Finish line just the start for Indigenous marathon runners
THREE Aboriginal women from Alice Springs have completed the first ever Indigenous marathon on home country after only six months of training
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THREE Aboriginal women from Alice Springs have completed the first ever Indigenous marathon on home Arrernte country after only six months of training.
Cassidy Goodwin, Samara Fernandez-Brown and Robyn Liddle had been named in the Indigenous Marathon Foundation (IMF) final squad to run a historic Alice Springs midnight marathon last month.
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Each year a group of 12 Indigenous Australians are selected to train for the New York City Marathon for six months. The marathon was moved to Alice Springs after the New York City Marathon was cancelled.
Ms Goodwin was proud to be the first woman to finish her desert marathon at Simpsons Gap in five hours, 20 minutes and 31 seconds.
“I started at the back at the pack, but as the kilometres went further on, I picked up the pace and I got there.”
THREE incredible Aboriginal women from Alice Springs have completed the first ever indigenous marathon on home Arrente country after only six months of training.
Alice Springs Aboriginal women Cassidy Goodwin, Samara Fernandez-Brown and Robyn Liddle had been named in the Indigenous Marathon Foundation (IMF) final squad to run a historic Alice Springs midnight marathon last month under a full moon.
Founded by marathon runner Robert de Castella, IMF strives for educational outcomes for Indigenous Australians, underpinned by the importance of physical activity.
Each year a group of 12 Indigenous Australians (six men and six women) are selected to train for the New York City Marathon with just six months of training.
The location was shifted to Alice Springs this year for the first time after the New York City Marathon was cancelled.
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Arrente and Luritja Aboriginal woman, Goodwin is proud to be first woman to finish her desert marathon at Simpsons Gap, west of Alice Springs, in a time of five hours, 20 minutes and 31 seconds.
“I started at the back at the pack, but as the kilometres went further on, I picked up the pace and I got there.”
The 30-year-old and oldest squad member felt running outside her hometown was a motivation to finish strongly despite also finding the final five kilometres the hardest thing she had ever done in her life.
“At first, I was actually like, ‘why we would do this at midnight?’, but I am so happy that we did.
“The fresh air here that we ran in we are not going to get that in New York and the support was just amazing here.”
Fernandez-Brown, 22, said it felt “super incredible” crossing the finish line.
“I was so proud of myself and my body because it was going through a lot and it hurt so much.”
Fernandez-Brown finished the 42.195km course in five hours, 51 minutes and 50 seconds.
Having strong connections and family in Yuendumu, she reflected back on the marathon in holistic terms as a part of her bigger life journey.
“It was really incredible to have this marathon dedicated to us, an indigenous marathon, like on country and it felt like it was such a beautiful, spiritual experience out there under a full moon with your own thoughts but also knowing everyone was there to support you,” Fernandez-Brown said.
Liddle, 27, was the eleventh person over the line in a time of six hours, 20 minutes and 27 seconds and said she looked forward “to what doors of opportunity this opens up for me – job-wise, health-wise, marathon-wise even.”
“The journey will teach you so much about yourself and what you can achieve,” Liddle said of the IMP.
The IMF is a health promotion charity using running to change lives and create inspirational Indigenous leaders, and is supported by the Commonwealth Department of Health, and generous donations and supporters.
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