CrossFit Games Journey to 4th in the World: Christina Livaditakis
Christina Livaditakis shares her journey to 4th in the world at the CrossFit Games, reflecting on teamwork, resilience, discipline and personal growth.
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From “Why Not Run?” to 10km: Todd’s Brisbane Marathon Festival Journey
Todd shares his journey from walking drills to completing 10km at the Brisbane Marathon Festival, overcoming challenges and building confidence along the way.
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Sometimes the biggest goals start with a simple question: “Why not?”
For Todd, that question turned into 10 kilometres, 1 hour and 28 minutes, and a finish line he once thought was completely crazy.
Todd was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2011, at just 39 years old. Now 54, he hadn’t run consistently since his diagnosis. That changed when Todd began working with PEAK physiotherapist Lleyton, alongside his regular training with his personal trainer, Henry (Project Health & Fitness).
From walking drills to running shoes
When Todd first came to PEAK in late 2024, one of the things Lleyton noticed was that Todd’s walking could become slower and more difficult, particularly on his right side. As part of his training, they worked on walking drills designed to help Todd to move with more speed, rhythm and confidence.
Then Lleyton had a thought:
“If fast, exaggerated walking helps… why not just run him?”
So they did.
In January 2026, Todd completed a 12-minute walk/run test to see whether he could maintain enough speed to finish the Brisbane 10km within the event’s two-hour time limit. At the time, Todd was able to maintain an average speed of around 5.7km per hour – and finished the test absolutely spent.
But the numbers suggested something important:
He could probably do it.
In January 2026, Todd completed a 12-minute walk/run test to see whether he could maintain enough speed to finish the Brisbane 10km within the event’s two-hour time limit. At the time, Todd was able to maintain an average speed of around 5.7km per hour – and finished the test absolutely spent.
But the numbers suggested something important:
He could probably do it.
Starting from 1km
The goal became more realistic – and more exciting – in February, when Todd and Lleyton headed to Hawthorne Park for their first proper running session. This was just two months after Todd had undergone brain surgery to have a new deep brain stimulation device fitted, so there was no rushing the process.
They started with short intervals of running and walking, gradually building Todd’s fitness and confidence. Todd was also managing reduced bone density, so his running program needed to be carefully progressed alongside his strength training with Henry. The aim wasn’t to see how much Todd could do in one session. It was to see what he could build over time.
There were a few bumps along the way
Training for 10km is rarely a completely smooth journey – and Todd’s was no exception.
As part of his preparation, Todd took on a 16km Parkinson’s awareness walk across Brisbane’s CBD bridges. He knew that he could cover the distance, but the challenge highlighted that he would need to become more comfortable moving at a faster pace.
So Todd kept practicing. He incorporated more running into his weekly Parkrun, worked on race-day strategies and continued building his fitness. Then, in March, a calf injury temporarily put his running on hold. Rather than abandoning the goal, Todd switched to walking and off-feet conditioning while he recovered and increased his physiotherapy sessions to get back to running safely.
Little by little, he got back on his feet.
Race day
Then came race day. Todd arrived at the Brisbane Marathon Festival ready to tackle his first 10km event in years. Although Lleyton had prepared him for the challenge, he may have slightly underestimated just how big the crowd would be. Todd later admitted that if he’d known how many people would be at the start line, he might not have said yes in the first place!
But he did say yes, and he delivered.
The race strategy was simple:
Run the flats. Walk the hills. Avoid the potholes. And keep moving.
Todd crossed the finish line in an incredible 1 hour and 28 minutes, averaging 6.8km per hour. That’s 17 minutes faster than the time predicted from his original January test. He also set a new 5km personal best during the first half of the race – although Lleyton admits that may have had something to do with his own less-than-perfect pacing.
Perhaps the best part of Todd’s story came after he crossed the finish line.
The first thing he said to Lleyton in more or less words were:
“When I wrote it on the board, I thought we were crazy.”
Fair enough. Five months earlier, running 10km had seemed like a pretty wild idea.
Now he’d done it. And perhaps even more importantly, Todd isn’t finished. He’s planning to keep running Parkrun, keep building his fitness and is already looking forward to next year’s Brisbane Marathon Festival.
More than a finish time
Todd’s achievement is about much more than the number on the clock. It’s about trying something that seemed out of reach and adapting when things don’t go to plan. It’s about having the right people around you, building things gradually, and being willing to give something a go – even when part of you thinks that you’re completely crazy for doing it.
For Lleyton, the goal was never simply to get Todd across a finish line. It was to help Todd discover what his body could do. And Todd did the rest.
Congratulations, Todd. We’re incredibly proud of you – and we can’t wait to see what you tick off next.
Ready to Take on Your Next Goal?
If Todd’s story has inspired you to rethink what’s possible with your own movement or sporting goals, our PEAK team is here to help you build a plan that works for you.
See What You Can Achieve.