Runbelievable: Real Runners, Unreal Stories

Ep 13: From Reluctant Runner to Purpose-Runner: Natasha Sneddon on Building Confidence, Huntington’s Research, and Honouring Her Grandfather

• Josh Rischin • Season 1 • Episode 13

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Natasha Sneddon never imagined she’d be a runner... and was embarrassed to even walk her first parkrun. Yet somehow, one step at a time, she found herself racking up over 100 parkruns, training with a coach, and lining up for the Sydney Marathon in honour of her late grandfather.

Along the way, running became more than exercise. It became connection, purpose, and a way to navigate the emotional weight of having Huntington’s disease in her family. As a sleep researcher and PhD student working in this area, Natasha’s running life and academic life have begun to intertwine in powerful ways.

In this episode, Joshie and Matty sit down with Natasha to talk about family legacy, the fear and pride of fundraising for a cause, and negative splitting her first marathon despite a very specific race plan.

In this episode:

  • From reluctant beginner to 100 parkruns
  • How running helped overcome depression
  • Living with Huntington’s disease in the family
  • How her PhD research intersects with her running
  • Running the 2025 Sydney Marathon in honour of her grandfather
  • What purpose-driven running looks like for her future

If you'd like to following Natashs's journey click here => https://linktr.ee/njsneddon?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=02c213e4-955f-4315-941c-6731346aa7e4

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Joshie:

You ran the Sydney Marathon this year in honour of your grandfather. What did that day mean to you?

Natasha:

Yeah, that was a really big day. Definitely wouldn't be an understatement to say it was life-changing.

Joshie:

Hello everybody and welcome to Unbelievable, the podcast where everyday runners share their not-so everyday stories. I'm your host, Josh Trichin, and I'm here to bring you stories of grit, glory, and overcoming adversity. Each episode we'll dive deep into what first got people running and what keeps them lacing up day after day. From the laughs and the lessons to modified e-bikes on running tracks, we're here to share what makes running a truly human experience. And coming up in just a few moments, you'll meet a runner who's combining passion with purpose and achieving some incredible results in the process. I really can't wait to chat with her. Maddie, welcome back. Christmas is approaching. And oh mate, what if what are you hoping that Santa has is in his running sack for you?

Matty:

Um if if anyone knows me, uh they probably know I'm a bit of a shoe geek. So I think what I am predicting is with all the sales with the Adidas Pro 4s, is the Pro 5s are going to come out shortly. So I want pre-release for my Christmas present. Um there's another one I found today as well, which is coming out, which is the uh Adidas X Prime Evo, and that was actually developed and designed to run um a hundred kilometer ultra uh marathon. Um, and the guy that wore them actually, I think, did it exceptionally well. Um, and they're basing it off the shoe, so I wouldn't mind having a crack at them.

Joshie:

So, in case the listeners haven't noticed, Maddie's gradually trying to evolve this into a shoe podcast. Uh well, hopefully, Maddie, all those Christmas wishes come true for you. And what about you, Josh? What are you what are you looking for for Christmas? Oh gosh, I don't know. Um what would be would be a good Christmas present is to be able to run pain free. I've been uh battling a couple of things. I've got my Achilles um niggle that hasn't quite gone away. And at the moment, I haven't told you this. I've got this like um splinter or thorn that's wedged in the bottom of my foot. I've had it for about a week or nearly a week, and I was outside gardening barefoot, and I felt something just like go in there and not come out. So I actually can't like properly run on that part of the foot, out of the foot. So I'm kind of running very slightly on the outside of my right foot. I've um I'm actually off to the doctor this afternoon to hopefully get it so I can run pain-free again. So that that would be a Christmas present and a half. So yeah, that'd be great. Um now look, Maddie, it's time for the Unbelievable rundown where we share highlights, mishaps, misadventures, crazy sights and sounds, little wins, basically the kind of stuff that harnesses the human side of it. And you know what frustrates me, or one of many things that frustrates me, paying for event photos. Okay. I always do. Well, I know you always do. Did you you didn't even vote in the poll that I did the other day, did you?

Matty:

I don't think so.

Joshie:

You know, I know that our Instagram page isn't brilliant, but you're allowed to look at it from time to time.

Matty:

Yeah, no, I am, and I'm I'm on to it. I'm looking at it daily now, hence I hence I sent you some some stuff today. So that's true. Yeah, so I'm on board that.

