Runbelievable: Real Runners, Unreal Stories

Ep 18: Six Bowel Surgeries Later, How Is Carly Barkle Still Running?

• Josh Rischin • Season 1 • Episode 18

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Carly Barkle’s running journey isn’t a straight line... it’s a true masterclass in persistence.

From elite junior sport and state-level netball to months of illness with glandular fever, chronic fatigue, single parenting, and a staggering run of surgeries, Carly’s story is defined not by uninterrupted success, but by her refusal to stay down (as she says, get knocked down seven times. get up eight).

In this powerful episode of Runbelievable, Carly unpacks what it takes to keep coming back. From buying a treadmill “just in case she had to stop,” to parkrun breakthroughs, podium finishes, and marathons run through illness and injury, Carly opens up about her deep love for being active, the joy she finds in training, and why redemption still matters.

It’s a raw, honest conversation about resilience, patience, and loving the process even when the body keeps pushing back.

In this episode:

  • Growing up in elite junior sport
  • Glandular fever, chronic fatigue, and long recovery cycles
  • Returning to running through uncertainty
  • Training through injury and repeated surgeries
  • Why endurance suits her more than speed
  • The power of community and coaching
  • Redemption races and redefining success

Runbelievable: real runners, unreal stories.

Interested in being a guest on the show? Hit us up!

Here’s how to keep in touch:

Strava Club: https://www.strava.com/clubs/runbelievable/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rnblv_official/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@rnblv_official

Email: joshua@runbelievable.au

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Carly:

Pitch black. I had no idea where I was or who was around. I had no idea. When I was coming in towards the finish line and they announced me as the female winner, I was like, what the hell? How did I just do that?

Joshie:

Hello everybody and welcome to Run Believable, the podcast that celebrates the human side of running. I'm your host, Josh Christian, and I'm here to bring you stories of Christ Warriors overcoming 30. Each episode we'll dive deep into what first got people running and what kids the lights are day after day. From the last to the left is becoming second in your age group, after you carried. This is why we run and how it shapes who we become. And coming up in just a couple of moments, you'll meet a runner who's the epitome of resilience. And my goodness, I can't wait to hear her story. Maddie, welcome back. Thanks, Joshua. Now look, sadly, listeners, Maddie can't stick around for our guest interview today, but we're going to make the absolute most of the seven minutes that he has available. So let's get stuck straight into the run believable rundown. Now, Maddie, clearly I'm not over my Beringa Park experience. I think it's because Carl Pit me by like 14 seconds or something like that. It's one of those weird things where you're not even aware at the time that you're coming second in your age group, but these weird things that we get hung up on. But I have to ask, is that something that you care about at all?

Matty:

I think we're all the well, lots of us are competitive. So, you know, we're always trying to do as best we can. But no, it's it's not something I get hung up on. I um I, if I get first, second, or third within my age group, I'm celebrating. Um, I'm I'm happy. I don't I don't mind. Um I do obviously pick out some people along the line um and think, okay, next time I've got you. Um but no, I don't really get hung up on it. It's um first, second or third to me is like a massive achievement for myself. And and I I've achieved it a couple of times in events and park runs. Um and I just yeah, I love it. Um but no, I don't get hung up on it.

Joshie:

No, you realise as co-host, you're actually meant to validate me and stuff like that. Of course, Josh. Anyway, uh look, if you have something that you'd like to contribute to the Run Believable rundown, then send it our way. Now, Maddie, it's no secret that the fans want to hear more from you. So, in fact, now's probably a good time to give a shout out to our newly established Superfans group. And seriously, guys, thank you so much for putting your hands up and being willing to be part of the project. I really can't tell you how much I appreciate your support. Now, one suggestion that was put forward from the group is that you take over the quiz. So after much deliberation, I'm pleased to announce that won't be happening. But coming up in a few episodes, we will be introducing a Matty sponsored segment. So stay tuned for that. Can't wait. Speaking of quizzes, today's quiz is called Co-host or no host. Now, it's fair to say, dude, that you and I know each other quite well. That's right. We run together a lot. So today's questions you're gonna go with this are all about my 2025 running stats.

Matty:

Okay.

Joshie:

Yeah. And they're simple, true or false. Yeah. Here's the thing. Do you remember the name of the quiz? Um, host or no host. Yes. So get them all right. You keep your job as co-host. I can't. Get any of them wrong. Um, get Eddie Roger, I'll be coming around to reclaim that poor quality or unbelievable top I gave you. So, question number one. In 2025, I ran a total of 3,102 kilometers. I'd say true. It's actually false. I ran 3,022 kilometers. Yeah. Um I'll tell you what, I should have given that one as an over or under.

Matty:

I didn't pay that much attention to your strama. I knew that you ran a lot, but you're all over that stuff.

Joshie:

You love your stats. Question number two. Out of all of the peeps that I'm connected with, you gave me the most kudos. False. It is false. Yeah. It was actually natty. Believe it or not, you didn't even make the top three. No offense taken. You got second online. Of course I did. Yeah. Question number three. In 2025, I achieved a total of two PBs.

Matty:

Uh yes, you did. A 5k and a full marathon.

