Harry Garside fighting against clock after securing last-minute Sydney Marathon ticket

When Olympic boxer Harry Garside steps foot on the Sydney Marathon’s starting line, he’ll be fighting against the clock in more ways than one. Here’s why.

When Olympic boxer Harry Garside steps foot on the starting line at the Sydney Marathon, it will be his first official event.

But, more importantly, he will be fighting against the clock in more ways than one.

Coming off a devastating first round exit at the Paris Olympics, the 27-year-old secured a last-minute ticket into the race to get some “direction” in his life after weeks of “eating bad food … drinking alcohol for the first time in months (and) … having a couple of big nights”.

“I was feeling pretty s--thouse in my body, pretty average,” Garside said.

“My housemate was like ‘mate you should enter the Sydney Marathon just to give you a bit of direction’.”

Harry Garside at the Paris Olympics. Picture: Michael Klein

Having agreed, Garside posted an Instagram story and managed to get a ticket on 12 days’ notice before the September 15 challenge from North Sydney Oval to the Sydney Opera House forecourt.

“I don’t imagine the time’s going to be pretty,” he said.

Harry Garside in his Paris Olympics bout against Richard Kovacs. Picture: Michael Klein

But, that’s where Garside’s conundrum comes into play.

The Tokyo bronze medallist is flying to London only a few hours after he is due to finish the marathon, so the slower he runs, the riskier it gets.

Most airlines recommend arriving at least three hours before departure for international flights.

Garside told this publication he aimed to break the three-hour mark, meaning he would roughly need to average four minutes and 15 seconds per kilometre.

“That’s obviously a goal. I don’t know if it’s super out of reach. I think I’ll most likely find that out on the day,” he said.

“I’ll be pushing it to make it to the airport on time, but it’s an incentive to make sure I get (there).

“But I’m just excited … it’s obviously one of the most beautiful courses you can imagine worldwide … I’ve lived in Sydney for the last few years, so to do it now in my home city, it’s going to be special.”

And for those who’ve watched Garside in the ring – as a professional, where he’s won the Australian title, or Olympic and Commonwealth medals as an amateur – he is often seen standing up between rounds.

Harry Garside after winning the Australian lightweight title in Newcastle. Picture: Mark Evans/Getty Images

While his opponents are seen slumped on their seats, Garside said his cardio was in his “top three biggest assets”.

“I’ve always had a really strong fitness base,” he said.

“It probably diminishes my punching power (but) … I’ve always just loved long, gruelling cardio sessions.”

As Garside prepares for this new challenge, he plans on heading up to Crescent Head, on the state’s mid-north coast, for a few days to “reconnect with himself … (and) nature” to hopefully “feel some emotions post-Olympics”.

He’s never been one to hide his emotions and that plays into putting himself in uncomfortable situations over the past five-and-a-half years.

From washing windows at traffic lights to begging for money, staying grounded is a key part of Garside’s life and, while the 42km marathon is just a personal battle, he said he never lost sight of the life he once had.

“I try my best to sort of have empathy, have compassion, and I think you only ever do that if you can try and walk in someone’s shoes,” he said.