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Beginner to 1/2 Marathon Runner with Gemma O'Neill: Racing Through the Wild to Beat Brain Cancer
From Beginner to 1/2 Marathon Runner with Gemma O'Neill: Racing Through the Wild to Beat Brain Cancer
Hosts: Hayley & Justine
Guest: Gemma O'Neill
Duration: ~35 minutes
In this uplifting and empowering episode, Hayley and Justine sit down with Gemma O’Neill, a self-proclaimed non-runner turned 1/2 marathoner, whose story is as courageous as it is inspiring.
Gemma shares her unexpected leap into running, her transition from swimming to pounding the pavement, and how she’s now training for the Big Five Marathon in South Africa — one of the toughest and most scenic races in the world. And she’s not just running for herself: Gemma is racing through the wild to beat brain cancer, raising funds and awareness through her support of Carrie’s Beanies for Brain Cancer.
🎧 What to Expect in This Episode:
00:13 – Meet Gemma: From “I don’t run” to training for a marathon
01:21 – Why brain cancer research is deeply personal for her
02:37 – All about the wild and challenging Big Five Marathon
02:58 – How swimming shaped her mindset for running
03:35 – Emotional highs, lows, and learning curves of marathon training
06:55 – Essential running gear and strategies that made a difference
07:57 – Laugh-out-loud running stories (including “The Vomit Incident” at 19:26)
13:34 – Training with a family and why support means everything
15:01 – The surprisingly hard parts of running no one talks about
16:24 – Real talk on fueling, gels, and why tissues matter (20:17)
22:22 – Why running with friends changes everything
27:48 – The simple, joyful truth about why she runs
31:02 – Gemma’s heartfelt advice for anyone thinking about starting
33:49 – How listeners can support brain cancer research and Gemma’s mission
💬 Notable Quote:
“I never saw myself as a runner — but this journey has shown me I’m stronger than I thought. And I’m not doing this just for me.”
🧠 Support the Cause:
Gemma is fundraising for Carrie’s Beanies for Brain Cancer, a charity funding critical research into one of the most underfunded yet deadly cancers in Australia.
🔗 https://cb4bc.grassrootz.com/big-5-marathon/gemma-oneill?fbclid=IwY2xjawJrun5leHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHrfw54JMTItcqORUTvpO1hevmEQZQg6txfeOUzw6vVfZ7MUU9Kat3qdcS4Un_aem_aOv_8YLf5DcZb4DiEA3tYg
Carries website Caries beanies for brain cancer
https://www.cb4bcbig5.com/
🏃♀️ Join the WRC:
Subscribe, share, and rate the show to help more women find their strength through running.
💌 Got a story like Gemma’s? Reach out to the show! Email us @[email protected]
or follow us on instagram @womensrunning_collective
View all episodes
By Womens Running CollectiveFrom Beginner to 1/2 Marathon Runner with Gemma O'Neill: Racing Through the Wild to Beat Brain Cancer
Hosts: Hayley & Justine
Guest: Gemma O'Neill
Duration: ~35 minutes
In this uplifting and empowering episode, Hayley and Justine sit down with Gemma O’Neill, a self-proclaimed non-runner turned 1/2 marathoner, whose story is as courageous as it is inspiring.
Gemma shares her unexpected leap into running, her transition from swimming to pounding the pavement, and how she’s now training for the Big Five Marathon in South Africa — one of the toughest and most scenic races in the world. And she’s not just running for herself: Gemma is racing through the wild to beat brain cancer, raising funds and awareness through her support of Carrie’s Beanies for Brain Cancer.
🎧 What to Expect in This Episode:
00:13 – Meet Gemma: From “I don’t run” to training for a marathon
01:21 – Why brain cancer research is deeply personal for her
02:37 – All about the wild and challenging Big Five Marathon
02:58 – How swimming shaped her mindset for running
03:35 – Emotional highs, lows, and learning curves of marathon training
06:55 – Essential running gear and strategies that made a difference
07:57 – Laugh-out-loud running stories (including “The Vomit Incident” at 19:26)
13:34 – Training with a family and why support means everything
15:01 – The surprisingly hard parts of running no one talks about
16:24 – Real talk on fueling, gels, and why tissues matter (20:17)
22:22 – Why running with friends changes everything
27:48 – The simple, joyful truth about why she runs
31:02 – Gemma’s heartfelt advice for anyone thinking about starting
33:49 – How listeners can support brain cancer research and Gemma’s mission
💬 Notable Quote:
“I never saw myself as a runner — but this journey has shown me I’m stronger than I thought. And I’m not doing this just for me.”
🧠 Support the Cause:
Gemma is fundraising for Carrie’s Beanies for Brain Cancer, a charity funding critical research into one of the most underfunded yet deadly cancers in Australia.
🔗 https://cb4bc.grassrootz.com/big-5-marathon/gemma-oneill?fbclid=IwY2xjawJrun5leHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHrfw54JMTItcqORUTvpO1hevmEQZQg6txfeOUzw6vVfZ7MUU9Kat3qdcS4Un_aem_aOv_8YLf5DcZb4DiEA3tYg
Carries website Caries beanies for brain cancer
https://www.cb4bcbig5.com/
🏃♀️ Join the WRC:
Subscribe, share, and rate the show to help more women find their strength through running.
💌 Got a story like Gemma’s? Reach out to the show! Email us @[email protected]
or follow us on instagram @womensrunning_collective