My running journey kicked off when I was 15-16 years old, leading me to my first half at the Auckland Marathon in 2009! Around the sametime, I discovered my passion for the gym. For many years, exercise was my everything—my escape, my confidence booster, my temporary relief. For the next 10 years I navigated life mis-using running, exercise, food, and other addictions like alcohol until 2018 when I was 26. I sought help as my life was unmanageable the way it was- things had to change and I craved a better life!

This resulted in the start of an amazing journey of healing, and without sounding too woo woo- finding Char! It was a year later into that journey that I met Chris, we shared the common bond of recovery from addictions, and of course we both loved running- our first date was a run! We love living in our house bus full time and keeping things simple. In 2020, we started to ponder if there was something we could do together as a small business that would align with our values and life on the road- CMF Running was born!

I have learnt A LOT both professionally and personally since becoming a Run and Strength Coach at CMF Running. I believe there is no cookie cutter approach to getting a runner or athlete race day ready, so this has meant I have had to learn (and continue to do so) how to get each individual client ready for race day. Yes, there is looking at data analysis, but there is
also figuring out what motivates a client, what their strengths are, what they find challenging, and what kind of mental barriers stand in the way of their training progress. Even how to communicate with each individual client can vary a lot. Through doing all this I have also learnt not to take myself so damn seriously and brought a new purpose and fulfilment to my life in the running community!

Recently, I have become aware of how important it is to #feelstrong as a runner and a human being. Throughout the 4 years as a Run & Strength Coach at CMF, I have released YouTube strength and yoga sessions to help runner’s get access to effective and fun training to help with their running. Feeling strong is an empowering feeling and one I am all about that feeling!

I've transformed my perspective from what was exercise in not a good way, to training with purpose, and it being part of a whole bunch of things that helps well-being. Sharing my knowledge helps me grow too, coaching isn't a one-size-fits-all deal; it's about recognizing each person's unique strengths, quirks, and challenges. Being a full time Run & Strength Coach, and part of a wider CMF team of coaches, puts me in a unique position to be constantly learning and expanding my knowledge base in order to help my
clients.

Watching my clients achieve amazing things genuinely brings tears to my eyes. Whether it's a half marathon, a 100k ultra, or a 200k backyard ultra event, seeing their dedication pay off on race day is incredibly fulfilling- so at many races, you’ll find me either on-course or at the finish line with tears in my eyes!

My approach to running and strength training focuses on how you feel. Strong runners aren't just physically tough; they're mentally resilient too. As you progress in your running, other aspects of training, nutrition, lifestyle and mindset start to become as important as the run training itself. This is where I start to see huge gains with my clients, as the outcome of lining up these different aspects results in very strong and healthy athletes- mentally and physically. With the right coaching, tools, and mindset, growth is always possible. That's what I love about coaching—empowering others on their journey.

I specialize in individuals looking to integrate strength training into their routine and those committed to personal growth. Working with people who want to better their lives through their running, even making small changes can be really motivating and inspiring. That’s what gets me excited about coaching runners and athletes, watching people evolve and grow- #feelingstrong mentally and physically.  

Ready to feel strong like my clients and me? Let's embark on this journey together. Book in a free coach call with me, lets talk about your running goals and get started!

Happy Running!

#strengthwithchar #cmfcrew