Runner, Personal trainer, goal setter and head of communications at 1Ds Collective, McKenzie Collins helps create an environment where everything is within reach; all you have to do is set your mind to it.
Learn more about her in the first instalment of our “Who is a Runner” series.
Meet McKenzie Collins.
McKenzie is known in close circles as the girl who does crazy things like wake up at 4.30am or go run a marathon just for fun. Kenzie tries to embrace each day as it comes; through this, she can set proactive and achievable goals.
“I wouldn’t have it any other way. I believe that how you start the day is how you go on – so I pride myself on getting in my morning run as the catalyst to everything else. That includes showing up for my team come 7am when I kick off my Brooks (Adrenaline GTS 22) and put on my digital marketing hat”.
For Kenzie, running is a crucial tool in being able to balance out the day. However, like many of us, she didn’t classify herself as a runner until her mid-teens.
“I don’t come from a sporty background – in fact, I was under the impression that fitness was a chore until around 15 when I first found and fell in love with running. From there, I didn’t look back. Running was the impetus to discovering complete adoration for movement and athleticism, which today extends to strength training, functional training, boxing, hiking… I’m even starting to (kind of) enjoy the bike.
With all that aside, I return to running as my number one love every time – for it gives me the most inspired, balanced perspective of what matters in the world. After a good run, I know exactly where I need to go and who I’m meant to be. Anything that offers such clarity that stands to renew your excitement for life (your own life!) is an activity you should be doing as often as possible if you ask me”.
When we asked Kenzie about her best run, it was with complete grace that Kenzie’s response was she couldn’t possibly narrow down her best run – as it would be unfair to the many gems she had experienced.
“Although there was this run I did back in Wellington, NZ that I’ll never forget. I went out spur of the moment one evening. The sky was super clear, and my legs felt invincible – like they could go on forever. I ran along the water, listening to my favourite music, and it was like the world stopped purely for me to take at that moment. On another note, the Mt Buller Sky Run was legendary! A very different course for me (my first official trail run), and I was stoked to come out as the 1st Female for the 36km”.
As Kenzie has mentioned, and a lot like the perspective of life, running can be filled with extreme highs and unfortunate lows. Still, how we push through these challenging periods gives us the momentum we need to finish the marathon or get through the difficult task, making us stronger for the next time.
Kenzie states, “the funny thing about running is how unpredictable it can be. It would feel obvious to say my first marathon was the most challenging, but I’ve had harder 3kms. So any return to running is tough mentally and physically. But I always remind myself to let go of the pride and remember the ultimate goal: to be moving and challenging myself for as long as possible. If that means going a little slower today to sustain my passion and ability to run tomorrow, so be it. Running feels a lot like life, in that you’ll get further not by showing up once and laying everything on the floor, but by showing up every day and letting that consistency amount to something great over time”.
For more about how Brooks champions the run for all, check out Running Responsibly: Our People Strategy.
