Marnie Ponton is an elite athlete, mother of two and an emergency nurse practitioner. As a cross disciplined runner balancing her time between her passion, career and family, Marnie has built a lifestyle centered on consistency. With a strong belief that discipline leads to freedom, Marnie not only manages her time effectively, but thrives in each area of her life.
“Everything is very planned in building for whatever race that I am preparing for…everything now is very prescriptive…I know exactly what I am doing, and it is all for a purpose,” Marnie said.
“Consistent wake ups (are the key). I wake up at 5.00am every morning and then do my first session.”
Having pursued running since her youth, Marnie took a break from running to start a family and forge a path working in health. The time away was beneficial for many reasons. For Marnie, it helped ignite that spark – the love for running that she once knew. Immersing herself back into the sport, Marnie credits the inspiring and supportive community, plus the environment itself, across the Blue Mountains, which helped her reacquaint her love with running.
“The Blue Mountains community is packed with runners…I started jogging with them and they were talking about all the local races, like the Six Foot Track (Marathon)…that got me excited,” Marnie said.
“I love feeling part of the community…the community we have is super special and it has made me really love the area. Whenever I need to recharge, I go straight into the National Park (for a run). It is beautiful. I love it.”
Throughout her career, Marnie has been the beneficiary of influential coaches who have taken her running to the next level around the world. When asked what advice she would pass onto the next generation, Marnie referenced the need for introspection and internal drive to truly unlock your potential.
“I think it is really important for young athletes to have that self-belief. I would tell them to enjoy their running and to be consistent,” Marnie said.
“The most important thing is to recognise why you are running and to enjoy it.”
Instagram: @passionperspectivepodcast
Music: “Friendship” by Annie Burbank