CRAIG Honan is accustomed to his everyday duties of farm work, but will soon join thousands of people in America to run the streets of New York.
The Hallett farmer is swapping his boots for sneakers to take part in the New York City Marathon on Sunday, November 6.
He will take part in the world’s biggest marathon with the help and support of his family.
Training with his children as they prepared for cross country competitions inspired Craig to get out and running again and, after learning the Jodi-Lee Foundation had a team represented at the New York marathon, he applied.
Craig will run the 42-kilometre race as part of the volunteer organisation committed to fundraising and creating awareness about bowel cancer.
It is a charity Craig is keen to support and promote. His wife’s family has a history of the illness, while members of his family have been diagnosed with other cancers.
Running in New York is a far cry from the dirt roads and hills surrounding his farm, where he has a self-replacing Merino flock, breeds prime lambs, grows wheat and has a small feedlot.
This is not his first marathon and he is looking forward to being part of the atmosphere in New York, which is described as somewhat like an out-of-body experience.
Craig said his main goal was to run a personal best, but he understood this would be influenced by the crowd and the huge number of other competitors.
“My previous experience has helped with my confidence,” Craig said.
He felt that taking part in other events would help with the mental preparation for the New York marathon.
“I do not leave anything on the track, at the end I’m usually knackered,” he said.
He has previously run in the Quorn marathon and took part in the Gold Coast Airport Marathon in Qld earlier this month while the family was on holiday, and was happy with how he performed, running the race in less than four hours.
He runs about 40 kilometres to 50km a week as part of his training, with some gym work on top, but he hoped to peak at 70-80km a week about a month before the main event.
“It’s a supportive run and everyone keeps you going,” he said.
As well as training, Craig has been busy fundraising for the charity and already has the support of Resource Co and Jamestown Concrete as his major sponsors.
With a few months left to go before the event, he has surpassed his goal of $4000, with $7000 committed.
- Details: jodileefoundation.org.au and follow the links to the events list.
The story From dirt to concrete originally ran in the Northern Argus.
