As an occupational therapist, in a matter of months Craig Sullivan became a first-time-father to twin girls, plus welcomed Queensland’s only private chronic pain management clinic north of Brisbane into the world. And — admirably — still makes time to keep moving.
“Arnold Schwarzenegger… looks like he would be a lot of fun to train with.”
How do you stay active? I go to the gym most nights to do weights; trek the hill a few times a week; and I also try to get to yoga every Wednesday night to stay flexible and clear my mind.
Are you a morning or afternoon mover? After having twins in December last year, I guess you can say I am a whenever-I-get-the-chance mover. Lately, it has been at night once we get the girls settled.
What’s your favourite thing to do on a weekend in Townsville? Spending time with my wife and five-month-old twins. We really enjoy taking the girls down The Strand for a walk or a barbecue with friends.
What inspires your ‘get up and go’? It may sound a little cliché, but I want to be a good role model for my children. I also feel that if I am asking my patients to adopt a healthy and active lifestyle I should lead by example.
Your most motivating tune? An oldie but a goodie: Bulls On Parade, by Rage Against the Machine.
Motivational quote? 80% of success is showing up (Woody Allen).
Do you prefer to get active solo, or with a buddy? Depends on the activity 😉 I would prefer to train with someone, and usually have in the past, but having the twins makes it a little difficult to set-up a schedule with a training buddy due the unpredictable nature of my household at the moment.
What’s your greatest fitness achievement? Completing my first Tough Mudder last year on the Sunny Coast.
What activity have you always wanted to try (and what’s holding you back)? I have always wanted to paddle over to the Island. I guess a lack of a sea kayak and my wife’s grave fears of me being eaten by a rogue tiger shark are my current barriers.
What’s something we don’t know about you? Well, regarding health and fitness, I am a reformed pack-a-day smoker.
What’s your next goal? Since opening my private practice, LiveWell Pain Management Centre, it’s to provide our patients with an elite service that allows them to overcome their chronic/persistent pain and have access to a wide range of professionals quicker than they would in the past.
Most embarrassing moment on the go? When running down The Stand, I was watching the lifesavers doing drills on the beach and ran straight into a pole; and yes, there were a lot of people around at the time.
Who would you most like to train with? After watching the movie Pumping Iron on several occasions, I would have to say Arnold Schwarzenegger. He looks like he would be a lot of fun to train with.
The training advice I wished I listened to was… Train hard in the gym, but train even harder in the kitchen.
Most treasured piece of fitness gear? Would have to be my phone; I use it to record my progress and listen to some motivating tunes.
My best local fitness tip is… It’s a sin to do cardio indoors when you live in this city. Townsville’s natural and manmade areas are great spaces to train.
Tell us a joke (why not?) My Dad used to say ‘always fight fire with fire’, which is probably why he got thrown out of the fire brigade.
Last words? Getting out in the community and doing some form of exercise on a regular basis will benefit you more than just physically. Start with small regular sessions and build up slowly to avoid injuries and burnout.
