Having trouble getting off the couch this winter? Take a few tips from some of these Kiwi celebs. New Zealand’s Next Top Model host Sara Tetro, former Black Stick Honor Carter, TV stars Natalie Medlock and Nicole Whippy, The Crowd Goes Wild reporter Meghan Mutrie and blogger/journalist Bronwyn Williams have formed the #mygirls team to inspire other Kiwi women to lead healthy, active lifestyles. And they’ll all be taking the plunge and competing in the adidas Auckland Marathon on Sunday, October 28. We caught up with some of the girls between gruelling schedules to find out why they took up the challenge – and what their guilty secrets are!
**What made you decide to do #mygirls? You’re quite fit anyway…
Sara:** It was a spur-of-the-moment decision. Sometimes you have to say yes quickly or the “I can’t… I don’t have time” voices in your head make you say no. And I wasn’t that fit to start with!
Honor: I love team sports and I wanted a new challenge. I haven’t competed in a running event before so it’s a totally new experience for me.
Natalie: I always need new motivation. Plus, I love the velour tracksuits!
**Are you naturally competitive?
Honor:** Yes, I am certainly competitive! I don’t think I’d have represented New Zealand if I wasn’t – it’s what drives me to succeed. Being competitive is healthy in sport, but it does get me in trouble on occasion.
Sara: I grew up the only girl with three older brothers – so yes, you could say I’m competitive. It’s got me in trouble on occasion, but it’s also got me a lot of places I may not have been had I not pushed myself, so I’m happy with the balance.
Natalie: I’m competitive but I don’t mind getting beaten if I’ve been outclassed.
**What exercises are you doing that you particularly love or hate?
Sara:** It’s not the exercise I hate – it’s the rushing to look civil enough to go to work afterwards that I find tedious. Good argument for short hair.
Honor: I find distance running rather boring so that will be my biggest challenge. But we have lots of fun and laughs as a team, which keeps me entertained.
Meghan: I won’t do any exercise that I truly hate.
Natalie: I hate RPM. I have never cycled and don’t have that muscle group. And the instructor is so perky, which is very irritating.
**Have you discovered any new muscles since you started training?
Honor:** I’m always fi nding new muscles. I’ve had a few very slow mornings out of bed recently.
Sara: A couple of days after one particular session I was moving around the house like a glacier. But man it felt good.
Meghan: I’m working on getting back my “shelf bum” with squats. I also “squat-walk” up hills and stairs when no-one’s looking, but I always get busted.
**What’s your guilty diet secret?
Sara:** Pineapple Lump binges, Gingernuts and Diet Coke.
Honor: I’m obsessed with cheese. It’s one of the most delicious things on the planet and it always stares at me when I open the fridge door.
Natalie: I once ate a whole pineapple and a whole box of All Bran cereal – I figured if I was going to fall off the diet wagon I may as well choose foods that were good for me. Infallible logic! I’ve also just come back from France where I’ve been eating cheese and drinking wine.
**Are you eating more healthily now you’re training?
Sara:** I wouldn’t say my eating is particularly good or bad. But I’m trying to cut back on the Pineapple Lump binges.
Natalie: I have an iron-willed boyfriend who’s on a very strict training diet, so it’s enforced whether I like it or not.
**What gets you up and exercising when you really don’t want to?
Natalie:** Nothing. I often don’t do it. Sometimes I drive to the gym and pray there isn’t a park so I can go home.
Honor: I remember how good it feels to succeed when you’ve worked really hard. Satisfaction is a great motivator!
Go girls! Honor and Meghan reach for the stars during training
To follow the #mygirls, visit facebook.com/mygirlsnz. Or, on Twitter, @sara_mail, @HonorCarter, @MeghanMutrie, @NatalieMedlock
