'Life gets dark': Mother running in Sydney Marathon in memory of dad

Despite Natasha Littler having run six marathons in Australia, the race this weekend means the most.

She is set to run the 42.2-kilometre Sydney Marathon in memory of her father, Garry Rae, who died by suicide when she was seven.

"It's very hard to remember, but I remember that he was a smart man. He loved playing the good old Minesweeper [video game]. He worked in tech and IT," the 36-year-old said.

Ms Littler's parents divorced when she was three.

"He remarried, but I don't think it was ever the same and then it was just too much, I think. Life just gets dark," she said.

Before that, her father served in the Royal Australian Air Force, which also took its toll on his mental health.

Now, almost 30 years later, the Adelaide-based nurse who has worked with mentally unwell patients, is running to raise funds for Beyond Blue and awareness of mental health.

"I've always known I wanted to be a nurse and I feel like it's because I can help people, which is also going hand-in-hand with running for the charity," she said.

Ms Littler said more advertising of mental health supports available to men was needed, as well as encouragement for them to speak out.

"Back in those days, people were just staying silent, encouraged to stay silent," she said.

"Whereas now, I feel like people are talking a bit more.

"It's still changing, but hopefully it keeps changing for the better."

According to Beyond Blue, nearly 5 million Australians live with anxiety or depression, and last year more than 300,000 people reached out to the Beyond Blue Support Service.

Ms Littler has so far raised almost $2,500 for her chosen charity.

As per the Sydney Marathon's Grassrootz fundraising page, more than 9,200 fundraisers have contributed over $12.7 million so far of the event's $13 million goal.

Role modelling for the next generation

Ms Littler and her husband caught a flight to Sydney on Thursday and will be sweating alongside their friends during the marathon on Sunday, which starts from 6:15am.

It will be the second year Sydney has been a part of the Abbott World Marathon Majors series, which also hosts events in seven other locations including Tokyo and London.

More than 40,000 runners and elite wheelchair athletes from across 140 countries will begin the course north of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, make their way through Centennial Park and finish at the Sydney Opera House.

The event is expected to draw 125,000 spectators to the city to watch the charity groups and general runners.

Ms Littler hoped her three kids — 11-year-old Ryan, 10-year-old Caleb and seven-year-old Spencer — would watch the livestream of the marathon with their grandmother back at home.

"They love watching us and getting inspired," she said.

Ms Littler said she wished to be a role model for her children.

They often participate in 10km races, attend their local Parkrun each week and embark on holidays based around running.

"We've got three boys and in this day and age, well, especially having lost my own dad, we just want to try and promote to them to be healthy and active,"

she said.

"They see how happy we are running and how we feel fulfilled afterwards, so we hope to pass that on to them rather than the mental health stigma."

'Testing the limits'

Ms Littler began running shortly after the birth of her second child 10 years ago, before lacing up her shoes for a midnight marathon in 2018.

"It's interesting to see what we're capable of, pushing your body, testing the limits," she said.

"If I'm not having a great day, I'll go for a run and I'll feel better usually afterwards."

She has been busy training for this weekend's event.

"I've been running about five days a week, so a mix of some intervals, some easy runs and then the long run, so I've done a couple of over 30 kilometres," she said.

Ms Littler said she was hoping for a finishing time of less than 4 hours and 30 minutes, well under the 7-hour time limit, while still "remembering that we're doing this for all these people that can't do it".

Transport for NSW said there would be city-wide road closures between 2am and 4.30pm in North Sydney, the Sydney CBD, Pyrmont, Darlinghurst, Moore Park and Kingsford.

Special event clearway parking restrictions will also be in effect, with people encouraged to use public transport.