RUNNING helps Loreto students Isabella Taylor, Aishwarya Thapa and Megan Skrokov to clear their minds and feel a sense of achievement.
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Aishwarya said running for fitness was a high priority but for her and her friends, running was also important for mental well-being.
The girls get together with other friends to go for a run after school or on weekends as a way to catch up and feel good. It is not about winning, or trying to be fast. They like to encourage each other and have fun.
“School can be very stressful but it makes me feel happy and clears my mind,” Aishwarya said.
“We do set goals and it gives you something to aim towards.”
Aishwarya and Megan decided earlier in the year to train up for their first half-marathon. Together they had their chance in the Melbourne Marathon festival on Sunday, finishing on the MCG.
The pair was rapt their efforts, not just on the day, but having worked consistently to achieve their goal.
Their next aim, with Isabella, is to be on course for Run for A Cause on November 18.
The inaugural mass-participation, hosted by The Ballarat Foundation, event fills a gap left by Run Ballarat and will support food relief efforts across the region.
“I like the idea of running and seeing how much I can test myself,” Megan said.
“This is another good goal in the community.”
Megan and Isabella run on Loreto’s cross-country team for fun. They enjoy trying to tackle whatever challenges a new course will serve up.
Isabella said it was definitely satisfying to finish a tough run.
“I like running to keep fit and because it helps my netball and tennis,” Isabella said.
“But I’m also grateful to run. Lots of older people, like my grandparents, are always telling me I’m lucky to be young and fit. I never take that for granted.”
Run for a Cause will feature five and 10-kilometre runs, a 5km family walk and 1km children’s dash based at Victoria Park and taking in Lake Wendouree. The flat course is designed to suit all abilities.
For more details, to enter: run4ac.org.
Key run details you need to know
DATE: Sunday, November 18.
THE CAUSE: food security in the region. Money raised helps support The Ballarat Foundation’s charity partners working in this space.
RUNS: 10km and 5km, which have been trimmed to what Ballarat is used to. Distances fit more in line with other fun runs, personal running goals, ParkRun distance and even what is contested at Olympic level.
FAMILY: There will be a 5km walk, suitable for people with prams, and a one-kilometre children’s dash.
COURSE: Start and finish events precinct in Victoria Park. Race ambassador Julian Spence said the course needed to be a little difference to what Ballarat is used to running, for example ParkRun, and include the iconic Lake Wendouree. The course is also flat to suit all runners, from those pushing for a fast run to those keen to get moving.
TRAINING: The Courier will feature Spence’s weekly training programs to help get you started. The Running Company is hosting a beginners’ group on Wednesday evenings from the store at 6pm. The Athlete’s Foot Ballarat is also running a couch to 5km program to the event on Tuesday evenings.
RUN EXPERTISE: Hometown Olympic marathon hero Steve Moneghetti and fellow marathon runner Julian Spence (The Running Company Ballarat) are event ambassadors.
BACKGROUND: The Ballarat Foundation announced in late July it would host the community event to help fill the void of a disbanded Run Ballarat, which raised more than $1million for the Ballarat Health Services children’s ward redevelopment in six years. The children’s ward opened in June.
HOW TO GET INVOLVED: Registrations are open at www.run4ac.org.
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