Joshie:

Yeah. Um, I know you always pay. I I never do. Um for me, it's a case of I feel as though the cost of registration is already so high to pay another 50, 60 plus dollars. I don't know. So I did a poll and we actually had a really, really good uh response to this one. Um I'll just read it out now. So we had I had three options either yep, always pay, uh only pay if I don't look rubbish in the photos, or the third option was no, that's what friends are for. Uh good mix of results. We had 19% that said yep, they always pay for photos, so that would be yourself, Matty. If you'd voted that would probably bring out 41%. Um roughly half. So 48% said only if they don't look rubbish in the photos. And uh roughly a third uh uh like myself think that that's what friends are for. So yeah. Okay, interesting. Yeah. I sort of well's not that interesting, I just thought that I'd mention it.

Matty:

Um if you get in early on though on those things, they're they're fairly reasonable.

Joshie:

Um you know, so realistically though, of the 50 odd photos that you get, how many do you usually treasure?

Matty:

I don't use them or treasure them. I have albums um within my phone that are based around each run. So um it could be all sorts of photos. Photos I've taken, photos from the race, um, you know, just to capture those moments of those events because um, you know, we we train hard, we run hard, and I want to remember them.

Joshie:

So yeah, I can understand that. I'll tell you what though, geez, nothing tops Crystal having to pay for a photo that they use for promotional purposes.

Matty:

I think well I'm in I'm in an advert for Gold Coast, um Gold Coast Marathon. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I pointed it out to you. I said, that's me. When it said 55,000 plus runners attended, and I'm like, there I am. Do you know something?

Joshie:

Yeah, yeah, it you have to like zoom in to like Yeah, that's right. But it's me, Josh. I take it, I take it, it's me. So um, oh very good. Oh geez, I'm sorry we're um our guest is probably getting horrendously frustrated. Although she's still she's still there, so she hasn't given up the job yet. I can say that she's darn close. So look, if um oh, actually, there is one thing I did want to mention, and this is with the whole paid photo thing. Um, it's why I love some of those smaller events and even Parkrun. Parkrun, you get some awesome photos that they can take. Um yeah, I don't know if you remember though, Maddie. Uh a few weeks ago now there was a photo that was taken of me at Parkrun. I'll tell you what, I was conscious of the photographer being there, so I'm like, I'm gonna run with my absolute best run form.

Matty:

And you were watching all day for it to be posted.

Joshie:

Yeah, do you remember it's like you could just see the back of my heel, bottom left of frame. I'm gonna find the photo and and post it at some point because it is it is hilarious that that was done. Uh that that that was the photo, the only photo they got of me that day, but there is proof that at least part of an Adidas Pro 4 made it into that photo. So look, if you've got something that you would like to contribute to the Run Believable rundown, then send it our way. Today's guest never imagined she'd be a runner at all, let alone someone who'd rack up a hundred park runs and even bigger challenges. Her journey has since evolved into deriving meaning, passion, and purpose all at the same time. She's a sleep researcher, a PhD student, and very openly not a morning person. Can we please all welcome Natasha Sneddon? Welcome, Natasha. And she's fresh off her very first trail event, uh half marathon trail event, I believe. How how did that go?

Natasha:

That was really fun. Um, so I wrapped up on the day uh with a heap injury, haven't been running properly for a few weeks, and I get there and no pain at all. Um, able to just give it my best go, and you know, you're immersed in nature as well. Vibes are good, and there's just so much food. I mean, you get a sizzle at the end.

Joshie:

Really?

Natasha:

Yeah.

Joshie:

Oh my gosh. That's good. See, I've never done a trail event. I've got no idea what they're um what they're like. I hear they're well supported, but just the next thing.

Natasha:

You go road, trail, and then try.

Joshie:

I'll stick with road. Did I see recently um uh so n Natasha, I found you through uh through Instagram um some you know an incredibly inspirational story, which we'll come to in a moment, but did I see that not long ago you were sort of toying with the idea of a sprint try at some point?

Natasha:

Uh yeah, so um I found out that McRae Uni are able to sponsor me to do it um through their uni sport competition. And honestly, I've wanted to try a sprint for a really long time. Um and a sprint, um, for those that don't know is just like much shorter than a normal triathlon. Um, it's a good way to give it a go. Okay. And yeah, I've with the injury anyway, I wanted to cycle and swim more um to sort of take that pressure off my hip. Um, so yeah.

