The RMA Podcast. Episode 37. Value, purpose & pursuit of your best. With Eloise Wellings.

On Episode 36. of the RMA Podcast we chat with dual Olympian, 4 x times Commonwealth Games representative, mum, humanitarian, public speaker and soon to be author, Eloise Wellings. 

On this episode of the podcast we dive into Eloise's journey with running from her roots as she ran along-side her mum on the trails around her local national park, to the tracks of little athletics, and onto the world stage as she advanced in her athletic career to pursue her dream of one day becoming an Olympian. 

Having qualified for her first Olympic Games at the tender age of 16, for the Sydney 2000 Olympics, Eloise was struck down with what would be the start of a long journey with bone stress injury after bone stress injury that would plague her career; one of the the results of abuse on her body with an eating disorder as a teen. 

It was then that Eloise found faith, and along-side that purpose, and her journey to heal her body and her mind fortified her desire to continue on the path to Olympic glory. That she did, along-side support from those she trusted most around her, resulting in qualifying and competing in two Olympic Games, her first in London in 2012 where she felt the joy and fulfilment of her dream,  and again in Rio in 2016, where she had the performance of her career, running in the 5,000m and 10,000m Olympic final. 

But this story is more than just about running, it's about allowing your path to take you to experiences and people that can not only change your trajectory, but the world, and it was a chance meeting while Eloise was rehabilitating her injury in the USA that she met and formed a bond with Ugandan athlete, and former child soldier, Julius Achon. Through this connection she heard Julius' harrowing story, and the plight of the people of Uganda, and it changed Eloises perspective on what was important, and how running, and her new found purpose could fulfil the needs of the people in Uganda, and impact their health and sustainability, by empowering communities to overcome poverty. Not long after, The Love Mercy Foundation was born. 

The Love Mercy Foundation exists to see communities in northern Uganda thriving independently, by increasing access to health care, clean water, food security and income generation. They do this through projects such as cents for seeds, well worth it (the water project), the maternity project, along-side supporting their health centre, the Kristina Health Centre which opened in 2012. 

Running Mums Australia helped to found The Mother Run two years running now which supports the maternity project every May around Mothers day. So far the centre has delivered over 300 babies safely and the Mother Run has funded a much needed incubator for the clinic, however they require our ongoing support and funds to meet the needs of the ever-increasing demand for their services to expecting women and mothers. 

In this episode we also talk to Eloise about motherhood and what this means to her, and the impact that she wants her journey to have on her children. 

Eloise also speaks publicly at schools and corporate groups about unlocking an olympian mindset, and is soon to release her first book, a memoir titled "One more try". 

To follow Eloise's journey, as she now moves up to the marathon and beyond, and continues the pursuit of her best, you can find her at @elzywellings on instagram. 

To support the work of The Love Mercy Foundation, particularly the maternity project, head to https://love-mercy-maternity-ward-2021.raisely.com/  or lovemercyfoundation.org

This podcast was brought to you by fisiocrem Australia .