DESPITE never having run the distance before, there was no way 30 kilometres of Northern Territory roads were going to stand between Allirra Braun and a seat on a plane bound for the United States.
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The Indigenous Marathon Project runner demonstrated how determined she was to start in the 2014 New York City Marathon when she ticked off the 30km hurdle in Alice Springs on Sunday morning.
While she has been officially named as part of the 10-person IMP team that will take part in the marathon on November 2, Braun said she still did not believe her goal was only five weeks away from being realised.
“It hasn’t really sunk in yet, the enormity of it all,” she laughed.
“I’m running a marathon in five weeks’ time.”
After an inspirational journey through to the September 28 event, Braun said she had pulled up well, adding that vociferous support from her family had helped during the toughest moments of the time trial.
“I’ve got no niggles, nothing,” she said.
“It’s all good, I can start running straight away.
“My dad and my grandpa came down, which was awesome.
“They got me through.”
Before heading to Sydney later this month for a pre-departure training camp, Braun will continue to pound the pavements of Katherine as she prepares for the 42.2km physical and mental test that awaits her more than 16,000km away.