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Meet fisiocrem sponsored athlete Ando, an avid runner who moved to Australia back in 2004 from Brazil. Ando has faced living with Guillian Barre Syndrome, a rare disorder in which the body’s immune system attacks his nerves. Doctor’s found out in 2005 that he was born with this condition, the main symptoms include: weakness and tingling in your extremities leading to a whole body paralysation.
Ando never thought he would love running as much as he does. No other sport compares to his passion for running.
One of his biggest personal achievements was overcoming setbacks, running 50km and placing top 5 in the Ultra-Trail Australia (UTA) 2018. The same year as the UTA, Ando produced a time of 2:37 per km at the Melbourne Marathon.
Ando says, ‘‘I should never have walked again, and there I was top 5 in one of the most prestigious ultra-races in Australia.” It’s proven that everything is possible.
Coming first isn’t the goal, but being satisfied with his performance is of more importance. Ando hopes that his story and love for running can motivate more people to get out there and work hard, don’t give up and believe in the dream.
Last year Ando came third at the fisiocrem GC50, 50km race event. This year he is currently training for the fisiocrem GC30 Main Beach on the 29th of May. He is aiming to pace the marathon at 4:10 per km and high-five anyone who runs past. His coach (Kylie Weise) plans a daily program based on running data, so he will reach his full potential.
When asked about who supports and motivates him, Ando says, “Life. The challenges it puts in front of me everyday motivates me more than anything else. Also, my past, my kids, my family and fiance. They all motivate me to get out of bed at 4:20 am to do what I love.’’ He’s really fortunate to have some good quality friends (Joe, Andrew, Mick and Eddie) supporting and training with him everyday
ANDO’S TOP RECOVERY TIPS
”Get a fitness coach, listen to your body, and practice active recovery.”
”I think when you love something, and you don’t mind working very hard, you are able to achieve beautiful dreams.”
Meet fisiocrem sponsored athlete Letti. With 27 year’s experience in the fitness industry as a personal trainer, coach and soigneur with Elite and Professional Cycling. She has been very fortunate to travel the world doing what she loves, attending multiple world cup events, Commonwealth games and the Olympics. Letti changed her career in her mid-40’s becoming a police officer with South Australia Police. She now works as a State Crime Assessor and as a Health & Wellbeing Officer, which allows her to develop and deliver fitness and mental health initiatives.
Letti’s passion and love is with cycling, but other activities she enjoys include Pilates, weight training, running & swimming.
One of her biggest personal achievements was overcoming a ruptured hamstring, which resulted in her having to relearn how to use her leg and walk properly again.
Letti said, ‘‘it was devastating. I went from performing incredibly well, to not being able to stand within seconds. Soul destroying’’. Ongoing secondary issues including dual achilles tendinopathy have plagued Letti ever since, but she has learned how to plan and build those foundations back up, and she is starting to progress back up through the cycling ranks.
This year, Letti took on a 24hr cycling team relay race. The event, Revolve 24 is played out on a motorsport track, the aim is to win by clocking up the most laps in the 24hrs. Letti achieved this by breaking it down into small chunks: taking it one lap at a time. Letti will continue to race E-sports and IRL cycling series to continue to improve herself so she gets back up to B grade riding ability.
Letti adapted her fitness goals and routine during covid by holding fitness classes online as well as partaking in cycling events via Zwift & Zoom. Letti entered into the virtual world of Zwift cycling and created a social group, that partake in social rides, team time trials and individual race opportunities.
When asked about who motivates and supports her, Letti says, “I am heavily involved in a Zwift virtual and IRL (in real life) cycling community – The QueenBee Ladies. Beginning just prior to the pandemic, three other women and I, entered into the virtual world of Zwift cycling and created a social group of nine. That has since grown to now more than 1500 worldwide, three social rides, team time trials and individual racing opportunities, meet ups, the occasional IRL meet up – the most recent being in London. Heaps of social banter via Facebook and IG accounts, and now emerging into IRL events. These women have some amazing stories, are incredibly supportive and genuinely care about members achievements. They give me strength and encouragement by the truck load. My husband, Andrew, has been incredible. Since injuring myself, he has been there listening to my frustrations as well as encouraging, and celebrating my little goal successes. He keeps me in check and on track, particularly in my lowest and most vulnerable moments.”
LETTI’S TOP RECOVERY TIPS
”Regular massage, stretches and of course, fisiocrem.”
”My biggest achievement so far has been overcoming a ruptured hamstring, resulting in having to relearn how to use my leg.”
Meet fisiocrem sponsored athlete Sheree, a happily married mum with two adult kids. Sheree turned her life around and took up running and fitness when she retired after 33 years in the work force. 7 years later, Sheree feels like something is now missing if she has not been for a run.
Sheree started with road running and then discovered trail running, which is now her passion.
Sheree said ”I love trail running and especially competing in ultra-distances, my other passion is parkrun and trying to complete all of the challenges. Currently working on the alphabet challenge”.
One of her biggest personal achievements was in competing in the 100km Surf Coast century trail event.
Sheree said ‘‘It was a big mental challenge to keep training not knowing if the event would be postponed again or cancelled.’’
This year, Sheree is taking on the Ultra Trail Australia 100km event in May. In the lead up to the event, Sheree’s training will vary from trail terrain, including hills, single trails, and lots of stair climbs, in order to prepare herself for the elevation on the event trail. Sheree is also doing a lot of strength work to avoid injuries along the way.
Sheree struggled with training during Covid, as many event dates kept moving. This meant that Sheree’s training plans had to continually change, resulting in some very long training plans in the end, which then left hardly any recovery time before the next event. When all the gyms were closed down Sheree had to push herself to do strength workouts at home, she found this a struggle at times to stay motivated.
When asked about who motivates and supports her, Sheree says, “My number 1 supporter is my husband and I am so lucky to also have a great group of friends that I train with most days!”
SHEREE’S TOP RECOVERY TIPS
“If you are sore after a big event, it’s best to keep moving with easy recovery walks for the next week.”
“My biggest achievement so far has been completing in the 100km Surf Coast Century Trail event.”
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.
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