International Lifestyle Magazine Issue 55 | Page 41

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ome of the best people
I know I have never met
face to face and yet I
would class them as part of my
inner circle of best friends and
Carmel, and her family, fall into
this category.
We met over a year ago and to
be honest, we did not get off to
a good start, but the situation,
in which we met, was filled with
stress and somehow we came
out the otherside as good
friends, so from every negative
there is always a positive.
In the time that I have known
Carmel she has become a
huge source of inspiration.
She has the heart of a Lioness.
Strong, protective and so full of
energy it is incredible. She has
taken a life situation that would
cause many others to simply
crumble, and turned it into
something positive and with
the full support of her family
and friends she is making a
difference.
I asked Carmel some questions
in order that you could share
her positivity too, so enjoy and
please share this story with
others, we all need inspiration
and this is one inspirational
story.
Carmel, how did you get
started?
I started running about 2 years
ago, I was a unfit and unhealthy
smoker and entered the race
for life and decided that it was
time for a change. I stopped
smoking and had a complete
overall of my diet.
What
were
the
biggest
challenges for you in the early
days?
The biggest challenge in the
early days was motivation
to get out of the door is all
weather! its either too hot, too
cold, too wet. Also its very easy
to decide that you don’t have
the time or you’re too tired.

What helps you keep motivated.
I strive to be the best I can! I
always want to do better than
the last run, Or cover more
distance in the next race.
Also I am trying to set the best
example to my children that
we need to be fit and healthy
rather than sit in front of a
computer all day.
What health benefits have you
found after taking up running?
I am less tired, I find I have a
lot more energy and just have
a general feeling of being
healthy, I also feel pretty smug
when I’ve completed a run
Any health problems after
taking up running?
I’ve not suffered much ill health
the only issues I’ve had is when
I get a cold I find it very difficult
to rest so I tend to make it worse
by trying to keep my training up
to a high level.
Tell me about your diet, day to
day, before a race, after a