Running Sisters | Vanessa Bush

By McPherson Media Group

Nov 22, 2020

FOUR years ago, Vanessa Bush was training hard for her first half-Ironman.

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A couple of weeks out from the event she felt unwell and didn’t know what was wrong.

A trip to the doctor solved the mystery and her plans were put on hold.

Six months later Vanessa welcomed Ali, a baby sister to her and Alistair’s three boys.

This year Vanessa had another plan - to run a 50km ultra marathon to celebrate her 50th birthday.

COVID-19 has deferred this goal to 2021, and she’s using the extra time to enlist her first training coach to help her with race nutrition and to avoid coming unstuck on the day.

Vanessa has supported many virtual events during the pandemic.

She has felt disappointed for event organisers, and virtual events have also helped her keep motivated.

Vanessa clearly remembers her first running event in 2000, Sydney’s City to Surf.

She loved the atmosphere, and it hooked her for life.

Within three years she had run her first marathon at the Gold Coast.

Vanessa also loves to run for a cause.

She received an unexpected phone call earlier this year after entering the Mother’s Day Classic which raises money for breast cancer.

All entrants went into a draw to win a smart watch, and Vanessa was the lucky winner.

The person delivering the news was also thrilled as Vanessa explained she’s participated for the last 12 years to support the cause, and in memory of her mum who died of breast cancer at 47.

Vanessa has a busy life with four children aged 4-12.

She also works full time as an English teacher and is head of the English faculty.

Being a morning person has its benefits, as Vanessa gets to exercise early in the day, often running at 5.30am before the household wakes.

Vanessa finds there’s no external pressure with running and enjoys that it’s an individual sport.

She usually runs solo and up to 50km each week, with a focus on distance rather than time.

She also enjoys parkrun as this is her fast run for the week and is one run when her eye is on the time.

She holds a parkrun personal best of 23:50.

Vanessa hopes to keep running for many years yet.

After she ticks off the 50km event she plans to focus on another milestone achievement - a full Ironman event.

At this stage this is earmarked for 2030 - but we suspect it will happen sooner than that.

You can find the collection of Running Sisters stories on the website www.runningsisters.com.au and on Facebook @runsisters and Instagram runsisters_au