Last year during lockdown, she rediscovered her love for running and now looks forward to her runs as her form of meditation! Like most runners, she is also a lover of great food (and wine!) and aims to complete her first marathon next year….

Name: Emily Bence

Nickname: Em (original!) ;-p

Age / Age Group: 25-29

Lives: Melbourne, Vic

Targeted Sport: Running!

Years in the Sport: Just over a year 🙂

How did you get started: I was always into running when I was younger (little athletics, school cross country) but rediscovered my love for it during the lockdown last year when options on exercise were very limited. It’s continued to be my saviour during these non stop lockdowns!

Why I choose CPC: My nutritionist recommended Sarah and after a few injuries, I decided I needed the extra help to get me back on the right track – best decision I’ve made 🙂

What I ‘get’ from my sport: I genuinely look forward to my runs everyday! It’s the one time of the day that I can just zone out of the chaos of real life and not think about anything other than putting one step in front of the other. It’s my form of meditation!

Ultimate Goal:  A full marathon – aiming for next years Gold Coast marathon. Fingers crossed!

What I couldn’t live without: My mum

Biggest love: So hard to choose! Running (obvs) tied closely with food.. and wine!

Pet peeve!: Smoking

Interesting fact about me: Another big love of mine is music! I’ve been to over 80 concerts, gigs and festivals in my time. I’m always making different playlists for my runs too! Running to a good playlist can make all the difference 🙂

With a background in competitive swimming Regan has the discipline and the drive, but doesn’t take herself seriously, doesn’t know where her nickname came from, and doesn’t mind a glass of red! 😉 New to the CPC team, Regan has already seen performance gains in a short period of time, not to mention is already happier and enjoying her training so much more. We look forward to seeing what’s to come!

Name: Regan Hollioake

Nickname: I usually get Ree (no explanation needed!) or Gally of the Fam. I couldn’t even tell you where that one came from though! (CPC: that needs some further investigation!!) 😉

Age / Age Group: 30-34 a couple more years left in this one 😉

Lives: Nathalia, Vic

Targeted Sport: Triathlon

Years in the Sport: 3

How did you get started: I went to watch my partner, Wade, race for the first time at the Batemans Bay 70.3 a few years ago. I found it to be a very long day on the sidelines and made the decision then to give a triathlon a crack. We both signed up or the Geelong 70.3 together a few months later. With beginners luck I came in quicker on the day and he hasn’t raced a triathlon ever since haha! From then on in I was hooked.

Why I choose CPC: In the past, I have been intimidated by the intensity of some of the Triathlon Die Hards I’ve come across, which has prevented me from getting a coach to this date. I was training on my own with absolutely no method or plan. This was fine initially as I had some pretty good results straight off the bat but found my performance plateaued pretty quickly. I was drawn to Sarah’s balanced approach to training, racing and life and respect for athletes wellbeing as a whole to drive performance. I have only been with Sarah for a few weeks but I’ve found myself to be an overall happier, healthier and better athlete for it already and am so excited for what is to come!

What I ‘get’ from my sport: Being a competitive swimmer growing up taught me the value of discipline, dedication and commitment, resilience and time management that have shaped me into the person I am today. Triathlon, and its community, has now replicated this as an adult and provides me with an opportunity to switch off from life’s stressors, improve my health and wellbeing, satisfy my competitive streak and socialise with a like minded bunch a crazies who give up their Sunday mornings to swim, ride and run!!

Ultimate Goal:  Complete at full Ironman (fingers crossed for Busso in December!)

What I couldn’t live without: Good food and (the occasional) glass of red wine!

Biggest love: My family, friends and Fur babies

Pet peeve!: People who cant park within the lines or unnecessarily back into car spaces holding up traffic

Interesting fact about me: My first job at 15 years old was as a taste tester for McCain foods. I haven’t had such job satisfaction since haha! (CPC: ha! this is the best! )

New to triathlon, but not new to hard work. Growing up a high level swimmer, she has turned her sights to triathlon and set herself some big goals and ready for the challenge. But when she’s not training, you will find her hanging with her family, cuddling dogs, camping – and is never too far away from water!

Name: Rachael Dols

Nickname: Dolsy, very original!