Joshie:

Now you said that you never imagined that you'd run, and from memory said that you were even embarrassed to walk your first park run. Can you take us back to that moment and when it all changed for you?

Natasha:

Um, yeah, so I just kept hearing about this parkrun thing from um my massage therapist Sandy. Shout out to her. And um then I went on this trip to the Gold Coast, and there was lots of parkrun signs, and I'm just like, why do I keep seeing this parkrun?

Matty:

It's a sign, yeah.

Natasha:

So yeah, I was so nervous um to go because I'm like, I just want to walk it, and it's called Park Run. Um, so I get there to walk it and I was late. Um back then I was always late because you know, not a morning person. I had to jog to catch up to the tailwalker, and that was where I was kind of like, huh, this isn't actually so bad.

Matty:

Yeah. I think I think it's the unknown with with Parkrun, for instance, when you hear about it and you're like, I want to go, you always have these impressions that um they're gonna be this like fast race with you know all these elite people. Well, that's that's what I picture anyway. Um, and it's not until you go and you it's like, oh, this is awesome.

Joshie:

Yeah. So how quickly, Natasha, did your perception of parkrun change? Did it take a couple or was it were you hooked on that first after that first go?

Natasha:

I think I was actually hooked straight away.

Joshie:

So how long ago was that that you completed your first park run?

Natasha:

That was nearly three years ago now, next month.

Joshie:

Yeah, okay.

Natasha:

Can't believe it.

Joshie:

You're now at over a hundred park runs?

Natasha:

110 last Saturday.

Matty:

Oh, fantastic. You're catching up to me. Yeah. I've done 20.

Joshie:

Um Natasha, you um did this put together this lovely post when you hit um 100 parkruns, and it was a a really beautiful tribute that you paid not just to parkrun but the community that sort of supports it. Um what did that milestone mean to you?

Natasha:

Um, I guess like I'm like you said, I'm so grateful to that community. Um, so my local parkrun is Mount Penang Parkrun. Um, and funny enough, they call themselves Nangers is a cult. That's sort of their slogan.

Joshie:

Okay.

Natasha:

And that's because it is like you go there and everyone's there saying hi to you, everyone's supportive, and it's hard to not go back. Um I guess you feel like you're a part of something bigger. Um then in saying that, I've been to I think more than 35 parkruns now, like different parkruns, um, some over in Europe, and pretty much every parkrun's the same. Um, like a big standout was in Germany. I went to this parkrun, I went and had breakfast, and the core team just waved me over and they were like, No, you're one of us, you're sitting with us. Um, we're gonna chat to you. And I just struggled to believe that. Honestly, it was so great.

Matty:

Oh wow. It's incredible, yeah. Yeah.

Joshie:

The running community is so good. See, I haven't had much exposure to in fact, I haven't run a single park run overseas, and I think I have anyhow. Um I guess yeah, you don't you don't really know until you you head over there what the community will will be like and how welcoming and supportive they'll be. I mean, it doesn't surprise me that they that they'd be supportive. Um was it just the one in Germany that you did, or would you have a chance to do a few?

Natasha:

I just did one in Germany, um Oberwald. Um, and then I did two in England, um, Bushy for the 20th anniversary.

Matty:

Um that was only was that this year?

Natasha:

No, last year.

Joshie:

Last year, yeah, okay. I can't believe you've done bushy geez. I think that's when everyone in the park run bucket list, isn't it? That was the first one, isn't it? It was, yeah. How what was it like?

Natasha:

Well, so it was busy, obviously. I can't remember how many people, but um, I was a few thousand, that was like my position, so you know, not up there. Um, and it was beautiful. There was there were stags, um, and I'd never really seen like deer before. So it was just so amazing to be that close to deer.

Joshie:

Yeah.

Natasha:

Yeah.

Joshie:

Okay. You know, you you mentioned that you um started running initially for a combination of physical and mental health. Um can you take us back to what life was like before running and the benefits that running has um that that you've been able to derive from running?

Natasha:

Yeah, um, so before running I was overweight, um, I was depressed. Um, and yeah, I know we hear this a lot, but running um helped me feel healthier um and meet new people and feel part of a community. So it was good for both my physical and mental health.

Joshie:

It is fantastic. I mean, you say that uh you hear it a lot, but there's only one of you, and I think that's what we need to remember that our our journeys are very much about uh ourselves, and it's yeah, I think it can be a bit risky to compare and contrast other people's experiences because at the end of the day, um, you know, it's it's in inherently individual what our experiences and our journeys like. Um so how would you describe um how how running sort of features and fits into your life now?

