If you’ve ever toyed with the idea of swapping city chaos for regional calm, Lesley’s story might just resonate with you. Moving from Melbourne’s inner suburbs to the leafy haven of Lucas was a leap of faith for her family, but one that turned out to be a jackpot of lifestyle wins.
Lesley’s a triathlete, but she’s far from the image of a lone, intense workout warrior. She’s a fun, family first, outdoors loving dynamo who balances training, work, and toddler life. Talking with Lesley leaves you genuinely inspired to lace up your runners and hit the trail, her achievements are impressive, but it’s her down to earth spirit that truly motivates.
“I grew up playing netball and was always sporty, and then when we moved over to Australia in 2013, I decided to take up a new challenge. I couldn’t swim, and so decided to give triathlon a go, so I could learn. I’ve been hooked ever since!”
Lesley just completed the Cairns 70.3, winning her age group and 3rd overall. This isn’t your casual Sunday jog, it’s a 1.9km swim, 90km bike ride, and a half marathon run all rolled into one epic race. “It’s my fourth time doing the Cairns 70.3 and my 20th time completing that distance,” she says, “and yes, we do love escaping to Far North Queensland for some winter sun, even if the weather here doesn’t quite prepare me for it!” She’s also aiming for the Surf Coast Century cycling event in September as a team with some friends, a perfect blend of competition and good company.
Recently Lesley won her age group in both the Long Course triathlon and Standard-Distance Duathlon at the World Champs in Townsville. But even more exciting was placing third in her age group at the Ironman 70.3 World Champs in Taupo last December. The event itself is held in high prestige and had a very competitive field.
Clearly, Lesley’s no stranger to chasing, and smashing big goals.
But training for big events is a family affair. “My husband and I both plan our training schedules around work and family life. My training gets priority, which I’m incredibly grateful for!” The family are always there to cheer for Lesley at races, and this means Alex her son gets to see that health and fitness are a big part of life.
Speaking of Alex… he completed a one-mile race at the recent Ballarat Marathon and ran the whole way. At 3.5 years old! He was so pumped he needed a race t-shirt (thanks, Gran). According to Lesley everywhere he goes, it’s a race. Plus, he loves kicking balls, basketball, and riding his Spiderman bike. Future triathlete in the making? Could be!
Living in Lucas close to tracks and trails helps with training “For me, I love the accessibility of the rail trail and could run on it for hours (depending on the wind direction!!). But one thing that’s great about being here, is the oval. I have done A LOT of laps around the oval for my training over the past year. It’s so convenient, it’s great for doing specific intervals and quality runs, and I don’t have to worry about cars or traffic. I can be really efficient too. Trying to fit so much into the week, I need to make the most of starting straight from my door, instead of having to drive somewhere, as much as possible.”
Lesley loves the peace and quiet that comes with regional living, too. “I’m swimming now with a great bunch of people from Swimace Swim Squad, which is great for improvements and meeting like-minded people. Plus, I’m exploring new cycling routes around Ballarat, which keeps things interesting.”
On family life, she says, “Alex’s daycare is local, and he’s got a great group of friends. It’s lovely that they grow up together in the community.”
From triathlon triumphs to local races, Lesley’s life in Lucas is a masterclass in mixing passion with practicality. It’s proof that with the right location and a lot of family teamwork, you can have your cake – and run, bike, and swim it too.
Lucas Locals is an initiative celebrating the unique stories and vibrant spirit that make this community truly special.
