Inspiring Women Featuring Rachel Lee Borg
Meet Rachel Lee Borg
- Two-time winner of the National Mountain Running Championships
- AthleteÂ
- Health and Fitness enthusiastÂ
- P.S.C.D. TeacherÂ
- Animal Lover
Introduction
Meet Rachel Lee Borg! In 2017, at the age of 23, after completing her second post-graduate degree, Rachel decided to take control of her health and wellness following a particularly stressful period at university. Little did she know that this decision would set her on a path towards becoming a two-time National Mountain Champion in running.
Through hard work, dedication, and a relentless pursuit of her goals, she has achieved incredible success in the sport, pushing herself to new heights and continually challenging her own limits. Now, in this interview, she will share her journey of training and competition, providing insights into what it takes to excel in running and offering inspiration to those who may be looking to embark on their own fitness journeys. So, without further ado, let’s dive into this incredible story of perseverance, passion, and success.
The interview
Can you tell our readers a little bit about yourself?
Hi, my name is Rachel Lee Borg. I am 29 years old. I am an athlete, an educator and an animal lover.
How important is health to you, and what does it mean to you personally?
Health is essential for a good quality of life. It means being physically, mentally, and emotionally well, and as a result have the ability to perform daily activities without limitations or pain.
It involves taking care of your body, mind, and soul through various means such as regular exercise, a healthy diet, proper sleep, stress management, and avoiding harmful habits like smoking and excessive alcohol consumption.
Personally, I feel that good health is essential for living a fulfilling life and achieving personal goals. Without good health, it can be challenging to enjoy life’s pleasures, maintain relationships, and achieve career success.
When did you first start running and what inspired you to start? Was it something that you’ve always done since a young age or was it something you started later in life?
I first started running in 2017 at 23 years of age. However, prior to running I had started walking and doing strength training for around 8 months. I had just finished my second post-graduate degree, and I decided to focus on my health after a very stressful period at university.
Embarking on this fitness journey, I immediately started to feel better and better each and every day. After a couple of months, I met a senior long-distance runner who was in recovery at the time and suggested that I start running. Before I gave it too much thought, I applied for my first race, which was a 5.6k with 146m of evaluation at Bingemma, definitely not for the faint-hearted! Â
Rachel Lee Borg
Nicknamed 'Speedy Gonzales'
How has running challenged and pushed you outside of your comfort zone?
Running has moulded me into the person I am today. By training, I hold myself accountable, each day, I show up and give it my all. I personally think, running is a reflection of life where it has also helped me reach my full potential.
Running helps overcome physical and mental barriers, therefore it can be a very powerful experience. One that builds resilience and confidence.
Can you share with us what a typical day looks like for you?
My days are hectic, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.Â
Here is what a typical day entails:
- I wake up at 5 am
- First things first I feed the cats
- Drink some water
- By 5:30 I’m out of the house
- I fit in my training before work where normally I’d be done by 7:15
- I prepare for work
- I have something to eat
- I go to work
- By 3 pm I arrive home. That’s when I clean my house and find time to cuddle my cats a little.
- By 4 pm I would be out again to do my second training session (it would be either walking or strength training and some biking).
What are some of the races you’ve competed in, and which was your favourite?
To date I have competed in different distances, 1000m, 1500m, 3000m, 5000m, 10,000m and half marathon (21k).
My favourite one has to be the first race that I have ever done which was the National Mountain Running Championships 5.6km +146m, which I won last year, taking on the title of the National Mountain Running Champion for 2022.
Prior to this I also had a breakthrough in 2021 where I set my best time on the 5,000m on track with a time of 17’46’’. Earning the title of the National Champion for 2021 on the distance.
Can you guide us on what kind of training you do to prepare for races?
Running is my main discipline; however, cross-training is extremely important too. Hence, I combine running with cycling and weight training. Each and every distance has its own specific training. I follow a training program which is cater-made of my needs by my coach Ivan Rozhnov.
How do you maintain discipline, consistency, and motivation in your running routine?
I honestly believe that discipline, consistency and motivation are requirements for any sport but these pillars are so different from each other. Let me explain… In the beginning, motivation would be high, however, it does not sustain you. You are then left with discipline and consistency.
Discipline, explained in simple terms is, showing up for yourself each and every day no matter what. Doing what needs to be done. Even though there will be days when you feel tired, not in the mood or whatever excuse you can find.
On the other hand, there is consistency… do you become good at something just by doing it once weekly? No. The more you do something the better you get at it, and hence why I run every single day no matter what.
How has running helped you to discover new places or connect with nature in different ways?
Running is very much a solo sport which you can pretty much do anywhere as long as you have a pair of running shoes. That’s partly why I think running is the best sport ever, I might be slightly biased here haha!
Yes, I must say that since I run long distances, I do like to change the route sometimes to keep it interesting. Running has also opened up opportunities for me to travel abroad to compete. Some of the places I’ve competed in are:
- El Paso in the Canary Islands where the European Athletics Off-Road Running Championships took place last July 2022.
- I also went to the Mountain Running World Cup in Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Both these places have scenic landscapes. Whilst running, I felt a strong connection with nature. One that was unlike no other.
