96 Jan/Feb 2018 oxygenmag.com.au
watched her run when I was a little girl and I watched her
win in Sydney. She wished me luck in Rio and told me, ‘You
got this, girl’. And I believed her — that was the best part.
“I was elated with my results in Rio. We had worked so
hard to make sure I was in the shape of my life and I was just
so grateful that it all came together and I could give my best
performance.
“When I crossed the finish line of my last event — the
5000m final — I remember feeling sad that it was all over.
We had such an incredible time there and I think sharing it
with my husband Jon and daughter India, my coach, and my
training group made it all the more special.
“Each injury I had to learn how to get back up and
keep going, overcome the fear of failure again, and just
keep trying. I feel like I grew so much throughout those
experiences and just learnt what it is to not give up on your
dream.
“I’ve worked really hard to transform the way I think
about injuries and my body and the way I approach training
and racing and this takes the fear out of
getting injured.
“And I have a lot of support, especially
from Jon. He’s just an incredible human
— the way he cares for others, the way
he cares for his family, the times he has
put everyone else first before himself.
He inspires me every day to be a better
person.”
Now on the path to the Gold Coast 2018
Commonwealth Games, Eloise’s training
regime has stepped up a level and she has
some helpful advice for aspiring runners
(and those who are lacking inmotivation)
to put aside the negative mindset and
ultimately achieve their goals.
“If I’m in the middle of a big training
block and super-tired, that’s when I get a
little unmotivated — more so because of
sheer exhaustion,” she says, “but that’s
when I’ll grab training partners, make a
new playlist, work out a nice meal to have
afterward or run on a different trail to
keep it interesting.
“It’s the little things like this that help
me get the work done even when I don’t
feel like it.”
And she remembers that original
motivation for running.
“Every event I’ve run at has a different
effect on me, so it’s hard to pinpoint
the exact emotion,” she says, “but even
through two Olympic Games, three Commonwealth Games
and three world championships, I still have the same passion
for running that I did as a 10-year-old. I still just love to run,
and that will never go away.”
With the selection trials for the Games on the horizon,Eloise’s daily diet
Breakfast: Muesli with yoghurt and fruit
Lunch: Omelette, sandwich, or salad
(depending on what I’ve got for training
so far and what the afternoon session
holds)
Dinner: Usually BBQ meat and salad
or slow-cooked meat with rice
Snacks: Fruit, yoghurt, protein shake,
and muesliThe Olympic long-distance runner
shares her best advice on nutrition
and how she maintains the energy to
train at an optimal level:“When you’re working out frequently,
it’s essential to find the right
supplements to assist you in your
recovery. I rely on Ubiquinol (the active
form of CoQ10) for both reducing
muscle inflammation and maintaining
my energy levels after training. It also
helps to combat oxidative stress, which
can be common with over-exercising.”“EVEN THROUGH TWO OLYMPIC GAMES, THREE COMMONWEALTH
GAMES, AND THREE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS, I STILL HAVE THE SAME
PASSION FOR RUNNING THAT I DID AS A 10-YEAR-OLD. I STILL JUST
LOVE TO RUN, AND THAT WILL NEVER GO AWAY.”Eloise is looking forward to her chance at a fourth
Commonwealth Games team at home in Australia.
“I’ll go through selection first and then consider my goals
for the big dance again,” she says, “but I’d like to think my
best races are still ahead of me!"