HIGHLIGHT: NEW YORK CITY MARATHON
On November 3, 2024, I achieved something that I wouldn’t have dreamed possible a few years ago – I completed the New York City Marathon. A long time in the making, starting with an hour walk each day during the Covid lockdowns of 2020, building to a regular jogging schedule in 2021. By December 2021, I’d built a base solid enough to run the Melbourne half marathon. I then challenged myself with the ultimate test – could I run a full marathon without stopping? In July 2022, I did just that, running the Gold Coast marathon, becoming the first person in my family to do so. Why stop at one? So, with a focused training block throughout 2024, and with the added encouragement of running with my son for a charity I felt passionate about, I took on one of the toughest of the major marathons.
With over 50,000 runners from around the world and an estimated 2 million spectators lining the streets of the five boroughs, the energy was nothing short of electric. The crowd cheering your name with words of encouragement as every mile passed; “Go Brigette”, “You’ve got this Brigette” “You’re so strong Brigette” created an unforgettable atmosphere. It’s a day I’ll remember forever.
My eldest son Campbell, joined with me in one of the world’s greatest sporting events, for his very first marathon. With limited preparation due to work commitments, he delivered an impressive performance. I faced a significant challenge, an pre-existing injury flared up around the 16km mark as the painkillers wore off. Nevertheless, having committed to the goal of completing New York, there was no way I wasn’t finishing the race. Crossing the finish line and receiving my medal was an incredibly rewarding moment.
As I made my way along the boroughs of the city, I found myself reflecting on the transformational impact of sport on society. For an entire day, New York City came together, forgetting their personal struggles and uniting in support of runners from all walks of life. It was a reminder of how sport can bring out the best in human endeavor, unite us to transcend differences, and leave their own troubles behind.
Fundraising for the Women's Sports Foundation
For me, running the NYC Marathon held a deeper meaning and personal significance. Fifty years ago, sporting legend and gender equity trailblazer Billie Jean King founded the Women’s Sports Foundation (WSF) to empower girls to become leaders through sports. Celebrating the Foundation’s 50th Anniversary, fifty runners came together as #TeamWSF to run the race and raise $250,000 USD.
Campbell and I were honored to be the only Aussies to be part of this incredible team. Collectively, our efforts exceeded expectations, with #TeamWSF raising over $425,000 AUD. Campbell and I are proud to have raised over $30,000 AUD, finishing second on the fundraising tally.
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who supported our journey, your donations, encouragement and belief in us was very special.
Two Sporting Icons Billie Jean King & Katherine Switzer
Making this experience even more special; I was taken aback when I received a video message from the legendary Billie Jean King. Her belief and encouragement in Campbell and I, was both inspiring and encouraging.
Her commitment to equality has been a consistent source of inspiration throughout my career, so to say I was honored is an understatement.
Another standout moment of the experience was meeting marathon legend Kathrine Switzer. In 1967, Kathrine made history as the first woman to officially run the Boston Marathon, despite attempts by the race director to remove her from the race. She is a true trailblazer for women all over the world and her story and example has ensured that women and girls can run marathons. Meeting her the day before the race was truly remarkable.
As we head into the New Year, we hope that our efforts have encouraged you all to think about what might be possible if you set an audacious goal and have a crack. I believe that you can achieve anything you set your mind to, no matter how audacious it may seem.
Until next time,
Brigette