Age / Age Group: 25-29

Lives: Watsons Creek, Vic

Targeted Sport: Triathlon

Years in the Sport: 2

How did you get started: I grew up playing/ doing sports pretty much every day. I swam competitively through high school, my poor, amazing, mum would drag me to training 8 times a week before and after school, she would take me to races on the weekends and I was also playing basketball. When I left school I moved to Alice Springs to work and did very little sport due to my job, just the odd run or swim here and there. When I came back to Victoria I missed sport, I’d never been out of that competitive sporting lifestyle for that long and I needed it again to be honest. So I took up long distance running. This naïve swimmer didn’t understand the impact running has on your body and thought she could just run and run and run. (Overuse injuries aren’t that common in swimming.) So I quickly over-trained and within 6 months I had a femoral neck stress reaction after my first half marathon. Obviously this halted running for a while. The physio I was seeing had competed at Kona and he said your already swimming and running, why don’t you add a bike in and start triathlons. I honestly didn’t know what I was missing out on and I wish I started triathlon years ago! !

Why I choose CPC: I’ve been looking for a professional coach for a while. I want to take triathlon to the next level, and while winging it is great in theory, it’s not really practical. Suffering overuse injuries and getting sick before races has made me realise if I want to take triathlon to the next level I can’t do it alone. I asked around and was directed to a few coaches, but I decided on CPC with Sarah. I think you need a coach that has been there, done that and that you can relate to. Someone who has started off with similar experiences and excelled past that to a really high level in the sport, that’s the person I want to learn from. Also the added benefit of understanding us females helps! I’m excited to learn and develop with CPC and get to that next level!

What I ‘get’ from my sport: It keeps me sane, when life and reality can be pretty stressful, it gives me an escape. When you are racing and doing hard training sessions you are completely immersed and “in the moment”, there’s no time to think or focus on the past or future, it’s a way of meditation. It gives me goals and a sense of accomplishment. When you can go to races and talk to almost anyone because you all have a common interest, it’s pretty awesome!

Ultimate Goal:  There are a few! 🙂
Qualifying for ITU Age Group Worlds.
Finish an Ironman 140.6
Rottnest Channel Swim and I recently discovered Ultraman, so that too! ;-p

What I couldn’t live without: My family, dogs included. Activewear. Sunshine.

Biggest love: Summer, camping and water!

Pet peeve!: When someone wants to have a conversation first thing in the morning. Terrible time to ask me how I am, you definitely need to wait until I’ve eaten my breakfast before that 😂

Interesting fact about me: I used to take tourists on multi day 4×4 camping tours in the desert.

Socials: Feel free to follow me – Instagram

Introduced to running a few years ago, Suzanna quickly fell in love with the joy of running and how it made her feel. She’s met a whole new community of positive people, and in the process created her own running community ‘Running Sisters’. But her biggest love? Read on to find out !

Name: Suzanna Barry

Nickname: I don’t really have one. A couple of people call me Suze and I don’t mind that!

Age / Age Group: 50-54

Lives: Echuca

Targeted Sport: Running

Years in the Sport: About 5

How did you get started: My introduction to running was training for Run Melbourne in 2015 as part of Echuca’s Johnno’s Run team. I’d never ran before so I was pretty happy to make the distance after 6 months of training. After this I ran on and off for a few years, and ran the 10kms in Melb and the Gold Coast in 2019. Last year during COVID I trained with my sister, over a few months, to run (and walk) 21kms, something I never thought I would do.

Why I choose CPC: I’ve been in awe of the achievements of some local Echuca Moama athletes that Sarah coaches. When I heard Sarah had moved to Echuca I saw this as a great opportunity to get some help with my running technique and become a stronger runner. I reached out to Sarah and became her first new client in Echuca. 🙂

What I ‘get’ from my sport: Running is a great way to challenge myself and to improve my health and wellbeing. I particularly enjoy running with my sister. We never run out of things to chat about. Through running I’ve met a whole new community of positive people. The social connection has been a real highlight. I’ve also pushed my personal limits and confirmed a favourite quote of Janine Shepherd’s ‘if you never have a go, you never never know’. Prior to meeting Sarah my routine had mainly been to run 5kms, 2 or 3 times a week. Now I love the variety of the CPC training plans.

