By Helensburgh running coach Adam Keighran of Nuffs Fitness
I first crossed paths with Jenny White in 2010 when we worked for a wine distributor at Sydney Domestic Airport. At the time, we would spend our days conducting wine tastings and selling wine by the case and, I must admit, that whilst the lifestyle was fun, it was also quite destructive.
With this in mind, the next few years would prove pretty pivotal in shaping our individual futures and directing us to the lives we both lead today…
For me, it was 2012, after a complete life overhaul when I would start up my small run coaching and exercise business, Nuffs Fitness. My efforts were aimed at encouraging beginners to join in on casual exercise groups and to help them inject achievable and sustainable movement into their lives. I really wanted to show people how running could create a positive space for them, just like it had done for me.
For Jen – she built a career in sales after leaving the wine distributor. This included setting up her own business in 2015, after having her first baby.
In 2019, we actually reunited by coincidence when my wife and young family moved to Helensburgh, where Jenny and her family had been living since 2015. After discovering that we had both independently found a passion for long-distance running, and with me now coaching locally, an exciting opportunity presented itself.
I was able to share my long-distance running experiences and pass on my knowledge of endurance running to help benefit the naturally talented, yet inexperienced Jen. The partnership produced some amazing results, and quickly.
Jen went on to win the 62km Shoalhaven Summit, the 6-hour Southern Sydney Ultra with 66km and the 12-hour Narrabeen All-Nighter with 113km, all within 18 months. It was awesome! During this time, Jen also became certified as an Athletics Australia coach and, with this qualification under her belt, began helping me out by taking on some of my beginner run groups around Helensburgh.
In another coincidence, in 2019 we both gave up alcohol. This was such a massive decision but, if you ask us now, we'll tell you life could not be better without it. We both feel strongly that our lives are fuller. We not only have stronger relationships with family and friends, but are now parents with more patience and energy.
Living a life without alcohol has also allowed us to concentrate on running training and coaching, and it gives both of us the ability to maintain the energy and focus to compete at the best of our abilities.
In June this year, we competed in The Southern Sydney 24hr Ultra. This is an unusual event where participants have 24 hours to complete as many 400m laps of an athletics track as they can. I finished 4th with 213km (533 laps), which was a big PB, and Jen, in her very first 24-hour challenge, finished 5th with 208km (520 laps). We were thrilled with the results.
Jenny’s results have led her to be selected for the Australian team that will compete at the 2023 24hr World Championships in Taiwan in December this year. This caps off an extraordinary few years for Jen and I could not be prouder.
As part of the local community, we are both working hard to build beginner running groups. We are encouraging all 2508 locals looking to incorporate more movement into their lives to come and enjoy this amazing sport in a friendly and supportive atmosphere.
A run/walk strategy is the perfect way for those new to running to be confident that they can enjoy our sessions. This might be five to six x 30-second jogs followed by a 4:30-minute walk, for example. If you think you can manage something like that then you are totally capable of enjoying our little groups, just as much as someone else working up to a half marathon and beyond.
There are sessions every morning at 5:15am followed by a 6am coffee…
“Easily the best way to start a day, rather than a hangover,” says Jen.
For anyone interested in a free trial with Nuffs Fitness run club, please check the Facebook page
