LONELINESS is not the only companion of Wagga entertainer Jamie Way as he embarks on longer and longer runs to get fit for The Sydney Morning Herald half marathon on May 17.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
There are also the struggles to start each run and the aches and pains that invariably catch up after the run is over.
“It’s so much easier not to go for a run,” Jamie said.
“You don’t have to find your shoes, you don’t have to decide what to wear, you don’t have to choose a play list, and you don’t have to get in the car and drive to the lake.”
But whenever Jamie’s enthusiasm flags he just thinks about why he is running – to get fit for his family and to raise money for Kurrajong Early Intervention Service, which supports Jamie and his wife Sam with their four-year-old daughter, Sophie.
Sophie has multiple health issues, including Down Syndrome.
“We really appreciate all that the service does for us and we know a lot of families who get lots of support and things they need through the Kurrajong Early Intervention Service,” Jamie said.
Jamie will run in the 21km half marathon with his sister, Bianca.
“We were talking late last year and we were both feeling out of shape and we thought it (the half marathon) was something to work towards,” Jamie said.
Over the past three months, 37-year-old Jamie has dropped 11 kilograms from his 136kg pre-Christmas frame.
“I am finding my general fitness is better,” he said.
He has been working out in the Xceler8 fitness centre with Kerry Podmore and running increasingly long distances, mainly around Lake Albert most recently.
“I’ve been running between four and six times a week with varying degrees of success,” Jamie said.
“I’ve gone from two to about eight and 10 kilometres.
“I have not done a full 10km yet without slowing down and walking a bit.”
Jamie does not have lofty ambitions for the half marathon.
“I know I’m not going to set any speed records, I basically just want to finish it,” he said.
“I want to do a good steady pace without having to slow down to a walk.”
Bianca, a teacher in Sydney, said she was training for the half marathon to lose weight and to help her brother lead a healthier life.
“Sometimes we all need a goal to focus on that pushes us out of our comfort zone,” Bianca said.
“I want to say I survived running, walking or jogging 21km, and beat my brother.”
Details on the fund-raising are still being finalised.