Joshie:

Do you want to know something, dude? For getting that one right alone, I think you are worthy of keeping your job. That is I don't, I cannot believe that you got that. That's fantastic. Yes, that is true.

Matty:

Three hours 26 in your marathon at uh in Melbourne. Yeah, close enough. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And um 1942. Shortchanged me.

Joshie:

1936, I believe it was. But close enough. Um that's pretty impressive, my friend. Now look, Maddie's off to clean another car or something, and um we'll we'll let you we'll let you step away, Maddie. Thanks for your time, and I'll be uh popping around shortly to collect that running top. Thanks, mate. It's heavy soon. When I met today's guest in December 2025, she was recovering from her sixth bout of bowel surgery. I was truly speechless as she recounted her journey and blown away by her doggered determination to keep bouncing back. From elite junior sport to continued setbacks, single parenting to age-grade podiums, her running story isn't about an uninterrupted rise. It's about persistence, adaptability, and a deep love of training that keeps pulling her back. Can we please welcome Carly Barkle? Welcome, Carly.

Carly:

Hello, thanks for inviting me.

Joshie:

Oh, it's our pleasure. Now, before we kick off, um I thought that on behalf of the running community, we'd check in with you to see how you're going.

Carly:

Yeah, actually pretty well at the moment. So I'm uh been back running now three weeks, and I'm I think nine weeks post-surgery today. So yeah, just sort of past the frustrating sort of initial comeback and starting to actually enjoy running again now. So yeah, I'm I'm doing pretty good.

Joshie:

That's awesome. And it really is good to see you back. I think it was only about a month ago that you got medical clearance to get back into training, and yeah, you're um you you certainly haven't been holding back. Um be w watching those um those uh Strava activities come through, your uh your distances are getting longer and your pace is getting quicker. And you've taken up cycling as well, or or taken up cycling again. I think you you used to cycle some time ago.

Carly:

Yeah, yeah. So I wasn't allowed, so um the bow surgeries was over a course of three years, and I um previous to that was cycling a bit, and then yeah, wasn't allowed to cycle for the three years. So when I got clearance, I literally went and bought a bike that day. Yeah.

Joshie:

Is it a road bike?

Carly:

Yeah, road bike.

Joshie:

Oh, fantastic. Yeah. Um now growing up, sport was uh a big part of your identity, if um memory serves correctly. You played state level netball, um, you attended many cross country events, some always quite active. Um how would you say that movement shaped who you were early on?

Carly:

Oh, it's it's part of um it's part of who I am. It's it's part of my routine, it's part of my structure, it's just it's what I do. And I don't I don't function well without it. I don't don't sit still and I yeah, I love being busy.

Joshie:

So So you must find that pretty tough then when you're on the sidelines, whether it's either through injury or recovering from um from surgery, um, that must uh drive you quite spare, I imagine.

Carly:

Yeah, very, very. Um yeah, it's quite quite depressing.

Joshie:

Yeah. So what is it that you do during those times to I guess help keep you sane and keep you focused? Um it isn't an easy thing to go through what you have, uh being so active and being so committed to training. Um what is it that keeps you going during those times?

Carly:

Um, so my well my first surgery three years ago, um that was sort of the unexpected first one. Um and it was quite, you know, laid up on the couch for I think I was daily visits to the hospital for three weeks for redressings and that sort of thing, and I yeah, couldn't even walk outside because of the you know, the dressings and wasn't allowed to sweat and whatever else. So yeah, it just I couldn't wait to get back out there and then one failed surgery after another. I think it just sitting still, it makes you really um it makes you really grateful that you are able to to run when you can and to really miss it that much and not be able to do it, it yeah, makes you really, really grateful um that that you are able to do that.

Joshie:

It's a really interesting perspective. So it instead of I guess wallowing during those times when you weren't able to be active, you're just grateful for the times that you are.

Carly:

Yeah. Oh, I wallowed as well. Definitely, definitely wallowed.

Joshie:

But you wouldn't be human if you didn't wallow. I mean, it's um what you've gone through is quite extraordinary. Um if we can take some uh I guess a a bit of a step back to I think 2015. Um you had glandular fever. Yeah. And I think you said that following that was a an extended period of being unwell, um, chronic fatigue and the like.

Carly:

Yeah. Yeah, so that was yeah, 2015, and I um gave up all my sport, wasn't wasn't able to do anything for probably a good twelve months. Um literally just worked. And when I was finally able to um do something again or, you know, start moving, the doctor said maybe just some light exercise. Um so I bought a treadmill. Um at the time I was a single mum, so I just yeah, bought a cheap treadmill off marketplace and whatever. Because I thought at least that way I f if I get too tired I can stop and something I can do while while she's you know, around my daughter. And um Yeah, so from that I sort of just started walking on the treadmill and then I started to feel a bit better, and then I started to jog a bit and then um started to go outside around the block, and then from that eventually found park run. Um that was and that was how my running journey started, but that was t I think 2017 was when I started running. So yeah, it was quite a long recovery as well from the glandular fever.

