Champion Queensland netballer Laura Geitz – the Queensland Firebirds and Australian Diamonds captain - has been named ambassador for the 2016 Brisbane Times City2South presented by Westpac.
And she quietly concedes she had, until recently, never been a very good runner because that is not what netball requires.
"Our sport is all about speed and power, so predominantly that is what our training is based upon," the 28-year-old defender said.
Australia's netball captain since 2013, Geitz said it was jogging with husband Mark (former rugby union footballer Michael Gilbride) that encouraged her to take her running more seriously.
"I think since I have been doing some longer-distance running it really has benefited my short-sharp speed and my fitness overall on the netball court," she said, explaining how running has helped her cardio-recovery and breathing in the final quarter of a game.
"My recovery is a lot better, simply because I have a better base than what I had in previous years."
Laura Geitz is ready to run in City2South, with no pre-season injury niggles as she readies for the 2016 netball season which starts on against New Zealand's Canterbury Tactix on April 1.
"My husband is very keen to do the 14-kilometre leg and I am trying to get the whole family signed up," she said with her trademark smile.
"But we have a game the day beforehand, so it may have to be a recovery run for me."
She has had a look at the City2South route is ready for the carnival atmosphere on June 5.
Laura Geitz is no stranger to the mental side of the challenge after the Firebirds' dramatic grand final win.
The Queensland Firebirds in June 2015 had to fight from behind to take the Australian championships 57-56 from the New South Wales Swifts, netting the final five goals in a row.
"For 60 minutes in our game you can be neck and neck for the entire match and it comes down to that final minute," she said.
"And that is why endurance and concentration training for us so important because we need to know that in the final quarter, in that last five minutes, we finish off strongly."
Laura Geitz says she enjoys the "close encounters" of a tight, top-level netball game, despite giving fans heart flutters.
"I think it brings out the best in you as an athlete. It pushes you to do something that is going to change the game," she said.
Laura Geitz has recently tried boxing to break-up her training regime, after 32 test caps, a Commonwealth Games silver medal (Delhi, 2010), a Commonwealth Games gold medal (Glasgow) and two gold medal-winning Netball World Championships (2011 and 2015).
"I have tried a lot of boxing and I really enjoy a lot of cross-training in the lead-up to our pre-season," she said.
"That's the re-generation phase where I like to try different cross-training methods that I don't normally do during the season.
"And that includes boxing - and more recently - F45 (team training) gym sessions to add variety, because I think variety is a great thing to have.
"Because I think it is really important to give your body a change-up."
Boxing however is not her forte, she laughs.
"I can't say I'm too good at it and I definitely will not be bringing out any of the boxing methods on court, otherwise I will be sin-binned."
The brisbanetimes.com.au City2South fun run is on Sunday June 5 from 6am.
For information on how to enter visit http://city2south.com.au/
Entries open Tuesday.
Laura's pre-race training tips.
1 – Sign up with a buddy. Training with a friend is always easier when there is someone there to motivate you.
2 – Have variety in your training program. Variety breaks up the monotony of similar training exercises.
3 – Set realistic goals for yourself.
