What does BRAVER mean to you?

We asked this question this month as a step to entering a Giveaway we ran. The responses we received were nothing short of incredible and one thing remains clear: there is no wrong answer. Bravery is also not about comparison. It’s about stepping up in your own way, whether that means getting out of bed on a hard day or summiting a mountain. Each act of bravery is valid, personal, and powerful.

Below you'll find the messages we received and are so moved by. As always, each story deserves to be heard. We hope they inspire you as much as they have us. 

"Being Braver is feeling unsteady but holding on. Hitting the lows but getting back up. Learning to live and never losing sight of who you are...We all have different versions of ourselves for different days and different circumstances. Stay true to yourself because you are important to somebody" - Kirsty

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"As a slow runner... hold up - there it is. Right there! The phrase that many of us might shy away from: "slow runner." But here's the thing - being a slow runner and still showing up anyway? That's BRAVER.

It's about posting my journey, my stats, and my progress, even though they are not on par with the top influencers or elite athletes.

It's showing up every day as an imperfect athlete, giving it my all no matter how tired or unmotivated I might feel. Some days, it's a struggle. But it's all about discipline over comfort. It's my race, my pace, and I own it. Being BRAVER means getting off the couch and going out for a run, even if it's a slow one.

And the best part? Not caring what anyone else thinks. Because when I run, I'm not just showing up for myself - I'm showing up for all the other slow runners out there too. Even the ones who might still be on the sidelines, unsure if they belong in the running community.

Guess what? We do belong. All of us. Every runner, regardless of pace, deserves a space in this community. It's not all about speed. It's about being BRAVER every single day.

Getting up, stepping out, and continuing our running Journey, no matter how small the steps might seem. So, here's to all of us - the slow runners, the beginners, the ones just starting.

We are BRAVER. Let's keep showing up." - Rebecca

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'Just because you can, doesn't mean you should!' We live in a culture today where we get praised for doing some pretty dumb and silly things that might seem heroic! But there is also victory and maturity in saying no when we need to, or 'hey that's not a wise thing to do at this point in time' - whatever that may be. We push our bodies to the extreme and hope it shows up for us, again and again. And then the body whispers to us, but pride or kudos talk louder.

I didn't get to run today, and I was quite gutted, not because I was running for me, but today was about helping others tick their boxes and achieve their goals, and my word was I excited to run with my friends! I had some laryngitis and no voice since Thursday, but HR was super low during a shakeout run yesterday and all felt good, great actually!

Even after an hour coughing spree at 2am, I tried to justify that I was hundreds (we all do...) - I didn't want to let my friends down. I could've run. My body feels good in fact. But I had a deep conviction and realisation that NO race is worth compromising your health. And NO amount of FOMO is either.

We all think we'll be okay. We all think myocarditis and cardiac issues happen to other people, not us. We always think we'll have many days ahead with perfect health. Until we don't.

This is your reminder to be smart, as hard as it may be. Health is not something to take for granted, especially if it is something we can actually control and be responsible about!

And remember this:

'Everything is super important, until you're sick. Then you realise there was only ever one thing that was important - your health! But nonetheless, we borrow from the bank of our health, taking loans on stress and sleepless nights to pay for something that doesn't really matter.'

I didn't get to run, but I did get to support all you legends on the sidelines (with no voice) but a presence, and I'm just so so proud of you all.

THIS is what BRAVER means to me.' - Lauren

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"Being braver means stepping outside your comfort zone, facing challenges head-on, and growing through adversity.

It helps you overcome fear, push past limits, and unlock your true potential. Bravery isn’t the absence of fear but the courage to keep moving forward despite it.

It’s what leads to progress, resilience, and a deeper sense of confidence in yourself." - Megan

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"I could talk for hours about consistency and discipline but it's the bravery to come back after countless sessions that run with this theme. Everyone wants to see the pretty and impressive stuff. However, progress is made through failure, it's a very real part of growing as a lifter and a human" - Christine

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"This March, I proved to myself that I am stronger than I ever knew and braver than I ever thought. I ran my first half marathon and certainly not my last. A huge thank you to my baby sis for being my guiding light and for being there every step of the way to the finish line. You are amazing! Your support and love mean the world to me. Words just aren't enough! You are my brave Jayda. To my amazing family and friends who have believed in me through it all, and to my little champ Kian, who helped me cross that finish line — this is for all of us. This is my brave." - Shannon B

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"What does braver mean to me? Standing ten toes down..when standing isn't easy." - Yvette

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"Braver is coming to understand that life rarely goes to plan. Braver is resilience in the face of multiple setbacks. Braver is hitting rock bottom but choosing to climb back up and try again.

Braver is having the odds stacked against you - it is being the underdog...BUT hungry dogs run faster.

Braver is hearing the dream in your heart and chasing it with or without support. Braver is commitment and discipline long after the excitement has left. Braver is choosing to show up for YOURSELF and not just those you love. Braver is acknowledging and feeling our feelings. Braver is learning to grow through what we go through. BRAVER is the human I am to be" - Genevieve

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"It's starting to make jewellery again - putting it out there = putting myself out there. It's being creative when it’s the last thing I ‘want’ to be. It's learning something new with my sister. It's staying calm when seeing a shark. Really, it’s the tiny things like doing the dishes or making the bed that feel like they take bravery to do lately." - Karen

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“To be able to break away from the norm, to try something new even if you fail or are scared to fail. To be able to walk in public without being shy, or worrying what people think of you. To be able to walk up to a random stranger and compliment or chat to them. Braver means being 'you', being yourself” - Paulo

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"Braver means support" - Shannon W

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Thank you again to all who shared their version of Braver. If you'd like to share yours, go here or simply comment on this post. Your experiences are there to share, you never know who may need to hear a bit of what YOUR brave is today. Till we speak again, stay Braver our there, Astrid.