THE marathon is regarded as the ultimate test for an athlete, and to achieve the feat of not only running the event but to also finish is a great accomplishment that many people strive for but not all complete.

To do so with a relative by your side is a special moment that mother-daughter team of Carolyn and Bec Van Kalken will share tomorrow when they run side-by-side in the Melbourne Marathon.

This will be Carolyn’s ninth time covering the 42.195km marathon distance while Bec will be attempting her first such distance.

The women have been training for the event for quite a while, covering up to 80km per week, in readiness for the task ahead.

“We have been training for the past 12 weeks to prepare for the challenge,” Carolyn said.

“Right now, we are in our taper period in readiness for Sunday, but we have been covering up to 80km each week.

“We train together, and we have run to Penshurst and Dunkeld which is great, as it breaks up the training by not running around the same streets at home every week.

“The feeling of accomplishment of running the 30km to Penshurst and Dunkeld is something we don’t get running the same distance around town.”

“We were talking after the run to Penshurst recently and said that this was the hard part, as the hills between Hamilton and Penshurst or Dunkeld are far harder than what we will encounter in the actual race.”

Bec has never competed at the distance before but has run half-marathons and is confident she came make the finish line.

“I have done the 21km race numerous times and I feel I’m ready to take the step up to the full distance,” Bec said.

With a best time of 3.53.00 for the distance, Carolyn is not looking to better that time here as she and Bec are going to run together and the goal to complete the course as a joint unit.

“My goal is just to finish, and we have decided to run together to help each other to the finish line,” Bec said.

“We are doing it together and I’m not concerned about beating that personal best

“This is something I’ve wanted to do for a long time; to do it once and especially with Mum,” Bec said.

“I’ll either love it and want go again or hate it and never want to put on running shoes again.”

Bec’s partner, Jayden Polaski, has competed at an earlier Melbourne marathon recording a time of 3.51.00 in the process.

“He’s scared that she will beat his time,” Carolyn laughed.

“I kind of hope I do, but at the same time I’m not getting my hopes up but will be able to say that I have done one,” Bec said.

For both women the future holds more running for both.

“I met a man one year at the Tarra-Serra event who turned 70 and he asked when I was going to tackle the marathon,” Carolyn said.

“I laughed at the thought, but he told me that I was fit enough to run the marathon and the idea took off from there.”

Recovery for both women will be necessary as the body requires time to get back to normal.

“I will be quicker than Bec and will probably take only a couple of days to be right, but you really need a week to get over it,” Carolyn said.

“When I did the Gold Coast marathon earlier this year, I took a month off and I wish I hadn’t done so as I went crazy not running.”

“I have been a bit sore after running half-marathons but you get over any cramps after a couple of days so I’ll see how go next week,” Bec said.