ISSUE 48 | TRAILRUNMAG.COM
Strength FOR MILES
ONE OF THE BEST THINGS ABOUT TRAIL RUNNING IS THAT NO MATTER YOUR BACKGROUND, NO MATTER YOUR HISTORY, THERE ARE LIFE SKILLS YOU CAN ALWAYS BRING ACROSS TO IMPROVE YOUR ABILITY AND YOUR TECHNIQUE. NO MORE SO THAN FROM THE SPORT OF BODYBUILDING, WHERE INCREDIBLE DISCIPLINE IS THE ONLY WAY TO SEE SUCCESS. KATE DZIENIS RECENTLY LEARNED THAT WA TRAIL RUNNER BIANCA HARDING, WHO IS KNOWN FOR HER BLONDE PIGGY TAILS AND CAPTIVATING SMILE, USED TO DON THE SPARKLY BIKINIS AND TAN UP THE SKIN FOR A SPOT ON THE BODYBUILDING STAGE, AND HOW THAT HARD AND FAST SPORT HELPED HER BECOME THE ULTRA TRAIL RUNNER SHE IS TODAY.
WORDS: KATE DZIENIS IMAGES: ASTRID VOLZKE, ANDREW YEATMAN, SUPPLIED
Beautiful tanned and toned bodies everywhere. No matter where you look, there’s a collage of buff silhouettes flexing their stuff and topping up last minute workouts before hitting a live stage in front of a crowd that watches competitors in sheer awe.
is so much work that goes behind each individual’s dream of being crowned winner in this world of bodybuilding. It’s a galactic world away from trail running, where hours upon hours in the gym far outweigh any cardio work, and diets are severely micro managed to ensure high protein and low carb is king and queen of the food pyramid.
And just like us trail runners get ready the morning of a race with our hydro-packs, on-the-go nutrition, drop bags, the right clothing and maybe even a spreadsheet here or there to keep track of our expected pace, bodybuilders adorn dressing rooms before standing in front of judges, clearing out their own area and strapping on bejewelled bikinis, high heels and snacks.
Bianca Harding, 40, from Padbury in WA is known to hit the state’s endurance events in her blonde pig-tails and run with her mum, Sue Robertson – always with a smile on her face and basically making the sport look like it’s the most fun thing you could ever do on this planet.
Chiseled like the Greek gods they are, there
But she wasn’t always a runner – in fact, Bianca comes with an eclectic background of sports where I’m sure she could talk to anyone
for days over. Originally a dancer-turneddance-teacher who thrived on competitions, competitiveness, big goals and getting out of her comfort zone, she turned to bodybuilding adventures in the off-season of her triathlon journey. It was 2009, and Bianca got herself into a six-week triathlon course which trained participants in all abilities. Eventually, the sport saw her compete in half Ironmans, as well as racing for Australia in the Canada World Championships and then ultimately finishing her triathlon career with a full Ironman in 2015. And then, it was time for something new. “My bodybuilding slipped in at the end of the last few years of my triathlon life before giving it all up – both of those sports – for the world 37
