67: Running for Hazel: Love, Strength & Purpose; A Runner’s Journey

This week’s episode is a powerful reminder of what running can become when it’s tied to love, resilience, and family. We sit down with Declan, who shares his journey from midnight training runs during the hardest chapter of his life to running marathons with his daughter Hazel a little girl who has faced more challenges than most of us will ever know.
 
Declan opens up about Hazel’s diagnosis, the fear and grief that followed, and how running became a way to cope, to stay strong, and to show Hazel the world in a way she can experience and enjoy. We talk about his first Sydney Marathon on almost no sleep, the Sunshine Coast breakthrough, weaving through the field with a pram, and the emotional moment of hearing hundreds of people cheer Hazel’s name.
 
We dive into the creation of Running for Hazel, the push to get a racing chair, the goal of bringing Hazel to Sydney and Melbourne, and the deeper mission behind it all giving Hazel joy, connection, and the marathon experience so many runners cherish.
 
This conversation is raw, honest, and full of heart. A must‑listen for anyone who believes running is more than just miles.