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A long New York marathon for Elise Hull
by Bruce Andrews 23 November 2013
W
hen Charles Sturt University (CSU) student and staff member Ms Elise Hull lined up for the start of the New York City Marathon, she didn’t expect an injury would tax her resolve and stretch her completion time to more than seven hours. Ms Hull, an Indigenous Resource Officer in the CSU Division of Student Learning, entered the race as a member of the Indigenous Marathon Project (IMP). The Bathurst resident became the 32nd member of the IMP to cross a marathon finish line when she completed the 42 kilometre course through the five boroughs of New York City in 7 hours 12 minutes and 20 seconds. In March this year Ms Hull was selected as one of the 12 members of the 2013 IMP squad and participated in a range of preparatory training camps and events. Despite a persistent knee injury, she and the squad flew from Sydney to New York on Thursday 31 October for the New York City Marathon on Sunday 3 November. “The day before the marathon the IMP squad went up the Empire State Building, so we got to see the route of the marathon from high above the city, which was spectacular,” Ms Hull said. “It was also quite scary seeing what 42 kilometres looks like; it’s a long way!” The Marathon The IMP squad boarded a bus at 5am at their hotel for the trip to the marathon start-line on Staten Island. “It took quite some time for us to
Elise Hull on Staten Island before the start of the NY Marathon with the VerrazanoNarrows Bridge in the background. All images supplied
get to Staten Island because of all the traffic,” Ms Hull said. “But we eventually got there, went through the stringent security checks, and waited in the runners’ precinct along with about 48 000 other participants. “Not once did I feel threatened
or scared. The big police presence and the level of security really contributed to me feeling comfortable and safe. “It was freezing cold that morning, so we had the foil space blankets wrapped around us, as well as some heat packs to keep
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our hands warm. In no time at all, it was time for the men to line up for the start of their wave of runners. The national anthem was sung, the canon fired, and we could see the first wave of runners start off across the bridge. Soon, we women lined up, and in no time we too were off.” At the 4-kilometre mark, Ms Hull’s knee injury came back with a vengeance and she decided to walk the remaining 38 kilometres rather than retire. “Around the 20-kilometre mark, when I was really struggling and questioning myself why I’d continued walking and not just quit, I saw a race sign which said, ‘Pain is inevitable, but suffering is optional’. It was around this point I realised I was in control of how I would remember this race, so I decided I would keep going and enjoy the atmosphere.” Highlight Ms Hull said the highlight for her was the sheer number of spectators. “They’d all be yelling your name, screaming out “Aussie! Aussie! Aussie! Oy! Oy! Oy!” and encouraging you on. I was out there for a long time, but still there were people out in the streets cheering everyone on. The energy and dedication of the spectators was amazing. “When I finished the marathon I was flooded with emotion. Seeing the look of pride on head coach Robert de Castella’s face as I crossed, I broke into tears. I was a bit upset that the race hadn’t gone to plan, but that’s life; things happen which we have no control over.” In the days after the marathon,
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Elise Hull and fellow IMP runner keep warm before the start of the NY Marathon.
the IMP squad enjoyed walking around New York, sightseeing and shopping. “We got to see the Empire State Building, Times Square, and the 9/11 Memorial which I found very confronting, and quite sad,” Ms Hull said. “Highlights for me were having coffee and a piece of New York cheesecake in a diner, shopping in M&M’s World, and riding the subway around the city.”
Support Ms Hull praised the excellent coaching and support which she and the IMP squad received throughout the year from IMP staff. Because the squad members were dispersed around Australia and only came together periodically, they’d hear from at least one IMP staff support person each week. “Whether it was ‘Deek’ (Robert de Castella), Tim (our coach),
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Nadine or Laura, they were always available for us to ring or text with any questions or problems we had, and they checked with us regularly to make sure we were coping,” Ms Hull said. “While in New York, Nadine became the women’s team leader and was there to talk over any problems or stress we had leading up to the marathon. “Rob was brilliant this whole year. He’s so down to earth, and became a kind of father figure. When we were walking along people would run up for his autograph, to take pictures, or just stare; it’d take a while before I’d remember that he is actually a very famous marathon champion. Even now that the project has finished for me this year, it’s great to still have Rob send an email to ask how my knee is holding up, what my plans
are for next year, and so on. “In all, the whole IMP staff team are such incredible, supportive and encouraging men and women who have made a profound impact on my life. I’m honoured to have met, sweated, and run with all of them!” The future The IMP project has cemented a love for running in her, Ms Hull says. She’s now planning to do another marathon next year, and is looking forward to all the local races she’ll be able to run to continue to challenge herself. “I feel like I need to run a full marathon before I ‘retire’ from that distance and just do shorter races,” she said. “The other IMP squad members really are like family now. I miss them all terribly, and can’t wait to catch up with them next year; we’re already planning a reunion.
“I’m also on the lookout to encourage any Indigenous people aged between 18 to 30 to try out for the IMP squad next year. We were told at the beginning of the year that this project would change our lives, but I really had no idea just how much it would. I’ve learned to love and respect myself a lot more, and also be more confident in what I can do.” At an official function to welcome the squad to New York, Ms Hull and the IMP squad were presented with their Certificate IV in Health and Leisure. Since the IMP started in 2009, 32 IMP runners have crossed the finish line of major marathons in New York, Boston, Japan, and Melbourne. Read more about Ms Hull’s IMP journey here and about the IMP here: http://imp.org.au/
Elise Hull and the IMP squad atop the Empire State Building, New York.
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