Community, Movement
16 September, 2025
Words by Laura Kiel + Em Armstrong
A BIG HELLO to you, wherever you’re reading from!
I hope you’re as excited as I am for this little recap from our Lauz, who headed up to Condamine, QLD to represent Saltbush Stretch in all its BIG VIBES glory!
I’ve asked Lauz to answer a few fun questions below, but before we dive in, I just want to say how proud I am of this girl. She may be the baby of our team, but boy is she mighty! She’s fearless, always says yes, and shows up with 110% vibes every single time.
Saltbush is what it is because of the amazing team we’ve created, and Lauz absolutely carried that energy with her on this trip. Running, stretching, connecting, and spreading the Saltbush love all the way to QLD — she did it all, and she did it beautifully. I was so sad not to be there beside her, but her incredible mum Mel brought the high vibes on the big trek north.
We’ll get another trip in together soon, Lauz, but for now I’m just so proud of you for smashing this one solo and sharing the good vibes with everyone you met — and with all of us cheering you on from home.
Enjoy the read, queens.
Em xx
Who is the bush babe behind the bib?
I am the girl with the most energy in the room. The one you need for a laugh, cry or some all-around good and long yarn. I have always loved the freedom of running, and to be a runner, all you need is a love for connection.
Connection to people and to yourself. Em and I share this passion, and during our team bonding session in May, we tackled some hills in the depths of Grenfell (all while Han kept the Airbnb fire stoked). From this, we knew we wanted to do a half-marathon together. To connect even more in a different level, different space…and on a flat track…in the bush. So this is when we developed the mighty trek to Condamine.
To connection, bring the vibes and share the love. A few weeks before leaving, Em got the go-ahead on creating her own little miracle (IVF), (fingers and toes crossed) so she came along in spirit (via a printed paper cutout of her with the peace sign). Her passion, drive and high vibes within my soul. I knew that I wanted to carry the high vibes up in Condamine, and that I did.
Why did this trip feel so Saltbush Squad?
Travelling to QLD ticked all the boxes to absolutely crush the high vibe quota. Running into old friends, new friends, Saltbush friends and the random pub local.
The love was big, the love was bright, the love was easy in Condamine. Connection is so strong up in these rural and remote towns situated a long way from nowhere, and you could really see it with the laughs and smiles that came from the locals when we arrived on Friday night.
The Condamine community welcomed me (and mum) into a cute little donga to stay for the night. The sun was shining and the smiles were beaming. I never would’ve made these beautiful connections without the open approach to travel up to Condamine, QLD.
How did I fuel the miles (and the vibes)?
My Nutrition pattern is always an 80/20 approach. Looking at the night before, focusing on Carb loading. Increasing my nutrient-dense carbohydrate load to allow for enough ATP (fancy word for energy) stores. This looked like a chicken schnitty at the pub with veg and pepper, gravy (with extra pepper, IYKYK).
The morning of I prepped a chia pudding with pumpkin seeds, Coyo yogurt and a strong quality plant-based protein. Having a small amount of this prior to my run (roughly 4 tbsp) gave me the fuel to start my run.
I had two medjool dates with Celtic sea salt in them during my run. One at 10km, the other at 15km. This salt really helped as it got very hot in the last 5km and my body was producing alot of sweat.
In hindsight, I definitely could’ve consumed more water throughout, ALTHOUGH I’m not good at training with water as it results in gut fatigue (upset tummy), so I knew to replenish before and after the run with water and SODII electrolytes. Post run looked like a cooked rissole (yes, I’m a bit of a meat lover!!),
Sodii electrolytes, plain water and an iced latte, as I of course had to support the coffee lady who left at 1 am to get to Condamine. Coffee lady, YOU ARE A QUEEN!!! The bush-babe balance came further into play with a beer consumed before the run on Friday night and a few after the run. I do enjoy my beer, so this worked well for me and my 80/20 balance.
I am also an avid cinnamon doughnut lover so Coonabarabran Bakery copped a hit of me not once but twice!!
How did Pilates + recovery save my legs?
The pilates definitely saved my hips and knees from screaming and the endurance and spice pilates delivered fueled my mental strength throughout the run.
My longest run was 19km two weeks pre-race and I tapered off on any movement and did only a couple of mat pilates flows and some walks.
I know how to run and I knew that I could run the distance, on race day, it all comes back to a mental game. To overcome this mental block is fuelling yourself with nutritious and soul-enriching food. BALANCE.
Recovery has been very good. The 8-hour trek home as made my left hip quite tender so focusing on stretching and gentle walks is KEY here. REST IS BEST CHICKS.
What was the highlight of the QLD adventure (besides the PB)?
The biggest highlight was all the little things blended together. Waking up to stillness and QLD country air, the smell of an old pub with so many stories within its walls and the laughs that come from within, to travel with mum and spend some 1:1 time with her.
(Not that we don’t already do this at the cattle sale, LOL) and the high fives and claps with all the other half-marathon runners as we passed each other not once, twice but three times- gotta love an out and back course TWICE!
I feel so bloody lucky to have been able to trek it up to Condamine and I CANNOT WAIT until the next Saltbush trip…but for now…
Catchya, Lauz x
This trip was about so much more than a race — it was about celebrating movement in all its forms.
Whether it’s running, walking, Pilates, or yoga, the magic happens when you find something you genuinely love and let it fuel you.
Pilates and yoga are such powerful tools to support your body, build strength, and give you the confidence to dive into other types of movement — whether that’s training for a half-marathon or something else you love.
Lauz will be back in The Studio in November (we can’t wait!), but until then, you can keep moving with us online inside The Saltbush Squad.
So roll out your mat, step outdoors, and let’s keep chasing those big vibes together.
Big love. Em xx
