Athlete Profile – Andrea Peebles
Athlete Profile: Andrea Peebles. Keep an eye out – more athlete stories to follow.
Today we stole a few minutes with Andrea Peebles. Andrea is a fit, healthy, fun loving Kiwi, currently living in Brisbane, who will bring an athletic challenge to the table. We love seeing the girls kicking butt in Adventurethon and can’t wait to see what Andrea does.
Have you always been active?
Sure have! I grew up at the beaches and pool, Surf life Saving in New Zealand, and at the Pony Club, and played netball, touch rugby and competed in Cross Country, Triathlons and Multisport at School.
I taught Aerobics and Aquaerobics and ran Marathons and 1/2 Marathons but it wasn’t until I competed in the NZ Coast to Coast in 2006 (243km Multisport Race) did I start to get into more Ultra endurance events and activities.
Why Adventurethon?
Why not?! After the past 14months competing solidly in Adventure Racing (including 3 expedition races) Mountain Biking, Rogaines and Obstacle Course Racing I decided to go back to The Coast to Coast in February 2015 (this time the Longest day, World Multisport Championship Race) after 8 years and see how I’d stack up. This made me more determined to better myself as an all round strong athlete.
I currently love the +24hr races but know I need to work on getting faster over shorter distances.
Adventurethon looked amazing, the short and fast course challenging, and the ability to compete against some super strong athletes had me hooked.
As they say, it’s all about your circle of influence, and if you want to be better you’ve got to hang around with people better than you.
Knowing Jess Simson (current World Multisport #1) is racing, is a good place to start! 😉
Tell us about why do you do off road events
There’s something incredibly energising about being surrounded in nature’s beauty and then pushing yourself hard.
Being off road you really have to stay mentally focused and alert as well as being prepared for the unexpected. Off road events involve many more obstacles and challenges which I believe can really test your mental and physical strengths even more. It’s a challenging environment which brings so many benefits.
Do you think you could take home a win?
There are a few mottos I believe in and go by, and one of them is “Anything’s possible!”
If the event was 3,4,5x as long I’d be saying ‘Too right it’s possible!” However the event to me is short and fast.
This is not my strength however I aim to push it as hard as I can, and really, anything’s possible!
Where do you feel your strengths lie?
I feel that I currently have a fairly constant speed and can hold it all day (and this is what I have been training for) so long distance and any strength based work (e.g climbing/riding mountains) is my strength.
However I’m really looking forward to Mountain Biking (this is what i feel I’m best at) and getting back on the Surf Ski, hopefully it’s a choppy sea!
Who inspires you to push yourself?
I get inspired by amazing people achieving incredible things however only when they share their hardships and challenges as despite of them, they still achieve great things!
Knowing my that my role models also find it hard to get out of bed in the morning, still slip up and are just as human as I makes me feel that I too could achieve everything (and more!) that they have.
I’m also very driven person and want to see what I’m truly capable of.
I believe the impossible is just an opinion, so when people say I can’t do something or I’m not good enough, I see it as a challenge.
Also, the more I push myself, the more I find out what I’m capable of, and the more I want to do. It’s an addictive process!
Describe the atmosphere on magnetic island during race weekend?
Hopefully it’s magical, motivating, mystifying, and memorable!
Where do you live and play?
I live in Brisbane and I play everyday!
How important is your support crew to achieving your goals?
This all depends on the race. Sometimes a support crew is required and having a great crew is just as important as having done the right training.
Having support in your life to help you achieve your goals however is a whole other matter.
This is hugely important.
It’s hard to 100% believe in yourself and your goals so it’s so vital to surround yourself with people who pull you up, expect big things of yourself and believe in you and your goals.
What does your race day breakfast look like?
Coffee, big bowl of muesli and fresh fruit.
What’s the one piece of equipment that goes with you to every race and why?
A positive mind!
But in terms of ‘equipment, it would have to be a visor to keep the sun off my face and the sweat out of my eyes.
What piece of advice would you give someone attempting their first Adventurethon? 
The body will go where the mind wants it to!
Your most powerful tool you have is the one between your ears.
What you think is so so so important and affects your physical performance.
If you think you’re slow, you’re tired, or you can’t do it; then you’re right!
Think positive, powerful, motivating thoughts, even when things aren’t going so well.
Keep focusing on the now, the moment you’re in and try not to think of what’s ahead.
Appreciate the beauty around you and be thankful you have an amazing body that is able to do such great things!
How do you feel about the home turf advantage?
haha is it a home turf advantage?
I’ve never been to Magnetic Island before however I’ve lived in Brisbane, QLD for 16months. Especially for a Kiwi I seem to handle the warm weather well, so could that be an advantage?
There’s one way we’ll find out!