Ultimate Goal: To run 5kms under 30 mins and to run a half marathon at an international event just for fun.

What I couldn’t live without: My family including 8 month old grand-baby Will

Biggest love: Vietnam! (I’d love to live there at some stage for 3 or 6 months)

Pet peeve!: Forgetting to hit the start button on the Garmin

Interesting fact about me: I established the Running Sisters social media series to inspire others to discover the joy of running. I’ve been inspired too, after interviewing so many driven, strong and amazing women.

Socials: Running Sisters: Facebook Instagram

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An off-road junkie, you will find Louise searching for new trails or mountains to explore – both on two feet and two wheels. Not shy of getting her dirty outdoors, but the same can’t be said at home… don’t date leave your dishes in the sink! 😉

Name: Louise Organ

Nickname: Don’t have one! (maybe that is a sign for us to make one for you?!) 😉

Age / Age Group: 30-39

Lives: Melbourne

Targeted Sport: Running (mostly trail) and cycling (again mostly gravel and cyclocross based adventures!).

Years in the Sport: 10years running and maybe 6years on the bike?

How did you get started: I moved to Melbourne for uni and had to stop competitive horse riding so took up running to fill the gap. This evolved during uni to join the aths club, then my husband who was a cyclist got me a basic road bike and I decided to try triathlon.
In 2017 though, I moved to the UK, and got much more involved in the running scene, and started fell running (its a British thing in the mountains) and trails, looking to develop in thr long distance/ultra space. I also started racing cyclocross and doing more gravel based cycling events, both of which I have wanted to keep up back in Australia. I don’t really see myself going back to triathlon but who knows!

Why I choose CPC: As someone who has really burned themselves out training, it was important to me to have a coach who looked at a more holistic approach and balancing training into our lifestyle, and supporting hormones, health and happiness.

What I ‘get’ from my sport: I love the challenge that comes from pushing myself in long distance running and finding mental resilience and exploring my ‘edges’ – getting up a big mountain when you are already well into the race. I also love exploring the locations and amazing places these events take me – cycling through Forrest’s in Europe, climbing Mt Buller -its awesome to see some untouched areas of the world !

Ultimate Goal: I am still wanting to work up to longer distance Ultras and would love to do a 100km event and maybe a multistage event in the mountains.

What I couldn’t live without: Coffee and eggs/cheese – the basics to any good meal!

Biggest love: My husband and little French bulldog

Pet peeve!: I am a bit of clean freak – so anything like dishes in the sink can annoy me

Interesting fact about me: I played violin for a long time, and I was orchestra captain at school. 🙂

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A long distance runner, that credits her training to an improved physical and mental health. She was one of the first in Australia to be struck with COVID 19 and is now on a mission back to health and her big running goals! Ultra anyone?! 😉

Name: Janine Coppi

Nickname: JC or J9

Age / Age Group: 35-40

Lives: Manly Vale, NSW

Targeted Sport: Long distance running

Years in the Sport: 10 years

How did you get started: It was a new years resolution with a couple of friends to run the Great Ocean Road Half Marathon that started it all. After that race I was hooked, joined a running club and did a few more Half Marathon events, then was encouraged by my coach at the time to sign up for my first marathon – City to Surf Marathon in Perth!

Why I choose CPC: I experienced training with Coach Sarah at a couple of other clubs when I started competing in Triathlon and found her to be very knowledgeable and have always enjoyed her coaching style in the past. So when I decided to get a coach to help with my running my first thought was CPC.

What I ‘get’ from my sport: I like the structure of training for an event and having a purpose for every day (to train, to rest, to stretch etc). It improves my physical and mental health to no end and gives me a goal and something to look forward to!

Ultimate Goal: One day I would like to complete a 100 plus Ultra marathon race and it would be great to tick a full Iron Man off the list eventually too. 🙂

What I couldn’t live without: Coffee !

Biggest love: Travel

Pet peeve!: When people speed up to overtake then go slow again in front of you (applies to cycling, running and driving)

Interesting fact about me: I was one of the first people in Australia to have Covid 19 (unfortunately)

Socials: Instagram