Sarah Oliver
Donna Curran began running 13 years ago.
She found the Whittlesea oval was exactly one kilometre per lap, and began training for the eight-kilometre Mother’s Day Classic that year.
“I’d never run a kilometre before,” she said, but she was keen to join her sister-in-law in the race.
And so began her love of running and participating in Melbourne Marathon fun runs.
But in 2019, Donna was delivered some devastating news.
Doctors found a brain tumour on the temporal lobe of the right side of her brain.
“I was told it would never do anything, it would just sit there, wouldn’t grow and I wouldn’t have side effects from it,” she said.
But on April 1, 2020 -“April fools day,” Donna joked- she had another MRI scan and when results finally arrived in November, she was told it had grown.
“The neurosurgeon said it needed to come out as soon as possible,” she said.
And on December 17, Donna underwent a six-hour operation to remove the tumour.
Despite a recent blood clot (which is now completely gone), she still got vaccinated and “everything looks fabulous,” she said.
Now, at 57, she can get back to doing what she loves.
“I love Melbourne marathon. I’ve missed one year since 2008,” she said.
As she has done for most of her past runs, Donna will be completing the 10 kilometre run on Saturday, December 11.
“It’s just such a good atmosphere being in the run, and being able to run in the MCG is mind blowing,” she said.
In 2013, Donna decided to do the five-kilometre run instead so that she could support her close friend who’s husband had died that year.
Graham Webb used to run the full marathon, and was always there to cheer Donna on when she finished her race.
“I always think of him. I always feel like he’s running with me when I run it.”
Graham used to say to Donna, ‘pain is temporary, triumph lasts forever,’ so I write ‘pain is temporary’ on my hand when I run, she said.
Another motivation for Donna is the memory of her late husband, who used to love watching her run.
“He’d be at the start line with a tear in his eyes; he was always very proud of me.”
But it’s not just the memory of her loved ones that motivates her. “It is very addictive,” she said.
Donna said people run because they always want to “get better at it”.
“But you also just get lost in your own headspace when you run…it’s very cathartic.”
If anyone is thinking about participating in a fun run or marathon, Donna said to “just give it a go”.
“No one’s judging anybody for however they do…and it is very satisfying when you cross that finishing line, especially at the G [MCG].”
Details: melbournemarathon.com.au/
