Running a marathon for the first time is hard enough for most people.
However, for Ardeer resident Lachlan de Castella, he has agreed to take on extra weight for the 42.195 kilometre Melbourne Marathon – a Kärcher backpack vacuum weighing about five kilograms.
The all-purpose cleaning equipment manufacturer has sponsored Mr de Castella for the run, providing $5000 towards his run, with all funds raised contributing towards the Indigenous Marathon Foundation [IMF].
Former world champion marathon runner, current IMF director and Lachlan’s father Robert de Castella founded the organisation in 2009 to use running to celebrate Indigenous resilience and achievement and create inspirational Indigenous leaders.
Mr de Castella said he ran with a weighted vest for the first part of his training and has now been training with the vacuum strapped to his back.
“I would run once or twice a week,” he said.
Mr de Castella said it was “pretty interesting” to run with the extra weight.
“I’ve had to correct my posture a bit.”
Mr de Castella said he was optimistic he could complete the marathon but was also a “little bit nervous”.
“I’m confident I’ll be able to do it,” he said.
“I’m kind of excited really.”
Mr de Castella said having a famous marathon runner as a father had a special influence on his fitness interests.
“There’s always a kind of self-pressure,” he said.
“To have this opportunity, I get to pay respect to the effort that my dad did.”
The Melbourne Marathon will be held on Sunday, October 2.
Details: melbournemarathon.com.au or www.imf.org.au
