She's a mother of four and an inspiration to all.
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Five years ago Nicole Purdon lost 80 kilos through the simple act of running. Nicole used to weigh 148 kilograms and could barely walk.
"I could only just walk it was so hard, but I'd jog to a light pole then walk to the next one to recover," she said.
She said, by the time she'd covered half a kilometre, she was exhausted.
"It was such a challenge but I thrived on it, gradually I found myself running every two lights poles," she said.
Nicole ended up joining a running group in Portland and became obsessed.
Five years down the track she is fit as ever and making a future for herself and her family.
"I've been running for just over 12 months with UP Coaching under Wes Gibson and I've already done 18 half marathons, now I'm doing more competitive runs," she said.
Nicole said Wes had trained her extremely hard but he knew how to keep her motivated.
"He's knocked 40 minutes off my half marathon time, making significant improvements, I've dug so deep to get here and I do get so exhausted but I pick myself up and Wes knows how to pick me up, he's an amazing coach," she said.
Nicole said she runs five days a week whether it's rain, hail or shine.
"I just get out there and run, it makes you feel so good, you dig so deep and thrive on the endorphins," she said.
She said juggling her family could be challenging at times but that's what kept her motivated.
"I get my training done early in the morning before the kids wake up and do 30 kilometres, that's my cup of coffee and drives me for the rest of the day," she said.
Nicole said when she started running she never thought she'd end up where she was today.
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"I used to think how do these people run so far, and here I am doing it, I don't know how I do it to be honest.
"When I finish a race I feel so funny, there are all these raw emotions, when I see the finish line I don't know if I should laugh or cry.
"When you cross the line your legs are throbbing but the pain is a trophy," she said.
Nicole said the plan now was to survive her second Ultra Trail Australia (UTA) event on Friday, May 17.
"I'll be faced with 22 kilometres of heights and elevation, it scares the crap out of me," she said.
Her children will also be competing in the kids UTA one kilometre.
"I love that the kids do it with me, it's a great environment to be in and there's no better feeling," she said.
She said she's taught herself and her children to never give up, even when it gets tough.
"I tell them don't stop when it gets hard, keep going until your job's done," she said.
Nicole said running has changed her life and the more improvement she makes the harder she pushes herself.
"The magic only happens when you're outside your comfort zone, I wasn't a runner I could hardly walk but it's about commitment and passion," she said.
Nicole has a busy running season ahead of her with eight more events to see the year out.
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