Natasha:

I'm addicted. Um really hard to be injured. Um let's put it that way, because I was running like four to five days a week um only a few weeks ago, um, about 45 kilometers. Um, usually later in the evening, just because I don't wake up early. Um I don't like to miss it. I call it my non-negotiable because it is what makes me happy. Um, if I do it, I feel like I'm productive and I'm more likely to do other things as well. Yeah. Um yeah, but um the last few weeks have really challenged that. So I've been trying out some swimming um and cycling. Yeah.

Matty:

As Josh mentioned, as you mentioned, Josh, it's different for everyone, but if you put a blanket over it, I think, um, in terms of I'll stay away from the the physical health because that that naturally comes. But in terms of mental health, I was told for many years that you know, uh, you need to exercise, it'll make you, you know, it'll help with your mental health, that sort of thing. And I was like, it's not gonna help. Um, and it wasn't until you start running, and you look at like like thinking blanketly, you look at um the benefits of running, and there's there's mass amounts of benefits, but that feeling good and feeling good about yourself, and um, you know, it's it's the best.

Joshie:

Yeah, it certainly is. Now uh Natasha Huntington's disease is a big part of your family story. For the benefit of listeners, can you take some time to explain what it is?

Natasha:

Yeah. Um, so Huntington's is a genetic disease. Um, it's also rare, so only about 10 in 100,000 people in Australia have it. Um and being genetic, um, so my granddad had Huntington's, so there was a 50% chance that my at-risk parent would have inherited. Uh, and because he didn't, I also don't have Huntington, so it doesn't skip generations. Okay. And in terms of symptoms, it's like primarily a motor disorder. So um people have jerky movements and something called chorea, so it kind of looks like they're dancing because of the movements. Um, but it's also a neurodegenerative disease, so it affects people's cognition and their mood as well and behaviour.

Joshie:

Okay. Um, you know, I've spent a couple of moments before the call trying to understand what it is. It sounds like there are some similarities with um motor neuron disease, but I get the sense that, you know, to the uneducated like myself, with something like this, they look similar, but to someone that's sort of knee-deep in it, um, like yourself, you'd you'd probably point out that they're actually quite um different conditions.

Natasha:

Well, um people often describe it as a mix of um motor neuron disease, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, so it's probably not a fair um fair call to see things like that.

Joshie:

And so how how prevalent has Huntington's disease been in your family?

Natasha:

Yeah, um, so five of my uncles have it, um, and a lot of my cousins, and a lot of them haven't tested yet either, so they don't know if they have it or not, um, which is a common personal choice because it does change your life if you do, and it can be hard to face that that's you know what's happening, that's how you're going to die. Yeah.

Matty:

Is it fatal, is it?

Natasha:

It's a neurodegenerative disease. So um yeah, like I don't know how to answer that. It's as fatal as Alzheimer's.

Joshie:

Can you um talk to us a little bit more about your um your research then and how it intersects with with Huntington's disease?

Natasha:

Yes, I'm researching sleep disturbances in Huntington's. So I've just finished my Master of Research thesis, um, and basically that was looking at how prevalent sleep disturbances are in Huntingtons. Um, and we found that periodically movements in sleep, so um, I guess like that's relating back to the jerky movements, maybe, um, were quite prevalent. Um, like a third of people with Huntingtons get those. Um, sleep medications, a lot of them are taking sleep medication for insomnia. Um, another that's a third of people as well, and um, people reporting um poor sleep quality, um, and there's about 60% who you know say I have bad sleep. So um that's the starting, how I've started. Um, and then I've just started my PhD and going to continue that work by doing sleep studies, um, particularly looking at um high density electroencephalography, which I know it's a really big word, but basically people are going to wear these caps in their sleep. There's 256 electrodes um compared to a normal sleep study, which only has eight, we just want to look at the whole brain, um, see what's going on, see if anything's changing um even before the symptomatic. Um, and it could give us a good idea of what's going on in the brain, how we can treat that um and hopefully improve people's lives.

Joshie:

You said that the prevalence was, did you say 10 in a hundred thousand people? So if if we don't if there's not many people that are living with Huntington's uh disease, uh does that make it challenging from a research perspective to understand the uh patterns of sleep disturbances?

