Ben Rudd - Fitness and Health Focus

Fitness and Health Focus

Written by Journalist, Angela Norval - Bundaberg Today, Friday August 27, 2021 

Fitness, health and overall wellbeing - these are the ideals that St Luke’s Anglican School student Ben Rudd lives by.

As well as being an integral member of the St Luke’s Anglican School study body and previously the Year 9 school dux, Ben is making a name for himself on the triathlon circuit, placing well at the Lake Macquarie Triathlon this year.

It was a decision to improve his overall general fitness that saw Ben start training with running with coach Rebecca Jenner through the school’s after school activities program.

He really enjoyed it and decided to compete in the Wide Bay Triathlon trials, making it to the next level.

Ben was successful in triathlons and hasn’t look back since, training regularly with Rebecca at Next Jenneration Coaching.

“Triathlon is a sport of endurance and knowing that it’s not over until you cross the finish line; so keep trying hard and putting in the hard work through your training to improve,” Ben said.

“I look at my school work in the same way I see triathlons in that you need to train and work hard to achieve in both.

“Overall for me, I am proud and it feels really good when I succeed in triathlons but also in school, although I know there is always room to improve and get better.”

Given his commitment to triathlons and Year 10 studies at St Luke’s Anglican School, time management is key in Ben’s life like many other successful athletes.

Ben starts his day with training before going to school for the day, coming home and doing his homework before dinner, appreciating that it was important to put in a couple of hours each night for homework.

One subject that comes naturally for Ben at school is PE and he is impressed with the detail the Year 10 syllabus provides him.

“I love to learn new things and through what I learn in PE I am able to apply it to my sports which is a win win situation,” he said.

“Doing both senior PE and also a Certificate III in fitness at CQUniversity has allowed me to cover a range of topics including physiology, fitness and nutrition.

“It has been really interesting to learn about the body and ways to train and I continue to be passionate about physical activity and learning about the theory behind it interests me and is something I would like to pursue through a career.

“I am lucky as well that St Luke’s offers a lot of sporting opportunities for students like me and I enjoy both rugby and touch football and being a part of the school teams at local carnivals.

“Ultimately for me whatever sport I am a part of, I feel like I am part of a strong team with my friends and peers training beside me.” Looking to the future, Ben is inspired by Rebecca Jenner and hopes, just like her, to be doing well in triathlons before passing that passion onto younger generations, training