Raymond Ingram and Tali Tabuai pace Marrickville’s Henson Park oval as the sun sets on one of their final training days before next Sunday’s City2Surf.
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Ingram, 23, from Enmore, is one of 13 indigenous and Torres Strait Islanders who will run in this year’s 14 kilometre fun run as part of the Indigenous Marathon Project’s preparations for the New York City Marathon. The program selects a dozen young people from around the country each year, taking them from everyday fitness levels to marathon readiness in six months.
Robert de Castella, whose string of marathon records in the 1980s stands unrivalled in Australian running, started the program four years ago.
“This is the most important thing I've ever done, addressing the gap between white and indigenous Australians,” said de Castella, who is in Melbourne commentating on the Commonwealth Games.
"Deek" has coached 32 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders from their home running tracks to the finishing line of a major international marathon.
“We give them the self-belief to take on other challenges in life and leadership. They come back as local heroes and great role models and with great life experiences they can pass on to their families.”
Their strides are making an impact, especially in remote communities.
“I never really thought that one person could make a difference,” said Ingram who tried out for the project in Alice Springs after hearing about it while working in Yulara. “It’s one big ripple effect and it’s working and everyone’s changing their minds about how they want to live.”
Tabuai, 25, a graduate from last year’s squad, left the Torres Strait Islands in 2012 and lives in Newtown. Going from the Strait to the NYC Marathon within a year was, he said, “unexplainable”.
“The New York finish line was just the beginning for me. I’m trying to make a change. I want to do something so my mob back home see – instead of just drowning yourself in this grog and smoking and doing drugs, eating junk, drinking Coke – you can do better things: eat healthy, run around, be active. I want my daughter to see me as a role model, not just as a dad.”
His goal now is to become a personal trainer, and to run the City2Surf as fast as possible to stave off the winter cold.
“I love it down here,” he said. “The only thing I hate is the weather, because I’m a saltwater man from the tropics.”
The Sun Herald City2Surf is a Fairfax event.
