My support story: Nicole Bunyon and running mums Australia

Nicole Bunyon is on a mission to empower women and mothers through running.  

She knows the strength and value of support. She’s a mother to three teenage children, a wife and a learning support officer at a local school. She’s also the founder of Running Mums Australia (RMA), a group dedicated to championing the everyday woman. 

Nicole wants to encourage and equip women and mothers in their running journey. To use running to bring about positive change and connection, and improve the health and wellbeing of women and families in Australia by creating a safe place to connect with runners in their community and around Australia.

The group’s message? “We believe that nothing is out of your reach, and together you can fulfil your dreams. We use running as our vehicle for connection and inspiration, and we change lives.”

And it’s a message that resonates with tens of thousands.

In fact, what started as one woman’s mission has blossomed into a verified movement of mothers with nearly 40,000 members on Facebook. Read on for a Q&A.

Hi Nicole, today you’re an ultra-runner and a trail runner. How did you first get into running? 

I love to run and I started when I was young. I really enjoy getting out in nature, putting on the trails around my house and connecting with other women. So I started Running Mums Australia in 2013 as a way to connect with women who ran as well.

What does support mean to you?

Support for me is having people to connect with and talk to. People who have the same visions as you and the same goals as you, or people that you can confide in and talk to when you need some guidance or someone to cheer you on. 

I think a lot of people would probably not try things if they didn't have support around them. I find that Running Mums Australia gives me that network of support to try things that I never thought were possible.

Can you tell us about why you created Running Mums Australia and how it’s made an impact? 

“In my own journey, I've been able to achieve things because I've had the support of my family and friends around me. When I created Running Moms Australia, it was for support and to have people around me that love doing what I love to do.”

“They've been able to ask questions, get advice. They've been able to lean on each other and not just in terms of running but life, how to raise their families, how to train with families, getting advice and support from people that are elite and have run throughout their whole lives to the person who's just started out and just wants to know how to get to the end of their street.”

What sort of obstacles have you overcome to become who you are today?

When I was younger, I sometimes had sense of fear when I went to do new things. It stopped me in my tracks and I’d quit. But over the last 20 years, especially since having children, that sense of failure has been replaced with a sense of being able to do things, not so much on my own steam, but by having people around me to support me and my endeavours.  

This has made it a lot easier to feel like I can achieve things and confidently move forward and work towards things. Being able to put clear goals in practice has helped me on my journey and I've changed so many things that I wouldn't have done 20 years ago, if I still had that mindset. 

About four years ago, I was also diagnosed with a melanoma on my leg. This was a real turning point in my life to not let fear tell me I can't do something or get in the way of what I want to achieve.

“You only get one life. I want to do the best I can to make the most of the life I've got. Things don't always go to plan. But we give it our best shot, we move forward and we don't waste the time we've got.“

Through that experience, I’ve really lived every day with that sense of pride for the achievements that I have done and really enjoyed connecting with other women, sharing that story and that mindset with them. 

Outside of RMA, do you have your own personal support system? 

My support system is my family and my friends. I have a wide circle of people that I know, but a small circle of people that I go to for support. And most of those people revolve around my close family and close friends.

What is your running goal at the moment?

My running goal is just to run, enjoy nature and the connection that I've got with others. Due to COVID, we've been locked down and there aren’t many events on the horizon. But, at the end of the year, I’m running Ultra-Trail Australia, which is a 22 kilometer trail run through the Blue Mountains. So I'm looking forward to that.

And what gets you through a tough run?

I just keep putting one foot in front of the other. Usually, I think about the reasons I'm running. If I'm running for a cause I think about that. If I'm running to beat a personal best, I pushed myself as hard as I can. And if I'm running just for the pure enjoyment of it, that's what gets me through, I think about where I am and what I love about what I'm doing.

If you’ve been inspired by Nicole and Running Mums Australia and want to learn more about this fantastic group and resource, then make sure to check out their website and social media platforms. 

You’ll find everything from running tips and tricks to training plans and recipes to fuel racing ambitions. Recently they launched a new podcast series, which you can enjoy below.