PHOTO: Rodney Pitman and Jayde McDuff sweat it out on the rowing machines during the CrossFit marathon fundraiser for the Head family.
Dozens of Coonamble community members converged at the Coonamble FIT gym over the weekend to take part in a marathon aiming to raise funds for a local family.
The Michael Head Marathon fundraiser was set to occur last year, however, was postponed until last Saturday 26 March due to COVID-19 restrictions.
The event asked for participants – who paid $50 a head to enter – to complete either a half-length (21.1 kilometres) or full-length (42.2 kilometres) marathon within a time cap of four hours.
The event was done in teams, containing two to six team members, giving participants a chance to rest and recover before beginning their next stint.
On arrival shortly after 7am, the 14 or so teams were discussing strategy and exhibiting a wide variety of emotions; some doubting they would actually finish but still planning to give it their all.
Over time, however, many slotted into their respective rhythms and were very encouraging of their teammates while they worked through the three designated exercises of running or picking up the metres using the rowing and skiing machines.
The first team to finish was ‘Sore Butt Sturdy’ (Charlie Millthorpe, Jacob Savage, Jake Murray and Jacinta Murray) not long before the three hour mark, with all other teams getting over the line before 20 minutes to go.
Following the event, gym members Leonie Goldsmith and Mick Vallett gave a brief presentation, announcing it had raised $4000 for the Head family.
Mrs Goldsmith congratulated all teams for their efforts and said it had been great to see so many people getting involved.
“Thank you to everyone who’s just come along and had a go, whether you’ve been from the Rugby Club, Coonamble Gym, Coonamble FIT, neighbours or even someone that’s been dragged in at the last minute,” Mrs Goldsmith said.
“Hopefully you’ve managed to challenge yourself and felt a sense of accomplishment when you finished – everyone finished within the time cap – and you’ve enjoyed the comradery of the day.
She also acknowledged Bea Head, Michael’s wife who participated in one of the teams ‘The Bush Heads’ with close friends and family.
“We can only imagine that this journey in the last couple of years has been unbelievably difficult, so we hope that our small token somehow can make that journey a little bit smoother going forward,” she said.
When asked for her thoughts on the day, Mrs Head said she had little to say other than thanks to the participants.
“Michael and I have been very humbled by the support and the generosity of the Coonamble community,” Mrs Head said.