NZ Olympians take on Queenstown Marathon for Cure Kids

The challenge was far from easy, especially for Max, who was battling injuries that resulted in almost no training in the lead-up. “At the start of this challenge Marcus said I was built like a Dorito. By the end, that became very apparent, with my legs very close to cracking. However, what a privilege it is to move our bodies. As Olympians, a lot of our purpose and identity is tied to it, and I certainly find a lot of my happiness from running around outside” explained Max.

Seven weeks before race day, Max suffered stress in his tibia and didn’t run at all in the lead-up. “On the day, my knee was in a fair amount of pain, meaning I had to hobble for 30 km. There wasn’t much high performance about my running, but the fact that we raised $25,500 enough to cure 30 kids, was a much larger achievement than running fast.”

For Marcus, this was the first time he had pushed his body to the limit since playing professional tennis. “The last few kms were brutal, but knowing that every step was for something meaningful made the battle more enjoyable.”

Marcus reflected on the cause: “Giving kids the gift of healthy legs so they can run and play and compete, things that Max and I have been incredibly lucky to do for a living, resonates deeply for me. We’ve managed to raise enough to cure at least 30 kids of clubfoot, which is an epic result.”

Despite the pain and setbacks, the duo crossed the finish line, turning a tough challenge into a life-changing result for Kiwi kids. Marcus summed it up: “The vibes and support of the crowd and other racers were immense, and overall it was a super fun day.”