While completing a half-marathon is an achievement for anyone, some have to overcome additional obstacles to bring their dreams to fruition.
Gabby Bassett is travelling all the way from Melbourne to run the upcoming Canberra half-marathon with her nephew and raise awareness about autism and Asperger's.
Her beloved nephew 22-year-old Max Kernick-Wood, diagnosed with Asperger's and epilepsy, started running two years ago. After a tough start he found the activity helped relieve stomach aches which had plagued him for most of his life.
While this will be the pair's first half-marathon they have been training daily and will focus on having fun.
"I'll be there as a support for him to help him get through his first half marathon," Ms Bassett said.
Mr Kernick-Wood joined the Sydney Striders running group two years ago as a marshal and worked hard helping the group behind the scenes. After encouragement from members to put on his sneakers and hit the sidewalk, he slowly built up his strength.
"It's such a great achievement, he used to try and walk around the Bay Run in Sydney and he would get woozy and almost faint because he couldn't do it," Ms Bassett said.
"But he's been slowly chipping away, and he's running and just getting stronger and stronger.
"People with Asperger's get hot when they do a lot of exercise, so his body just usually overheats but he's been able to get his base fitness up."
Marathons seem to run in the family, his father Shane recently won the Melbourne Oxfam 100km and will be competing in the Canberra full marathon on April 10.
Meanwhile, a new tradition is in the works with plans to organise an annual 5km run over Christmas for the family to complete together.
- Entries to the Canberra Times Marathon Festival events are still open until April 7. The events are marathon, half marathon, 10km, 5.4km and Kids 2km fun run.
