Big pain in the Big Apple

Two million spectators. More than 300 million TV viewers. The New York marathon is a heck of a place to make your 42km debut.

Michael Purcell is still buzzing about running his first full marathon – the sights, the sounds and the pain. But the biggest buzz is probably that it happened halfway around the world, in one of the world’s most famous races as one of 47,438 runners who started the 2011 New York marathon.

“It was harder than I thought it was going to be,” Michael said. “I didn’t know there was going to be so much pain at the end.”

New York is a long way from the 18-year-old’s home town of Charleville, and his journey there is one of determination.

In 2010, Michael suffered a life-threatening kidney disease which he contracted playing rugby league for his school. He spent a lot of time commuting to Toowoomba for dialysis treatment but slowly began to regain his strength.

During the recovery his dad, William Conlon, learned about the Indigenous Marathon Project. It’s headed by Australia’s former world marathon champion, Robert de Castella, and aims to unearth an Australian Indigenous running champion to take on the African dominance in distance running. It promotes healthy living.

“Dad saw a flyer, asked me if I was interested, and entered me,” Michael said.

Fifty-six people were selected for try-outs around the country. Whittled down to a squad of 20, they competed in races and training camps until the final 11 were selected for the New York marathon.

At 18, Michael was the youngest. Michael flew out of Charleville on 31 October and met the rest of the team in Sydney. They left for New York four days later – Michael’s first trip out of Australia.

The marathon was held on 6 November. More than two million spectators lined the route; more than 315 million watched it on television around the world. It was huge.

Michael remembers it for the pain. He rolled his ankle around the 10km mark. Then, around 25km, he hit the pain barrier.

“From the thigh down, and your lower back, it just hurts so much,” he said. “The front and back of your legs, your feet and your back, your knees are sore, your calf muscles are straining; the ankle I rolled at the 10k…

“Out of a hundred, it’d be a hundred in pain.”

It was a battle of mind over body. “I was thinking: it’s only one day of my life. Just do it and get it over and done with. I want to look back in years and know I’ve done it. It’s only one day,” Michael said.

So, one foot after the other, Michael pushed on. And reached the finish.

“As I crossed the finish line, I just didn’t believe it, he said. “It was the best feeling – I just finished a marathon!”

For the record, there were just 95 18–19-year-old male finishers. Michael was ninth. His time of 3hr 33min 34sec brought him home in 6282nd place, meaning more than 40,500 people finished behind him.

“All 11 of us finished,” Michael says proudly of the Australian Indigenous team. “I finished second overall (in the team).”

Michael’s now hooked on running. “I’m going to focus on getting into 5km and middle-distance (10km) running,” he said. “I’m keeping in contact with Rob de Castella. I’m asking him to set up a (training) program for 10km (running).

“My aim is the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast.”

Michael says he’s thankful for his family’s support. “All credit goes to dad, who got me into it,” he said.

He’s also grateful for the support for his mother, Sharnell, brother Juan and sister Beryl.

The other Queensland runners in the Indigenous team were: Bianca Graham, 28, from Weipa; Bridgette Williams, 29, from Mount Gravatt; Kelsey Youngblutt, 19, from Palm Island; and Nadine Hunt, 22, from Cairns.

Indigenous Marathon Project

The project’s vision is to provide an opportunity for young Indigenous men and women to become healthy lifestyle leaders within their communities and inspire their family, friends and community to lead an active healthy life. For further information, visit: www.themarathonproject.com.au