My Journey Through Marathons and Ultra-Trail Runs: A Personal Experience

I have to be honest - I haven’t really got one. There are several city marathons that I consider once in a while - more because I want to go to those cities than the marathons themselves - but nothing that I say, 'I need to do that.' However, the one ultra-marathon that resonated with me is The Wall. It was running along the route of Hadrian's Wall in north England, and it just seemed like a great idea at the time. It was a lovely run but I'm not doing it again!

Future Marathons and Ultra-Trail Runs

Another one on my wish list is the Singapore marathon, but the timing of it in early December clashes with my work on mail sorting, which makes it impossible. Tokyo, on the other hand, is something that I would love to do. It’s probably the most accessible option for us Australians. I’m also aiming to do the Melbourne marathon at least 10 times to qualify as a 'Spartan,' which I’ve already accomplished halfway. That said, as I take the attitude that marathon running is a ticket around the world, I may add more events to my bucket list.

Interestingly, I have little interest in running the American majors. Perhaps it's more about going to the US than actually competing there.

A Continual Runner: The Snowdonia Marathon

I’ve run the Snowdonia Marathon in North Wales continually for the past 25 years, with my first entry being back in 1995. I am one of only a few competitors who have completed more than 23 consecutive Snowdonia Marathons. I’ve also worn exactly the same number 108 every year since 1995 and have asked for it every year. There are less than ten runners who have completed more than 23 consecutive Snowdonia Marathons, and I'm proud to be one of them.

The Not-So-Adored Road Races

I'm not a big fan of organized marathons or road races. Running on roads through what feels like a concrete jungle isn’t my thing. Heartbreak Hill in Boston is just a blip. Weeping your eyes out over a few seconds, screaming because you didn't achieve a personal best, or burning out and hating running are all experiences I avoid. My prioritized goal is a double traverse of the Titiwangsa range in Malaysia, over Gunung Rajah, which is about 70km through the jungle with about 10,000 meters of vertical ascent. I hope to complete it in 16 hours, unsupported, except if we do an extra 10km of running, we can get to a cafe that serves awesome fried rice. That, I think, would be better than all the heartbreak of road races.

Sayonara to Western States and UTMB, Welcome to the Jungle

Goodbye to Western States and UTMB, and welcome to the jungle. My focus is now on immersive trail runs that let me experience nature and push my limits in a different way. As a marathon runner, I see my journey as a way to explore the world, and I look forward to more adventures on trails more than on roads.