Natasha:

Um yeah, so definitely harder to find people to research because in research you need a certain number of participants to find like to power the study statistically, um, which means basically they get reliable results. Um there are uh clinics around Australia that um look at people with Huntingtons regularly, so they do yearly checkups and things um that I'll probably be recruiting from.

Joshie:

Yeah. So what's the lead time? This must be multi-years of work ahead of you.

Natasha:

Yeah, um generally it's three to four years to do a PhD.

Joshie:

Oh wow. Yeah. And then going through does that include the peer review process and everything that happens after that?

Natasha:

Probably not.

Joshie:

Um now you obviously started your running journey with park runs and very quickly set some more ambitious goals. You ran the Sydney Marathon this year in honour of your grandfather. Um what did that um what did that day mean to you?

Natasha:

Yeah, that was a really big day. Um definitely wouldn't be an understatement to say it was life-changing. Um so I was raising money for Huntington's disease and had raised about a thousand dollars leading up to the marathon. Um and it was so scary, like it was my first marathon. Um and I didn't want to let anyone down when I'd raise who I'd raised their part of me, who'd helped me to raise money. Um, and it ended up being really motivating, and I ended up receiving more donations for Huntingtons while running, um, just trickling in.

Matty:

Oh, that's so cool.

Natasha:

Yeah, especially around the hard bits of the course, which was really motivating. So 17 to 25 kilometers. Uh it was really sunny and hot, and everyone knows that it's difficult around, or maybe it's more difficult around 30Ks, but difficult around that halfway point, knowing okay, I've got to do another half marathon. And yeah, I think I ended up raising $2,014 for Huntingtons, so wow. That's yeah, that's great. And sorry, I didn't get the question uh about my granddad. Um yeah, so yeah, I thought about him a lot. Um, he passed away when I was um 18 and um he never knew that I'd run. So I just thought, what would he say? Um obviously he'd be proud, but you know, probably this is nuts, right? But yeah, he was definitely in my thoughts.

Joshie:

I mean, if you're proud of you for a number of reasons, I mean, not just that you've sort of picked up running, but that you ran in his honor and you know have uh raised funds for a of such a cause that's close and personal to your to your heart and that you're now sort of furthering that through your research. Um that's that's huge. That's a beautiful story, Natasha. I have a technical question. How did you know you were getting donations during the run?

Natasha:

Oh, right. My watch was connected to my well, to my phone, which had my email pop-up. So I was receiving emails and I was seeing it on my watch, and it was something like $200, and it was just showing up really briefly, but enough that I was like, wow, that's another donation.

Joshie:

Oh wow. So did you find that um motivating or was there an element of pressure as well?

Natasha:

Um yeah, like before the marathon, there was a bit of pressure because I was kind of like, can I really do a marathon? Um, I'm gonna actually show up now and run. And I can't back out, but I think that's a good thing, right? Um yeah, I'd say more motivating because yeah, I was struggling a bit with chafing at the half marathon and it was hot, and I'd just gotta keep going because people still don't know me. Yeah. Um and I never actually really I ran the whole thing and I never really considered walking, um, which was insane because my training was a bit um smaller mileage, so I didn't expect it to go so well. Um we didn't, yeah. He he messaged me in the morning and he was like, remember to bank energy, not um pace or something like that. Yeah, yeah. And he was like, Yeah, like seven minute pace, because our goal time was five hours. Yeah, yeah. And my first call was like 640 pace, and I was sort of like, okay, I've already gone out a bit too fast. Um, and then I get to the half marathon um at two hours and sixteen minutes, so a little bit ahead of schedule. But um, yeah, he did me because I ended up, you know, backing myself up and I did a faster second half. So yeah.

Joshie:

Wow. It's pretty impressive to go from having a goal pace seven minutes a K, you went out at 640 pace, and even finished with a negative split.

Natasha:

Yeah, so I finished in four hours twenty-five, fourteen seconds. So more than half an hour.

Matty:

Are you hooked on marathons now?

Natasha:

So for a long time I was thinking no. Um, I was like, I've done my marathon, that was what I wanted to do. I gave it a go. It went well. I don't think I'll have a better experience. And then the Melbourne marathon ballot comes. Yeah, yeah, I um have gotten a spot in Melbourne next year.

Matty:

And then um, I'm doing the half in Melbourne, and I've got Gold Coast full as well.

