Over the weekend Vicki Tyler and daughter Bianca had initially hoped to run the Melbourne Marathon before COVID-19 scuppered those plans.
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The race was postponed until December, which left the pair in a predicament; they had designed their training programs to peak for the event and knew that Melbourne's December weather wouldn't be favourable for running.
Vickirunning her 11th marathon and Bianca her first, didn't want to let their training go to waste, so when they saw an alternative they jumped at it.
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"Sydney was having a virtual marathon so we signed up for that so we could still get a medal and we thought we would do a virtual run in Horsham," Vicki said.
With the help of the Run Horsham Group, Vicki and Bianca alongside, Kelly Miller, completed the virtual marathon in Horsham on Saturday. John Bennett, Sally Marcroft and Susan Findlay-Tickner joined in and ran a half marathon.
The trio completed the marathon predominantly along the Wimmera River, inside four-and-a-half hours.
"We ran all the way together," Vicki said.
"Kelly, Bianca and I did it in four hours 28 minutes, so we're pretty happy with that.
"It wasn't a fast pace, we weren't out to do it in a hurry. We stopped at a few drink stations and I had to take my shoe off at one stage.
Friends from Run Horsham helped everything run smoothly which Vikki said was "unbelievable" and "better than Melbourne".
"We just decided to see whether they would come on board and help us along the run," she said.
"My husband Kelvin organised the finish line.
"We had drink stations everywhere. We had music at different corners it was just fabulous and then Kelvin organised some medals as well."
Some of the Run Horsham group also participated in parts of the race to help push the runners.
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Vicki said she was "very proud" of her daughter Bianca, who pushed her to do the race.
"It was Bianca that got me into doing another one," she said.
"She was inspired to do the Melbourne Marathon this year, so I gave her a training program and she followed that to a tee.
"She followed an 18-week beginners program. I said to her you can't wing a full marathon you've got to do the training."
As for whether Bianca would run another marathon, Vicki said it was looking positive.
"She didn't finish and say I'm never doing that again," she laughed.
"Bianca said she would have another go. She still wants to do it with a crowd like in Melbourne."
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