By Casey Neill
Ngan ‘Kim’ Harwood started running 13 years ago to fit exercise around caring for her newborn.
Next month the mother of three will run the Boston and London marathons to earn the Six Star Finishers Medal.
“I remember the first time I ran from our house to the end of the road and back again without stopping,” she said.
“It was a major achievement.
“Running will never come easy to anybody.
“You feel like you’re going to die.
“You feel like that lamp post is never going to get there soon enough.”
Ms Harwood ran her first half-marathon two years later and has since completed 13 official marathons, including the other four that make up the Six Star – Berlin, Tokyo, Chicago and New York.
“In Australia, only about 50 people have done it. Out of that, females are less than 15,” she said.
“It’d be good to be added to that list.”
The 43-year-old will head to Boston in mid-April and will back it up in London six days later.
“To say it’s not difficult is a lie, but I think my body has gotten used to a lot of running over the years,” she said.
“Last year I did a back-to-back in six days.
“People usually have a month or two break, at least.”
As soon as she’s crossed the finish line in London she’ll head to Portugal for five days of recovery – and more running.
“When I’m in a new town, the best way to see it is on foot,” she said.
“I get out early in the morning when all the tourists aren’t awake, and the streets are bare.
“I get to see it the way the locals do.”
Her participation in the Boston Marathon will support Action for Hearing Loss, as will a fund-raiser at her Keysborough business The Foot Care Clinic.
The Sunday 18 March event will mark 20 years since she started the podiatry service, and will aid Keysborough shelter Australian Animal Protection Society.
“On the day we’ve got two podiatrists, an osteopath and an audiologist,” she said.
“Patients can book in for a session with each of them.
“The consultation fees are 100 per cent going to charity.
“We’ve got raffle tickets with prizes.
“We’re going to dress up and make it a party feel that day.
“It’s a good way for us to show that we appreciate the community we’re in and to give back to that community.”
Ms Harwood initially wanted to be a dentist “because I had in my head that you earn lots of money and you’ll be called a doctor”.
But she wanted to be able to chat to her patients, and then a teacher returning from a podiatry visit opened her eyes to the career in Year 12.
Ms Harwood and her husband moved into the home that now houses the clinic when they married.
She started her podiatry business down the road but outgrew the space so set up in the back of the house while continuing to live in the front.
Eventually the clinic took over.
It’s at 159 Kingsclere Avenue, Keysborough, and can be contacted on 9711 7562.
