Cameron Manning says running has helped him push past barriers in his mind and discover greater capacity within himself.
Mr Manning, 28, of Tenambit, was in Newcastle on Sunday to mark his achievements last year, highlighted by running a marathon in Alice Springs.
"Running really unlocks the roadblocks you have inside your own head and your own thinking around putting limits on yourself, as to what you can do and achieve," Mr Manning said.
Former world champion marathon runner Rob de Castella founded the Indigenous Marathon Foundation in 2010.
The project forms a squad of Indigenous people to run a marathon each year, usually in New York. The pandemic meant last year's event was run in the Alice Springs desert in November.
"We started at 10pm. It was the same day that the New York Marathon would have been. We were lucky because on that night it was a full moon," Mr de Castella said.
"It was a powerful spiritual and cultural experience."
Mr de Castella said watching the participants cross the finish line was "incredibly inspiring and emotional".
"We've had 109 graduates over the last 11 years. I get to know them pretty well during the year and understand how significant it is for them," Mr de Castella said.
On Monday, Rob will host try-outs in Newcastle for those wishing to apply for this year's squad.
Cameron is part of the Aboriginal community known as Gomeroi, which starts just west of Muswellbrook and goes to Queensland.
"I was born and raised in Newcastle," he said.
He said running last year's marathon was "incredible, something that I won't forget".
"I found out a lot about myself and my own capacity and potential. Doing the marathon and the program in general showed me I have a lot more potential than I thought, and that I could achieve a lot more than I originally believed."
Mr de Castella said running a marathon gave the participants a purpose.
"We have a saying - the harder the struggle, the greater the reward," he said.
"In a lot of ways I want it to be hard for them. It's by doing things that are difficult that you find out how strong your purpose can be and then how to use that in other aspects of your life."
He said running helped improve physical and mental health.
"It changes your brain chemistry. It changes the way you feel about yourself and the way you look at the world," he said.
The try-outs for this year's squad starts at 6.30am at the East End Beach car park, opposite Nobbys Surf Club. Applicants must be Indigenous Australian, aged between 18 to 30.
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