Running 300 kilometres in 20 days, would be a daunting prospect for most people, but for Sunshine Coast personal trainer Tristan Oort, it’s just another fitness milestone to add to his impressive sporting CV.
The Peregian Beach local had only just finished the rugged Hamilton Island Hilly Half Marathon when his girlfriend and fellow fitness trainer Skye, convinced him to sign on for the Healthy Harold Hundred in 2021 to help stamp out bullying.
“With all the training, it’s just been non-stop running for the past 3-4 months, but we’re enjoying it, and it’s for an awesome cause, and we’ve been getting a great response,” Tristan said.
Tristan and Skye are squeezing the running around a busy timetable which includes weekend hospitality work and training clients through their business, RunFitNoosa.
Together with another RunFitNoosa team member, Flo, they raised more than $1,500 dollars.
Bullying fuelled sporting success
Apart from his passion for fitness, Tristan, 27, feels strongly about taking a stance against bullying.
“During my youth, I was a skinny redhead with white skin, so I was bullied over that.
“I feel like the whole redhead thing isn’t as much of an issue these days, but when I was growing up going through primary school and high school, I did get bullied a lot - and my sister too - just for having red hair.
“Getting into sport was my way of coping with it. I became the guy that was always winning age champion; always winning the athletics carnivals – so that took a bit of pressure off me.”
“I have clients with kids in primary school and high school having a hard time with bullying. Through running kids’ classes at the gym, I know of children who have had to be home schooled because they were experiencing bullying.”
Life Education memories
Tristan says he’s happy knowing the money raised from the Healthy Harold Hundred will support Life Ed Queensland’s respectful relationships programs in schools.
“Growing up on the Sunshine Coast we had Harold come around to the schools, so I was already aware of the Life Education program,” he says.
“It’s just one of those things you remember as a kid. It was just one of the highlights of primary school, having that experience and getting a couple of hours out of class to go and sit in the van and learn all those important things. It’s something we can all relate to.
“It’s hard sometimes to get up when it’s cold and dark, to do the run, but at the end of the day, I just think about where the money is going and how it will help children and educate them about bullying.”
