TOLD HIS ENDURANCE WOULD NEVER RECOVER, NOW HE'S HELPING MOB RUN A MARATHON
When Nat Heath was diagnosed with a serious illness as a young man, the idea of one day running a marathon, let alone helping others do it, would have seemed far-fetched.
Yet the Noongar and Martujarra man has gone on to build TriMob, a First Nations-led community that is getting people moving, one training run at a time.
From diagnosis to marathon man
Heath was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré Syndrome, an autoimmune disease that attacks the nervous system and can cause paralysis.
He told the ABC that the illness became one of his biggest motivators, because "the doctor said I would never have the same endurance after having the illness."
Rather than accept that, he set out to test himself through triathlon.
He has since completed six Ironman events and won a championship in his age division.
In 2020 he founded TriMob, which encourages Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to get active through triathlons and marathons, in programs designed to be culturally safe.
Mob the Marathon and a mum who found her stride
One of TriMob's best-known programs is Mob the Marathon, which trains participants from across Australia to take on the Sydney Marathon, one of the world's major marathons.
For many, it is their first real taste of distance running.
Talisha Godwin, a mum with very little running experience, joined the program this year as a beginner.
She told the ABC she found genuine support in the group, and drew strength from the idea of simply showing up and getting one per cent better each day.
It is the kind of small, steady mindset that so many of us could borrow, whether we are training for a race or just trying to get out the door for a walk.
A finalist at a national awards night
TriMob's Mob the Marathon was named a finalist for National Sports Team of the Year at the 2026 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sports Awards.
It was up against Clifton Hill's jiu-jitsu team and the Fitzroy Stars Women's Football Team.
The winners were revealed on Saturday night, November 7, at the Sydney Cricket Ground, with Olympic champion Cathy Freeman as special guest.
The awards were established in 1986 by the late Aboriginal activist Charles Perkins to bring people together through sport.
They returned in 2023 after a 20-year break, and this year marked the first time Sydney has hosted the event since 2001.
Whatever the result on the night, being named alongside the country's best is a proud moment for a grassroots program built on community.
TriMob has also attracted support from Australian swimwear brand Budgy Smuggler, which has committed a share of its Sydney Marathon sales to the organisation for the next three years.
Thinking about your first marathon?
Stories like Talisha's are a wonderful reminder that you do not have to be a natural athlete to start.
If you are new to running, or returning after a long break, it is a good idea to speak to your GP first, especially if you have any health conditions.
Many beginners start with a walk-run approach, gradually building time on their feet before worrying about speed or distance.
Running with a group can make a huge difference, too, offering encouragement, accountability and plenty of friendly faces.
Free weekly community events such as parkrun are a gentle way to try a 5km course at your own pace, and walkers are welcome.
Most importantly, celebrate the small wins, from your first continuous kilometre to the morning you finally feel like a runner.
As Heath's journey shows, the finish line is often much closer than it first appears.
