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Show Notes \u2013 Cushla Young

Lisa and Cushla met on one of Lisa\u2019s running retreats.\xa0

Started running half marathons 7 \u2013 8 year ago.\xa0 Had run three by the time she met Lisa.\xa0 She went to one of Lisa\u2019s seminars and was really inspired.\xa0 She booked a weekend retreat and then helped out on the next retreat.\xa0 At that point she started doing full marathons.\xa0

Talk about not being natural athletes.\xa0 Also talk about identifying yourself as \u201ca runner.\u201d\xa0 It wasn\u2019t about speed, or being at the front of the pack, it was about running and what it did for her outlook on life.

Lisa tells the story of when both Cushla and Lisa\u2019s Mums were in the same hospital at the same time.\xa0 Cushla and her husband turned up with a big bowl and a plan, and kindly washed Lisa\u2019s Mum\u2019s hair.\xa0 It was a very touching moment of compassion and friendship.

A story of Carpe Diem \u2013 seize the day.\xa0

Cushla and her husband Richard both had good jobs, loved their lives in New Plymouth and weren\u2019t thinking about any big change.\xa0 Their friends called up from Tonga and suggested they pack up their dog and come on over in order to manage their second resort.\xa0 It took a month to make up their minds and then Cushla took a year\u2019s sabbatical from her teaching career.

Cushla and Lisa both refer to their fertility issues.\xa0 When you don\u2019t have kids you have got to make your own lives; you have to be a bit more active in finding joy in life.

Lisa asks how the reality compares to the fantasy we all have of running away to a tropical island.

12 bungalows and a restaurant at the resort.\xa0 It is very isolated being based on one of the outlying islands.\xa0 18 x 1 kilometres in size.\xa0 Their local town has one shop \u2013 a cross between a $2 shop and a bad dairy.\xa0 There are long hours and not many days off.\xa0 Most of the food comes via ship from New Zealand or the main island of Tonga so they have to plan their menus and supplies two months in advance. \xa0\xa0There is some fresh fruit available.\xa0 \xa0Most people in the island grow food for themselves not for supplying others.\xa0 When things break you can\u2019t get them fixed quickly and that puts pressure on things.\xa0 The only water is rain water supply so you have to preserve this.\xa0

They have fun with the guests.\xa0 Often they arrive quite stressed and it is fascinating to watch people begin to relax over the first few days.

Humpback whale season starts mid July.\xa0 They travel from Antarctica to give birth and take care of their babies.\xa0 They send out eight boats a day with only four people in the water at any one time.\xa0 The whales are very curious.\xa0 It takes your breath away. \xa0Whales have a deep mindful eye.\xa0 Each whale pod has a song and it changes slightly each season.\xa0

Cushla is not a natural outdoorsy adventurous person.\xa0 \xa0The first time she went swimming with the whales she had a Go Pro with her.\xa0 She ended up recording a sound track of her hyperventilating.\xa0 Then she stopped breathing for about two minutes when the whales turned up.\xa0

They have to steal moments in the day to go and enjoy the island.\xa0 Some days are easier to do that than others.

She has realised that this year is about chilling out and just enjoying the experience.\xa0 She learned to change her mindset and realise that she doesn\u2019t have to be the best resort manager the world has ever seen.\xa0

Tells the story of the two wolves inside us.\xa0 The bad wolf and the good wolf are always fighting inside.\xa0 Which wolf wins?\xa0 The one that you feed.\xa0 You still have bad days \u2013 even if you live in paradise; you\u2019re just a bit hotter.\xa0 Realise you don\u2019t have to get tangled up in the things that don\u2019t really matter.\xa0 Learning to focus on the joy of being on the island, of meeting people from all over the world, cooking an amazing meal, spending time with her husband.\xa0

Talks about struggling a little without the large support network that she has back home in New Zealand.\xa0 She talks about having to help herself through hard times.

Lisa talks about how nature helps to ground her and to cope when times get hard.

Cushla walks on the beach with her dog and listens to audible books and podcasts.\xa0 Reconnecting with herself.

Always remember you are always the same person no matter where you are.\xa0 Every day you choose what you focus on and same days this can be hard.\xa0 Forgive yourself when you have those days that just don\u2019t work out like you thought it would.\xa0 Be kind to yourself.\xa0 Don\u2019t expect yourself to be superwoman.\xa0

Take the opportunities that do come.

We would like to thank our show sponsors

The North Face -

Premier Outdoor equipment specialists who have been kitting out adventurers around the world for the past 50 years.\xa0

Specialists in trail running gear - Check out their full range at\xa0www.thenorthface.co.nz

Running Hot Coaching:\xa0

The online training platform run by Lisa Tamati and Neil Wagstaff.\xa0

Do you have a dream to run a big race, maybe a half marathon, a marathon or even an ultramarathon?

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Lisa Tamati is an a professional ultramarathon runner with over 25 years experiences racing the world's toughest endurance events and leading expeditions. Author of two internationally published running adventure books. She is also a mindset expert. From crossing the Libyan desert on foot to running Death Valley to running the length of NZ for charity, she has been there and done that. For more information on Lisa click here:\xa0www.lisatamati.co.nz

Neil Wagstaff is an exercise scientist, coach and ultramarathon runner with over 22 years experience in the health and fitness industry. He has trained hundreds of athletes and coaches alike to the successful completion of their goals.\xa0 For more info or to download our free run training ecourse go to\xa0www.runninghotcoaching.com/running-success

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