January Members of the Month

InnerFight: Matt Gorman

Matt brings an incredible amount of energy every time he shows up! He encourages and pushes the guys he trains with, and this month, he has taken his training to another level. He has consistently run 10-15km on Saturdays on his own and completed 25km during the Dirtopia event. He always has a smile on his face and consistently embodies the InnerFight values.

Youth: Roman Polevikov

Roman is a regular in our Kids' programme, and he always brings a fantastic attitude to every class. He's enthusiastic, ready to work hard, and sets a great example for his peers. Roman always gives his best effort, and we often see him at community events working out with his dad, Sergei!

But it's not just Roman's dedication to fitness that makes him stand out. He's also funny, kind, inclusive, and an absolute joy to have in class.

Congratulations, Roman! Keep up the great work!

Endurance: Laurinda Kruger

Injuries are tough. They drain us physically and, even more so, mentally. Often, the default is to focus on what we can’t do.

As a runner, being told you might not run for 10–12 months can be devastating—especially when the injury isn’t even to your legs but to your shoulder.

But that wasn’t the case for Laurinda.

It might sound cliché to say she leaned into the discomfort, but that’s exactly what she did. We explored every possible modality and activity she could do to maintain her aerobic base while prioritising shoulder rehab.

There were tears, setbacks, laughter, and moments where we had to stop, rethink, and completely change direction—but the results have been nothing short of incredible. Five months later, she ran a 10km, half marathon, and marathon PB—all in one race—qualifying for both Two Oceans and Comrades.

A true testament to what’s possible when athletes and coaches work together, not against each other. A massive shoutout to all the @if_endurance coaches involved in her journey!

There are still mountains to climb, but we’re in a great place to do it.

Ladies Run Club: Emanuela Michalides

Ela naturally lives by the InnerFight brand values and is an asset to the LRC community. Recently running a PB in her marathon (3:19), she has returned to training with her usual smile following some much-needed post-race and Christmas downtime. Ela is an absolute pleasure to coach, and we are excited to see which race she takes on next when the time is right.

Endurance - Ireland: Josh Proper

Nothing but forward thinking and a will to listen and progress. As our Rookie of the Year in 2024, Josh continues to live by our values and reap the rewards. We want to recognise Josh this month for his commitment throughout January and his curiosity. Josh understands the importance of his foundational training in getting where he needs to go for his targets in 2025.

Endurance - New Zealand: Lauren Joal Jones

Congratulations to Lauren Joal Jones for being our MOTM for January!

Lauren joined InnerFight Endurance in November last year after taking three years off running due to burnout. She has returned to training with a greater understanding of what it means to train sustainably while still having fun.

After two months of building a solid aerobic base, Lauren levelled up this January with a focus on speedwork and longer, hilly runs in preparation for the Tarawera 21km. She has adapted to harder sessions effectively, ensuring she is fuelling properly and looking after all areas of her life.

There are many things in life and training that Lauren wants to achieve this year, and I’m excited to see her continue to thrive.

Keep asking questions, Lauren, and enjoy the process of training and discovering what you truly love to do. All the best for the Tarawera 21km in two weeks’ time!