Meet Nadia From New Zealand!
For Global Running Day, we are celebrating runners from all over the globe! Follow the stories on our Instagram page.
Heading out the door? Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members! Download the app.
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.