Woman running in a marathon, making a heart with her hands, wearing a white cap, red shirt, and blue shorts, with a race bib numbered 135, on a wet pavement with trees and water in the background.

Every Mile Tells a Story

My journey in pictures

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My journey in pictures .

Smiling woman in white T-shirt and black shorts giving a thumbs-up at a group run or race outdoors on a paved path with green grass and trees in the background.

My 1st parkrun

5km

A woman with a race bib and medal smiling at the finish line of a marathon, with other runners and spectators in the background on a rainy day.

Hoka Runnaway Sydney

10km

A smiling woman with a white cap, green shirt, and patterned shorts stands under a finish line banner at an outdoor event, giving a thumbs-up with both hands. She wears a medal around her neck and an event bib on her chest.

Half marathon (21.1kms)

BBBRun

A woman wearing sunglasses and a blue shirt is smiling and flexing her arms. She is participating in a marathon or running event, with other runners visible in the background and race bib number 45108.

42.2kms

1st Full Marathon (Sydney, Australia)

My Five years ago, I turned up to my very first parkrun with one simple goal: to get fitter.

Growing up, I was always active. I spent years doing classical ballet, squad swimming, and playing tennis. But after finishing high school, life got busy and exercise slowly disappeared from my routine.

In 2022 I was on holidays when a friend suggested that I try parkrun and I thought, "Why not?" Fast forward four years, and I'm still showing up most Saturday mornings, even when I'm travelling! What started as a way to improve my fitness quickly became one of my favourite parts of the week.

My first parkrun wasn't particularly fast. I finished my 5km in 38 minutes, Since then, I've chipped away at that time, and in 2026 I achieved a personal best of 28 minutes and 42 seconds.

As my confidence grew, so did my goals. In 2024, I completed my first 10km event in 1 hour and 30 minutes. Later that year, I ticked off another milestone by running my first half marathon in October.

Not long after, I wondered if I could go even further.

In 2025, I crossed the finish line of my very first marathon (Sydney, Australia), an experience I'll never forget. That same year, I also ran my fastest 10km, finishing in 56 minutes and taking an 34 minutes off my original time.

Then, in 2026, I completed my second marathon (Canberra, ACT, Australia).

Looking back, it's amazing to think that one Saturday morning at parkrun led me here. Running has given me so much more than improved fitness. It's taught me resilience, discipline, confidence, and the importance of showing up for yourself—even on the days you don't feel like it.

I'm by no means the fastest runner, but I've learned that running isn't about comparing yourself to anyone else. It's about celebrating your own progress, one step, one kilometre, and one finish line at a time.

My Story

Group of five women, some wearing bunny ears, standing outdoors on grass, posing with a colorful frame at Auburn Botanic Gardens park run event.

The magic of parkrun

If you've never heard of parkrun before, let me introduce you to one of my favourite parts of the week.

Every Saturday morning, thousands of people across the world come together for a free 5km community event where you can walk, jog, run, volunteer, or simply cheer everyone on. There's also junior parkrun on Sunday mornings—a free 2km event for children aged 4–14 and their families.

What makes parkrun so special isn't just the running—it's the community. It doesn't matter if you're chasing a personal best, walking your first 5km, pushing a pram, volunteering, or just there for the post-run coffee. There's no time limit, no pressure, and no such thing as finishing last. Everyone is welcome, and everyone belongs.

For me, parkrun is so much more than a weekly run. It's a chance to catch up with friends, explore new courses, support others, and start the weekend with a smile (and, of course, a well-earned coffee afterwards!).

Learn more about parkrun

Meadowbank Women’s Running Group

The Meadowbank Women’s Run Club is a welcoming, inclusive running group that caters to all paces, from first-timers to marathon trainers.

They host regular morning runs starting from Meadowbank Wharf (Bowden Street, Meadowbank)

Tuesday & Friday Mornings: 6:15 AM
Weekend Runs: Additional runs and local parkruns are organized periodically.

The club centers on community, uplifting each other, and enjoying the local Parramatta River running paths. Runs often feature multiple pace groups.

You can connect with the community and register for their weekly events via the Meadowbank Women's Run Club Heylo Page or stay up to date with their latest meetups and group photos on their instgram page.

Visit Instgram profile