(That's Wendy in the middle with the drink bottle after completing her first triathlon!)

Name: Wendy Clarke

Age: 46

Suburb: Moorooka

Occupation: Systems Administrator

Current exercise goals: Get fit enough to complete Gold Coast Half Marathon

Current activities: Running, walking, yoga and the odd bike ride

Club/Coach: Nil

Upcoming events: Gold Coast Half Marathon, Bridge to Brisbane Fun Run

What you enjoy most about your favourite way to work out:  the “happy, calm” feeling I have when I’m finished! The improved relationship I have with my body - being able to notice the difference in my flexibility and strength.

What financial costs are involved in your favourite way to work out? Yoga  - $60 for 6 sessions, $25 yoga mat. Running – shoes $200 – being outside – free!

Have you always participated in an active lifestyle? If no, at what age did you start? No. At 45 I started getting involved in corporate events – rowing and triathlon (although I went through a gym/weights fad in my late twenties)

In October 2009, for reasons unknown to anyone, nine of us workmates decided getting up at 4am to row a boat, something none of us had done before, twice a week for six weeks was a good idea!  There is only a six week training schedule leading up to the Corporate Challenge Regatta day! We surpassed all expectations including our own, on Regatta day ending up with a win and two second places! 

Then in Feburary 2010 , 3 of us signed on for the Nissan/BRW Corporate Triatlon – 400m swim , 10km bike ride and a 4km run! When we signed up I could not run 500m (I kid you not!) and I had never ridden a road bike!  Just the training was a huge challenge, but crossing over the finishing line on the day was just amazing (exhausting – but amazing!) and now I am regularly running 10.5km as I train toward the Gold Coast Half Marathon.

What would a regular training week be like? At the moment – Monday nights are yoga nights and 3-4 running sessions.

What are your sporting goals over the next year?  I have to say I am a bit focused on the upcoming events and have not really thought about what comes next! 

Proudest personal sporting moment? Completing corporate mini-tri 

What sporting activity have you not tried before but would like to? Rock climbing, mountaineering

What motivates you to stay active? The next event! And the feeling of wellness I have by staying active.

Who are you inspired by? People around me who do amazing things – Kim – constantly challenging herself with new ways to be active, Michael – who continues to do amaze me with the events that he does – Noosa triathlon!  Real everyday people who work, have lives and somehow find the time and energy to be active and to excel!

Favourite inspirational saying/quote? I dare you (read me) to be better!

Seeming as there is a lot of male pro cycling in the press at the moment (Giro, Tour de California), I thought it timely to have a look at the world of women's pro cycling. The women's pro tour doesn't get anywhere near the exposure as the men's races but that's not because the athletes are any less exciting to watch. It's just that men's competitive cycling has been around way longer and people like Lance Armstrong have helped make it a spectator sport of choice.

The lack of media exposure means less sponsorship. So many female pro cyclists have to also find time for paid work in addition to the hours spent on a bike. And they also have to work hard at securing sponsorship. And if they're really lucky, they may be able to receive a scholarship. One such cyclist is Rachel Neylan, 28 - the current holder of the Amy Gillett Foundation Scholarship. Rachel is currently sponsored by the South Australian Institute of Sport (SASI), Vision Eye Institute, Cibo Express, 2XU, Apres Velo, Endura, Bont, Jurlique, Aussie Butt Cream, Berlei and 33 Interactions. Bear in mind though, that despite being tipped as a upcoming rider to watch on an international scale, Rachel isn't negotiating the million dollar contracts like the Cadels and Jens Voights of the world! As Rachel says, "Female cyclists certainly do it for love, not money!". So next time women's cycling is on TV (One HD and SBS show it from time to time), have a watch and help get the ratings up!

Active Women caught up with Rachel to find out a bit more.

