Laura has a host of sporting accolades under her belt. She was a three-time national tennis champion during her school days and, more recently, the 2014 national cross-country mountain biking champion.
Laura has a host of sporting accolades under her belt. She was a three-time national tennis champion during her school days and, more recently, the 2014 national cross-country mountain biking champion.
Formerly an investment banker, Laura – together with her husband – retired young at age 42. “My husband and I decided that we didn’t want to have kids,” says Laura.
“We wanted to work hard and be able to retire young enough to still do activities we love, like outdoor sports.” True to their word, they’ve been living life to the full, and steadily ticking adventures off their bucket list.
What have been some of your most exciting holidays?
There are so many! Recent ones include a twoweek mountain biking trip in Switzerland in 2014 and rock climbing trips to Thailand in 2016. I’m also gearing up for the Tour de Timor mountain bike race – held in five stages over five days, and covering 450km – in East Timor this September.
That sounds intense! Do you see yourself slowing down anytime soon?
No. When I was younger, I focused more on competitive sports. But now I’m all about challenging myself and trying new things. I want to be as adventurous as I can while I’m still able.
Do you think being active is limited by age?
I believe that the older one gets, the more important it is to stay fit and healthy. You lose your abilities – be it strength, stamina or balance – more quickly the less you use them. In taking care of my parents, I’ve also seen firsthand how debilitating age-related issues like dementia can be. An active lifestyle can at least help to delay the onset of such diseases.
What does ageing gracefully mean to you?
Staying fit and healthy for as long as possible. And to do that, having a strong immune system is crucial to me as an athlete. It prevents me from falling ill, helps my body optimise race performance, and aids recovery.
Adding to that, what do you think about skin immunity?
Skincare starts from the inside out, and is just an extension of taking care of yourself. Your entire lifestyle – eating healthy, staying hydrated, working out – plays a part. And when it comes to anything topical, I’m not a big fan of anything heavy or sticky.
That’s why the Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate is ideal. The formula is perfectly lightweight while still keeping my skin hydrated, and is something I can see myself using consistently.
