True Grit: Turia Pitt

Turia Pitt knows all about determination.

In 2011, the then 24-year-old mining engineer signed up to compete in a 100km ultra-marathon in the Kimberley. After passing the second checkpoint, 25km into the race, she found herself trapped in an isolated gorge with a raging bushfire surrounding her and nowhere to run. Engulfed by flames, Pitt suffered burns to 65 per cent of her body. Despite being put into a medically induced coma and dying three times on the operating table, she’s here today and kicking serious arse. Today, her weekly workout regime rivals any serious athlete. So let her motivate you next time you’re looking for an excuse....

Next month you’re taking part in the 3716km Variety Cycle from Sydney to Uluru. What made you want to get involved?

“Variety is a charity that’s all about giving kids back their independence – and that’s something I can really relate to. I lost mine for a couple of years and it’s bloody frustrating. I take my hat off to those kids.”

What’s been your biggest frustration so far?

“My elbows had ossified in the fire and that basically meant I couldn’t bend them. If you can’t bend your elbows you can’t scratch yourself, go to the toilet by yourself, feed yourself or even give yourself a drink. All of that was really frustrating.”

Have you got better use of your elbows now?

“My left elbow has full range of motion and my right elbow is at 90 degrees, so I’m still working on it. I do exercises every day.”

How far are you going to be cycling for Variety?

“To be honest, I’ve got no idea. My partner Michael Hoskin is aiming to do the full ride and I really want to as well, but as I don’t have any fingers on one of my hands, I don’t have anything to grip on to the bike with. So at the moment we’re going through a modification process and we’ll take it as it comes. In the end it’s not really about how far I go, it’s about raising money for these kids.”

What does your training regimen look like?

“I’m working on getting my base fitness up to scratch, so each week I’m doing one run, three 45-minute rides on my stationary bike, three PT sessions and three yoga classes.”

Turia and her partner, Michael Hoskin.

That’s a hell of a lot...

“Well, it’s a start. My PT and I do a variety of workouts. One day we focus on cardio and sprints, the beep test and sled drags; the next session we’ll focus on plyometrics, so box jumps, burpees and jump lunges; and our final session will be about building strength, so a lot of squats, lunges, push-ups and sit-ups. That’s definitely my least favourite. The knowledge that I’m getting stronger and one day I’ll be fitter than I was prior to the fire, is my motivation. The fire might have taken a lot of things away from me, but I won’t let it take my fitness.”

Any advice on dealing with “down” days?

“I don’t try to cheer myself up or push negative thoughts to the back of my mind. I just say, “OK, it’s a bad day, you’ve got every right to be pissed off and cranky and upset, but chances are you won’t feel this way tomorrow or next week or next month.” It’s unrealistic to expect to feel happy all the time.”

You’ve eaten hundreds of hospital meals in your time, so what fuels your body these days?

“As a burns survivor, I have a faster metabolism than most people, as my body is busy trying to repair itself. Because of that I have to eat a lot of high-kilojoule food. Last year my doctor told me to just eat KFC, McDonald’s, ice-cream and junk food. So I did – and I felt like crap. So this year I’ve gone back to eating healthy, just a lot of basic things like toast with nut spread for breakfast, a sandwich for lunch, and steak and salad or fish and vegies for dinner. Because of my hands I’m terrible at food preparation, but I’m lucky because I’ve got people around me who do it instead. And I’ve got a good excuse for getting out of washing the dishes!”

What have you learnt about your body?

“Two years ago I couldn’t even get out of bed; now I’m going to the gym, doing yoga, going to the beach. I guess what I’ve learnt is just how much your body can go through and still come back strong.”

Gearing Up

'''Get race-ready with these tactics from Danny Moore, director of Turbo Studio Squad:

Pimp Your Ride ''' When it comes to bikes, there’s no such thing as one size fits all. So get a customised bike fit [available at bike shops]. This will maximise your comfort, improve your performance and, most importantly, reduce your risk of injury.

Power Up Train indoors, too. Stationary-bike sessions increase your endurance, fitness and power levels in a controlled and targeted session – where the only easy “downhills” are the ones you allow.

Do Shotz Try taking Shotz Electrolyte Tablets and Shotz Energy Gels when you go for a long ride. They’re portable electrolyte and carbohydrate replacements that’ll help you go faster for longer. Nuff said.

Pedal Pose To prevent injury when training for a big event, incorporate a yoga session into your weekly routine to stretch out your limbs. Also, add core exercises like planks and fitball crunches to the start or end of each training session to help you stay strong.

Learn more about Turia Pitt