My Mum wasn't particularly athletic as a child. She spent her days running around the hills near where she grew up but didn't go out of her way to be involved in formal sport. In high-school she was a reserve for the netball team. She always enjoyed watching sport though, and actually met my dad in Holland because she was scoring for the cricket game he was playing in! She has been a mad keen spectator of any sport - live or on tv for most of her life. As a mother, she spent her days ferrying my sister and I to training and events for all the sports we were involved with. Like most working mums, there wasn't a lot of time left to pursue her own interests.

But now that my sister and I are older, she has discovered something that she absolutely loves. Bushwalking. And all the associated activities. Last year, Mum joined a bushwalking club and now all her waking hours (and probably the sleeping ones!) are spent training for, planning or doing an expedition. A few years back she took up running and did a few fun runs (including the Sydney City-to-surf) but that wasn't enough to keep her hooked. Bushwalking isn't just about exercise and endurance, it also involves learning about nature and learning survival (think WoMan vs Wild!).

Tamyka is an ultramarathon trail runner. What this means is that she competes in races that cover up to 100 miles (160km) and may involve numerous creek crossings and jumping over obstacles. Tamyka is mainly self-coached and keeps the costs down buying stocking up in the sales.

This is a very impressive woman!

Name: Esther Alexander
Age: 25
Suburb: Holland Park
Occupation: Personal Trainer and owner of personal training business Elite Conditioning

Current exercise goals? To increase lean muscle mass

Current activities? Weight training, cardio (walking), swimming

Upcoming events? IFBB Bodybuilding Championships and NABBA Bodybuilding Championships

What you enjoy most about your favourite way to work out? I love lifting weights. I like the feeling it gives you and the sense of empowerment that comes along with it. Being able to literally sculpt your body is an amazing and rewarding experience.

What financial costs are involved in your favourite way to work out? My sport (bodybuilding) can be an expensive sport and competitions can cost anywhere from $1500 - $3000 and that isn’t even having to travel internationally. Also the diet that we follow can be expensive (a lot of chicken, meat, kangaroo, etc)…

Have you always participated in an active lifestyle? If no, at what age did you start? I have always been very active. My parents had us swimming from the moment we could walk, and at school I swam, did cross country, volleyball, waterpolo and athletics, touch football…the list is endless!

What would a regular training week be like? A typical training week off season is usually weight training 6 – 7 times a week, plus yoga and stretching. On-season and when I’m preparing for a competition/show, it Is cardio every morning for 1 – 2 hours, a weight session in the middle of the day and then cardio again at night for 7 days a week.

What sporting activity have you not tried before but would like to? I would love to be able to ski! I have never given it a go but think it would be really fun !
Favourite inspirational saying/quote? “Anything worth having is worth working hard for”

Emma received a kidney transplant (from an anonymous donor) nine years ago, in early 2001, at age 20. Previous to this, she was diagnosed with glomerulonephritis and end-stage renal failure at 18 years of age. Emma lived on dialysis for a little more than one year before receiving her transplant.

Emma has been an active person since she was young. She says her parents were key in this respect encouraging her to try a number of different things, from swimming to sailing, tennis, cross country and track and field running, and even golf. But, the sport that stands out most in her life is swimming. Emma trained seriously and swam for competitions from about the age of 9. Training generally involved 11 sessions a week, mostly all year round, and competitions took up many weekends of the Spring and Summer months. Emma swam competitively until about a year prior to being diagnosed with kidney failure. Together with a large Australian contingent, Emma competed at the World Transplant Games which were held at the Gold Coast in August last year.

Emma talks to us about her active lifestyle and how she doesn’t let her kidneys stand in the way.

Introducing Carrie Clark a.k.a @carrie_clarke

Carrie combines running, cycling and yoga to keep a good mix in her exercise regime.

Read the AWA interview for more!

Active Women Australia chats to 37 year old open water swimmer Nicole Chester. This crazy woman trains in the chilly waters off the Victorian coast!

We caught up with the Premier of Queensland, Anna Bligh, and had a chat about how she manages to fit in exercise on top of running a state!