Joshie:

Oh wow. Gosh a two uh two year two year period of recovery. That's um that's quite a lot to to go through. Um and from what you said, not only were you navigating single parenting at the time you were in a relatively high profile role, work-wise, a management.

Carly:

Yeah, yeah, I was in a management role. Yeah, had to yeah, ended up standing down from that because uh hours and the stress was too demanding and yeah, just all got too much and the fatigue was too much to cope with. So yeah, I stood down from that and yeah, just did what I could to s to survive.

Joshie:

It's quite a courageous decision, I guess. Um, especially if you felt like your work uh and your movement were were both part of your identity to have to give up one of those things. I mean, it sounds like it was a no-brainer for you, but that still is a difficult thing to give up, I imagine.

Carly:

Yeah, so difficult. Yeah. Um yeah, I got towards the end of it, I sort of uh started to struggle with a bit of depression. Um sort of, you know, and even to just get moving on that treadmill was just like, oh thank God, like, you know, that I could actually do something again and just felt a little bit more human and like my my normal self. So but yeah, it took a while to progress from the treadmill to, you know, outside at Parkrun and whatnot. But yeah.

Joshie:

Yeah, that's quite yeah, quite a lot to to go through and obviously there were bigger challenges um that like lay ahead. Um what can you tell us about that time though? During those couple of years of recovering from glandular fever and having to step down from a a management role, um, how did that period uh test you um, you know, mentally?

Carly:

Um yeah, as I said, like it just I I actually started to get depression. I just I I put on a lot of weight also because I wasn't moving. Um so that was another reason for wanting to try and start running was to shift some of the weight. So between, you know, a little bit of weight gain and not being able to do the things I love and whatnot, then yeah, it was and and also, you know, I've still had to be strong and be there for my daughter and you know, show her that to, you know, I've got to gotta keep doing this. I have no choice, so you have to keep working and do whatever it takes to to keep going. So yeah.

Joshie:

Oh wow. Um I mean you mentioned just before that you bought a treadmill uh to give you the opportunity to to stop in case you needed to. Um by the way, I can't imagine you want a treadmill. Um you seem like you're such an outdoors person. Um do you ever do you ever jump back on the treadmill now or now that you're able to get outside?

Carly:

Um I do, but it's got to be torrential rain or like hail or something outside before I will get back on there, yeah.

Joshie:

Yeah. But imagine that you started to see the physical gains relatively quickly. How long did it take you to start to uh build enough confidence to get back out there again? And I think you said the park run was, I guess, your next um challenge after that. Was that an i over an extended period of time?

Carly:

Yeah, I probably I think 2018 was when I did my very first event, um, and that was the Gold Coast 10K. So sort of I guess maybe 12 months of just shuffling around, you know, jogging, not really having any clue what I was doing. I was just jogging. Um Yeah, and then yeah, found out about, you know, that I didn't even know there was running events that existed or whatever, and I found out about Gold Coast. So yeah, I just did the 10K event there to sort of make it all worthwhile. And um, yeah, slippery slope from there.

Joshie:

Yeah. Well, uh staying on parkrun just for for a moment. Um I think you said that it was your sister's suggestion uh uh um that parkrun existed and I think you were using someone's old garment at the time.

Carly:

Yeah, it was hers. Yeah, I was down visiting and went and went along to parkrun with them. And then yeah, when I came home I I found my local parkrun. So yeah, started started that on our Saturday.

Joshie:

Yep.

Carly:

Yeah.

Joshie:

And I think from what you told me, your debut parkrun was around 30 minutes, which is pretty good going for a first parkrun. But I think after that you're like, uh I think you reflected and went, I want to go faster. Yeah. Um what what was it that um I guess lit that flame, that spark in you?

Carly:

Oh, I'm super competitive. Super competitive. So it's never enough. I'm like, okay, I've done this, now I'm gonna do this, and now I've yeah. So it took me I think it didn't take me too long to get down to 25, but then it took me ages to get under 25, and it took me a really long time to get under 21. So it kind of yeah, just the the competitiveness. I just yeah, set a goal and I have to have to do it no matter what.

Joshie:

I love it.

Carly:

Yeah.

Joshie:

Are you competitive only with yourself or with other people?

Carly:

Um, running wise, competitive with myself.

Joshie:

Yep.

Carly:

Like it's yeah, I set my goal and that's what it is. Like I mean, I there's tons of people that inspire me that I think, oh man, I wish I could run that fast, or you know, oh I I want to run that fast, or what are they doing that I can do? So, you know, I draw inspiration, but yeah, no, definitely just competitive with myself.

Joshie:

Yeah, I love that. Yeah, yeah. Uh and it sounds like yeah, you ramped up pretty quickly from running a handful of park runs to a 10K, um, then on to marathons. Um you're you're super quick. I know you don't mention that um much, but um from what you've told me, you feel as though it's endurance events that suit you best.

Carly:

Yeah, definitely the the marathon. I love love the training for the marathon, and now I literally despise running a 5k. Yeah.

Joshie:

Yeah, which is incredible because you're you're you're you're really quick over 5k. And I think you've had a few people say, you know, you why don't you just g give a sub 20 a nudge because you've you've been close. Um but that's not not in your size, not something that you've thought, well, I'm gonna have a crack at this.

