INDIGENOUS MARATHAN PROJECT STRIDES TO CANBERRA FOR NEXT EVENT

Ben Murphy

The Indigenous Marathon Project has selected runners to compete in the New York Marathon this year in November.

Karajarri athlete Wynston Shovellor is one of only 12 chosen of 120 Australia wide and will travel to Canberra next month to run a 10km event.

Mr Shovellor says he became part of the marathon project a couple of years ago at 28 years old to improve his fitness and health.

“It was very challenging, I sort of enjoy the heat because it makes me push more and more in this heat but it can sometimes be very exhausting but know when I hit Canberra it’s going to be very different when I run in the mornings it’s going to be zero degrees.”

He says he wants to create awareness about fitness in the community.

“It’s an opportunity to become fit and also demonstrate change in the community to young people that don’t have the guidance to become fit. We know drugs and alcohol are a problem, as an aboriginal in the community.”

Over the course of five week-long workshops throughout the year on top of the training program, the athletes will work up to competing in the New York Marathon running a distance of 42 kilometres.

“It’s going to be very challenging but i believe at the end of the road it will be a reward,” Mr Shovellor said.