How do you stay safe while running, especially in unfamiliar or potentially dangerous areas?
As much as possible, I try to run in areas, I feel safe in, however, there are times when I know that the training is going to be intense, and I would not have access to anyone. In those cases, I inform my fiancé, I give him the location and the estimated time duration the run will take and if exceeds the time limit, I tell him to worry!
Have you ever faced any challenges or setbacks in your running journey, and how did you overcome them?
Setbacks and challenges are part of sports, and I believe it is part of the sports which few warn you about. It cannot always be rainbows and rays of sunshine.
The major setbacks were injuries which I endured due to running. Apart from that one needs to remember that running is a reflection of life. If you are enduring a difficult time it will also be evident in your running performance.
How do you set and work towards running goals, both short-term and long-term?
I promise myself that I will keep on showing up day after day no matter what. Of course, every runner wants to do personal bests and keep on improving and peaking but we all know that there will be times when regardless of how much training and how well-prepared you feel there will be races which do not go to plan.
There will be setbacks which will affect fitness levels, but that’s part of the game and one has to be creative to find other ways of making it work.
How do you balance pushing yourself to improve with taking care of your body and preventing injury?
Recovery is key to improvement, even though we get the urge to overtrain, in the long run, that’s not feasible, you have to listen to your body.
I follow the motto train eat sleep repeat, which incorporates recovery. For rehabilitation, I go to physios and for sports, I go for massages.Â
How do you approach nutrition and hydration to fuel your running and recovery?
The element of nutrition is a challenging one for me personally. The idea that one size fits all is completely untrue yet the urge to embark on a new nutrition plan is so hard.
After 7 years I can finally say that I feel at peace with the way that I approach nutrition. Nowadays, I feel that I am much more in balance with eating foods that make me feel my best whilst also enjoying a treat every once in a while. Balance is truly the key.
How has running impacted your mental and emotional well-being?
Running has had a positive impact on my mental and emotional well-being. This sport provides a sense of accomplishment and builds self-confidence, it also serves as a way to relieve anxiety and depression. It is my daily need.
How has running helped you develop a sense of community and belonging?
Running can be a social activity that brings people together in a shared passion for fitness and physical activity. Through running I have built numerous connections and found very supportive relationships.
How do you balance your passion for running with other areas of your life, such as family and work?
It is tough, very tough. I want to give my all in everything that I do but obviously, time is limited. I believe that staying present and in the moment is important in order to make sure that you are giving your full attention to the person or task at hand.
Can you talk about any personal goals or milestones that you’ve achieved through running, beyond just races or competitions?
Running has taught me so much. The most important lesson it taught me was to take care of myself holistically.
Mental, physical and emotional aspects all need to be in check, in order to, flourish and reach your full potential. Sport has taught me to appreciate, what my body gives me on a daily basis, which is the ability to move. Whether it is through running or yoga or cycling, all is a gift.
Can you talk about any future goals or races you’re training for?
My aim is to keep on improving whilst keeping my positive outlook on life. My next race is the Malta Mountain Running Champions which will be taking place next Saturday 6th May. This was the first race I signed up for hence why it is very close to heart.
update: Rachel has placed 1st in the race. Well done Rachel!!
Can you discuss any advice you have for women who are hesitant to start running or who may feel intimidated by the sport?
Running is a beautiful sport, as I previously said you can do it everywhere. My advice is to go for it, do not expect it to be easy but give it time. All good things take time and it only takes a couple of days for one to fall in love with the feeling that running provides.
Is there any other sport you enjoy besides running and what are the things you enjoy about it?
I am an island girl, so swimming has to be on the top of the list. Swimming makes me feel like I am in a whole different universe just me and myself. Â
How has running challenged and pushed you outside of your comfort zone?
Running has made me the person I am today. I have learned to tolerate the pain and to endure anything that comes my way.
Who are the people in your life that serve as a source of motivation and strength?
My mother, who supports me and has given me a lot of values I live by. The most important ones being discipline and honesty.
What other hobbies or interests do you have besides running?
Running takes up most of my free time but I like reading, travelling. And walking in nature.
What made you decide to adopt 7 cats?
The number of stray cats trying to find a home is astonishing, Since I had the resources, I decided to try and help as best I can. I love animals and feel that not enough is being done to tackle this national problem.
Do you have other animals besides cats?
I have 3 dogs and a parrot.
How do all your animals live in harmony?
The dogs and the parrot live at my mother’s place. The cats have grown together and are accustomed to each other except for the elderly cat we adopted last. However, the other cats accepted him after about 3 days and we did not have many problems after that.
What inspired you to become a PSCD teacher?
Growing up I always felt that school focused on the academic but not on the social and emotional well-being of the students. This inspired me to pursue a career in teaching PSCD to try and make a difference.
Can you share a memorable experience you had whilst teaching?
There is no one memorable experience. I feel that every time I help a student it gives me a lot of satisfaction.
What charities/projects are near and dear to your heart?
Second chance and kitty guardians.
Dear-Rachel,
We would like to thank you for sharing your journey with us. We wish you the best of luck and please keep us updated on your journey.
Kind regards,
Dear-Donna
