New York, Old Memories | Wellings to Run New York Marathon

Despite being born in New York, Eloise Wellings is quick to assert that she is an Aussie through and through.

The dual Olympian is headed back to the city so nice they named it twice for next week’s New York Marathon, set to pound the same pavements as her mother, Cheryl, did while pregnant with her over 40-years ago.

A fire at the downtown New York branch of the Commonwealth Bank in 1980 is responsible for the discrepancy between Wellings’ birthplace and nationality, with her father, Peter, offered a rare opportunity to advance his career overseas.

“All the files were hard copies, so they all burnt. My Dad got a contract to go over there to basically restore public faith in the Commonwealth Bank. Mum joined the New York Road Runners and found a community there, so this is a bit of a full circle moment for all of us – they are coming to watch me race!” Wellings said.

Racing in New York for the first time since 2011, the prospect of the New York Marathon is one that has long excited Wellings. Those have run the course describe a unique battle between the rolling hills and boisterous crowd, traveling 42.2km through the five boroughs of NYC leading into the grand finale in Central Park.  

“Obviously I want to run as fast as I can on a tough course with challenging hills. I just want to compete against the stellar field which will be such an honour, I have raced and competed against a lot of them and they are amazing women,” Wellings said.

“New York for me is a bit of a bonus after the last year, it is about learning about having a reasonably quick turnaround after a major championships like the Commonwealth Games.”

Laying down a scorching 2:25:10 in Nagoya to propel herself to fifth on the Australian all-time list in her third marathon before finishing fourth at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, Wellings has successfully transitioned to the marathon after an accomplished career on the track which began with the 1998 World Junior Championships.

“I feel like I am still learning a lot about the event and have a lot to give. Every marathon I get to do a debrief with myself and my team to work out ways in which I can improve and I just know that I have so much more which is exciting,” Wellings said.

“I have really high hopes for the next five or six years and I really believe that I could have a crack at some big and audacious times.”

The six-time Commonwealth Games representative spoke fondly of the women’s marathon resurgence in Australia, welcoming the rivalries, companionship and inspiration provided by her compatriots.

“Seeing a lot of those women have kids and continue to chase their own potential and manage the juggle, it helps me and many other women believe for what could be possible in our own careers. Everyone is just trying to get the most out of themselves and at the same time life one another up,” Wellings said.

“I have never shied away from wanting more Australian women on the big stage of the Olympics or World Championships, and now the World Major Marathons. There is nothing more exciting than knowing someone who is running a major and watching their journey unfold.”

Coached by Nic Bideau, Wellings credits her extensive team from husband Jonny to osteopath Kay McPherson and training partner Rory Darkins for the impressive start to her marathon career – enabling the 39-year-old to chase her dream of a third Olympic Games in Paris.

“The marathon just suits the stage of life that I am at, with kids and a family. Life feels a lot more stable because I am not traveling to a race every weekend and I know that no matter how the marathon goes, I am going to have a break and we can plan family holidays and work,” Wellings said.

Fellow Australians Jessica Stenson, Madison de Rozario and Christie Dawes will also contest the New York Marathon.

More to come.

By Lachlan Moorhouse, Athletics Australia
Posted: 30/10/2022