will be able to smash my marathon PB that currently stands at 4:54:58.”
Kel says that his motivation comes from a number of people including his partner, as well as the 2020 Olympic Marathon champion Eliud Kipchoge, David Goggins, Brad Beer and his podcast The Physical Performance Show.
“I have amazing support through parkrun Australia and businesses like fisiocrem, Bindi Nutrition, Revvies Energy Strips and Pogo Physio.”
KEL’S TOP RECOVERY TIPS
“What happens in your body during recovery is vital for keeping yourself in the best possible health. If you want to make sure that your body is strong and you can perform at the highest level possible when you engage in athletic competition and training, do what you can to facilitate recovery in your body during your downtime.
For me personally I always try my best to get a minimum of eight hours of good quality sleep. I know that this makes a huge difference for when I turn up at training as to how beneficial the session will be.”
For me, my biggest achievement was running in the 2018 TCS New York marathon.
Born and raised in New Zealand by a single parent in a low socioeconomic area, fisiocrem Sponsored Athlete Anaru Utiera didn’t have the start to life that many hope to get. At the age of just 11 years old, Anaru took on the challenge to start making a stand for himself and his culture – and falling in love with running was one of the first things that happened.
“People used to see me running and always would ask my mother why I was running all the time. I can clearly say that running has supported my journey into adulthood and is an instrumental part of who I am.”
Running has followed Anaru throughout his life. In 2007 he moved to Australia, where he completed his first ever official marathon. He continued to take on more challenges to better himself, including running a marathon every month, and half marathons before he started work whenever he could!
“My most recent accomplishment was completing the Blackall 100km event in 23:11:00 minutes. Oh and what an interesting event this was.”
Anaru’s goal for the remainder of the year is to compete in the fisiocrem GC50 Run Festival. His goal for 2022 will be focused on completing an enormous 2 000km throughout the year.
Since the onset of Covid-19, Anaru admits like lots of Aussies his fitness level has reduced. “However, with self-motivation I have managed to run and cycle my local area to continue building strength within myself, as well as become the Local Legend on Strava.”
“My passion for running and keeping fit was always about pushing the limits and testing my ability to accomplish new and exciting challenges. You could say I have a drive to take on challenges, both big and small.”
Since moving to Australia, Anaru has noticed that his motivation for running and keeping fit has changed from being a lone ranger to helping others complete their fitness journeys too. “I would say for any and every event I’ve participated in, if I see someone hurting or struggling, I will also slow down or stop to offer words of encouragement to see them succeed also.”
“Having raised 3 children to adulthood and seeing their success has shown me that anyone can make a change to become a positive influence within themselves and for those around them.”
You can follow Anaru’s adventures on Instagram here.
ANARU’S TOP RECOVERY TIPS
“My number one piece of advice for recovery is listen to your body and rest where possible (but not for too long!)”
People call me crazy but I say I am focused, and determined to become something better than I was yesterday.
As a young person, fisiocrem Sponsored Athlete Jenna Marcer suffered from repeat illness, and was diagnosed with M.E., or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, in her late teens. A few years later, she was involved in a car accident which left her with a back injury that took her over three years to fully recover from. After being dealt an unfortunate hand for multiple years and having lost the ability to do many things, Jenna decided she wanted to make the most of what she could do.
“I lived by a park where parkrun was every Saturday. Looking out the window one morning, I said, ‘That’s it, I’m going to get involved.’ I joined the local running club and that is where my journey began.”
Since joining her local parkrun, Jenna believes her biggest achievement has been taking part in the Virtual Virgin London Marathon in 2020. Like many Aussies at the time, she was in Covid-19 lockdown in Melbourne, making the most of her two-hour exercise limit. To achieve this feat, she had to complete half of the marathon around her local creek, and the other half around her back garden.
The event itself became a Guinness World Record for the most users to complete a remote marathon in 24 hours. Jenna was overjoyed to receive her well-deserved certificate of participation.
“As a recreational running coach for Point Cook Runners, Covid-19 has meant I’ve had to adapt to remote coaching, which has been something I’ve had to find my own way through.”
Without being able to support her running clients in person, Jenna’s focus has switched to keeping active, positive and inspiring for her community.
