Ultramarathon: It's all or nothing for mum of five

Marseilles Driver - solo mother of five is tacking the Tarawera Ultramarathon 2 February 2017 Daily Post Photograph by Stephen Parker

Rotorua's Marseilles Driver will line up at the start of today's Tarawera Ultramarathon for herself and for her kids.

The solo mother-of-five said she was an "all or nothing person" - and that her running journey, that began in April 2015, has made her a better person and a better parent.

"I'm determined, excited and slightly terrified about the 100km, but for my kids to see me do something spectacular and take away the message that anything is possible if they just believe in themselves, is what it's all about."

After her youngest daughter was born in 2014, Ms Driver was struggling with her weight at 106kg, and decided to join the Rotorua Group Challenge bootcamp, where she became hooked on her new passion of running.

"I'd never run before, simply because I never enjoyed it. In fact, I despised it. But now I love the feeling after a hard run. It's funny how things change."

She's been a complete event junkie since and has lost 35.2kg since 2014.

After finishing the Tarawera 50km in November, she knew she made the right choice to enter the Ultra.

"In October, it dawned on me that I would not feel like I was complete unless I had totally pushed the barriers - so I entered the Ultra.

Her extra fitness means not only is she more active, so are her children - Kane, 10, Hayley, 8, Lincoln, 6, Seth, 4, and Mia, 2.

"Now the kids have started to enjoy things like athletics and [Hayley] has shown a real liking for triathlons, so it's put the emphasis on us as a little family.

"I find I have more energy, more up and go to go and do things with them, rather than sit around and do nothing at home."

At one stage she saw the 100km as being "about as challenging as you can get" but has now decided her next goal is the Rotorua Half Ironman and, if that goes well, the Taupo Ironman in 2018.

Being self-employed means Ms Driver can juggle her training and work schedules, run while the children are at school and when she gets chance at the weekend.

"Mum [Teresa Scally] is a big help too," she said.

Ms Driver has set herself the goal of finishing within 16 hours, hoping that being fitter than she was when she tackled the 50km race and having a better idea what to expect will work in her favour.

She is raising money for One Last Cuddle, a fundraising initiative to raise money to create a bereavement room at Rotorua Hospital. Her givealittle page is
https://givealittle.co.nz/fundraiser/100km4onelastcuddle. Follow the results of the race at rotoruadailypost.co.nz.