Happiness is a marathon effort for Michelle
Happiness is a marathon effort for Michelle
18 October 2022
Salvo Studios Senior Producer Michelle Watts proudly displays her medal after finishing the Chicago Marathon on Monday 10 October.
Michelle Watts is happiest when she is running. And we’re not talking about a jog around the block. Michelle is a marathon runner ... a serious marathon runner, and it’s not unusual for her to run 100km in a day!
Michelle achieved one of her major running goals by competing in the Chicago Marathon with 40,000 other runners.
A senior producer for the Australia Territory’s Salvo Studios video team, Michelle ticked off a major goal recently by running the 42km Chicago Marathon. She was part of a 15-member team representing and raising funds for The Salvation Army USA Central Territory Metropolitan Division.
She was pleased with her time of three hours and 50 minutes, but competing in an event like this is more than simply posting a time.
“Running for me is a great way to connect with people,” she said. “I have made lifelong friends through different running communities. It’s great to connect with people from different social circles and often gives me great opportunities to talk about God and his great creation.
“The Chicago Marathon was an incredible event and an amazing way to see the city. The weather was perfect, and it was a lot of fun. This was the first of the ‘majors’ I’ve done in terms of marathon running. There are six majors – Chicago, London, New York, Tokyo, Berlin and Boston.”
Michelle, her husband Stuart and their two young sons live on Sydney’s northern beaches. She says the whole family is involved in running and sports, which gives them a healthy lifestyle.
Michelle and her husband Stuart have been part of Salvos Striders running teams in City 2 Surf events over the years.
“Stuart and I are the event directors at Curl Curl parkrun ... we love to help build a positive and inclusive community around where we live,” she said.
As part of her role with Salvo Studios, Michelle regular travels the world to showcase The Salvation Army’s International Development programs. She has been with the Salvos for nine years and has filmed the Army’s work throughout Africa, South America, South East Asia, Papua New Guinea and Europe. And, not surprisingly, she always manages to find time for a run in many of these places ... even a ‘glacial’ run in freezing Greenland!
“Another reason why I love running is for my mental as well as physical health,” she said. “It makes me happy, focused on the important things and generally more positive about life. Being outdoors in God’s great creation always makes me happy.
“But it can also be tough. Last year, I had a bad running injury, a stress response in my femur. I found it really challenging not being able to run. So, to be able to slowly regain my fitness, set a goal of running in the Chicago Marathon and actually doing it was super amazing.”
On assignment with the Salvo Studios video production team.
The Chicago Marathon was Michelle’s sixth road marathon but definitely not the last.
“I have done the Sydney Blackmores marathon twice – once dressed as a pirate for a Guinness world record attempt – and the Canberra, Gold Coast and Barcelona marathons,” she said. “I have also done four trail ultra-marathons marathons of up to 100km. I can be pretty much running all day!”
Michelle is not joking. On 20 September 2020, Michelle woke up and proceeded to run from Sydney to Wollongong in 13 hours and 20 minutes. She has also completed trail ultra-marathons (100km) in the Blue Mountains and on Sydney’s north shore, all 100km long.
“In the end, I'm so thankful to God for the ability to run ... and for the relationships I’ve made and the incredible places it has taken me.”
Help Michelle reach her goal of raising $2000 for The Salvation Army: https://fundraisers.hakuapp.com/michelle-watts
Comments
I understand what you say about running it gets in your blood and congratulations marathons are not easy especially trying for fasttimes. My best was 3 hr 03 minutes a long tine ago as I am now 84 still runabout 5 k with our local Townsville Road runners. Good the family are all involved.
God Bless you all.