JENNA’S TOP RECOVERY TIPS
“My top tip for recovery is that it begins the second we finish, with a cool down. This is something so many miss. I love stretching out, having a shower and using my favourite pain relief gel to help my muscles feel relaxed, revitalised and reduce any delayed onset muscle soreness.”
“I was in lockdown in Melbourne with a two-hour exercise limit. I had to complete half around my local creek and the second half in my back garden.”
Crystal loves to run and has recently lost an incredible 25kg! Brisbane based Crystal began running nine years ago and began to love the positive effects it had on her mental health.
“I used to be too embarrassed to run outside, so I bought a treadmill and taught myself to run indoors before eventually running outdoors. I love pushing myself to new limits.”
“My biggest fitness achievement to date is that I finally ran a marathon! It had been a goal of mine for years, and I’m so proud I’ve finally done it!
Last month, my official marathon event was cancelled. I was shattered, but I decided that I wasn’t going to let all that hard training go to waste, so I ran my own marathon instead. It was hard! But I got it done.
There are no words to describe the euphoria of finally reaching that goal.”
One of Crystal’s upcoming goals is to run an ultramathon, because, in her words, why stop at a marathon?
This year alone, she is planning to run the 50km Blackall event in Mapleton, as well as the fisiocrem GC50 Run Festival on the Gold Coast in Queensland.
“My partner Kylie is my biggest support. She supports me with all the crazy events I sign up to, even if she’s slightly worried about the bigger distances. She’s always at the finish line of my events cheering me on. It definitely makes the finish line that much sweeter.”
CRYSTAL’S TOP RECOVERY TIPS
“If I’m finding my legs particularly sore after a long run, I have a hot shower and massage my legs.”
“My biggest fitness achievement to date is that I finally ran a marathon! It had been a goal of mine for years.”
Meet Scotty: Melbourne based AFL sports trainer who has just celebrated his 50th birthday and is gearing up to set an Australian Record this month.
In his long list of favourite sports, Scotty highlighted the three marathons and three ultramarathons that he completed on his treadmill during 2020.
“I love to challenge myself physically and mentally.”
For the past three years, he has also been practising the plank hold, a full-body exercise that requires endurance and mental discipline.
“One morning I woke up and told myself, ‘Today I will see how long I can perform a plank hold for!’ 3 hours and 40 minutes later it was completed.”
Scotty is proud to be attempting this Australian record with the support of his family and friends. He hopes to raise money for a cause close to his heart: Musculoskeletal Australia, an organisation that supports people with arthritis, osteoporosis and other musculoskeletal conditions.
“I look up to those individuals dealing with life-threatening diseases that they battle with every day. They push me to reach higher for achievements.”
Scotty hopes through his fundraising that he can do something to help these Australians change their lives for the better.
You can donate to Musculoskeletal Australia here.
SCOTTY’S TOP RECOVERY TIPS
“Listen to your body. Take notice of how your body reacts to different training conditions to appropriately manage your recovery. Most athletes don’t listen to their bodies until it is too late.”
“My biggest upcoming goal is on the 24th of July when I attempt to set the first Australian Book of Records 50kg weighted plank hold record.
“In August 2014, a motor vehicle accident left me comatose for 12 days and in the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital care for three months recovering from a severe traumatic brain injury. I needed to learn how to walk, talk, eat, everything.”
When Reece Crawford suffered severe injuries due to a car crash in 2014, he was left comatose and doctors were unsure whether he would ever regain his consciousness. Fast forward to June 2021, and Reece is running a half marathon to raise funds for the hospital that helped give him his life back.
“My love of running all started with a text message I received four and half years ago, from a friend I’d met because he was in the bed opposite me in rehab after my brain injury. He invited me to a local Parkrun, where I caught the running bug and haven’t looked back.”
That text message was the start of Reece’s journey towards his biggest achievement so far: the 2018 Brisbane Marathon. Reece was proud to run the marathon in 3 hours and 58 minutes. He attributes this accomplishment to listening to the right advice, staying on top of his nutrition and making sure he incorporated a proper recovery routine including massage.
In 2021, from June 10th – June 30th, Reece will be completing a running challenge to raise funds for the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital. He will begin by running one kilometre on Day 1, and aims to add a kilometre every day until the final day will he will finish with a half marathon effort. Reece will be running each day in the hospital itself, on a treadmill on the ground floor.
