Athletes biting into Big Apple challenge
TWO FAR NORTH RUNNERS ARE TACKLING THE NEW YORK CITY MARATHON, WRITES JORDAN GERRANS
TWO Far North indigenous athletes are on their way to the Big Apple for a trip of a lifetime after months of hard work to qualify for the New York City Marathon.
Cyrus Morseu from Badu Island, in the Torres Strait, and Cairns woman Debra Hegarty will represent their families and the region when they line up on Sunday for the marathon as part of the Indigenous Marathon Project.
The Far North duo will be alongside nine other athletes from around Australia who have shown commitment and dedication as they juggle work, family and study with the rigours of their training programs.
Morseu, who flew out from Cairns on Monday, says he will be thinking of the whole Badu and Torres Strait community to get him across the finish line.
Coming into this year’s program, Cyrus said he saw a need for change.
“In my family and community … I wanted to be that change for them — as well change for my own personal journey,” he said. “I have learned that consistency is the key for achieving your goals.
“To run a marathon, you have to be consistent in your training. Don’t give up on your dreams.”
Cyrus said before flying out earlier this week that he was looking forward to crossing the finish line and enjoying New York City.
Hegarty is now a run leader and coach for the Cairns Deadly Runners and also is a leader for another program called Space and Place for the young kids in her community.
“I’ve learnt how to use running as a mechanism to beat mental struggles, overcome drinking and smoking, and learnt how much strength I have both mentally and physically,” she said.
“IMP has changed my life forever for the better; I love seeing the positive impacts we have on those around us.”
Hegarty says she is heading to the US with the mindset to finish what she starts.
“No matter how hard it’s going to get out there, I’m going to focus all my energy on finishing the race while remembering my purpose and that I have two little boys watching me back home,” she said.
“I’m excited to run my first marathon alongside my other brothers and sisters and feel so grateful for this amazing opportunity to do so.”
Hegarty initially tried out for the program last year, but was unsuccessful. However she gave it another go this year, and got through after a former IMP graduate inspired her to try out again. “I saw the amazing and positive impact she had made in the Cairns community, changing the lives of others (myself included) that I knew I wanted to be a part of that change,” Hegarty said.
With many of the squad coming from non-running backgrounds, Indigenous Marathon Foundation director Rob de Castella says what they have learnt about themselves over the past seven months will be put to the test when they take on one of the biggest races in the world, in one of the biggest cities in the world.