Running never came naturally to me. It wasn’t until my mid-twenties that I properly picked it up — just a couple of years ago! — and it changed so much for me. It brought mental clarity, helped me feel stronger and healthier, and gave me a sense of structure and happiness I hadn’t experienced before.

When I moved from Melbourne to London, I suddenly had Europe on my doorstep. Running races abroad felt like the perfect way to combine the two things I loved: seeing new places and having a goal to train for. My first marathon was in Paris, and from there I started signing up for different races in different cities, using them as both an excuse to travel and a way to challenge myself.

A lot of the time though, I was doing it on my own. I enjoyed the planning and finding the best spots to visit, but I always wished there were other people with me who loved the same mix of running and exploring.

When I started sharing my trips online, I realised I wasn’t the only one. So many girls messaged saying they wished they had running friends to go with, or that they wanted to try a race abroad but didn’t know where to start.

That’s how Half Mara Holiday Club began - a space for women who want to travel, run, and make new friends without having to do it all solo 🫶