Pursuing your passion takes a lifetime of dedication. Sometimes, you might feel that you’re not reaping what you sowed. But the road to success is neither easy nor short. Many successful people needed to work hard and ceaselessly for years before getting a breakthrough in their careers.

In this episode, Anne Audain shares her incredible journey as a runner. Throughout her career, she broke many records, won many races, and inspired many significant changes in the sport. Even back then, when there were fewer opportunities for athletes to earn money and go pro, she was able to break the norms and earn a living with her passion. Learn how Anne triumphed over all the obstacles and made history as an athlete, and as a woman.

If you want to learn more about Anne’s incredible journey and be inspired to set out on your pursuit of greatness, this episode is for you!

Here are three reasons why you should listen to the full episode:

1. Discover how running became a professional sport.
2. Find out how Anne overcame challenges as an athlete.
3. Be inspired by her story.

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Episode Highlights [03:17] Anne’s Childhood

• When she was a child, her parents noticed she walked on her heels. Bone deformities grew on her feet, but she couldn’t get surgery until she was 13.
• After her surgery, she wasn’t given crutches or a wheelchair; instead, the doctors gave her an orthopedic boot to push her forward on her feet.
• When she took off her cast, she found that it was easier to run than walk.

[06:30] The Start of Her Running Journey

• She joined the Otahuhu Athletics Club in South Auckland at 14 years old.
• She tried high jumping and long jumping but ultimately found that she loved running.
• She finished third in the Auckland Senior 800m Champs and was recruited by her first coach into his athletic squad.
• When she began running, the longest distance in Olympic Games for women was 800m.

[10:06] Progressing Into the Major Leagues

• She started racing cross country in the senior races at 14 years old.
• At 15, she won the New Zealand road championships and Auckland vs. Waikato.
• Then at 16, she raced in the New Zealand championships in the 1500m but wasn’t able to go to Munich though she qualified for the Olympics because she was too young.
• She finished ninth in the World Championships in Belgium at 17 years old.
• Listen to the full episode to hear more about how she got to represent New Zealand and travel for free many times!

[14:08] How She Started Road Racing

• In 1981, she left New Zealand with her husband and headed to England.
• Anne got her airfare to England by getting into a New Zealand cross country team to go to Madrid in March 1981.
• She had no intentions of pursuing the sport, but Rod Dixon told her to try road racing.
• Anne then came to the United States and finished third in a 10k in New Orleans.

[19:58] The First Professional Race

• Back then, they just raced and won trophies; but road race directors wanted the sport to go professional to stop the under-the-table payments.
• Phil Knight, the founder of Nike, also supported the change so he can sponsor runners.
• In June 1981, Anne won a 15km race in Portland, Oregon — the first professional race — where there was equal prize money.
• Despite the consequences, she believed she deserved a chance to earn money, too.
• Because she was only in the United States on a visitor’s visa, she got in trouble since it was illegal to accept money and those who do can get a lifetime ban from the sport.

[25:28] How Her Career Took Off

• The United States road race directors ignored the ban, and allowed her to continue her sport.
• She was able to race at the Peachtree Road Race in Atlanta and continued road racing.
• By the end of 1981, she had earned $22,000. She also signed with Nike, becoming the first female runner to sign with the company.
• She eventually chose to become an American taxpayer and deal with immigration.

[28:02] Helping Athletes Grow

• Races becoming professional shook up a lot of sports and gave opportunities for student-athletes to get sponsorship agreements.
• Becoming a full-time athlete allowed her to get better accomplishments.
• She was one of the first to get the H-1B visa, which is now used by many athletes.
• She was only reinstated a week before racing in Brisbane at the Commonwealth Games.
• Anne believes that athletes should get opportunities to grow when they’re young.

[36:15] Anne’s Many Achievements

• She set the world record in the 5000m at Mt Smart Stadium.
• In 1982, she was undefeated in the United States and broke the course records of each race that she ran in.
• Her two biggest decisions were going pro in the United States and changing coaches.
• Listen to the full episode to hear all about the amazing races and accomplishments that she garnered in her running career!

[36:15] Transitioning Out

• She retired due to mental reasons since she started losing focus and discipline.
• Once she made her decision, her coach, John Davies, said she just needed six months of sabbatical, but she knew she was done.
• In 1993, she founded what became the largest women’s only event in the United States.
• She put her passion into building that event and empowering women to participate in the 5000k race.

[45:16] The Biggest Lesson

• Her sport taught her how to live a focused, calm, and healthy life, which was particularly useful during the pandemic.
• Learning to live a simple life is the greatest gift.

7 Powerful Quotes

“Every dream is to go to the Olympic Games and you can always look back and say, ‘It might have been my one and only chance.’”

“So what I was getting out of my sport then was a whole bunch of world travel free, which was absolutely amazing. But who knew where it was all going to go? So I split my career into [...] 11 years as an amateur, and then things could have gone backwards or forwards.”

“If I can earn money out of my talent, then I want the same chance.”

“And so all these people go, ‘Well, they should be doing it for the love of their country’ and so forth. Well, I did it for the love of my country for 11 years, and I was almost lost. I wouldn't be sitting here with another 11 years of even better accomplishments if I had not been proficient.”

“How do you grow athletes if you don’t give them a chance when they’re young?”

“In ‘81, I was two weeks away from being gone from the sport; and in ‘82, I had a world record, a gold medal, and was unbeaten. So here’s the difference my decision made in my life.”

“I think if you can learn to live a very simple life, which we do learn to live a very disciplined, focused, but also a very simple life as professional athletes, that’s [...] one of the greatest gifts that you get.”

Resources

• Gain exclusive access and bonuses to Pushing the Limits Podcast by becoming a patron!
• Anne Audain: Running Her Way
• Uncommon Heart: 1 Woman’s Triumph by Anne Audain
• Connect with Anne: Website | LinkedIn | Facebook

About Anne

Anne Audain, the first professional female distance runner. Throughout her career, she has set records and pioneered professional running for women. She has been inducted into the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame, the USA Running Hall of Fame, and honoured with a Member of the British Empire medal from Queen Elizabeth II for her contributions to her sport worldwide.

She founded the Anne Audain Charitable Trust to support at-risk youth in Auckland in 1991 and the Idaho Women’s Celebration 5K in 1993. Her autobiography, Uncommon Heart: 1 Woman’s Triumph, was published in 2000.

If you want to know more about Anne’s journey and achievements, check out her website. You can also reach out to her on LinkedIn and Facebook.

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To pushing the limits,

Lisa