From a severely unhappy, unhealthy 16-year-old….

...To a thriving strong abundantly joyful 26-year-old Ultra Runner, here is my story of using nature and movement to cultivate a happy, healthy life.

Let's set the scene, I am 16 years old, going into my final 2 years of school and Mum decides to move us from gloomy east Melbourne Suburbia to the tropical south end of the sunshine state in a town infamous for its Famous Pies, Yatala.

The reason for this big move was to get me out of a bad school, an even worse friendship circle, and off a path that without being too dramatic probably would have crushed my soul into a million pieces.

We moved onto an acre of overgrown jungle dying for some landscaping love and I took it upon my suburbanite skinny little self to be the one to do it.

Days and weeks went by, spending my afternoons and weekends in the sun, cutting down trees, carrying and stacking logs, chopping wood, and mulching gardens.

When I lived in Melbourne, I spent all my time inside playing video games, unhealthy, covered in acne in which all medical treatments had no effect and overall, I just felt down all the time.

Now after a few months in Queensland, my acne had cleared up dramatically, my body was lean and defined, and my work capacity was through the roof...

But the biggest change of all was my mood. I was always energetic and enthusiastically happy. 

I quickly connected the dots and realised the more time I spent in nature moving my body the happier I felt.

I came to this conclusion intuitively but after some research quickly found that combining nature and movement could be the medicine to a lot of our health issues.

 

Three reasons to get your butt outside and start moving...

1. Improved mood: Engaging in physical activity in nature triggers the release of endorphins, also known as "feel-good" hormones, leading to an uplifted mood and a greater sense of well-being.

2. Increased resilience to mental fatigue: Exercising in nature can counteract mental fatigue and restore cognitive resources. Natural settings offer a restorative effect on the brain, allowing for improved focus and concentration during and after physical activity.

3. Reduced anxiety and stress: Exercising in natural surroundings has been scientifically proven to lower levels of stress hormones, such as cortisol, and alleviate symptoms of anxiety, promoting a calmer state of mind.

Fast forward 10 years and I am a very happy very healthy 26-year-old who still aches to be playing outside in nature moving my body every day. I have taken up ultra-running, spending many hours a week out on trails, running through beautiful mountains, pristine rivers, and alongside gorgeous coastlines.

 

My top 3 Wild Earth Products are definitely the ones I get the most use out of during my trail runs and hikes…

1. Salomon Bonatti Waterproof Jacket

 

 

It is super lightweight and easily packs away into my vest. It is completely waterproof and has kept me dry and warm during harsh rainy runs.

 

2. ALTRA LONE PEAK 7 TRAIL RUNNING SHOES

 

 

I cannot go past mentioning my favourite shoe company and the style I clocked over 1000km in. I love Altra for their natural fitting wide toe box and zero-millimetre heel rise. My feet love me for getting into Altras, these are the kind of shoes you forget you are even wearing. The Lone Peaks helped me tackle many different types of terrain from rocky mountain slopes to ice-cold snowfall.

 

3. SALOMON ADV SKIN 12 SET UNISEX RUNNING VEST

 

 

Last but not least my Salomon running vest. I have an emotional attachment to this vest after running so many hours with it being my second skin. For such a lightweight soft buttery vest it can carry everything you need AND MORE! I am always so grateful for its clever design being able to store all my snacks and mandatory gear during races.

Through the combination of running and nature I have found the magic pill and now spend my days trying to excite and motivate other people to get out there and do the same.
To sum it all up...

Nature has a beautiful healing power! Get outside, go running, go hiking, go climbing, and get your body moving!

 

Not sure what gear you need for your next outdoor adventure? Chat with our friendly team of Outdoor Gear Specialists in-store or online today and don’t forget to share your adventures with us on Instagram by tagging @wildearthaustralia and #mywildearth in your next post.

 

 

About the contributor: 

 Adam Green is the Head Coach at Brotherhood Wholeness Gold Coast.
Outside of coaching Adam spends a lot of his time immersing himself in the mountains, either trail running, swimming in any body of water he can find or just sitting somewhere secluded, reading lord of the rings. He likes to treat life like one big adventure novel and stack up as many exciting stories as possible. Follow his adventures on Instagram.