My First Marathon Experience

By June Ramli

I finally completed my first marathon at the Sydney Harbour Bridge today, thanks to the Real Insurance Sydney Harbour 10K and 5K run.
It was an incredible experience, but let’s talk about the lead-up to the day itself.
I signed up for the marathon about two months ago through a PR associate who kindly offered me two complimentary media tickets.

I had intended to train for the marathon, but my hectic schedule only allowed for the occasional walk here and there.
To make matters worse, I was down with a cough and flu the past week, so I wasn’t entirely sure if I would attend. But I did.
On Friday, I bought thick sweatpants from Bonds and wore my sweatshirt, which I designed myself.

I’m thankful I chose the 5k run instead of the 10k and switched from Group B (jog and walk) to Group C (walk and pram).
Every kilometer, there were encouraging cheerleaders telling us we were not far off.
There were also DJs and water stations, but I avoided drinking water, fearing it would make me need the toilet.

The route was scenic, taking us around the Barangaroo area, where a new metro is set to debut soon, near Sydney’s Crowne Plaza, The Rocks with all the piers, and of course, the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The weather was cold and windy, making walking against the wind challenging at times.

I woke up at 5 am, took an Uber to ensure I arrived on time, and registered to get our bibs before warming up and starting at 7:30 am sharp.
By the time my mom and I finished, it was around 9:20 am.

We collected our medals, had breakfast at McDonald’s, and took the bus home, arriving by 11 am.
The event was well-attended, and the host mentioned that over $65,000 was raised for cancer research. Well done, Sydneysiders, and congratulations to everyone who participated.
I am so glad I did!