Alethea’s Story: From Lounge to Long Trails
When Alethea first came across Women’s Fitness Adventures, it was thanks to a Google search. She wanted to hike the Royal National Park, right on her doorstep, and WFA popped up as they’d recently completed it.
“I stalked the website for a couple of months,” she laughs. “Yvonne kept appearing in my feed, talking about membership. Eventually I thought: what have I got to lose? If I wanted to take hiking seriously, I needed the knowledge, the training, and the community. So I joined.”
“I was living on the lounge with wine and stress”
Life before WFA was very different.
“My job had me sitting all day. I’d come home, pour a glass of wine, eat badly, and flop on the lounge. Hiking or exercise was the furthest thing from my mind.”
From zero to 40km and beyond
Fast forward, and Alethea’s achievements are long and growing:
- Royal National Park Walk (Dec 2024) – the initial reason she joined.
- Couch2Mountain program; preparing her for new challenges.
- Stadium Stomp, a huge fitness milestone.
- Charity walks like the 40km Great Illawarra, the 35km Bloody Long Walk and Sydney’s Seven Bridges.
“Oh, and my calendar is full! I now train 3x a week in strength, do Pilates, hike every weekend, plus all the WFA sessions: MNL, Cardio, Trail Fit, SWAT. These are booked into my diary like work commitments. I no longer say I’m ‘too busy’ because fitness has now become part of my lifestyle.”
“The friends I’ve made are as close as family”
For Alethea, the friendships are just as important as the hikes.
“I’ve got Zoom friends I see four times a week in classes, book club buddies every couple of months, and hiking friends from all over Australia. Some I’ve known for just two years but they’re as close as lifelong friends. We’ve supported each other through highs and lows.”
She’s hiked with women across four different states, from Bondi to Manly to the Blue Mountains, and has even organized her own hikes with WFA friends, including the Maria Island Trek and Flinders Ranges.
“I learn something new every single week”
“WFA keeps me learning. The Masterclasses, Monday Night Live sessions, even the discussions in SWAT (the Sunday Morning Online Walk & Talk). They’ve opened up a whole world of knowledge. The small membership fee is invaluable for what you get back: fitness, confidence, community and a lifetime of adventures. You can throw yourself in like I have, or take it at your own pace. Either way, it’s worth it.”
And her message for anyone considering joining?
“Just do it. I would recommend WFA to any woman, at any age, anywhere in Australia or overseas. There’s so much to learn and do and the friendships will surprise you.”
Next stop: wherever the trail leads
Alethea’s hiking list is long: from the Scenic Rim to adventures overseas. But one thing is certain. With the training, confidence, and support she’s gained from WFA, she now knows she can tackle whatever comes her way.
To learn more about becoming a Member of the Women’s Fitness Adventures Community, click here.
