By Olivia Edwards
Benita Willis is arguably the greatest Australian female distance runner. The 37-year-old Queenslander holds the female national record for the marathon, 10,000m, 5,000m, 3,000m and 2,000m and has represented Australia at the Olympic Games on four occasions. We caught up with the newly appointed ambassador and discussed her illustrious athletics career and involvement at the upcoming Jupiters Pan Pacific Masters Games.
Benita, why did you start running? What makes you keep doing what you love?
I started running when I was 10-years-old. I grew up about 30 minutes out of Mackay, right by the Bucasia Beach and at low tide, it was great for running. My dad loved running and I started running with him.
I love the feeling you get when you’re finished a running session – the rush of endorphins and also how many friends I have met though running too. It allows you to travel the world and meet some amazing people, see amazing places and witness inspirational stories of others in each race you do. Plus, I enjoy running to keep fit as I get older – it’s such a time efficient exercise. I am a little busier now during the day (then when I was a full time athlete) and running helps me maintain fitness goals when busy!
What does it feel like to finish a race and realise you’ve broken a national record?
It is an amazing feeling. I hold about 11 national records and I never really thought about breaking records in each race I entered where that ended up being the result. I was always focused on doing my best and on the process as the end result always took care of itself. Knowing you are the best your country has done at a distance is fantastic and I think now I’m older, I have even more appreciation for what I have done then when I was running all the records!
If you weren’t a runner, which sport would you have chosen and why?
I would have chosen hockey. When growing up, I loved many team sports (especially bat and ball sports) and had a huge passion for hockey. I was a national level player and enjoyed competing for Queensland and Australia but also for my club in Mackay and for Australian National University (when I went to university in Canberra on a running Australian Institute of Sport scholarship). It is a top sport and has amazing people who play it and support it here in Australia.
You’re the newest addition to the JPPMG ambassador program. What are you looking forward to?
I am really excited about the opportunity to be an ambassador for the JPPMG! I am most looking forward to watching other sports, running a few events and meeting those who participate. I love the social aspect of the whole event, so I will be enjoying some time at the opening and closing ceremonies as well as a fun night out with everyone!
What do you love about the JPPMG? Why should people participate?
I love how there are so many different sports on offer at JPPMG – within teams or as individuals. There is something for everyone regardless of fitness levels! People should participate to have a go at a sport they may have done a while ago to reignite that passion or do a sport you currently do in a different type of competition (i.e. if you often go in parkRun, why don’t you enter the beach mile or cross country or trail race?) Check out the website as there are so many options to participate, have fun and meet like-minded great people!
The new system was born here and filagra this is not something that we would like to see. Caverta whilst better in some elements but not significant for us.
