Sandgate local Brooke Carson has taken her love of running from the 4017 foreshore all the way to the New York marathon.
Brooke, 22, has been in training for the marathon for the past year as part of a squad with the Indigenous Marathon Foundation (IMF).
Founded by Australian running legend Robert de Castella, the IMF is a health promotion charity that uses running to celebrate Indigenous resilience and achievement and create inspirational Indigenous leaders.
Inspiration and Goals
Brooke said she wanted to challenge herself.
“My Mum is a runner, she founded the Bramble Bay RAW (runners and walkers) in 2018, so I’m doing it for Mum, as well as myself,” she said.
“This is my first marathon and it’s been a challenging process. But I’m a morning person, so I run in the mornings, and then once I get home from work at the end of the day, I know I can relax.
“Food-wise, I have had to eat more and the one thing I’ve been craving is chocolate milk! Apparently, the sugar and protein in it is good for runners.”
While this will not be Brooke’s first trip to the US, it will be her first time in the Big Apple.
“We have family in the US and my grandfather is actually from Brooklyn so to have that connection there is amazing – I can’t wait to run through the five New York boroughs,” Brooke said.
Brooke added she had been inspired by her teammates with the IMF.
“It’s about promoting a healthy lifestyle for Indigenous people and for everyone really,” she said.
“Sport is so big in our community and running is a great way to be healthy, you can get connected to a new community of people and it’s great for your mental health as well. And it’s easy, anyone can do it.”
Brooke said while she was aiming to do her best, she wasn’t going with the goal of setting a world record time.
“Some of the boys will just be off and I’m like, ‘Go do your thing, I’ll see you at the finish line’,” she said.
“I want to be able to soak it up and remember it. I don’t want to get to the finish and just pass out.”
The New York Marathon will be held on Sunday, 3 November.
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