Road to self discovery inspiring

Rachel Townsend says it's scary that she knows nothing is impossible.

"I know it's possible because I believe, I have faith."

The 27-year-old Wanganui trainee accountant smiles frequently as she speaks non-stop about running her first marathon at Rotorua in May. Then followed another marathon in Wellington on June 23, and there's another to run in Auckland on November 3.

And at the beginning of December Miss Townsend has every intention of "smashing it in front of the home crowd" at Wanganui in her fourth marathon this year.

Aren't marathon runners that little bit crazy to put their bodies on the line, pounding the pavement in a gruelling 42.195km run to the finish line?

Her smile got bigger as she answered that she was content, happy and it was her crew, the self-named Goons, - herself, Karli Kaea-Norman, Megan Wallace and Goon chauffeur Sue Staples - who did all the hard work. "I just do the running."

"I live to help and inspire others. So happy and content in life, smiling always. Life is a joy, I just try to make the most of every moment of every day, you never know when it may be your last."

Miss Townsend lost her brother Ryan in a car accident in 2003.

"That woke me up in life. I live for him also. He was 19 at the time, so I go hard in life to make him proud and do the things he never had the chance to do and to make Mum and Dad proud and happy."

It is those last three kilometres when her body is screaming to change the pace - stop, even - that Miss Townsend thinks of her brother.

"I think of his face and cheeky grin and smile, and I dig deep and remember why I'm doing this - for him.

"He is my No1 inspiration. I miss him every day, but they are happy thoughts of him."

She says she has no excuses in life to not try and be the best person, because her brother never got the chance to live beyond his 19 years.

Miss Townsend was introduced by a friend to running in 2009. There were those around her that were disciplined in their running regime but she was running for fun, about once a week.

Then in February 2012, Miss Townsend was selected by Rotary North to go to Wellington on a five-day Rotary Youth Leadership Award (RYLA) training.

"It was just incredible. It changed the whole outlook of my life.

"I am a lot more motivated now in every area of my life - my work, study and my family."

Those on the course were asked to look at what they could achieve that year and beyond.

Having already run a half marathon in Wanganui at the end of 2012, Miss Townsend set herself a challenge to run a full marathon.

It was never going to be the first and only. She knew as she crossed the finish line in Rotorua in a time of 3:56:03, 34th in the 15-34 age group, that she wanted to do another. But she also knew there was something else at play.

"When I crossed that finish line I felt so much more love for my crew."

It's this Crossfit exercise crew, a community of family, that inspire her in her endeavours.

Wellington beckoned next and she ran that in 3:37:55, beating her Rotorua time by 19 minutes. She came 18th in her age group.

Beyond Auckland and the Wanganui marathons, Miss Townsend has her sights firmly set on the 2014 New York Marathon and her application has been confirmed.

Running brings with it a whole set of new friends for the Wanganui woman. Ultra-marathon runner Amy Campbell, who will soon be running through Death Valley in California, has become a friend.

When Miss Townsend met Campbell in Rotorua, she was unaware of her sporting prowess, and in true sportsmanship, wished her well at the start.

It was at the finish that she realised who Campbell was, and that she had just run a back-to-back marathon.

"This inspired me so much more," she said. "I enjoyed it, but it was really really tough."

Through the 2-11km stage, Miss Townsend's right leg was numb; as it hit the ground, there was no feeling.

Armed with her new determination, she pushed through the numbness and took magnesium, potassium, a couple of gels and a shot of carbohydrates.

At the 33km mark, and close to the finish, her mental toughness helped push through the pain barrier as her body was screaming to stop.

"That's when you draw back on everything." And then there's brother Ryan in her mind's eye that keeps her focused to stay on track to the finish line.

There's also her "amazing crew", Karli, Megan and Sue, who appear at the right time at the side of the road, holding up posters with smiley faces and words of encouragement. "They give me that buzz to keep going."

Rest is an important component to this endurance sport.

"After Rotorua I could feel my hips and my knees. It takes six weeks for the body to recover."

She is in a rest period and going for one 4km run a week, but maintaining Crossfit, the gym and cardio.

There's nothing like a bad day for her, and if there was, she'd go for a run and run it out.

"I love my job, love my life."

She has maintained her optimism since the Rotary leadership course, through her Crossfit and running.

However, there's another side to life for this young woman, and that is giving back and helping others.

She credits those around her for helping her live her dream, including the Crossfit crew of Matt Rayner, James Richardson, Rihi Karena, Tania Bailey, Jason McCabe, Trish Taylor-Pope, Hannah Dewe, Myles Hodder, and Karen and Hayden Laing.

She runs with the Barlow Lendrum Fitzgerald work logo on her singlet, proud to represent the accountancy firm she works for. It's an opportunity to give back for everything they have given her.

"I started on reception here and they approached me to train as a chartered accountant.What an opportunity.

"They are very generous people and we are like a family here at work in a lot of ways too."

"They are amazing, supportive and inspire and motivate me, and a huge part of me stepping up and doing so well. Nothing is ever too much trouble, even little things like time off for physios, the best bosses in the world."

Her energy is limitless and a friend once told her she needed an off switch to know when to stop.

"I laughed and said I do have an off switch, when I sleep."