Jessica Hay might not look like your average marathon runner but she is not letting that stop her from achieving her long-term goal of finishing a marathon.
The Mernda mother-of-two began running in January. She weighed 198 kilograms.
Ms Hay said she began running to improve her health and help her be a good role model to her children Khloe, 4, and Archie, 2.
“I’m morbidly obese. I look like T-Rex trying to do up my own shoelaces. It’s hard. But I keep going,” she said.
“My advice is to ignore that one person that may give you a horrible look in public, because believe me, you’re being watched silently by many others, and they admire your bravery.”
Ms Hay, who documents her fitness journey on Instagram and has amassed more than 19,000 followers since January, said her family were her biggest supporters.
“Some mornings my husband has to push me out the door. My daughter gives me high fives when I get home. It keeps me going,” she said.
Ms Hay will be putting her fitness to the test next month by taking part in the YMCA Father’s Day Fun Run with her family.
Participants can complete a five or 10 kilometre walk or run around The Tan running track in the city.
Ms Hay hopes the fun run will help her become closer to one day running a marathon.
The YMCA Father’s Day Fun Run is on Sunday, September 3.
Details: fathersdayfunrun.org.au
