Perth to Sydney Ultramarathon

Runners World Article

What is the exact event you are doing - from where to where, distance, support crew - who are they, where did you get them from etc, stop off points, how long will it take?

Hoping to run 3928km from the Perth Bell Tower to the Sydney Opera House commencing January 6th, 2002. The run will take anywhere between 45 and 60 days. An attempt at the trans-Australia record (just under 47 days, held by Serge Girard, 1999) will require 85km each day.

The support team consists of four. Guy Weress, a school mate, will be with us for the first three weeks. 24 year old, Chris Arnold from Britain, is flying out to crew, having met in the previous Trans-Australia race, where we crewed together for the English contender, Bob Brown and a number of Australian entrants. Sophie Brabenec, a cousin from Melbourne, will return from five years overseas to continue her travels with us. Amanda Wright, a trained Shiatsu therapist from Sydney, rounds out an experienced, balanced, yet diverse crew.

Have you always been a runner?

No. I joined the athletics team at the commencement of high school and was the worst runner. I'd get to the penultimate lap of the 3000m and sprint, having misjudged the pace. I ran in every event on Saturdays but never excelled at anything. I settled on hurdles hoping that other people would stumble and I'd have an upset victory never did!

How did you get involved in running?

Ultramarathons came into my life at age sixteen, through an impulsive decision. I awoke one morning with a driving passion to run to Melbourne that day. I was having arguments with the folks and it was a good excuse to get out for a little 'fresh' air. Mum realised I was dead serious at 2pm that arvo when I began assembling my gear, so dashed off and purchased a $2 metal framed pack from 'Vinnies'. At 6pm, laden with 25kg of provisions, I set off down 'the Hume'. In the footsteps of past Westfield Runners, one of whom had been my uncle John Connellan, I arrived in Goulburn seventy-two hours later. That sparked annual solo journeys, one down the Princes Highway and another when I was eighteen from Sydney to Albury, over nine days.

You must have put a lot of thought and preparation into this - what has made you decide to do this,when did you decide to do this and what has been your plan?

The initial thoughts surfaced when running down the highway years ago. Grandiose ideas involving runs around Oz were in the pipeline, then Pat Farmer and Gary Parsons did that, so I thought, scale it down, focus on a shorter distance and devote 100% effort to making it worthwhile for myself, and The Fred Hollows Foundation. The organisation for this run hit full throttle in late August.

Has all the training and preparation affected the rest of your life?

The preparation has had a dramatic effect on my life and training. Over the past month I've cut down from twenty to a couple of kilometres per day. The organisation has been a 9am to 9pm job, though I've still maintained a strong social life and never decline an offer to go out. Supplementing and complimenting my running, I sail and do a weekly yoga and stretch class.

In what other events have you been recently?

Australian 24 hour track championships, Colac 6 day race, Coburg 24 hr race

What was it like doing Colac?

I had a great time at Colac. Whilst competitors were complaining about the poor surface, I'd never had anything on which to compare it so was just trotting around talking to the likes of 82 year old Drew Kettle and the awe-inspiring Yiannis Kouros.

For what are you aiming - time and money raised?

I have goals, yet I'm not going to set them in cement, because I understand the immensity of the challenge and the associated risks of making brash forecasts. Fortunately if I run one kilometre out of Perth and fall over with two broken legs I will have raised nearly $5000 for The Fred Hollows Foundation - enough to restore the sight to 200 people. Of course I'd like to triple this figure which is possible if I can get across Oz.

The record is a distant dream, I'll be happy to just survive. If I can win the battle of the mind in the first stages then hopefully the body will adjust. If the body controls the mind in the first fortnight I'd rate myself a 2% chance of making it, if the mind prevails, that figure might rise over 50%. As Don Ritchie said, the first 1000 miles isn't too bad, and the last 1000's fine, it's the middle 1000 which is tough. Just getting to the start will be a grand achievement and the only failure with these types of things is the failure of not trying.

What is a typical training week, when do you train, how do you fit it in with work and family?

