PRE-RACE: Janelle and Lyndsey Anselmi ahead of the Wellington Marathon. PHOTO SUPPLIED
LYNDSEY Anselmi and Janelle Anselmi-Notman love to run. The mother and daughter pairing are both avid runners, with Lyndsey taking it up as part of a weight-loss journey many years ago and Janelle being encouraged by mum a few seasons back to give it a go. Anselmi has run more than 30 marathons including six races in the past few months, while Anselmi-Notman has competed in three Ultra Marathon’s and has another lined up. “I started running in 2007. I was really big and needed to lose weight. I needed something to do, and I thought running would be good and in 2011 I completed my first marathon,” Anselmi said. From there she’s completed more than 30 others, including a big 2022, which made up for a disappointing 2021 disrupted by Covid-19. Her first marathon was in Rotorua in 2011, while number 30 was ticked off this year when she tackled the recently completed Auckland Marathon. “My health was absolutely shocking now it’s amazing to see how far I have come and what I can do now.” Anselmi ran an Auckland marathon in January and recorded a time of over six hours, fast forward six months and she recorded under five hours for the TaupōMarathon. “To get four hours 56 in Taupo I was so pleased with. I really did have a smile after that one.” She said now it’s about keeping fit rather than beating times. “I am getting older, so for me the running is all about keeping active. I always set myself small goals when running and I will just continue to do that.” A couple of recent half marathons have her tally of races above 30 and her next major race was going to be a portion of the Tarawera Ultra Marathon but now instead she’s going to do a smaller race there. “Our accommodation got cancelled so I will just do a small run and then support Janelle.” Earlier in the year, Anselmi and her daughter ran the Wellington Marathon together. “Janelle left me behind. It was awesome though to have us both do the same race. It’s not something we do a lot, but we did enjoy it.” Janelle recently completed a 50km run in the Taupō Ultra Marathon as preparation for the Tarawera Ultra Marathon in February next year, in which she was the 16th female home overall and seventh in her class. “It was a tough run, but I enjoyed it. I am excited for next year as I am completing the 100 miler which is going to be a very difficult challenge but one, I am looking forward to.” She said her training won’t really involve anymore running than it does now. “It’s more the mental barrier that is going to be the most difficult. If I can get myself through that then I think I should be ok and able to finish the race.” Time wise, she’s not too fussed as long as she gets across the finish line. “Mum is going to be there supporting which is great.” The pair running together doesn’t happen that often as Anselmi usually goes for her run first thing in the morning before her daughter is awake.
