If there’s one thing Lisa would like to be known for it is for “Inspiring the Everyday”.  She currently holds three full time roles – mum to little Peter (now 4 years old), IBM Business Transformation Consultant of 16 plus years, Olympic and 2x Commonwealth Games medallist marathoner.  Combine these commitments with speaking engagements, supporting her team and building a house from the ground up!  It is an eventful life!

After 20+ years combing running and a Corporate career, Lisa is currently in Noosa preparing to qualify for a fourth Olympic Games.  Something only 4 others have achieved in Athletics Australia history.  Having bettered her own Australian All Comers record on the Sunshine Coast to 68:48 setting a World Record for 40+ and similarly 31:55, another World Record the week prior it’s an exciting time.

“Lisa Weightman, your greatest legacy isn’t the medals you’ve won or the races you lost – It’s the countless women and men whom you have inspired through your endless pursuit of family/work balance, sporting excellence and the best role model as the kids mum.”   Keith Hong, Fairfax Events 

Lisa, you are enjoying phenomenal success in your running career but you also work full time and are a young Mum, how do you manage to fit it all in?

With the most amazing support team one could ever dream of. My mum and dad and my gorgeous sister take care of Pete while we train in the evenings and twice per week Mum is my home day care when Pete is not at kinder! We’ve grown up a very close family, taking care of each other every step of the way. My nephew Thomas spends a lot of time with us and he and Pete get along like brothers. It takes a village they say, but in our case it just takes wonderful parents!

My husband Lachlan and I run together almost every day and we have a few guys from our club Melbourne University who join us for track workouts weekly. I chase the boys around the track, literally and that helps me run faster!

Compared to my equivalent in America or the United Kingdom there isn’t the opportunity to be a full time athlete in Australia. So it isn’t much of a choice living the lifestyle we live. Having said that, as a result of doing it all, I never need to transition out of sport as I’ll always run and I’ll always work!

You are a Running Mum’s Ambassador, what made you want to undertake this role and how do they help the community at large?

Running Mum’s Founder, Nicole Bunyon reached out to me about being a Melbourne based ambassador for the community and I was a little apprehensive at first to volunteer. Initially I was worried about how much time I’d be able to commit to the role, to be effective and support the community, given my full plate, but that hasn’t been a concern for the mums at all – quite the opposite.

I’m about to put pen to paper on my “Inspiring The Everyday” series which I hope they will enjoy!

I’ve made some beautiful, long life friends from the community. Mums who I feel like I have known forever. The types of friendships that have been formed via this community are everlasting and that’s extremely special. Sadly, women don’t always support each other in the Corporate world. But I hope that my approach and advocacy for putting my fellow rock star female colleagues first in my role at IBM is a small step in changing that.

In the Running Mums community, we are all about supporting each other through the tough days and weeks, meeting each other for workouts or chatting with each other to help with goal setting and achievement and then the awesome bit, cheering each other on at the races and parkruns.It’s pretty special and Nicole and the team of ambassadors should be extremely proud.

What career or personal achievement are you most proud of?

Having our boy Pete and watching him grow up to be a polite, social and caring little boy with a thirst for knowledge and life experiences. My parents have achieved amazing things together in their life so far, but they always say it is what my sister and I have achieved through their support is what gives them the greatest pleasure and I have to agree now I’m the mum!

Despite holding the position of Australia’s fastest marathon runner for over a decade, whilst working in a Corporate environment I’ve dealt with the recurring disappointment of being knocked back for sponsorship because of my age and lack of belief by others. Proving those that haven’t believed in me wrong is the achievement I’m most proud of. Continuing to achieve this at 40 years of age is icing on the cake.

When a kind human reaches out and offers a hand, it’s the most amazing feeling in the world and I have to thank my friends at Icon Health and Fitness for that.Running in Melbourne through Winter at 6:30pm with head torches and scarves can take its toll after a few weeks. We can now supplement our week and train rain, hail or heat wave in our newly created Nordic Track Performance Centre.I cannot describe the impact this kindness has on our complicated weekly structure. Not to mention the impact this has had on my safety. As much as we’d like to think we can go out in the dark and should be able to feel safe. Reality is it is a gamble I am not willing to take too often.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given?

As a child if someone told me I’d be a multiple Olympian and have Commonwealth Medals to my name I would not have believed them because I was continually told I wasn’t good enough. Ignore anyone that tells you that you are not good enough. When someone rejects your application keep trying.

Nothing beats persistence. A race or a project may not work out perfectly the first time, but if you persist and demonstrate the ability to be flexible and learn from each experience you can achieve things you never thought were possible.

I believe I have so much to offer any company looking to promote the power of women. If others don’t see that, then it is their loss.

And what’s next on the agenda for Lisa Weightman?

Qualification for a fourth Olympics, an opportunity to finish strongly at the Games and then a quest to win gold at the Commonwealth Games. I have a bronze, I have a silver, surely it is my time to win gold!

In Corporate life, my quest is to inspire the everyday. Through living my life, demonstrate how awesome a mum can be if they believe they can and have the support to do so!

Favourite travel place and why? 

Noosa, I have prepared for 3 amazing running races in Noosa.  It is the perfect weather, the community is extremely supportive and it has become a second home.

What’s one thing that you do for yourself every day? 

Hug my son!  More than once!  I’d like to say run, but given the level I run at it is part job, part enjoyment. The one moment every day that I feel is my reflection time is when I take a shower. It’s the only time I can drift into thoughts and solve problems in quiet!  Mums and Dads can relate I am sure!

What mantra do you live by?

Look after your team.Whether it is at work, at home, at school. Amazing things are never achieved alone.

https://lisaweightman.com/about/

or
Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/Lisa-Weightman-140213142727624/