Carly:

No, I yeah, 20 20 minutes and 10 seconds, my 5k PB, and everyone's don't you want to get it at 20? I'm like, I used to, but now I don't really care. I'd I'd prefer the marathon.

Joshie:

Yeah.

Carly:

And just yeah, focus on that.

Joshie:

Yeah, I think what I'd love to see is as as part of a B race would be for your coach to throw in a 5k time trial. That would be nice. Um so you've um and correct me if I'm wrong with any of this, but you've podiumed at events like the Pine Rivers half marathon, um, and you've found um community with running clubs like uh the Caboolture Roadrunners and was it girls run this town?

Carly:

Yeah, very back in the early days they don't exist anymore. That was who I started running with. Um yeah, when I first started running.

Joshie:

So how important was it to you at the time um belonging to running communities?

Carly:

Um with my job it makes it hard because I work as a as a baker, so a lot of the clubs, you know, do their runs in the morning. Um so yeah, too. I I sort of found my feet at Caboolture because they did afternoon sessions, and then that's where I met my my coach. Um but yeah, the the community it does help, I think, having you know being around like-minded people that you know push you and inspire you. And you know, there's there's ladies at at um cabulcha roadrunners that are 70 plus that are still running like a 30-minute 5K and I'm like, wow, I wouldn't be like that when I'm 70. Like, yeah. So I think, yeah, from that side of things, it's it's good to, you know, sort of meet meet people and hear their hear their stories kind of thing.

Joshie:

Yeah. Yeah. It it sounds like as well as drawing inspiration from running communities that you're also quite happy to be in your own space and run on your own.

Carly:

Yeah, definitely. Yeah, I do uh majority of my marathon training um is alone because I have to train afternoons with the um the early work starts and whatnot. So yeah, a lot of it's sort of lunchtime onwards by myself. So yeah, generally I'll do a Sunday long run in a group, which is good because it makes the caves go a lot faster. So yeah, I I do enjoy running in a group, but I also enjoy um the the quiet time to myself as well.

Joshie:

Yeah.

Carly:

So yeah.

Joshie:

And so uh around that time. I'm I think well maybe it was around 2018-19 you got talked into some even bigger challenges. Um the one I want to hear you speak about if that's okay is the river run.

Carly:

Yeah. Yeah. So when I um when I started running, I was like, oh gosh, no, I'll never run a marathon. That's too far. No, not doing that. I because I'd run a couple of halves and I quite enjoyed that. And I was like, oh no, I I can't even fathom running a marathon. And I think I'd been for a run, might have been a group run with girls around this town, and we were having coffee afterwards, and they were talking about this river run. Um it was actually a midnight marathon. And um, yeah, so I was like, oh nah, nah, I don't and as the conversation went on, they kind of worked on me and worked on me, and like, come on, come on, come on. It's all right. By the end of coffee, I had actually signed up for my first marathon. So yeah, and it was a midnight start. Wow. And it was, yeah, river run. And at that time it was on the South Bank side, and it was like I think it was maybe four laps, like up and back, up and back. Oh wow, South Bank, and yeah, it started at midnight, and um it pitch black. I had no idea where I was or who was around. I had no idea. And um when I was coming in towards the finish line, and they announced me as the female winner, and I was like, what the hell? How do I just do that? And it wasn't fast by any means, I think it was three hours 51 or something. So yeah, my very first marathon that I ever ran, I actually won. So yeah. Crazy. And then from then I was like, oh, I I'm gonna run another one. I can run this faster. I really enjoyed that. So yeah.

Joshie:

That is such a cool story, yeah. You wouldn't have too many people in the same club as you uh winning a debut marathon. That's awesome. Um do they still do that run, the midnight marathon?

Carly:

I don't know if they still do the midnight one, they still do river run, but I've think it's on the the opposite side of the river now. Um I think I've done the half there a couple times um since that. But yeah, I'm I'm not sure on the midnight event if they still do it or not.

Joshie:

Okay.

Carly:

But yeah. Yeah, that was yeah, 2019 was quite a while ago.

Joshie:

Yeah. Oh wow. And so after that you you got stuck into trail running. Um you I think podiumed at um Black Hall. Um, which event was that?

Carly:

Yeah. That was their inaugural um the the first year they did their half marathon.

Joshie:

Okay.

Carly:

Um up at Black Hall, yeah. So I got I was second female.

Joshie:

Yep.

Carly:

Um in yeah, in the half marathon up there.

Joshie:

So was that your first trail event?

Carly:

Um I may have done maybe I've done BRY at Daybreak a few times and podium there, I think two or three times. Um I can't remember if it was before or after. Maybe a bit of both. But um, yeah, that was that was I think I think that was the longest trail that I'd run at that point, was the was the Black Hole 21. I'd yeah, never run a half on a trail.

Joshie:

So Oh wow.

Carly:

Yeah. Didn't expect to podium that either. But yeah, that was a really cool event, actually. Uh it's on my list to do again one day.

Joshie:

Yeah. What was it what was it about it that you liked so much?

