The Melbourne Marathon - Karin's Story

At approximately 12.15pm EST on 14^th October 2012 I crossed the finish line of the Melbourne Marathon. This was my first but hopefully not my last marathon. The battle to get there was not only a physical but a mental one. The feeling of self-accomplishment was overwhelming to say the least! Being an avid football fan the fact that I was going to be running onto the haloed grounds of the MCG was reason enough to be nervous. Add to the fact that I firstly had to run 42.195kms just heightened my anxiety.

My training programme was slightly unorthodox as I didn’t have a coach and was really just picking up information as I requested it from Perth Crew marathoner Andrea Bell and the guys at The Running Centre.  Added to the mix was a trip to Bali 5 weeks out from marathon and then a couple of very nasty infected mosquito bites that threatened to destroy my dreams of obtaining this goal. Seventeen days of antibiotics and NO running at 3 weeks out meant my final long runs of 32kms had to be missed. I had a great cheer squad with the Perth Crew that was silently praying to the gods of all religions, and the universe in general, to just fix me.  Eight days out and I did a test run of 25 minutes through Kings Park with Sarah Stopher and I’m not sure who was happier that neither of us broke. I continued to do a 6-7kms run every day until Friday morning just to remind my leg muscles that they were going to need to move a long way for me on Sunday!

On Friday evening after a 45min delay Moira Clay, Sarah Stopher and myself left on a plane bound for Melbourne. Thankfully my travel companions calmed and reassured me as the self-doubt demons in my head were screaming at the tops of their lungs. Saturday morning was a trip into the Expo to pick up my bib and absorb some of the magic that is the Melbourne Marathon Festival. A bit of stress relief shopping and a lovely late lunch did stop the nerves for a while. Saturday evening was a last check of clothes, fuel belts, and setting alarms for the big day ahead.  Thank goodness there was some Perth Crew up and on facebook at midnight as by 3am Melbourne time I wasn’t sleeping anymore and my room-mate was still in the land of nod.

With Moira & Sarah - Life is a Gift

At the start line

We arrived at the “G” at just before 6am. Saying we were nervous would have been the understatement of the century! We were all heading into unknown territory. Sarah’s battles with injury had her just wanting to finish unbroken. Moira was lining up for her first half marathon just 13 short months since being proud as punch for running 2kms straight after Brisbane Finale, and I was attempting to squash a life time of feelings of self-doubt and  failure by finishing something I had started.

There were many highlights along the way but one of the most memorable was at the 41km mark. Two Perth Crew members, Leanne Bank and Andrea Bell were walking towards me. Here were two people who had inspired me to run further than I ever dreamed I could and they were there cheering me! Andrea then stunned me by handing her gear to Leanne and saying she was going to run me into the MCG. After already running the marathon herself I saw this as one of the most selfless acts anyone had ever done for me. She knew my nerves would threaten to engulf me as I neared the finish and she guided me towards the line. I will never forget it. 

Flinders Street

St Kilda Road

Today I can say these words. “I am a Marathon Finisher. I completed the 42.195kms course”.  I only have one message for anyone beginning their journey to a fitter, healthier lifestyle….JFDI!

With Andrea & Sarah

I did it!

  Written by Karin Smith, 12wbt Perth Crew Member

Stay tuned for Moira's story about her half marathon adventure, and you can check out more photos of the Perth Crew team on the day on our Facebook page by clicking here!