“I’ll complete this by closely monitoring my nutrition, my recovery, and because I’ll be motivated by the very facility I’m running within.”
You can view Reece’s fundraising page here.
REECE’S TOP RECOVERY TIPS
“To maximise your recovery, don’t stop. Stay mobile, make sure you eat to refuel and regain some energy. Stretch. Then stretch again. ”
“My wife and my kids motivate me and support me through every part of my life. They were strong and stood by my side when the accident almost cost me my life. I believe that my children are the reason that I awoke from the coma that doctors were worried would claim me. Their belief in me has helped me to the finish line of six marathons so far, with more to come.”
Meet Jennifer Watterson, who in 2015 would have scoffed at the idea of running, but has since become a veteran ultra-marathon runner.
“I was the sort of person who looked at athletes running past and thought to myself, ‘What are they running from?’”
Little did Jen know that after a health scare involving hip surgery in 2015, she would find her life’s passion in running.
After receiving a major health wake-up call due to her surgery, Jen knew that she had to start embracing her fitness ability – to use it or lose it! After reading stacks of books on running (her first title was Eat & Run by Scott Jurek), Jen became keen to test out just what her body could do.
“Between August 2016 and January 2018, I managed to lose 25kg and hubby lost over 30kg! We were looking very fit indeed and we felt the energy of our hard work, and we wanted more challenges.”
With the guidance of a running coach, Jennifer began to build up her skills and knowledge in order to attempt her first ever trail running event. She set herself “a big, scary goal” to complete the 50km Blackall event on the Sunshine Coast, QLD.
“My coach had tuned me just perfect and I had the best day out on the trails. Finishing in 7.5 hours, I was in the mid-pack and had the time of my life. I was ready to take on more!”
Jennifer’s biggest achievement so far is completing the 100km Blackall course with her husband not once but twice, and managing to take three hours off her first time.
“We focused a lot on strength training in the gym, cross-training with our bikes and just getting in those big long runs with backup runs to help build the endurance. We ran together during the event and eventually after 20 hours we crossed the finish line into the arms of my brother who had come up from Victoria for the weekend to support us. If you had asked me straight away if I would ever do that again I would have told you no way! That was enough. But of course, you have some watermelon, have a sleep, and 12 months later we lined up again!”
“I know that I will never be a podium finisher but I just love being out on the trails during an event, soaking up the atmosphere of the checkpoints and really pushing my limits to see just what this old chassis can achieve.”
Jennifer’s biggest supporters are her husband; who will sacrifice his own runs to run alongside her and her coach Matt Grills; who has the ability to always get the best out of her. Her favourite idol is Aussie runner Lucy Bartholomew who has inspired Jen to always smile throughout her runs and just enjoy the time out in nature!
JENNIFER’S TOP RECOVERY TIPS
“Make time for active recovery including yoga, stretching, foam rolling, and take time to meditate every day.”
Often I am my own worst critic. My coach definitely has a lot of faith in my ability, even when I don’t.
Introducing Matt Levy – four-time Paralympian and Order of Australia Medallist.
Born premature at 25 weeks, Matt Levy came into the world with Cerebral Palsy, vision impairment and a hunger for success.
At a young age, Matt began swimming as a form of physical therapy. Since then, he has taken Australian swimming by storm by representing the nation in four consecutive Paralympic Games.
Matt’s journey hasn’t been easy, but he has worked extremely hard with many achievements to be proud of. Matt is a true champion of all of his endeavours on land and in the water, and currently has his sights set on the Tokyo Paralympic Games.
“You’re only ever as good as the people around you, and I’ve been very fortunate in that respect to be surrounded by many inspirational people that I’m lucky enough to count as friends, colleagues and family.”
His experiences have led him to want to inspire others by publishing a book.
In 2020, after two years of writing, redefining and editing, Matt published his first book, titled Keeping Your Head Above Water.
“I think the best part of writing it is knowing people will know my journey and hopefully be inspired to create their own versions of success.”
You can learn more about Matt by purchasing his book: available as an e-Book and paperback on Amazon, Booktopia and more.
MATT’S TOP RECOVERY TIPS
I have tried float tanks as a means of recovery. Know your body and focus on what works for you.
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