Carly:

Oh, it's just so different, and out in there, it was so challenging with the the hills and they have switchbacks which I'd never heard of. And by the end of it, my cords were fried. I hadn't trained like on, you know, hadn't prepared for it at all. And it took me, I think, a good two or three days to recover, like to actually stop walking like Tim Mes. Yeah. But um, but yeah, I just I loved it being out there. And I think trail the trail running community is so friendly as well, which yeah, it's it's a different world.

Joshie:

It's something I haven't done enough of. Um, I see the value and the utility that people get from trail events, and so it's I think it's only a matter of time before I give it a go myself. You talked about the quads um burning uh my so I have a running coach, shout out to uh John Egan. Um I know you're listening to the to the show. I hope you're doing well. But John was telling me that one of the challenges with um with trail running and even road events where there's um downhills is we don't do enough um downhill running, and that's typically what kills the quads.

Carly:

Yeah, yeah. I was totally unprepared for that. I had no idea.

Joshie:

Yeah.

Carly:

So yeah.

Joshie:

Do you have a preference for uh trail over road running?

Carly:

Um I definitely prefer road. Um only because you you train for a certain pace, you train for a goal, and you can achieve the goal. Where I think trail running is more relaxed and um it's acceptable to walk hills in the trails. Whereas I wouldn't do that in a road race ever. Um, but yeah, I definitely definitely prefer the challenge of um you know hitting paces and a goal time on the road, but but also enjoy relaxing on a trail as well.

Joshie:

So yeah, yeah. Um so I think it was 2021 that you started working with your coach um Dave Spence.

Carly:

Yes.

Joshie:

What was it that changed in you that made you seek a more structured way of training?

Carly:

Um I just I I didn't really have an enough of an idea. Like I was going and doing, you know, a speed session once a week, um, but I didn't actually, you know, I didn't understand the benefit of a low heart rate run, and I didn't understand the benefit of um, you know, having a set marathon pace. And then I wanted I wanted to achieve faster times and better results. And um and also I I love structure. I just I thrive on uh I'm very regimented. So having the the program, I'm like, okay, I get up, go to work, come home, and then I run like X amount of K's at whatever pace. Um so it's sort of and and it keeps me accountable too. Um that you know I've I've got a goal, and if I want to achieve that goal, this is what I need to do. So I just do it.

Joshie:

I love it.

Carly:

So yeah.

Joshie:

Yeah, that um unapologetic commitment to the process is something that I really admire. Um so you you you weren't done yet. You for your for your 40th birthday, you gave yourself an interesting present. Um entry to a half mar half Iron Man.

Carly:

Yeah. Yeah, so I did um Hang on, Carly.

Joshie:

I should add, yeah, you did this despite not being able to swim at the time that you signed up.

Carly:

Yeah. It is I did Sunny Coast Um 70.3 in a team, and I just did the run leg as um as part of the team, and I couldn't get over how many different like shapes, sizes, ages, you know, of people that were out there on bikes and swimming. And I was like, wow, this is if if these people can do that, maybe I can do that. Yeah, and then I was like, okay, I want to do the whole thing by myself. So, and that was yeah, just before I turned 40, no idea how to swim. I literally couldn't do freestyle, I can do doggy paddle. Um, so I learned to swim and yeah, did Cans um 70.3 for my 40th birthday. I survived.

Joshie:

How did you go? So, how long before the event did you start learning how to swim?

Carly:

Um probably j oh about 12 months. It wasn't long.

Joshie:

Yep.

Carly:

Was it wasn't long at all. And then I did I did Malula Bar triathlon just to make sure literally that I could swim that distance in the oceans without without dying. Um so yeah, I I did that, I think that was maybe March from memory, and then the Iron Man was June.

Joshie:

Yep.

Carly:

So yeah. And then I Yeah.

Joshie:

What what was your strongest leg?

Carly:

Oh, the run.

Joshie:

Yeah, definitely.

Carly:

Yeah, the the bike was pretty good. Um, but yeah, definitely the run. I yeah, managed to make up a lot of places on the run.

Joshie:

So yeah, awesome. Can you remember where you finished?

Carly:

Uh I think I was maybe like 20 something in my age category. So yeah, not completely terrible, not great, but you know, I I survived, so that was the main thing.

Joshie:

Did yeah, better than many others. Um now, correct me if I'm wrong. Two weeks after that, you ran the Gold Coast Marathon.

Carly:

I did, yeah.

Joshie:

With a torn meniscus in your knee.

Carly:

Uh yes. Yeah, I had an adductor injury, and then from that I had yeah, a torn meniscus as well. So I had yeah.

Joshie:

Did you know you're in bad shape going into it?

Carly:

I did. I I knew that I so I competed in Cairns with the adductor injury and then I think sort of made it worse, obviously. And um yeah, then running Gold Coast was that that was what tore the meniscus. So yeah, was wasn't great. But I did I think I did run a PB though from memory.

Joshie:

So Oh, that's incredible.

Carly:

Yeah.

Joshie:

How many people have asked you if you're mad?

Carly:

Oh, everyone at work thinks I'm crazy, like I'm a loony bin.

