Meet the R4R Runners #62
Shannon
Welcome to the 62nd edition of the Meet the R4R Runners. This week we get to meet Shannon, who is one of the kindest people you’ll meet. As you’ll read, she’s heavily involved with other communities that help people and we’re lucky she decides R4R is a good thing to do on a Wednesday night!
As always, it’s great to see people putting effort into their answers and pulling back the curtain on what kind of curve balls life can throw. Struggle is normal and whilst the Rag is a great way to get to know our fellow runners better, it’s also important to see that vulnerability is a necessary part of life.
So, without further ado, let’s meet Shannon!
What is your name?
Shannon
Where are you from?
Proud to report Belconnen born and bred!
What's your favourite thing about Canberra?
My favourite thing about Canberra is the fantastic access to nature to run in, the bush to connect in and of course the people.
How did you hear about R4R and when did you first attend?
R4R was first mentioned to me by my brother in-law. As a running enthusiast I’m always on the lookout for movement based activities that are fun and free.
I first attended in March 2021 and loved the Wednesday night vibes with a cold brew at the end. Since joining in R4R my focus has shifted to bring along some of my neurodiverse friends, they too love it and are all so inspired to run.
What's your favourite thing about R4R?
Running together, encouraging people to run, walk or just hang around at the start with the intent to build meaningful connections, to normalise mental wellness and lift each other up is what makes R4R a beautiful community. Running together and not against each other is what makes R4R, special meeting people where they are in their journey without pressure to race to clock or each other. This is one of my favourite things about the R4R movement.
Even more important is the R4R community recognises that all people need help and encouragement to build resilience when life gets tough. Having regular weekly events and having a coffee or beer after is such a great way to lift each other up. We are stronger together. As Health Professional I’m always on the lookout for community-based activities that are supportive to build mental wellness to encourage movement. R4R not only a kind community but welcoming of people of differing abilities.
What would you like to see R4R do?
Cheering at the arc end of the runs.
Making noise and cheering each for other at the end of the run is important because completion and inclusion matter. Holding space for people to belong especially for the people who don’t think they are runners, people of all body types, or don’t think they fit the runner stereotype. Celebrating the fact they turned up and came back to the finish is important. A smiling face and a cheer makes the effort that much sweeter.
What's the longest you've ever run?
The longest run I have done is 35km for the “Bloody Long Walk” to cure mitochondrial disease, at the time I thought it was a great idea to run.
It was a bloody long run.
The most challenging run was the Australian Alpine Ascent 22km run. On the day there were 100km wind gusts. In order to not get blown off the course three of us has to lock arm! It was a heck of a mental challenge to push against the wind.
Are you planning on taking part in any races or events soon or are there any just gone?
Of course, I’m planning events and races. The West Wyalong triathlon is on in a few weeks’ time, it's in the diary.
I have annual events that are locked in permanently like the Canberra Running Festival, City 2 Surf, Gold Coast Half Marathon, Kowen winter run and Stromlo Running festival. Basically, you say run and I’m there!
City to surf you say….
Mark your calendars for the 13th of August 2023 because R4R is doing the City 2 Surf again! Entries for the race open on Tuesday the 28th of March so don’t worry too much just yet, just know that you need to watch this space!
Canberra Running Festival you say…
Join us for the Canberra Times Running Festival on April 16, 2023! This event has something for everyone, whether you want to run a marathon, half marathon, 10K, 5K, or the 2K kids run. If you don’t have a team already, we invite you to sign up for the ‘Running for Resilience’ team and celebrate together after the race, at either the Jetty or the Dock (we’ll confirm closer to the date).
Back to the important stuff! Which three people (alive or dead) would you like to run 6km with?
Stacey: My cousin who died by suicide 21 December 2021.
She was a brilliantly kind and generous person. She was a passionate nurse who gave so much to caring for others, but was unable to recognise her own mental illness.
She lost her battle to depression at 41 years of age.
As a mental health clinician, I was not able to support her during her lowest period, as such her death was so devasting. It has taught me that life is so precious. Her loss illustrated the importance of checking in with people we love and care about every day.
Viktor Frankl: psychiatrist and neurologist.
Through his lived experience in Auschwitz Viktor’s ability to use resilience through extreme suffering and loss enabled him to develop theories on meaning-orientated therapy.
“Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way.”
Viktor Frankl.
Robert De Castella:
I have heard him give motivational talks at running events and could listen to his wisdom all day. I found it motivating when he said “Running is a metaphor for life, you get out of it what you put into it”. This phrase applies to many aspects of my life.
What does resilience mean to you?
Resilience and resilience theory are areas of interest both professionally and personally. Resilience to me is more than being able to bounce back during tough times but the capacity to be flexible in thoughts, feelings, and behaviours during adversity to be a stronger and adaptable person.
Having a resilient life includes reviewing situations from different perspectives, being active, connecting with positive people, sleeping, and eating well. In my work, I believe in providing education on mental wellness by helping people to become mentally healthy in order to succeed in school, at home, and in the community. By focusing on reframing mental health as a positive state of functioning and away from mental illness. Positive mental health is associated with feeling good emotionally, doing well functionally, and coping with challenges in everyday life.
Over the past 2 years, I have been supporting my very dear friend, Leesa who lost her beautiful son Josh in April 2021 to suicide. Through the devastating loss of Josh she started “I Got You”. Josh left behind this powerful message in his handwriting “I Got You”. Leesa’s mission is to spread these three very important words so that everyone knows they're supported.
I Got You is holding a fundraising event on 15 April 2023 at Ainslie Football Club ACT Park 5:30pm till 11:30pm. The evening will be a time to commemorate Josh, raise awareness of suicide, and raise funds through raffles, silent auctions and live auctions. All money raised will be donated to The OzHelp Foundation (OzHelp).
OzHelp is an amazing suicide prevention organisation based locally in Canberra, that has provided much-needed counselling and support to Josh’s family and friends during a traumatic period. OzHelp to develop and deliver suicide prevention as well as health and wellbeing programs.
When you look back on the hardest moment/s in your life, is there anything you wish you could have told yourself?
During the hardest moment of my life I used running and exercise to focus on the here and now. I was able to keep moving forward one step at a time. Everyday when I got out of bed I used the mantra “feet on the floor, out the door” to go for a run or lift weights. As long as I kept moving every day I was able to turn up for myself, my son and family.
As a movement seeker I knew if I stopped taking care of myself I would fall in a hole. From this mindset I have been moving every week since 2012. From the gains in running I set a goal to challenge myself mentally so, for my 40th I set the goal to run 40 fun runs by my 40th and successfully completed this challenge.
Running is living.
Unreal, Shannon. Thank you.
Around the Grounds
If you didn’t know, Parkrun is a great event on Saturday morning at 8 pm, all over the world. If you’re looking for a cracking way to start the weekend, look no further.
Thanks for sharing Shannon. I got goosebumps reading this rag. You are such a resilient trooper.
Viktor Frankl is one of the best books I've read! I love the quote you have selected and was reminded of it again very recently.
Nice to meet you Shannon!