The Body Refinery is proud to support local associations.
NEW FARM SOCCER TEAM
New Farm United Soccer Club (NFUSC) is located in New Farm Park. The club is aiming to provide several types of football coaching to local kids, from grassroots beginner lessons to advanced junior football levels (Brisbane Youth Premier League or Divisional Leagues in Football Brisbane).
Please visit their WEBSITE to get involved.
GIRLS GOT HEART
The Mission of Girls Got Heart is to support Queenslanders living in rural and isolated communities who experience a shortage of health services as a consequence of the vast distance between them and major cities. GGH believe that regardless of postcode all Queenslanders deserve the same access to critical health care.
Please visit their WEBSITE to learn more and donate to this amazing cause.
The Body Refinery's Sponsored Athletes
Tell us about yourself and your sport in a few words.
My name is Tom James and I am a runner. Over the last nine years, I have challenged myself over many races across varied distances and terrains, from my weekly parkrun (I love New Farm parkrun!) to marathons, to 100mile ultra marathons. I am excited by aiming to better my best; running faster and sometimes further than I have before.
What is your greatest achievement, and what goals do you have for the future?
My biggest achievement would have to be finishing the Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run. The Western States is a 100-mile ultra trail race that starts at a ski resort in California and crosses the Sierra Nevada, finishing 100miles later in Auburn, California. Just to get in, you have to get through a lottery as only 369 people can enter the race each year. To get a ‘ticket’ in the lottery you have to complete a qualifying race, and it can take up to 8 years to get through the lottery. I was a first-year entrant to the lottery, which gave me a two per cent chance of getting in, and I was pulled out of the tombola! With the help of my amazing crew (you need a crew for these long-distance ultra trail events!) of my wife and two good friends, I completed the Western States in 28 hours and 24 minutes, seeing two dawns along the way!
My current short term goal is to set a new official marathon personal best at the Sunshine Coast Marathon on 10th October. On the way to that race, I also want to break my 5K and 10K personal bests. A long term goal is to run the Ultra-Trail du Mont Blanc, an extremely scenic and tough 170K race around the Mont Blanc massif in the French Alps.
What is your weekly training routine?
I run six days a week, averaging 80 – 90K a week. Every Tuesday night I do Pilates at The Body Refinery with the amazing Lexi Garland. I also do bodyweight exercises four days a week, and these are exercises that Lexi and other instructors at The Body Refinery have taught me over the last year.
What brought you to Pilates and The Body Refinery?
I had a persistent back injury from work, that would not go away. Someone suggested I try Pilates as I had had some minor improvement through yoga. I live near The Body Refinery and had been meaning to try it for a while so this presented a great opportunity to train at the studio.
How do you benefit from Pilates at The Body Refinery?
The Pilates with Lexi and Courtney fixed my back, which made a huge difference, and I also found that my running times were coming down. Since starting Pilates I have developed a strong core, which has enabled me to run faster and recover quicker from hard races and training runs. Thanks to Pilates I am on the cusp of breaking my 5K and 10K personal bests set 8 years ago, when I was in my early thirties! Having a stronger core also helps me in other aspects of daily life and means my body is generally more resilient.
What would you say to someone who is hesitant to give it a go?
Do it! I consider it essential for any runner who is wanting to improve their fitness, times and/or run further. I also find it an enjoyable practice. The Body Refinery is also such a welcoming and comfortable environment.
