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Highlights
- Learning to run a marathon in six months is a life-changing experience offered by the Indigenous Marathon Project.
- It is an experience that has had profound effects on the life of Wiradjuri woman and marathon runner Hayley Pymont.
- We sit down with Hayley, who is also the Indigenous Running Ambassador for the 2024 TCS Sydney Marathon presented by ASICS, for a chat to learn more.
Jumpstarting her running career
When we catch up with marathon runner and Wiradjuri woman Hayley Pymont, she is a little under the weather. In her own words, she decided to “listen to her body and know when to actually rest”. It is a learning she picked up during her time as part of the Indigenous Marathon Project (IMP), where she gained the skills needed to finish her first marathon.
This is an experience that has had profound effects on her life, she says. IMP is a program that helps Indigenous Australians push themselves to complete the iconic TCS New York City Marathon. It is also a program that we at TCS have had a close relationship with, and which spans the better part of a decade.
We spoke to 29-year-old Hayley to find out a little more about IMP, as well as what she has been doing since she graduated.
First of all, Hayley, have you always gravitated towards running?
Hayley: No, not at all. I have actually only been running since 2022, when I was selected to be a part of IMP. Before that, the furthest I had run was roughly 14 km, although I have always liked soccer and athletics. I didn’t ever think I’d be a long-distance runner! It is pretty wild.
How do you view running these days?
Hayley: I love running, but I keep doing it because of the benefits to my mental health. Like, some days it feels really good, and I’m feeling on top of the world. And then some days it’s really hard to even get out the door for a run. But I think, actually, that those are the more important runs—when you’re struggling, and you get out there and get it done anyway.
Expanding her horizons
How did you find the whole IMP experience? Was it challenging?
Hayley: Honestly, it was amazing but very challenging. Obviously, going from someone who is barely a runner to training for a marathon in six months is pretty crazy. And we also did a Certificate IV in Indigenous Leadership. So, we got to study and travel all over the country. It was a special year.
What was the best thing that came out of it?
Hayley: It was such a surreal moment to run the TCS New York City Marathon, and since then I have run the Gold Coast and Berlin Marathons, too. At the end of this year, I will also be running an ultra-marathon to raise funds for a local charity. I guess one of the best things to come out of all of this is a passion to push my limits and continue thriving.
How did you find the TCS New York City Marathon?
Hayley: I prepped pretty well, and I was feeling good going into it until I rolled my ankle two weeks before the race. I love a challenge, but the injury put me in a bad position on the day. And then it was a bit of a heat wave as well. So, I was gone pretty early, even from, like, the 15 km mark. From there, I physically hit the pain wall, and it was tough! But the atmosphere and everyone around me kept me going.
Embracing the crowd support
Have your friends and the community been supportive?
Hayley: Yeah, definitely, and having seen me go through the IMP program, some of the runners from the local running club, the Dharawal Runners and Walkers, have applied to be a part of it. I have also had people come up to me and tell me that I inspired them to get running and get moving. That was pretty cool.
So, will we see you at the TCS Sydney Marathon presented by ASICS this year?
Hayley: Yeah, I’m going to run the 10k event rather than the marathon so I can be there to support the Indigenous Running Foundation marathon runners coming through and just help out where I can. I will also be speaking at the TCS Sydney Running Show on the opening day. You can find me on the main stage for an interview with Nick Youngquest about my platform as the 2024 TCS Sydney Marathon Indigenous Running Ambassador.
And do you have any advice for first-time marathon runners?
Hayley: Just to trust your training and back yourself. It is going to be hard out there, but just keep going. And while there are thousands of people around you running the same event, you need to focus on yourself and have fun. Embrace the experience.
Building resilience
Lastly, what is next for you, Hayley?
Hayley: I’m training for the TCS London Marathon, and I want to definitely focus on mental health. I’d like to get out in the communities one day, like, out in the middle of nowhere, to take some support out that way as they don’t have as much.
How do you feel your experiences over the past two years have impacted you?
Hayley: Well, something I learned in the IMP program was about mental resilience, which makes sense for running, but I guess you could incorporate it into daily life as well. Basically, don’t exert yourself too early, pace yourself, and then empty the bucket when you need it at the end. So, that relates to a race but also relates to life in general. Don’t use all your energy right at the start. Leave some in reserve for when you really need it.
