“I’ve hated running my whole life,” said Lynne Van, senior associate at Anthony Harper, when asked why she was competing in the Auckland Marathon on 1 November.
“I actually started running about three years ago. It was a New Year’s resolution – to get over it. I haven't looked back,” she told
NZLawyer.
After a career in hospitality, Van joined the legal profession quite late, in 2008. She recently moved over to Anthony Harper where she now works in litigation – a field she said she thoroughly enjoys.
“I think it’s the variety and challenge. It’s challenging in the sense that you really never know what each day is going to bring. Every day is different.”
This sense of challenge seems to have led Van to the Auckland Marathon, where she is eager to compete and help the Starship Foundation, a charity that takes care of sick children.
“I think it’s such a great cause. It’s great to have an organisation that is solely devoted to caring for children. Like any charitable organisation, they desperately need funds; for equipment and operations,” she said.
Used to doing 5km “social events”, Van is currently preparing herself for the marathon. She explained her rigorous training routine.
“At the moment it involves 5.30am starts. And then four to five runs a week, and each week you increase mileage. It’s a 12 week build-up.”
No matter what happens afterwards, Van said she won’t call it quits. She also has her eye on running the Queenstown and New York Marathons in the future.
