My 2026 Goal - the Sydney Half Marathon!

In November last year, my eldest daughter Heidi was coming home to live with us full time after being away studying for 5 years, and she thought it would be a nice idea to do the Sydney Half Marathon together.

Well I jumped straight away at the chance of doing something together, and it was only later that I started to wonder what exactly it was that I had agreed to...

Let's face it, 21km is a crazy long way! 

I'd have been lucky to run anymore than 5km, since I was 18 - which is almost 40 years ago - and let me tell you that any running I have done since has always felt like pulling teeth; just so uncomfortable and often painful.

And here I was, about to dedicate myself to a whole program of running.... Oh my.

The first thing I did was tell anybody who would listen (friends, family, clients), that I was going to do this amazing thing: a half marathon with my daughter, and how fantastic this would be.

I hadn't run one single meter yet but I was convinced that if I told enough people then I wouldn't back out of it.

I thought the fear of being derided by my failure to launch and what I had boasted about would help make it happen.

Secondly, I asked my clients a lot of questions. 

I have an amazing group of people whose brains I have picked for 3 months straight, and they have given me amazing tips and insights into training and event running. 

Their generosity - and it is absolute generosity – is incredible.

These clients have spent years at fantastic organisations such as Cantoo which is a charity for cancer research but also provides professional training programs to their participants, and I've clients who run for Sydney Striders; the pre-eminent run club in Sydney who have freely given me advice they've garnered over years of training for both the half and full marathons.

Thirdly, and perhaps most importantly, I was given all the right gear for Christmas!

I unwrapped tops, shorts, socks, and great shoes. 

If nothing else, I’ll look like I’ll know what I’m doing.

I've posted a photo below decked out in my new running fit!

Finally, I have started to run.

Heidi and I tried to get a base of about 4-5km two to three times a week until mid-January and now we are trying to up it to 6-7km three times a week.

The serious program we have set ourselves will begin on the 10 February. 

This will give us about 3 months of preparation time.

So far so good. We've eased into it and while it's still unpleasant and uncomfortable, we are feeling a bit better with each run, and we are always extremely excited each time we complete a run.

I will keep you informed of our progress with each newsletter over the coming months, and hopefully my boasting will not have been a load of hot air.

Here I am all decked out in my new running gear - shoes, shorts and shirt  - great Chrissy presents from the family!

Post run with Heidi - feeling great that's it's done 👊