Jess Trengove says thanks to Naracoorte
Naracoorte’s very own Olympian Jess Trengove has reflected on her athletic journey and the support from her home town.
Jess put pen to paper to say thanks to the community and those who backed her 2016 Rio Olympics bid, and give an update on her future plans:
“To this day one of my 2016 Olympic highlights was returning to Naracoorte Primary School one month after the Rio Games Marathon. I recall the hours of personal reminiscing as I journeyed to the South East in my beloved vehicle that Naracoorte Toyota generously provided to assist me in my marathon preparation.
Memories of the primary school cross country and sports days, training runs through the pine forest, day trips to Adelaide for competitions, the support among the community and the endless sporting opportunities during my Naracoorte upbringing were flowing.
What I particularly love about Naracoorte is the community spirit, the active lifestyle that is embedded in the culture and the desire to ‘be your best’ that is kindled from a young age
On this particular trip I was fortunate to stay the night with Nikki Smart (nee Donnelly) who had been an idol of mine throughout school for not only her sporting achievements but also her personality and approach to life.
Upon arriving at NPS the following morning, I felt both excited and grateful to meet with the students, some of their parents and staff who had provided so much inspiration and whole-hearted support in the form of messages, cards, videos and emails during my Olympic journey.
These emotions quickly escalated when I watched the flash mob dance ‘live’ in assembly and then accompanied the students on a lap of the school oval on which I had run my first ever race.
What I particularly love about Naracoorte is the community spirit, the active lifestyle that is embedded in the culture and the desire to ‘be your best’ that is kindled from a young age. I have no doubt that growing up in this pocket of the world played a key positive role in getting to where I have in my sporting career so far and I know that my siblings Abbie and Jack feel the same way.
We grew up near the Naracoorte Hospital with a backyard swimming pool and there was never a shortage of activities on which to expend our energies; marks up at the hospital grounds with fad, swimming, bike rides out to the Naracoorte Caves, basketball practice with Matho (Glen Mathieson), backyard scratch matches, Little Athletics, tennis, netball and football – the list goes on.
Mum and dad love sport and always supported us to make the most of every opportunity.
They continue to lead by example with their hard work ethics, motivation to step out of the comfort zone and challenge themselves, healthy lifestyles, perspective on life and passion to help others. I realise now that the nourishing meals on which we were raised, the fresh air and natural surrounds in which we spent most of our time, the positive exposure to physical activity at a young age, the motivated people, the community teamwork culture, formed the foundations that I am grateful to have been able to capitalise on in the years following my childhood.
As we approach a time of the year where Saturdays will soon be filled with sounds of whistles blowing and car horns, it is a great opportunity to reflect on how good it is to be part of the South East’s sporting culture and how valuable it can be for the future.
Lessons are learned on the field that cannot be taught without first-hand experience. These include motor skills, coordination, fitness, discipline, the ability to motivate a team member when they are having a challenging day, commitment to a goal, ability to deal with pressure, knowing when to speak up, helpful body language and communication, learning how to get the most out of yourself and others, recovery strategies, how to be a positive team player and willingness to embrace a challenge.
I can confidently say that every one of those learnings help me on a daily basis in my sporting pursuits and life in general.
I am currently preparing for the London Marathon in late April and would like to take this opportunity again to thank Naracoorte Toyota for helping me to prepare and get to training every day.
As I have said before, although marathon preparation can involve covering up to 180km per week on foot, I don’t run everywhere and really do value have a quality vehicle to drive. I wish everyone all the very best this season and thank you all again for your support. Go the Kyby Tigers.”
Source: http://www.naracoorteherald.com.au/story/4565413/olympian-jess-trengove-says-thanks/
