We’d like to introduce you to Kerryn Harvey, or Kez as she is affectionately known among our FOHER Co Class of 2021 Ambassador Cohort.
Kez is an upper limb amputee and co-founder of the START Foundation, which empowers amputees in life through sport by providing grants to purchase sports prosthesis or adaptive equipment that in turn helps amputees achieve their sporting dreams. Outside of her involvement with START, Kez runs her own successful Personal Training business. She also trains and competes as a Paratriathlete and has raced successfully at 3 World Paratriathlon Championships placing 2nd, 3rd and 4th in the world. In 2018, Kez completed Ironman Western Australia, a 3.8km swim, 180km bike ride and 42km run. Her mantra is She Believed She Could So She Did.
Pic: Kerryn smashing through IRONMAN Melbourne.
And so she does. Kez has set a new and daunting challenge to complete 12 marathons in 12 months. This will require her to run/walk a full marathon (42.2km) on one day of each month in 2021. Her goal is to raise $25,000+ for the START FoundationRace
Last Saturday Kez embarked on her epic journey to complete 12 Marathons in 12 Months with Marathon number 1 on the Capital City Trail in Melbourne.
Read on for her race report:
'My event route took me in anti clockwise loop round the Capital City Trail, which effectively circles the city of Melbourne. With the day forecast to be 28 degrees, my support crew and I opted to start at 6am to beat the heat. It was quiet and peaceful on the bike track for the first half and the k's flew by quickly as we ran/walked with a breakdown of 700m run/300m walk per km. I plan to use the run/walk method in all my marathons to preserve myself physically in order to be able to back up month after month. This journey is about completing 12 marathons not one after all!
Thanks to the great chit chat with my crew, my mind was taken off any pain and discomfort and I was feeling quite good until about 8k's to go when both calves started cramping. The rest of the marathon became a combination of run, cramp, drink coke, run, stretch, drink coke, run, walk, run, massage, drink coke, run, walk BACKWARDS, run to the finish. Finally after 5 hours and 13 minutes I reached 42.2km, and the job was done!
I am really elated to get the first marathon under the belt. Apart from being very tired, some chafing, and having extraordinarily tight calves, I don't think there are too many other war wounds. So stuffed but very satisfied! I met my pledge of completing a 42.2k marathon Saturday. In return any donations to START Foundation are much appreciated ($42.20 seems appropriate!). Marathon number 2 is in Melbourne on Sunday February 14th. Just 5 short weeks away! For now though I will put the feet up for a day or two, get a massage and recover. This will also include drinking beer!’
Pic: Kerryn after finishing marathon #1.
We encourage you to jump on board with us in supporting Kez raise awareness and funds for amputees. You can connect with her via her instagram @captainkez or donate via this link:
https://www.startfoundation.org.au/.../10/21/legs-11-tkt68