Townsville’s Krissy Regan says she is at the business end of her preparations to run three major distance events in two months to aid war ravaged Ukrainian women and children.
It’s the latest personal challenge the unstoppable 46-year-old science and sports management expert, obesity shredder, world trekker, ‘Mindful Mum’ to two young girls aged 7 and 4, prolific author and three-time dragon boat world champion has set herself in the name of international goodwill.
And it all starts this weekend with Krissy lining up in the Mackay Marina 21km Run on Sunday (5 June) before she squeezes the full distance 42km Village Roadshow Theme Parks Gold Coast Marathon (3 July) between that and her final run in the half marathon at the Townsville Running Festival on 7 August.
She says the war relief cause is close to her heart on plenty of levels.
“I’ve lived in seven countries and worked in more than 40, including Ukraine,” Krissy said.
“In 2012 I managed the sponsorship program for Castrol on the Euro 2012 football tournament and spent the best part of two years working in Poland and Ukraine, then again in 2018 for the Champions League final in Kiev.
“It’s been a very stressful time because I’m worried for my friends and I’m heartbroken for all the victims, but my distance training has helped me process the grief and build my strength,” she said.
Krissy, who also worked at the Sydney, Beijing and London Olympic Games, two FIFA World Cups and dozens of other international events, regularly draws on her own advice as the author of several books helping adults and children live healthier, happier and more connected lives.
“In 2019 I founded Mindful Mums Queensland with the aim of helping mothers understand the benefits of mindfulness and wholistic health,” Krissy said.
“Then in 2020 I published my first book Broken to Unbreakable, 12 Steps to an Unbreakable Mind, Body and Spirit and not long after two children’s books to help young people overcome adversity and understand that love comes in all shapes and sizes.
“I’ve also published more than 50 poems focused on wellness, hence me being best known these days as The Wellness Poet,” she said.
So, with Krissy’s mind obviously in the right place, what about her body ahead of the combined 84km worth of running suddenly in front of her?
“To be honest, I never really wanted to run a marathon before, but in January I thought I’m 47 this year and if I’m going to do it, I’ll have to do it now.
“But it needed to be somewhere special so I can enjoy the atmosphere and a spectacular view, so the Gold Coast, where I worked in 1998 at the first Asia Pacific Masters Games (now Pan Pacific Masters Games), was my first choice.
“I’ve also been lucky enough to train with the Townsville branch of the Indigenous Marathon Foundation who have sponsored myself and a few others to participate in this event, and I’m really looking forward to meeting the foundation founder and Gold Coast event ambassador Rob’ De Castella.
“I guess I’m at what’s called the business end of things … tapering my training, nursing my tender bits, and packing my bags for my first big milestone race this weekend,” she said.
The 2022 Village Roadshow Theme Parks Gold Coast Marathon weekend will also feature the ASICS Half Marathon, Southern Cross University 10km Run, Gold Coast Airport 5km Run, the Health and Wellbeing Queensland 2km and 4km Junior Dashes and the always-hotly-contested CPL 42km and 10km wheelchair races.
The Gold Coast Double 63.3km event – contested by hardy runners competing in both Saturday’s half and Sunday’s full marathon – will also be contested.
People wanting further information on the 2022 Village Roadshow Theme Parks Gold Coast Marathon events can visit www.goldcoastmarathon.com.au
The Village Roadshow Theme Parks Gold Coast Marathon is organised by Events Management Queensland and is proudly supported by the Queensland Government, through Tourism and Events Queensland, and features on the It’s Live! in Queensland events calendar.
Events Management Queensland acknowledges and pays respect to the Kombumerri people of the Yugumbeh language region, the Saltwater People of the Gold Coast, as the traditional owners of the lands and waters upon which we invite and welcome participants from across the globe to experience our events.
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