Natasha:

Yeah, so I saw Gold Coast as well, and at that point I was like, what's wrong with two marathons in one year? What can go wrong? So I'm doing the double at Gold Coast too.

Matty:

Oh, that's awesome. The half and the full. Oh, the 60, 62.3 kilometers.

Natasha:

Yeah, 63.

Joshie:

Natasha, like you you know how how hard it is to go from uh starting at zero in terms of running to doing what you're doing, but you've obviously put in in the work and those hard yards. What did your training uh regime look like for Sydney?

Natasha:

Um, yeah, so it's really funny because at the start I think I didn't know what I was getting myself into. My mileage was about 20 kilometres a week. I thought that was a lot at the time. Um, I contacted my coach like nine weeks before the marathon, which most people would know is not enough time. Um eight weeks was fine, um, but in retrospect, you need to give them like 16 weeks minimum. But yeah. Um yeah, so we were running four times a week and building um on the long runs. And the coach had me running Saturday a smaller long run and then Sunday a longer long run. Um, so I thought that backed up long run was really good because then I was always running on tired legs. Um and yeah, our longest long run was only 25 kilometers, which really stressed me out um before the marathon because I kept reading online. If you don't run 30Ks, you can't do a marathon, you're gonna struggle. Um, so that's not true for the record. But um yeah, and we did some um work at like um 530 pace. Um, so just intervals. And it was, I'm not really sure what the purpose of it, but in the actual marathon, in the second half, like the last 10ks, I really drew on those intervals and I was kind of like, my legs feel like they did back when I was training, they feel that heaviness. Um I tapped into that and I ended up running the last 10k at it was actually 540, but it felt like 5.30. Wow. Um yeah, so I guess I knew I could because that's what we had trained. So that was good.

Joshie:

Wow. What was your nutrition like on the day?

Natasha:

Um, I had a lot of gels um compared to the average person. I was having a gel every 25 minutes, and I was mixing up the pure and mortarn gels. Um, they didn't want to have just one type of gel because um I didn't want to get sick of it basically, sick of the you know, flavoring. Sure. Um and I went in with one water flask in my pocket, um, so I could kind of drink whenever I wanted. I could skip the first few water stations, which was great because people were just stopping and it was kind of a nightmare around those water stations. Yeah, yeah. Yeah. You tripping other people. Yeah, and I definitely didn't skip breakfast. I can't remember exactly what I had though. Um, but it would have been cereal and a little bit of like some berries. Um swear by berries, and they just make you feel better. Okay. Um but yeah, um, yeah, I hate seeing when people say that they skip breakfast because that's what that's your feel. But yeah.

Joshie:

Yeah. Going forward with your running go, I mean it's amazing, you've sort of gone from having uh ticked a a marathon off the bucket list thinking that's gonna be it to signing up pretty much everything. Now, will you continue to to run for uh um for Huntingtons, or is that something where you're sort of like, you know, I might actually just focus on um like you know personal goals rather than running for a cause?

Natasha:

I'm definitely not closed off to the idea of doing it again, um, especially if um I have my heart set on doing London Marathon one day. And so I've thought about maybe a charity place with the Huntingtons Association over in the UK. Um, so that's definitely something I've thought about. It's on my radar, but I'll just see where life takes me for now.

Joshie:

When you sign up to an event, the there's all these different charities that you have to um to choose from. But yeah, I wasn't sure if it's something that you know potentially down the track, um, you know, you you might look into uh helping to influence that, those events, because I think it would be awesome to have an opportunity through your work to raise the profile of um of Huntington's.

Natasha:

Yeah, that's actually crossed my mind. Like Huntington's Australia is a fairly new organization that's brought together all the separate states into a national body. Okay. I did notice that they don't have specific places in the marathon like the overseas um the UK Huntington's branch has. So like they actually have a whole team of people that go do London marathon. Um, so perhaps there is a difference in terms of awareness or support over there. Maybe the disease is more common. I don't actually know.

Joshie:

So what does running mean to you now? How would you describe where it fits into your life?

Natasha:

Um, like it means a lot because I was depressed and I didn't know I had ADHD back then. Yeah, I was really lost, and then I guess running gave me purpose, and it wasn't something I ever thought I'd stick with. Um I thought it was just gonna be a new hobby. I stuck I did for a week or two, but I kept showing up.

Joshie:

What made you keep showing up? A lot of people talk about running being so hard and feeling so wiped that they just don't you know, they don't want to go back to it. What made you keep showing up?

