Tim Norton
runner
Tim Norton is an Australian Masters track athlete who has had some amazing performance and registered some excellent times.
- Seven national titles
- Champion on track and cross country
He has seven National Masters titles and these show his versatility as an athlete. Tim started running in the Masters’ category at age 35 while he was still competing in the Open age category at state and national level. Since entering the 30+ masters category he’s taken the top spot over 800m, 1500m, 5km, 10km and Cross Country.
In 2024 Tim qualified for the 40+ age category and quickly continued his trend, becoming Australian 40+ 800m and 1500m champion. These didn’t come easily, as Tim was “winning these races on the comeback trail from a recent torn hamstring and broken rib.”
He’s also a qualified online coach and has worked in online and face-to-face coaching, and when we first met Tim in 2024 he had over 20 years’ experience.
Tim has been vegan since 2016 after finding out about the mistreatment of animals in the food industries.
Overnight vegan
“One night I went deep down the Youtube rabbit hole on farm cruelty and other animal related mistreatment” Tim explained. “Became an overnight vegan. Had never even considered it before that night. I always claimed to be an animal lover. If ever I saw an injured animal or drowning bug in the pool or bird bath I’d save it,yet had never considered what I was eating.
“I guess I believed the myth of humane slaughter and farmers being kind to their animals. As soon as I discovered the truth there was no turning back.”
At that point he was aged 32 and already enjoying Masters Athletics. His experience had not been straightforward.
Before he qualified for Masters age groups, he competed over 800 metres and 1500 metres on the Australian National Tour.
“In 2006 I won the Victorian 1500m championship title at the MCG and just missed qualifying for the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.”
Tim was on course to qualify for the 2008 Beijing Olympics until a head-on car accident left him unable to run for three years.
“This was quite a dark time for me” Tim reflects “watching guys that I was previously able to beat running in the 2008 Olympics whilst I was at home recovering from surgery.”
Resurgence
Since his remarkable recovery he’s enjoyed a variety of runs, breaking ParkRun course records at several locations and winning several big city fun runs.
The resurgence has been fantastic, and getting nutrition right has been part of this.
“I definitely feel that being vegan gives me an advantage over my competitors in regards to fuelling and recovery” he says. “I have overcome lots of adversity with my running, sustaining quite a few long term injuries that have required me to miss many months and years of training and numerous operations, mostly on my hips. I have never given up.
“I feel running and being a voice for the animals through my athletic achievements and coaching is my purpose on this planet. It’s my passion and drives me every day to improve and be the best I possibly can be!”
Tim is also a qualified online running and strength training coach offering training support and programs, and advice with nutrition and race plans. He’s studied a Bachelor Of Exercise Science, and a Diploma of Education, and has over 20 years as a running coach behind him.
Of course, fuel is only part of it, and Tim has an intense training regime.
Recipe for success
“Coaching myself, I run 6 days per week. With the running training, three days per week are harder interval type sessions and a gym session, the other three days are easier, slow, recovery runs. I also do lots of self-massage and foam rolling, and a cruisy 20 minute bike ride to and from work each day.”
Returning to the vegan diet, Tim has faced a few challenges when travelling, but nothing stops him being “completely vegan, no compromise ever!”
“I actually take it even further and eat an all organic vegan/paleo diet, to ensure I’m eating the healthiest foods that will help me be the best athlete possible. You don’t put the cheapest, nastiest fuel in an f1 car, why do it to our body?
“The only place I’ve ever struggled to find vegan food when travelling was in Paris. I was actually surprised at how amazing Germany was with their options. Even the supermarkets are amazing for vegan options. Same with the UK, brilliant for vegans!”
When he’s catering for himself, Tim is able to eat cleanly with an emphasis on whole foods.
“I eat all vegan 100%, and mostly paleo, gluten free and organic as well. So no processed foods at all, or foods with added sugar, vegetable oils or preservatives etc. Every now and then I allow myself some vegan dark chocolate as a treat.
“I eat lots of stirfries, pasta dishes, curries, fruit, nuts and vegetables. I do often crave a full gluten pizza, or donuts though! I do miss my favorite Red Sparrow pizza and the occasional Lord Of The Fries burger!”
Future goals
Tim isn’t finished yet, and plans to be active and competitive for years to come.
“I would love to continue winning Australian titles in my age category and also claim the Australian and Victorian 40+ records over 1500m in the next few years. I should have gone to the World Masters Championships this year but other decided not to compete and concentrate on a solid training block back home instead, and I’d just started a new job.
“I would also love to run a sub 30 minute 10km race some time soon.”
Veganism will be a key part of this.
“One of my main training locations at The Tan in Melbourne has a lot of animal trucks coming past. If I stop to stretch for 5 minutes I’ll see anywhere from 2-5 trucks full of cows, pigs, sheep etc go past. It always fills me with anger and added motivation when I see them, to be a strong voice for veganism through my athletic achievements. To show others what we are capable of. It’s not a limitation, it’s a Superpower!”