Captain Paula Terblanche has just two rules in life. Never give up. And, always remember the first rule. This Swiss Army Knife police officer can almost do it all and with an absolute passion for life.
She’s been part of the Child Protection Unit for more than three decades. Fighting for justice and investigating incidents of family violence and sexual assault. And to this day, she remembers each and every case.
“I love children and I love people. And, I enjoy my job so much purely because I get to help vulnerable women and children escape from often horrific circumstances, and create an opportunity for them to lead better lives. Where possible, I like to stay involved and follow up to monitor their progress, which also allows me to deal with the emotions involved,” says Captain Paula Terblanche.
But, as fulfilling as it might be, Paula knew after two decades that she would need some healthy coping methods to deal with the high stress levels that come with the job. When her dad was diagnosed with cancer, it was the final push she needed to adopt a healthier lifestyle.
What started with cycling quickly evolved into swimming and running. And before she knew it, Paula completed her first Midmar Mile – the country’s largest open-water swimming event. Today she trains seven times a week, for almost four hours a day. An athlete who drives herself to cycle around 200km, and run 60km every week.
“Being active gives me that feeling of freedom and happiness. While training, you forget about the work, the water and electricity account, the load shedding and all the worries. But I must add that cycling is my ultimate favourite.
“When I’m cycling, I forget about my past and don’t think about the future. I’m just present and use my senses to fully experience and embrace every moment.”
Paula is a firm believer that you should only compete with one person; yourself. And so, she just loves participating in some of the most extreme fitness challenges the country has to offer. While running the 56km Virtual Two Oceans Marathon in her yard, which is 80m long, tops her list, she shares the most challenging race of them all – the Midmar Mile in memory of her beloved Dachshund, Nala..
When Nala passed on, Paula was devastated and absolutely heartbroken. She became sick and couldn’t get back on track with training for the Midmar Mile which was just around the corner. When the doctor diagnosed her with Broken Heart Syndrome, she decided to push through and dedicate the challenge to her dear dog.
“I was really focused on the day of the challenge. But, just as the starting shot was fired, I saw two Dachshund puppies next to the dam with their owner. I got a panic attack and just couldn’t get my head in the water. Eventually, I started to swim but couldn’t breathe or focus. The lifesavers wanted to take me out of the water, but I refused.
“I’m a person who never quits, ever. Even though I really struggled to complete the mile, I did eventually. I finished last. Last in my event. Last in my age category. Last in the day’s event. And last for the whole weekend’s events. But I finished and I got my medal. Because giving up simply was not an option.”
An adventurer at heart, Paula will always be up for a road trip. Especially if it means there’s some kind of sport awaiting her on the other side.
“I absolutely love travelling the country for sport. Holidays are so expensive and so are sports events. So, I like to combine the two, and really make the trip worthwhile. My parents were my biggest supporters. Unfortunately, my mom passed away two years ago. But I’m blessed to have my dad still join me on the trips and support me with my challenges. We always make it a proper trip, vacation and celebration of my achievements.”
And so, Paula’s metaphorical cup is always filled to the brim, from which she passionately serves others. At any given time, she has at least two or three community projects in the pipeline and often goes beyond her call of duty with talks and presentations on crimes against women and children. She admits her fave project must be the ongoing self-defence program for women in the West Rand. It comes as no surprise that she’s won numerous awards for her extensive efforts both as a dedicated police officer and sportswoman.
“The award that is very near to my heart is the Vita Basadi Award in the category ‘Guardian Angel of the Year’. I received it at the MEC Annual Awards which was presented by Gauteng Provincial Legislature a few years ago. The MEC handed the award to me personally, and the glamorous evening will forever be in my heart.”
Even though she’s always running around, this busybody will always, always, always choose high heels above sneakers. Because – as her mom always said – keep your heels high, and your standards higher. In fact, she believes that you should always look your best. Whether you’re at work, at home, or just chilling over the weekend. Oh, and don’t forget to round each outfit off with a genuine smile. Because when you laugh, the world laughs with you!
When she’s not interrogating perpetrators, serving her community or participating in a triathlon, Paula will most likely be found gardening or painting, especially on a Sunday afternoon.
And, she also enjoys staying in touch with her creative side by decorating special events – child parties being her forte. And sometimes, she’ll even be the one hiding in the clown suit.
What’s next for Paula?; “My dream is to have my own rebounding studio where I can present rebounding classes to children who suffer from ADHD, autism, trauma, lack of concentration, balance, strength and many more. And, I’m super excited to announce that I’m in the process of completing my Lisa Raleigh Bounti Instructors course.”
She also admits that she’s especially excited to be a first-time gran soon, and vows to be the coolest grandparent ever.
She often gets asked how she does it. Well, for Paula it’s simple. Stay focused and have a positive attitude. If a challenge knocks on your door, change it into an opportunity and tackle it with a positive mind. And remember to always enjoy the little things in life.
Paula’s top tips to start exercising
- Start today. Not tomorrow, Monday or next week. Today! You don’t need to get all your exercise in one go. Even if it’s 10 minutes in the morning before work, and 30 minutes after work.
- Exercise with a friend. Someone who can help keep you on track and motivate you to get out the door. There must be someone waiting for you.
- Move your feet before you eat. Go for a walk of run or hit the gym, and have breakfast afterwards.
- Buy yourself a fitness watch or put it on your birthday wishlist. It can really motivate you to see how far you’ve gone or how many calories you’ve burnt. Work in those 10 000 steps a day.
- Sign up for a class. Check out the fitness course schedule at your local gym or studio. You may find that having the structure of a class helps you learn a new activity and keeps you on track.
- Plan exercise into your day. Set aside a specific time in your schedule to exercise and put it in your planner. I am not a morning person, but I set my alarm for 03:45 every morning. You will get used to it, and soon you will be in the routine. Your body will adapt easily.
- Reward yourself! Set short-term goals and reward yourself for achieving them. Try targeting a specific event, such as a road race or a walk-for-charity, to participate in. This can help keep you motivated.
5 Easy go-to home workouts
Exercise is not always strength, muscle building or burning fat. It can also be stretching. Yoga is also one of my favourite exercises, because, at the end of the day, you want your body flexible. When we grow old, we need a flexible body to move easily at the old age home.
- Do 10 calf raises while brushing your teeth
- Balance on one leg while boiling the kettle
- Do 10 forward bends while dressing
- Do 10 squats while finishing off
- Work in 10 arm curls while waiting for your porridge in the microwave
Text: ALANICKA LOTRIET. • Photographer: Hilda Mans Photography. • Hair & makeup: EA Academy.