Natasha:

I think it was that sense of achieving something. I think I really I really like um maybe because I I with the depression I always felt like I can't do things. And then it was that's that challenging that kind of thought and actually doing it.

Joshie:

Overcoming self-doubt to some extent.

Natasha:

Yeah, yeah.

Joshie:

Do you find it too?

Matty:

It's it's um like you do something and you go, holy shit, I didn't know I could do that. I didn't know my body was even capable of that.

Natasha:

Yeah. Um maybe, let's be honest, I don't really you already know this Josh don't really get runners high, but um but probably there are some endorphins and serotonin and dopamine that that's probably got me hooked.

Joshie:

Yeah. Is it possible? And this might sound like I'm challenging what you're saying, but I promise I'm not. Is it possible that you do experience runners high but you just don't label it as such?

Natasha:

Yes, yeah, it's possible. It's like not not impossible.

Joshie:

Those are real researchers that you um have you found though that with running the in terms of like I said before, overcoming self-doubt, that it's had benefits in other facets of life.

Natasha:

Yeah, um, it's helped with connections with friends and with my partner, um, because friends have started coming along to Parkrun as well. And you have like this little community within a community, so we would always have our little breakfast date after Parkrun. Um, so it's a good way to spend time with people.

Joshie:

Yeah. Yeah. And if you found that they're connections that you can see yourself uh maintaining for you know for years to come.

Natasha:

Yeah, definitely.

Joshie:

You know, Matt and I met through running and you know we formed a wonderful friendship now with a podcast. I mean, it's it's something that yeah, you kind of need to go through that experience to realise that um you know you you actually can build true community and connections through through running. I mean, obviously as a sport it's fantastic, but Matt said it a few on a few episodes that the benefits are typically much broader than you know being able to uh feel like your aerobic capacity increases. I think if you were to ask most runners, they'd go, oh yeah, yeah, I suppose that stuff is there as well, the physical benefits, but it's not for most people what keeps them going. It's not what keeps me going. You know, do you are you finding yourself wanting to raise the bar higher and higher now?

Natasha:

I do, and I'm so torn because I want to work on the smaller distances, like 5k, 10k speed, but I also want to work on going longer. Um, like it would be so awesome to try an ultra one day. Um the trails, the trail run I did recently was really fun, and I could see that being really fun to explore too, because being I know I just said being out in nature earlier was great, but it's also more challenging. Um, you're trying to avoid stepping on rocks, trying not to trip on tree branches. Um, you've got to think a lot more, and I thought that was really um interesting and felt really fulfilling to try.

Joshie:

Yeah. Yeah, that's really interesting. Uh yeah.

Matty:

Oh, you go ahead, Maddie. No, I was just gonna say it's very di different, isn't it? And I'm sure I'll ask you, Natasha. Um, like when you do a trail run, especially what you've just done the half marathon, how were your legs the next day?

Natasha:

Yeah, um, I don't know why, but my legs are fine. Uh but my shoulders really hurt. Okay. Um really hurting from the vest because I don't normally run with the vests. Oh, okay. And I definitely I feel taught about it because I definitely needed it. I went through I had about a thousand one liter of water on me and I drank through that twice. Um I needed that. Um and then I mean, even though my legs are okay, my right foot got battered from some rocks. So I have a blood blister under my toe. Okay.

Matty:

Yeah, yeah. No, I've just found before when I run on trails the next day, like I have muscles aching that I didn't even know were there. So it it it obviously it affects different muscles to your your uh road running where you're in more of more of a rhythm. So yeah.

Natasha:

Yeah, that makes sense.

Joshie:

I don't know how you'd go on trails, Maddie. I mean you find yourself getting all sorts of weird and wonderful injuries on the road.

Matty:

Yeah, and I'd probably wear some bloody some racing shoes that aren't suited. I have no doubt that you would.

Joshie:

Yeah, a lot of people who who s who go from um running road to running trail really find it difficult that concentration aspect that you mentioned, Natasha, because road running is often very rhythmic and you get into a zone and you don't have to be as um uh cognizant of what's going on uh around you and you know especially for trail running, uh you'd be having to you know pretty much watch every step. I mean, depending on how technical the terrain is. I mean, do you find that um that mentally it's more fatiguing?

