Meet Nadia From New Zealand!

Nadia Withers is from Whangarei, New Zealand, and we asked her a few questions about running:

Why do you run?

I started running beginning of August 2015, as a way to challenge myself. My goal was a 5k by the end of the month, without dying. By some miracle, in November of the same year, I ran my first half marathon, and finished in 2:07. Now I run as way of disconnecting from everyday life—when I run I have to focus, on my breathing, on my pace, on the road. There’s no room for worry or stress while I’m out there. And I still do it to challenge myself, too! I completed my second half a few weeks ago in under two hours this time.

Describe your favorite place to run.

I live in a very pretty little town in Northland, New Zealand, so every run is usually a good one. But I am usually in my happy place when my husband (and main motivator) is running alongside me, wherever we may be.

What’s your go-to pre- or post-run meal?

PEANUT BUTTER!! And bananas. Sometimes together.

What makes you a badass? 

Running helped me conquer my demons, through some pretty bad depression, and here I am on the other side, with a smile on my face and running shoes on my feet!

How will you celebrate Global Running Day?

With a nice long run with my husband, and hopefully we’ll rope a few more people in too!

Read all of our Global Running Day stories from runners all over the world here.