Indigenous runner Emma Cameron will be running the Melbourne Marathon this year.
IF the third time is indeed a charm, Emma Cameron is finally in for her glorious photo-finish.
The 31-year-old has had a testing journey but she will at last be
able to call herself a marathon runner when she crosses the finish line
at today's Medibank Melbourne Marathon Festival - an achievement she has
been fighting for for more than year.The Darwin woman was last year selected to run the New York Marathon as part of the Indigenous Marathon Project.
However her dreams of completing her first 42km race were shattered when she acquired a severe knee injury.
Eight months later, she laced her runners back up for the Boston Marathon in April.
She had just hit the 40km mark when the deadly bombs went off and the race was tragically cut short.
Ms Cameron said the experience was terrifying but with the support of her family, she was able to dust herself off and gear up for the Melbourne event.
She said she would be grinning ear to ear when she crossed the finish line at the MCG.
"It will mean everything,'' she said.
"When I cross that line it's not just for myself, but also for my family, friends and wider community who have been there for me.''
"All the adrenaline and excitement will carry me through.''
About 33,000 runners will this morning compete across five events - the marathon, half-marathon, 10km, 5.7km and 3km walk - with a finishing lap of the MCG.
Several road detours will be in place between 6am and midday along St Kilda Rd and St Kilda Junction. For more details, visit melbournemarathon.com.au.