Joshie:

So yeah. Um so things really changed um from January 2023. Um multiple surgeries, long recovery cycles um part of me became part of your a day-to-day reality. Yet in between those periods of um recovery, you were still racing um ultras and marathons. Um how how did you decide when to push and when to look after your health and put that first?

Carly:

Yeah, so it was December 2022. I just I got really sick for maybe two weeks, and it was Christmas time at work. Um, and I think we were short a baker, it was a baker off sick or something like that. I was working a shitload of hours, doing a shitload of overtime, and I got really sick, and I just thought, oh, it's just just because I'm fatigued and exhausted, and you know, I was um yeah, working heaps, very little sleep. Um, I work as a baker, I don't know if I said that, but um, yeah, so early start to no sleep. And um anyway, I ended up, yeah, quite sick and ended up with a tear in my bow. Um which then led to an infection, and my doctor put me on antibiotics for 10 days or whatever it was, kept working, and I went back to her after the 10 days, and she's like, You need to go straight to emergency because antibiotics didn't work. So yeah, I had had a tear in my bowel which caused an infection, and my first surgery was January 2023, so um, and that was that was basically to um to cut out the infection. And that surgery at at the time it was totally unaware, um, they didn't get all of the infection, and then it actually spread um to my muscles. But then it was um pretty much 12 months of backwards and forwards with you know, do this test, have a colonoscopy. Oh, that's inconclusive. So um I had examinations under anesthetic and um all this sort of stuff, MRIs with dyes and whatever else it um so yeah, this infection had got um to my muscles. So that was uh I got to hard basket for that hospital and then got referred to so that yeah, that probably went on 12 months, sort of going backwards and forwards, and then um January 2024 I went to Star's Hospital and I actually had a drain put in to try and drain away the infection because the main priority was to keep the muscles intact. Um, so uh which was that was another massive surgery was the 2024. Um and then the drain actually, so I ran I think I let that heal. Um maybe I think I was back running two weeks, like it was in two weeks, but only shuffling and that sort of thing. Um see I ran I raced most of 2024 with with the drain in, um which in itself was uh caused a few obstacles, but um yeah, I kind of didn't didn't let it stop me from training or whatnot.

Joshie:

Um and then the was that with um was that on medical advice? I mean, where uh I I assume that you weren't just winging it and going, um No, no, my surgeon, yeah, he yeah, had clearance after that.

Carly:

Um basically, yeah, wasn't wasn't gonna do any more damage, wasn't gonna make the infection worse. Okay. Um it was just more the discomfort for me um, you know, running with the drain in and uh the dressings and the it was mainly the the chafe was my biggest worry from from the dressings and the actual drain itself. Thank you. Um so yeah, the so yeah, I managed, and then it fell out, and then they tried to repair um and get the rest of the infection. So I had a pretty big surgery um December 2024. Um so I had another massive bow surgery then, um, which was really unsuccessful. Um it yeah, sort of it was a huge recovery, had massive wounds. Um so I had I think I had maybe another four weeks off work for that one and timeout again. Um yeah, so that was unsuccessful, and then because that was unsuccessful, then I had to go back in for another surgery to have another drain put in um to try and sort of keep draining it draining it away. Um and then I've just yeah, so I'm nine weeks post-surgery now, and that was so that was bow surgery number six. So yeah, fingers crossed this was the last one this time. Yeah. So I've I've trained, I've sort of yeah, fall down seven times, sent up eight. So I I um I've actually ran my marathon PB with the drain in. Um I think that was yeah, with with the drain in. Um so yeah, I've just kind of you know come back slowly each time and then just tried to um tried to train as much as I could. And then yeah, this this last one uh was six weeks off running, which near killed me. It was my it was it was horrendous this time. So I had internal stitches and I've done like a a graft of tissue on the inside. Um so yeah, I've been back for one checkout, which was just just before Christmas.

Joshie:

Yep.

Carly:

And my surgeon said we'll not celebrate too early, but everything was kind of um was progressing well and everything was still intact, and um it looks like most of the infection has gone this time and there's no sort of you know, discharge and whatnot. So um yeah, 17th of February I go back again and hopefully I'll get the all clear and hopefully I'll never have to see him again.

Joshie:

Oh wow. Hopefully, oh geez, that's not too far away now. So after that, so assuming that you get the all clear, is it still is there uh periodic checkups though that you need to have?

Carly:

Yeah, yeah. It'll be I think I think you said it, I don't know, so much information in my last visit, but I think every six months or so just just to monitor and have scans to make sure that um you know everything's still all good internally. So yeah. Yeah, yeah.

Joshie:

Having had a look back um at some of your old posts, when I say old posts, I think they're all in the last um 12 months or so. You seem to be quite hard on yourself when you reflect on your performances and um do you ever take the time to remind yourself of how incredible it is? Um, like you say, you get knocked down seven times, come up eight, eight times. I mean, do you ever take the time to reflect on just how incredible it is that you're bouncing back?

Carly:

Uh I do now.

Joshie:

Yeah.

