I’ll be running the event in November as part of the New Balance team and it’s a literal dream come true. I have 4 weeks to go until the event, and the nerves are kicking in.

I’ve never run a marathon before so this has been such a test of not only my physical strength but mental strength too! I’ve been following a training program for this marathon (which will be coming to the Kic app soon! I promise!) and it’s been so helpful for me to focus on a running goal each week and take it one step at a time.

In my program, I have a 33km run (which is wild considering this is a more than a half-marathon in itself!), so come along with me as I get ready for my long run.

6:45am – Alarm goes off and I’m up out of bed!

7:05am – Time for some pre-run fuel. My absolute fave brekky before a run is some toast with honey. Bill and Ben always try to steal a piece but I need all the fuel I can get, sorry guys (maybe after my training!)

7:19am – Time to get dressed and ready to run. Melbourne weather has been so inconsistent lately (what’s new?!) even though we’re in Spring! So sometimes deciding between leggings or shorts can feel like THE BIGGEST decision – the struggle is real.

Then it’s time to lace up those shoes. I’ve been training with New Balance and they’ve been the BEST for my training. If you’re looking for extra cushioning for your everyday runs, you can’t go past the brand NEW 1080v14! Everyone says they’re like running on clouds.

7:24am – Time to load up on my running snacks and gels, nutrition and fuel whilst you’re running long distances is super important.

7:29am – Warm up time! I follow our KICRUN specific warm up in the app to make sure I’m ready to go for my run. We don’t want any injuries before the marathon!

7:45am – We’re off! The sun is shining and the Yarra trail is bliss this morning.

7:59am – Okay, I’ve hit the 5km mark. Only need to do this…. 5 and a half more times… sounds easy enough … 😅

8:25am – 10km down! I’m feeling pretty good and trying to keep my heart rate steady. The crazy thing with marathon training is that energy levels can be so inconsistent to manage across your longer runs. Normally, you start with lower energy and then peak towards the end. But with marathon training, you feel good, then you’re tired, then you’re feeling REALLY good again, and then REALLY tired, all within the same run! But, I’m reminding myself that it’s part of the journey, and if I need to take a walking break, that’s okay!

9:08am – 15km done, I’m getting close to halfway – CRAZY! The halfway point is where I like to check in mentally and physically. How am I feeling? How does my body feel? What’s my focus for the remainder of this run? Let’s refocus and let’s Kic’ it.

9:29am – I’ve hit half-marathon distance, again, WILD.

9:54am – The wind is picking up which is not a vibe but we’ve got this! To pump me up now that the weather is turning a little, I swap to my fave running playlist to bring the ultimate vibes. I’ve been loving our KICRUN playlist to give me an energy boost.

10:14am – Water break! Our KICRUN Physio, Alana, suggests that water breaks are also a great time to have your running fuel (gels, bars etc.). “Following your fuel with water is important as your stomach can only tolerate a certain percentage of carbohydrates, so you need to dilute your fuel in order for it to go into circulation, rather than sitting in your stomach like a rock.” So, keep up that water during those long runs Kic squad!

10:19am – OMG, 30km down. I’m feeling so proud of my body. It clocked an incredible amount of km’s this week. It’s times like this when I’m reminded how truly crazy marathon training can be. It’s so beautiful to know that my body can do this, how amazing is running?!

10:30am – FYI, Survivor by Destiny’s Child has just come on shuffle. What a VIBE! I highly suggest you add it to your run playlist.

10:33am – 33km DONE!!! Oh em geeee, I cannot believe I just did that. That run felt so much better than last week. I’m feeling more confident and starting to believe that I can DO this. I am so proud. Now it’s one more long run before I deload before the big NYC Marathon.

10:37am – Now, it’s time to find some choccy milk, the ultimate post-run fuel (IYKYK).

Thanks for running with me! Want to keep up with my New York Marathon updates? Check it out on my Instagram and TikTok.

Looking to start your running journey? Whether you’re in it for the long run or you’re just getting started, the KICRUN Challenge is made for you.

Together with New Balance, run towards your goal of 3, 5, 10 or 21km. 3 runs per week over 8 weeks. I’ll be with you every step of the way with my guidance to help you achieve your running goals.