Gold Coast Division 4 Councillor Shelley Curtis on army days, running hard and ‘sleeping rough’
“I got addicted to the idea of getting comfortable being uncomfortable.” FULL STORY
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If you see Gold Coast Division 4 Councillor Shelley Curtis pounding the pavement at Paradise Point, she’s probably deep in contemplation.
“I use running as a chance to run through all of life’s problems,” she said.
“I love a run for decompressing after a particularly hard week and I do all my best thinking when I’m running. All the solutions come to me while I’m out on my runs.”
Curtis, who is among 15,000 entrants lacing up for the 42km Gold Coast Marathon next month, credited her ability to dial in and go the distance to the Australian Defence Force, where she once served as an army corps officer.
She said the key takeaway was “learning that we’re a lot more capable than we think we are”.
“Realising a goal, you’re not 100 per cent certain you’ll be able to, it gives you a mindset that allows you to keep pushing yourself further and further to realise your potential,” Cr Curtis said.
“I joined the army straight out of school. I was lucky I got to be in a job where I got to be physically trained every day. I would race with the Australian Defence Force team.
“After the 2007 half marathon, I got hooked on the endurance events, and I did an Iron Man in the first 12 months, so that was my first marathon, within an Iron Man event.”
The army medic of 16 years, who has also been an education corps officer, had plenty of endurance heart prior to the army.
“From grade two through to grade 12, I was cross country champion,” she said.
“I always had an affinity for long-distance running because there’s no skill in it, you’ve got to have a big heart. It’s a mental one as opposed to talent.”
Ms Curtis said in the army she “got addicted to the idea of getting comfortable being uncomfortable”.
“That’s very much what they train and condition you for, so I always look for opportunities to push my limit,” she said.
“Running through the Gold Coast is very different to driving in a car and that provides me access to all sorts of information and feedback I find very, very valuable in this role.
“I know where the cracked footpaths are, where we can widen them, where bikes are not interacting well with pedestrians, so it’s very helpful.”
Asked about the atmosphere en route, she said the spectator participation was legendary.
“Gold Coast Marathon, it’s an incredible atmosphere,” she said.
“I always see 10-20 people I haven’t seen for 10 years somewhere along the track. There’s always a friend on the sidelines that you manage to scream out to and I think that’s part of the fun and why the event is so enjoyable for participants.
“I rely on a strong base of fitness, I train every day regardless, but I’ve certainly introduced a few long runs over the last few months. My run won’t be pretty or the fastest but I’ll get it done.”
It’s not the only thing she has planned to mark her next birthday milestone – prior to the marathon, she’s camping out in a cardboard box for the Vinnies CEO Sleep Out at CBUS Stadium.
“Sleeping in a card box the actual night of my birthday and the marathon a week after. 42 kms for 40 seems about right.”
Disclaimer: This content is sponsored by the Gold Coast Marathon and the Gold Coast Bulletin is an event media partner.
We talk to Gold Coast Marathon entrant and city councillor Shelley Curtis.
PORTIA LARGE: How gruelling was military training?
SHELLEY CURTIS: We do all sorts of adventure training activities, both mentally and physically tough. Deprivation training, where you have to go without certain, shall we say pleasures in life, for long periods. I got addicted to the idea of getting comfortable being uncomfortable. That’s very much what they train and condition you for, so I always look for opportunities to push my limit.
PL: Why the career pivot?
SC: I got this opportunity, and I will go back one day. I plan to return to it. It was an opportunity to serve in a different capacity, closer to home and have a closer community connection in my service was the only reason I left.
PL: How do you feel about the rise of Gold Coast run clubs?
SC: We’ve had a really strong social running community since the Park Run was introduced. It’s almost 10 years old. We’re pulling 400 runners every Saturday at Paradise Point. That led to the birth of a couple of social running clubs. My best friend in one of them is a lady, almost 80 who has run almost 20 Gold Coast Marathons, I have coffee with her every Saturday. I wouldn’t have come into contact with someone of that age in my normal life, but that’s what running gives to you, you get to meet all sorts of people and really broaden your understanding of humanity.
PL: Does running run in your DNA?
SC: My dad was a social marathon runner, I’ve had great role models who have done it their whole lives, and now I have the great fortune of having older members of the community model that for me. I have my fingers crossed I’ll be like my best friend and running marathons into my late 70s as well.
PL: How are community groups linked to mental health?
SC: They’re fantastic for the wellbeing of the community. I want to see them grow and become a safe haven for more people. During covid, I really saw when we did have to shut down, park run and running groups couldn’t get out in their numbers, just how much of a toll that took on people’s mental health. For someone like me, to have access to up to 400 people who spend a lot of time running through the Gold Coast, they have a great understanding of our active travel network and where we could improve.
PL: Why do you believe the Gold Coast Marathon is so successful?
SC: I’ve only ever done the Gold Coast Marathon, I’m very loyal. You can’t beat that backdrop, there’s nothing else like it, it is iconic. It’s a brilliantly run event and we see that through its growth and how successful it continues to be year on year.
PL: Your top running vista?
SC: Paradise Point and the loop through Coombabah wetlands. The diversity in our environment is quite incredible. We’ve got wetlands, a sand island, the Broadwater, and you can see it all in a 45-minute run.
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Originally published as Gold Coast Division 4 Councillor Shelley Curtis on army days, running hard and ‘sleeping rough’
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