Carly:

Um it's probably taken yeah, probably probably taken this this surgery when I um did the recovery this time, I literally laid on the couch for two weeks straight because I I couldn't sit, like it hurt to sit, and then I couldn't roll over because it hurt to move. I couldn't um yeah, and I just I sort of yeah, have more, I was like, I I kinda yeah, need to appreciate more what or be be more proud of what I have actually done because you know I may not get that chance again if if this fails, like, you know, how many times can I keep coming back? So I f I feel a lot more grateful and I I do look back now and kind of go, actually that that's that's a pretty cool achievement. But um 12 months ago I was like, no, I've just gotta run. I no no excuses, no thing. I I just have to run. Um but yeah, now I sort of think, and I'm I'm coming back slow and I've got nothing booked until June. Um so yeah, just just build a build a base and try and be smart and just be grateful that I can train now and yeah, not not take it for granted, I guess.

Joshie:

I know this might be a difficult question to answer, but with all that you've been through, looking back on your whether it's um ultra marathons trail events or Iron Man events, yeah, which of your achievements or which of your events would you say that you're the most proud of?

Carly:

Oh, there's probably two that come to mind. Um was my marathon PB, which it uh was I was aiming for three hours fifteen, and I came in at three hours fifteen oh three. Which I was really I was really dirty about those three seconds. Um but yeah, that was um that was a huge achievement, especially with everything that I had going on. Um, and that that run also qualified me for the age group uh Masters World Champs. Um so that that was really cool that um from that. That was a really cool experience. Um so I'm super proud of that. And I also um last year I just entered a shit ton of events and just ran while I could because I was kind of like if they can't fix this infection and these surgeries keep failing, and if I can't run, I just I did way too many events, um but just because I could and I didn't really have many goals. And then I knew that it's big surgery was coming um sort of towards you know the end of the year so Melbourne I desperately wanted to run a PB at at Melbourne um just like last year just gone.

Joshie:

Yep.

Carly:

And my training was all like all pointing towards everything. It was going really well. I was positive I could do it. My po my coach was positive that I could do it. And I actually got sick the night before um Melbourne. And I don't really know at the time but in the first K I was like I feel dreadful. This this is not gonna be a good day I don't think and by 15Ks I sort of I I held pace to 15Ks um and I just I gritted my teeth and my partner was out on a course with he switched my my nutrition for me and I think I saw him at maybe that was 15Ks the first one and he's like hey go and I'm like I'm awful and he he reckons he's never seen me look like that in a race before he said I was just pale and wasn't well anyway I was just in my mind I was like I've not come this far to quit I I'm not quitting. I'm finishing this goddamn race and I'm gonna try my best and throw everything I can because I knew I had this big surgery coming up. Um so I I literally just I held on and dug deep and I ended up I didn't get the PB but I come in at three hours 18. Oh my gosh wow yeah I mean I was dirty at the time I was like oh I can't believe like that was not how I wanted to end the year. It was supposed to you know was supposed to be my my A race kind of thing for the year but now I kind of go you know what that was I was unwell and with everything I had and then when I looked at my my resting heart rate usually sits around 44 45 and my coach said to me what like in the the week leading you know the week of he goes what was your resting heart rate and I was like oh my god it was sitting up around 50 and then my HRV and everything was all unbalanced and so there was telltale science and I just I had no clue and then literally on the day just yeah felt like absolute rubbish and got yeah it was lightheaded and I was like I I'm not quitting so yeah that was I was I was proud really proud of finishing dirty that I didn't get the PB but I yeah proud that I was that I finished yeah you did more than just finish I mean you must have for the most part held pace during that event um yeah I I managed to hold on I think maybe 25 Ks I managed to sort of roughly hold pace and then after that I just did you know whatever I could to to keep going.

Joshie:

Yeah I mean let's say that you did pay more attention to the morning signs your heart rate or resting heart rate and heart rate variability in the lead up would it have changed anything? No definitely not I still would have given it everything you've um you you've described yourself as almost um addicted to running and there's nothing wrong with that. What is it that you would say that you get from running that you don't get from anything else?

Carly:

I think it's just always having something to work towards and just the the structure of it and the the training and like the the afternoon that's that's my hour of me time where I can just go and solve all the world problems on you know on my run. Yeah.

Joshie:

A lot of people have related relatable experience to being able to almost subconsciously process things when when they run um and that's quite a if you're running with with other people it's a that's a difficult thing to do but running on your own which I know you love doing gives you that space to process things. Yeah um now you said that you haven't got anything planned until June we'll talk about that in a moment um firstly um what are the chances that you don't slot something into your running calendar in the meantime I don't know if it I don't know if it really counts but um my partner's actually doing the the T100 um triathlon down the Gold Coast he's just doing the Olympic distance and I'm gonna be there anyway so there's a there's a 10k um run event on the Sunday there and it was it was cheap so I was like oh I'll go for a 10k run.

Carly:

So that that's March. But just just because I'm there. So um but yeah I don't I I think I I really want to work towards sort of hopefully an uninterrupted you know building building a strong base back up um to get to Brisbane. And or Brisbane's unfinished business also because I tore my hamstring at Brisbane last year 28Ks in. So that's the main reason for doing Brisbane this year is to to finish. And then I I've got Gold Coast half booked in and then Sunnycoast full. Yeah and that's it so I'm not I'm not going overboard I'm trying to at this stage anyway um trying to have less races and more quality I guess. Yeah is to yeah focus on the training and and building back up to hopefully peak fitness.

