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Take a breath… you’ve run a marathon!
Posted 15 Dec 2025
Not just with your legs, but with your mind, your heart, and every bit of determination you’ve gathered along the way.
Last month, Chanti McHenry – a proud Bardi/Noongar/Ngarluma woman from Karratha, first-time marathon runner, educator, footballer, mental health advocate and all-round community good egg – took part in the New York Marathon as part of the Indigenous Marathon Project. She absolutely nailed it!
Not because marathons are easy (they’re definitely not) or because she’s an elite athlete, but because she trained with intention, learned to listen to her body, and carried with her the tools she gained as a Deadly Minds student.
Chanti, one of the first graduates of the Deadly Minds program, described the energy in New York as “something else… huge, exciting, and a bit overwhelming.” So, she did what she learned to do: she tuned into her breath.
The mindful breathing skills from Deadly Minds helped her steady her nerves, stay focused, and keep her mind strong as she ran through five boroughs of New York, from Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx and finally Manhattan.
Chanti said: “Having skills from Deadly Minds helped me with my overall fitness and energy levels. I use mindful breathing techniques to calm my nerves and increase my stamina, and after a race, I use stretching practices to help with my recovery so that I can continue to move and feel good.”
Running with purpose
We think Chanti is an absolute champion – whether she’s running a marathon or running community programs – she embodies the Act Belong Commit message. Most of us aren’t built for 42.195 kilometres, but Chanti does it with purpose: to grow into an even stronger leader for her community and show what’s possible when you support each other.
Currently an Aboriginal Islander Education Officer at a primary school in Karratha, and establishing a new business, Chanti wears many hats. She supports Indigenous people through culture and wellbeing, advocates for better mental health services, has helped establish a community kitchen, contributed to AFL development for women and plays an active role in her local footy club.
She hopes that everything she does strengthens her community and inspires people of all generations
As we said, an absolute champion – and a deadly mind.
If you’d like to learn more about the Deadly Minds program, or get a walk-through of the workshops – available online or in person, get in contact with Charlene at deadlyminds@curtin.edu.au
