NICOLE Wade is always looking for ways to challenge herself.
The Hoppers Crossing resident admits that she’s a competitive person, always pushing herself to do better.
So when it took her more than four hours to complete her first half-marathon in 2009, Ms Wade was determined to train harder, lose weight and try again.
She spent the next three years running five times a week and taking part in boot camp sessions and group fitness classes in a bid to become fitter.
The perseverance paid off and she lost 60 kilograms. Now Ms Wade is preparing to tackle the half-marathon at the Medibank Melbourne Marathon on October 14.
“The first time I did it I was heavier and performed poorly,” she says.
“It took me over four hours to complete so I wanted to try again.
“This time I’m a lot fitter and aiming to smash my time.”
Ms Wade says her training has been about increasing her fitness and improving herself.
“I like beating myself and pushing myself to do better and I find it’s a good marker of my fitness.
“I started slowly at first, walking and then jogging for a little while and slowly building it up.
“Now, I run about five times a week.
“The more I run, the more weight I lose and the better I feel.” This year marks the 35th anniversary of the Melbourne Marathon and organisers hope 7000 people will take part.
Participants can tackle different distances, ranging from the 42-kilometre full marathon to a three-kilometre walk.
For more details: melbournemarathon.com.au
