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But it was that first marathon run in Canberra at age 28 which pivoted her life in an incredible new direction.<\/p>\n
Wearing her brother\u2019s running shorts and basic sneakers, Kate crossed the line and made her way over to legendary long-distance runner Robert de Castella to seek his advice.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe gave me some tips in terms of getting a coach, training properly, getting a routine and some proper running gear,\u201d she says, laughing at the recollection of what she was wearing.<\/p>\n
\u201cI fell in love with running and over the years I just progressed.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s one of those great sports where if you practice and you have continuity, you will progress.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kate went on to compete in the women\u2019s marathon for Australia at the Olympic and Commonwealth Games, becoming one of the all-time fastest women in Australia setting a personal best time of two hours 28 minutes to qualify for the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics.<\/p>\n
But with success also came challenges.<\/p>\n
It was while on an altitude training camp at the AIS in Canberra that Kate became unwell.<\/p>\n
\u201cI went to lots of different medical professionals, sports medicine doctors, normal GPs, a range of people and they just couldn\u2019t work out what was going on,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s when I saw a naturopath and an integrated GP and they looked at me with a more holistic approach.\u201d<\/p>\n
Through that process Kate discovered she had multiple health issues. She was pre-diabetic, had liver damage, chronic fatigue and anaemia. She was also diagnosed with coeliac disease.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can see how a quick visit to the doctor would not discover all that \u2013 it was complicated,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n
\u201cThrough that guidance I realised that sometimes we do need to have a broader approach to our health.\u201d<\/p>\n
It took Kate three months to feel well again and she went on to qualify for the Olympics.<\/p>\n
It also sparked something inside her to make a change and leave behind her corporate marketing role in Collins Street.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter the Olympics I really felt that I had to do something I was passionate about in life rather than being on that treadmill of earning money in a role that wasn\u2019t lighting up my soul, so to speak,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n Kate stepped back from elite endurance running and put her energies into completing her third degree, a Bachelor of Health Science \u2013 Naturopathy.<\/p>\n \u201cIt just seemed like a beautiful fit for me so I went back and studied for another five years,\u201d she explains.<\/p>\n \u201cNow being able to do that full-time is not really work, it\u2019s a joy to see people be able to achieve their goals and take on new adventures and challenges.\u201d<\/p>\n Kate is now a sports naturopath and founded the Athlete Sanctuary which has offices in Torquay and Ballarat.<\/p>\n Her practice specialises in targeted health strategies, performance nutrition and holistic coaching support for athletes, in particular sportswomen.<\/p>\n She works with athletes suffering from issues such as fatigue for unknown reasons, anaemia, irregular periods, menopause and perimenopause, as well as digestive issues.<\/p>\n Kate, who still runs most days and recently took up mountain biking, is also a sought-after guest speaker at schools, academies and in the corporate space.<\/p>\n It is clear she has found her niche in Torquay where she runs her business and also nurtures an enviable garden filled with healthy organic produce.<\/p>\n \u201cIt lights me up every day, it gets me out of bed,\u201d Kate beams, talking about the career she has carved out for herself.<\/p>\n \u201cI just think \u2018yep, somebody else gets to chase down their dreams\u2019.<\/p>\n \u201cThey ring me and say \u2018hey, I nailed that race and did a PB\u2019 and I do a happy dance on the other end of the phone.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s like me reliving that whole beautiful journey again through somebody else \u2013 it\u2019s so great.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/surfcoasttimes\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/06\/IMG_6677_72847-300x200.jpeg\")