FOR Ana-Lisa Qereqeretabua of Afterburn Fitness Fiji, competing in this week’s Suva Marathon comes after the setting of a personal goal made during the Namosi Marathon in June.
At the time, she had participated in the June marathon as a way of getting back into fitness after being in postpartum following the birth of her son, who turns two-years-old this month.
“I gained a lot of weight after I gave birth, and trying to get back into fitness was quite challenging, and I saw this as a challenge for me,” Qereqeretabua recalled.
“I had never completed 10k (10 kilometres) ever in my life, in a marathon so I saw it as a challenge, and I’m really glad that I took part. It was a really proud moment for me as well.”
And while she said her performance in the Namosi Marathon was one she did not prepare well for, she said she participated in it since she was hyped up to do so and had also run for autism.
With the Suva Marathon just days away, she highlighted how preparation for it has been a mix of what has been a smooth sailing process and a challenging one.
“Well, a little bit of both not only for me, but also for our members. We just completed an eight-week challenge under Afterburn Fitness,” she said.
“And during the eight-week challenge, one of the new things that we introduced was Sunday runs.”
The Sunday runs were held for an eight-week period and those participating usually met at the Suva Bowling Club.
In the first three weeks, they began with 5km runs and from the fourth week until the eighth, every Sunday run saw an additional kilometre added to it which meant by the final week, everyone had done 10km runs.
“A lot of people have improved their endurance with their running, a lot of people who did not enjoy running, they’re finding it really good,” Qereqeretabua remarked.
The eight-week training period was done with their fellow fitness colleagues at Afterburn Fitness, where Lisa is its co-director and has held their sessions out of Albert Park in Suva.
She says the Suva Marathon is also a great team-building initiative since many teams from corporate entities participate in as well.
“It’s a good thing and I’m glad that my friends and I have signed up for it, and we’re really looking forward to the run,” she said.
“It might be a little too late to sign up now, I know that registrations are closed but there’s something to look forward to for next year. Just take the step, you won’t regret it.”
The Suva Marathon will be held this Saturday, starting from 5.30am at the Albert Park Pavilion and will end at 12pm.