Carly Barkle’s running journey isn’t a straight line... it’s a true masterclass in persistence.

From elite junior sport and state-level netball to months of illness with glandular fever, chronic fatigue, single parenting, and a staggering run of surgeries, Carly’s story is defined not by uninterrupted success, but by her refusal to stay down (as she says, get knocked down seven times. get up eight).

In this powerful episode of Runbelievable, Carly unpacks what it takes to keep coming back. From buying a treadmill “just in case she had to stop,” to parkrun breakthroughs, podium finishes, and marathons run through illness and injury, Carly opens up about her deep love for being active, the joy she finds in training, and why redemption still matters.

It’s a raw, honest conversation about resilience, patience, and loving the process even when the body keeps pushing back.

In this episode:

• Growing up in elite junior sport
• Glandular fever, chronic fatigue, and long recovery cycles
• Returning to running through uncertainty
• Training through injury and repeated surgeries
• Why endurance suits her more than speed
• The power of community and coaching
• Redemption races and redefining success

Runbelievable: real runners, unreal stories.

Interested in being a guest on the show? Hit us up!

👉 Everything Runbelievable:

http://runbelievable.au

🎧 New episodes drop weekly; hit follow so you don’t miss a lap!