MELISSA THEK 43, WARRAGUL (VIC)

Melissa started running in 2010 as a way of helping her lose weight and to challenge herself to try something new. She stopped running a couple years later, then started again post-kids with weight-loss again as her goal.

According to her, she ran on the treadmill and roads because that’s what everyone else was doing, but eventually Melissa hired a coach to help her run faster marathons. This particular coach ran trails, which inspired Melissa to give it a red hot crack too.

She was converted.

“On the trails, your success is not measured by your kilometre time; it’s measured by your achievement,” she says.

“Meeting the cut-offs, navigating technical terrain and finishing is the achievement. Most importantly, though, trail runners are like a family. No matter what, they stop to help, encourage and assist.

“You might run a trail alone, but you’re never fully alone.”

Today, Melissa no longer runs for weight loss – she runs purely for personal achievement, saying the sport allows her to fully switch off for a few hours.

“Trail running challenges me and teaches me just how hard my mind can push my body,” she reveals.