At the moment there is no typical training week other than the scheduled yoga and stretching classes. I run when I feel like it or time allows - mostly at night, or early morning. Nave and perhaps arrogant as this may appear, I'm not worried about the lack of mileage. Research suggests that the slightly 'under-done' athlete will be less susceptible to injury and illness. For hours each day I think about the running. This mental preparation will play the over-riding factor in any success. I nanny three children on a Wednesday and coach sailing all day Sunday which are ideal employment. They provide a break from the monotony of organisation.

With whom do you train?

My best mate from school.

What do you like about running and such an event as this?

I thrive from the challenge, and look forward to the development of the journey. Ultra running is an extreme means to an end in the growth of one's understanding of their own being. Running 85km a day you sure have a long time to think about things! You piece past information and insights together, ultimately creating what will become your perspective.

How has it changed your life?

I have never been a good runner, but realising that I can still do amazing things through my running has confirmed thoughts that 'impossible' is a term that exists in the confines of our mind.

What does your family think of you running such an event?

Understandably, my father and brothers think I am foolish. Mum doesn't support the idea either, but she's a gem, saying to one of my friends the other day, "I may not support what the man does, but I still support the man." She has been instrumental in guiding my campaign and contacting potential sponsors.

How do you explain such an event to other people?

The more the idea for this run has progressed, the more it has shifted from a personal challenge, to a challenge for us all to become aware and raise funds for The Fred Hollows Foundation and their programs. I've become intrigued by the sensibility and commendable efforts of The Foundation.

Regarding the run, it's just the attempted fulfillment of a dream that has been lurking in the back of the mind since that first step on 'the Hume'. Dreams of this proportion are something with which most can identify, though they are seldom shared.

From where do you get your advice on training?

Ultra runners seem reserved to share information with novices, however, in my three races I have gained some good advice. I have, and continue to, research through the web, so I was adequately prepared for my first race in Adelaide, 2000. Crewing for the Trans Australia Footrace Race in early 2001, proved and will prove invaluable, however, some of the greatest advice comes from reading about Trans-continental crossings, solo journeys of any nature and the Great Bunion Derby described in the fantastic novel, Flanagan's Run.

Do you have a plan for this event?

Yes, and no. The crew and I arrive in Perth three days before the proposed start. After that I will set a daily minimum to be run, with no maximum, yet I have specific times I'd like to reach certain points. I'll listen to my body to a certain extent, eratic running early on won't get me far, but I'll try to tune out to the inevitable pain until I and the crew settle into some rhythm upon entering the Nullabor plain.

How did you feel physically and emotionally at the end of colac?

Physically, good. I went for a 25km run the following day in Sydney. Emotionally, fickle. I sat down with Drew Kettle and had a beer. I'd missed qualification for the Trans-Australia race by 66km but the slip of that dream had been realised mid-race. I ended stronger than I began, and had met an amazing bunch of people whose memories and thoughts will always remain strong.

Your occupation?

Deferred student studying Human Movement (3rd year - UTS). Midway through a Diploma in Journalism. Sailing Instructor and nanny though I have recently returned from teaching mathematics and English in South Korea

Any funny incidents from running?

Too many I have been running along at night, head down and had a kangaroo jump out on me then run directly into street signs and fallen flat on my back.

Once I ran into Mittagong late at night, knocked on many a door looking for a bed. With no one offering I set my sleeping mat up in the carpark just next to McDonald's and its garden bed. I awoke an hour later soaked, as it had been raining. I peered into a clear sky with not a cloud in sight and realised I had been under the 'Macca's' sprinklers for an hour.

I've been given directions to the highway from Port Kembla Railway Station, on a cold Sunday night and an hour later found myself back at Port Kembla railway station having done a complete loop of the Port.

On a different note, I had a shotgun pulled on me as I was crawling into my sleeping bag in some guy's backyard - turned out to be an affable bloke! I've seen punchups between runners. Runners go mad and strip to the bone then run off the highway into the bush screaming!

Final information you may want to add.

Website is www.seeaustraliarun.com. Fred Hollows Foundation 24hr toll free donation line is: 1800 352 352. If potential sponsors wish to request further information they can email don@seeaustraliarun.com with 'sponsorship request' in the subject.

I will endeavour to send some photographs through the mail, or via email to this address. Unfortunately a friend, currently making a video on my run, has my best photo. You can see if there are you want of me by logging in to the website above and going to profiles - then checking the gallery.

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