Joshie:

Yep and and the other thing I was going to ask about your goals for this series uh how much has your bouts multiple bouts of surgery made you reflect and be I guess a little bit more patient with your recovery and the goals that you set yourself?

Carly:

Oh yeah definitely this this time um yeah my surgeon oh I went went back and saw my surgeon five weeks post surgery and I said can I run yet? And he's like no you can't and I was like oh but it's only a week and he's like no you can't I'm like okay I'm like I if I if I ran too early and I had stuffed up something I I would regret it. So um yeah defin definitely learnt to to listen a lot more and um yeah definitely being a lot more patient with this comeback I it was kind of bittersweet um when I come back because my first run back I think I was doing well over a six minute pace and my heart rate was sitting well over 170 and I was like oh this is just depressing like the fitness like just goes so quickly and it takes takes so long to come back but um so yeah I was I was hating probably for the first two weeks that I only really started to enjoy running again last week because it started to feel a bit better. Yeah um and my heart rate's getting under control again but um I went in yeah bought a new bike as well so I've sort of been riding a bit as well to break things up and um which is kind of good because it gives me something else to focus on um and sort of yeah builds diff builds strength in a different way too I guess. Yeah. But yeah just I'm for the minute enjoying not looking at at pace and just running to to feel at the moment and um I spoke to my coach last week and basically went you know give him a hurry up to um put me back on a program ready for Brisbane and he's like oh we'll just give her one more week we'll just you know get some um because he goes I know whatever I'll I'll give you you'll do it no matter what so um yeah and shout out to my coach who Dave Spence um amazing human being and supports all my goals a hundred percent and um yeah to yeah probably number number one or number two supporter.

Joshie:

Yeah but yeah to um well well known and well well respected in the um Brisbane running community that's for sure um stories yeah I need to hear a bit more about redemption you're gonna have to tell me what happened with your tearing a hamstring in Brisbane um and why that sort of means so much to you as a goal this year.

Carly:

Yeah so I first I did um do you know the Anzac Day crit relays? The the running relays so they um I don't even know who it's organized by anymore. Um but yeah they do for like run clubs they do um these relays on Anzac Day and it's at the Nunda crit track the the um bike one okay so it's a 1.2k loop so I think we had teams of I think we had a team of four and like I I all my all my training is marathon training basically or you know half marathon pace kinda I don't ever run K reps at under a four minute pace and foolishly went and yeah yeah yeah I'll be part of this relay and ran sub four minute K's on the the reps and whatnot and had a bit of a hamstring nivel niggle excuse me from that um yeah just because increased load and then you'd stop and let the other three people have their turn and then you go again at at a pace that I don't usually run. So lesson learned I won't be doing that this year. But yeah so I had a bit of a hamstring niggle. Went to the physio had it all good and then Brisbane Marathon was kind of just a last minute late entry and I was only I was running maybe like I was running easy uphills and sort of taking my time wasn't pushing anything and um yeah it was going okay and it's my hamstrings sort of started to feel a bit funny and because the Brisbane course is two loops and I got to the store the top of the story bridge for the second time and it literally just felt like someone had shot me in the back of my leg and I was like what the hell was that and sort of stood there and I'm like I'll just stretch it you know stand on top of the story bridge stretching it out I'll be right went to walk and I was like oh my god no I I can't even walk what the hell is this and um yeah so I I'd stopped my watch and I was like okay I'll just just try and walk for a couple meters and I'll get going again and yeah no it yeah it it killed to walk I've never experienced anything like it um so yeah I hobbled my way back sort of cut the course and yeah hobbled my way back to the the finish area.

Joshie:

So was that your first um DNF? My very first DNF ever yeah so hence hence why this year is re redemption for you. Yes very much so yeah don't care about the time don't care how it looks I just yeah I'm gonna finish this yeah so with all those experiences behind you um setbacks and comebacks um what does success look like to you now?

Carly:

Oh that's a really tough one actually um I think six well it's a P B to me I guess at the end of the day is to you know if you nail your your training program and hit all your sessions and hit your paces um the the celebration is a P B at the end of the race. Yeah it's sort of that's what you work towards so I guess yeah for me that's success is yeah working hard to to reach the goal I guess is yeah.

Joshie:

And you immerse yourself in the process. It's um you know you love have a deep love for training um and fully commit to to the process. And yeah honestly Carly what you've been able to achieve is quite incredible. And thanks for taking the time to join us on on Run believable your Oh thank you I I appreciate you inviting me on. Look Carly um your your your resilience is truly astounding and we hope to see you sincerely hope to see you kick those setbacks for good. Thanks again for chatting with us today. Awesome thank you I sincerely hope you enjoyed listening to Carly's story. I don't know about you but having heard about her horrendous run of healthy food I'm going to think twice before complaining of if you have a run political story of your own we would truly love to hear it