By Lance Jenkinson
Hallora Marathon Festival organiser Daniel Pratt admits the 2021 event was “touch and go” for a while as Covid-19 took hold in Victoria.
Now with the increasing number of ‘donut days’ in community cases, the event has been given the green light to launch on 14 February.
It is a relief for Pratt because he knows how much time and effort goes into preparing for such a valued community event that is growing year on year.
“There’s a lot of people supporting the event,” he said.
“I’ve got my committee and we’ve had about 20 volunteers offer themselves to help out.
“It means a lot to me to get this to happen and get the community to engage in this once again.”
The 20 volunteers will be a record.
It is significant as it will allow the marathon to have a sufficient amount of marshals to guide the competitors through the 42.2 kilometre race.
Two types of people will not be happy with that news – the corner cutters, yes, we think they’re out there, and the storytellers.
The most recent edition of the race will be remembered not only for Tim Hui’s marathon win, but how he managed to navigate his way to the finish line.
Hui’s run will go down in folklore as he fell victim to an unmanned checkpoint.
“It’s funny, the winner last year, he ran three hours and three minutes for the marathon, but he ran an extra three kilometres – it was phenomenal,” Pratt said.
“At the turn around point in Warragul, there’s an oval you need to turn around, but he kept going straight for another kilometre and a half before he realised there were no points around him, so he had to come back around.”
Pratt is hopeful that Hui, a Melbourne University runner, can return to defend his title.
The big reason why this event has taken place annually since 2015 is to raise money for the Peter MacCallum Cancer Foundation.
It is a charity that is close to Pratt’s heart.
“There were two very good reasons for choosing Peter Mac,” Pratt said.
“One was my Pa, who passed away from prostate cancer, and the other was one of my good friends from primary school, who I’m still good friends with now, Sarah Porter, had leukemia and spent time at Peter Mac.
“That was my main motivation why I chose Peter Mac.”
Cancer sadly hits too close to home for most people.
Pratt has listened to many stories of people having their families afflicted by cancer and some are competing because of the cause.
“It’s amazing how many people are touched by cancer,” he said.
“On the day, I have people telling me their stories and thanking me for the event and opportunity to raise money for Peter Mac.”
Aside from the fundraising and the race glory, the 2021 edition will be an uplifting community event because of the pandemic that has disrupted many people’s lives over the past year.
It will be a chance for the community to come together, socialise and do something they enjoy, letting the worries of the world go by for a day at least.
“Last year was a very long year and there were not a lot of events, so it’s great to be having a few on the horizon now,” Pratt said.
“One of the big hopes is to get everyone out and about again and lift the spirits and get physically active at the same time.”
The Hallora Marathon will begin at Hallora Recreation Reserve with races of 5km, 8km, 16km, 24km and 42.2km length for run, walk or cycle.
To enter, get in contact with Pratt on 0408 205 097 or email halloramarathon@gmail.com.