Natasha:

Uh yeah, definitely. So um my legs weren't really tired for whatever reason, maybe because I haven't ran properly in three weeks, but um but in that last kilometer of the trail run, I kept um twisting my ankle on rocks, and I don't think it was actually any harder in that section than it had been earlier, but I think my brain was just really tired, so um, it just couldn't really um think about where to step anymore. Um and yeah, I had to fully pay attention to everything. Um, and that's why like in half my photos I'm actually looking down um because I was so scared of tripping. Yeah.

Joshie:

Now, every runner unfortunately goes through this a moment where we either DNF or in your case recently um you weren't able to make it to the start line for a 10k that I know you've been really looking forward to and training hard for. What what was that like going through that experience?

Natasha:

That was a really hard decision to make um because I haven't had a good 10k pretty much ever. And I had trained for it really, and I thought that I was set for sure to get the PB I really want for the 10K. Um, and it's actually it'll be a big PB, it'll be like three or four minutes um because that's how I never go well in the 10K. Um but yeah, I decided to just kind of look after my hip because honestly, it was hurting to walk. So the thought of running 10k was just like I'm gonna really hurt myself, I'm not gonna be running again for even longer, and sitting out for even one week was too difficult.

Joshie:

Oh. I didn't realise it was at that stage where it was hurting you to even walk.

Natasha:

Yeah, um, it was at that stage. Um, it's already better, so it's only like a zero to one at the moment out of ten.

Joshie:

So it sounds like you've been quite measured and quite sensible in your um I guess your your recovery and rehabilitation from from that injury. I mean, did did you did you have it diagnosed or is it just self management?

Natasha:

Um, I did go to a physio, um, and they checked everything. They said the range of movement's good, but um It was it's a tender, I think, for muscle imbalance. So um she cleared me to do that 10k, but it was me that sort of decided, yeah, I don't think this is worth it, you know.

Joshie:

I guess you've got plenty of years ahead of you running wise and you know, I think making that short-term sacrifice for longer term gain is perhaps the best thing that you've done. So look, before we we finish up, Natasha, of the all the goals that you've got on the horizon, um what what's the one that you would say sort of sits atop on the mantelpiece or something that you're striving towards?

Natasha:

Let's be honest, that 10k, I've got unfinished business, so that's um that's up there, but I don't know when I'll have the opportunity to do it. Um especially now it's summer, so I guess I'll be waiting until March next year.

Matty:

Yeah, race season.

Natasha:

Yeah.

Joshie:

Well, you might find that your coach will give you a a B race, uh, a 10k hit out's not un overly uncommon when training for a marathon, so maybe that's your your chance to to um give it a crack. And look, um uh Natasha, any final thoughts or things you wanted to mention before we finish up?

Natasha:

Yeah, um, I just want to say thank you to my shout-outs. Go for it. Yeah, go for it. Yeah, thank you to the Nangers, my Mount for Nang Parkrun people, because they're honestly like the most supportive group ever. Um, thank you to everyone who donated to the fundraiser. Um, obviously it means a lot, and you helped make it what it was. Um, thank you to my coach Zach for doing an amazing job training me for the marathon, my partner for coming with me on long runs, my supervisors for helping me with my research, and all my other family and friends, because like my uncle especially, who was very supportive, sending me messages during the marathon. And yeah, thank you.

Joshie:

That's awesome. Uh that's good. Natasha, thanks for taking the time to chat with us today. Your um selfless devotion to a cause that's greater than your own uh makes us truly inspired to do more. Um, we've had an absolute blast speaking with you. Thank you.

Matty:

Yeah, thanks, Natasha.

Natasha:

Thanks for having me.

Joshie:

Well, Maddie, I don't know about you, but I'm truly blown away by Natasha's story.

Matty:

Yeah, brilliant story. I I think um what she did at Sydney Marathon in terms of, first of all, her first marathon, first time it's a world major, and raising money for something that means um so much to her and so close to her family. I think that's brilliant. Have you ever run for a cause? No, I haven't.

Joshie:

Do you know what I think could you know what the cause I think could be good for you? The clumsy eye injury society of Queen.

Matty:

I'm the president and only member.

Joshie:

Let's close out for today. Uh, if you've got a Run Believable story of your own, we'd love to hear it. And if you're interested in being a guest on the show, then hit us up. Finally, this podcast relies on your continued support. So if you can please take the time to follow Rate and share it with your running mates, we'd really appreciate it, and we'll see you for the next Run Believeable Adventure.

Matty:

President only ever.