Marathon runner Julie Boyd details travel tales that started on Border in book

Those jottings, combined with her worldwide marathon adventures, have now helped her write her first book.

The Rise and Fall(s) of a Would Be Runner: A Matured Aged Woman's Running Related Travel Tales takes a lighthearted look at Mrs Boyd's experiences.

"I love reading memoirs and I'm passionate about running and travel, and it's always been a dream of mine to write a book," she said.

"Each chapter is about a marathon or running event somewhere in the world."

Mrs Boyd isn't short of a travel story, having now competed in an event in every continent except Antarctica.

After starting her running journey as a 50-year-old with the Albury-Wodonga Tri Club, her first major challenge had her land in China.

"One of my friends at the Tri Club asked if I wanted to come and do the Great Wall of China Marathon," she said.

"At the time I was only running three kilometres and I thought how can I make 42 kilometres?

"I just laughed, and then a few weeks later I thought it'd be a great adventure, so I did it."

It become just the first of many.

"A fun one was in the south of France. Every water station had gourmet food and wine and the marathon was fancy dress," she said.

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"I was Little Red Riding Hood and there were hundreds of other Little Red Riding Hoods.

"I didn't start drinking until I was half-way.

"South Africa was amazing. You run in a private game park and the big five animals are there.

"When you're running they locate the lions before you start, but you do see zebras and wildebeest while you're running."

Rio, Boston and Prague also top her list of highlights.

The special education teacher still has one more major goal she'd like to achieve- an ultra-marathon.

"I haven't done one and I wanted to do Comrades Marathon in South Africa, but I had a grandchild due on the same day, so I didn't do it," she said.

Despite COVID-19 putting her travel plans on the back-burner, Mrs Boyd is still finding ways to satisfy her competitive spirit.

"On March 8 last year I was booked to do an all-women's marathon in Japan," she said.

"It became virtual and there was one just outside Adelaide, so I did that.

"There was only three ladies in it, so it was a bit different, but I came first."

Her book is available through IngramSpark, Barnes and Noble and other online distributors.

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