The Runaways

Coolangatta Bay and Ocean View are both picture-perfect, tranquil seaside suburbs south of Hobart. But the lives of six women who reside there are far from either.

Becky, Crystal, Erin, Margaux, Arabella and Sonia are all running from something … 

Becky was once a star athlete – a distance runner who more often than not finished on the podium – but now the only running she does is chasing after her three young children and a husband who doesn’t pull his weight.

Crystal believes life has given her the run-around. She feels unfit, boring, invisible and unlovable. She’s never had a boyfriend and wouldn’t know what to do should, by some miracle, a young man indicate even a modicum of interest in her.

Erin thought she’d won gold when she landed her dream job as an advisor to Tasmania’s most popular and charismatic politician, but her colleagues are making her work life absolute hell. And as if their bullying isn’t enough to contend with, how is she supposed to fend off her boss’s inappropriate and unwelcome advances?

Margaux has run out of joy. She simply doesn’t feel like herself anymore as she battles a seemingly never-ending conga line of physical and emotional crap. Is it perimenopause or something more sinister? Either way, her fury knows no bounds and woe betide anyone who crosses her path on a bad day – they might just cop a frozen chook to their head!

Arabella’s life runs on train tracks. In her world, everything is checked, double-checked and triple-checked; numbers are only even, and she dare not step on the cracks in the footpath. But it’s exhausting living this way and she can’t control everything no matter how hard she tries. So, what happens when a major derailment comes?

Sonia is trapped in a loveless marriage to a cruel and controlling man who runs virtually every aspect of her severely diminished life. He’s used and abused her in almost every way imaginable, and things are only getting worse. But will she ever summon the courage to leave him?

Paradoxically, for each woman, running becomes something to hold on to – a precious release valve from their troubles and traumas.

After they all join the newly established Coolangatta Bay Run Club, they quickly find common ground – and friendship – not only in the natural high that comes from pounding the pavements and taking to the trails together, but in sharing the challenges of their lives.

When a major new race appears on the local calendar, the six running buddies decide to register and train for it together. The gruelling Sea to Summit Half-marathon could be just the escape they all need.

However, like the race itself, the women’s struggles continue to be all uphill. And when they are pushed to the very brink, it soon becomes clear that while they can all run, they can’t always hide.