Small State Tasmania, Big Running Island.

THE GREAT TRAIN RACE

A stunning autumn morning on the North West Coast of Tassie greeted almost 500 runners and 27 volunteers at Devonport for the 2022 edition of The Tax Centre Great Train Race.
The unique event takes place at Don River Railway where runners race against 71 year old 'Steam Locomotive M4' through the Don Reserve to Coles Beach and back.

Eamonn Seddon General Manager Don River Railway:

"We've got what is an exciting community event today. It's created great ambience, a real sense of festival so it's good for the railway, a completely new audience of runners that may or may not have been on the railway premises before."

Brian Lyons Race Director:

"The original Great Train Race ceased in 1996 and it was a fun run I did a couple of times and I always loved it. Runners meet at the Don River Railway which is a tourist train and there is a walking track that is parallel to the train track so runners will actually race the train. It's about a half an hour journey give or take for the train and for the runners it's an undulating course so it's not an easy run."

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FERGUS EDWARDS

Fergus is an experienced Ultra trail runner who this year completed the 'Tassie Slam' of Ultra running races and was the only runner to do so.

The events in calendar order:

Cradle Mountain Run
Tasmania's 101 Adventure Run
Run Narawntapu
Tassie Trail Fest
Rail Trail Run & Ride
Bruny Island Ultra

Fergus amassed a total of 518 kilometres, almost 70 hours on his feet and 13,000 metres of elevation gained across the six events.

Fergus left the UK for Tasmania in 2018 and has enjoyed the trails we are so lucky to have on our doorsteps here, and the local running community.

"The first thing that was obvious to me having come from living in a city was I was going to be able to get out into some trail here that I just couldn't access as easily anywhere else I've lived before. The second thing I found was that the trail running community out here is the sort of local community that I really enjoy. People that just love being out on trails when they could. It may not be a massive community, but it's a community of people who are devoted to just enjoying the trails."

In 2022 Fergus is looking to be more competitive with his running. The inaugural kunanyi Mountain Run 68 kilometre solo event in April is first, and he is also hoping to complete a 24 hour race on the track.

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LEANNE EVANS

Leanne started running in 2012 to regain her fitness after having major cardiac surgery in 2010. Leanne is a registered nurse at the LGH in Launceston and is grateful for her daily routine of being able to run. In winter it is mostly on the roads, but when the days and daylight get longer she always goes to her favoured trails to escape and to be on her own. Leanne loves Parkrun and is the Run Director at the Kate Reed Parkrun in Launceston.

"For me it's seeing other people enjoy our trails and seeing people on their fitness journeys. As a Parkrun even director we are community involved and we try to be inclusive and just seeing people come along who have not run trails before and start to enjoy trails."

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SEE YOU SOMETIME PODCAST

I got an invite a couple of weeks back to a See You Sometime podcast recording. The podcast hosts are Andrew Sertori and Leigh Geale, a couple of Launceston runners who have been mates since Grade 7.

Andrew and Leigh have been interviewing mainly runners for their episodes but running is quite far from the main topic of conversation. That night the podcast's guest was Jade Child. Jade is a former TSL player and Guinness World Record holder amongst many other talents. In my short time there I learnt that one year (due to a football injury) Jade won a Table Tennis premiership and he doesn't mind a home brand cheesecake and can knock one over in one hit.

"I guess what it's become is tapping into primarily runners because of who we know but just the idea that any local has a story that's worth sharing. If you give people a platform, then, I think there's a lot to learn from the people you know."

DOUG STROHFELD

Hobart trail runner Doug has been exploring trails and tracks for the past 50 years. Doug loves his backyard at Lenah Valley which opens up right onto Wellington Park. He has spent over 15 years exploring kunanyi / Mount Wellington. Doug has lined up for the iconic Cradle Mountain Run 23 times since 1991, completing the 80 kilometres across the Overland Track 18 times. Unfortunately due to a knee injury he won't be there this year in 2021 but aims to be back for his 19th completion in 2022. I asked Doug if he was one of the pioneers of trail running in Tasmania.

"The Cradle Mountain Run was started in 1981 by Richard Pickup and that was the first trail run I believe in Tasmania. I have done that 23 starts with 18 completions. So I suppose to some extent I am part of a group of people that did pioneer trail running. We didn't go out there and promote it because back then there was no Facebook and no Strava but we've always been passionate about running in the mountains."

JOHN CANNELL

This last weekend John climbed the equivalent of the elevation of the world's biggest mountain, Mauna Kea, by completing 213 ascents of the Trevallyn stairs in Launceston. Each one comprised of 48m elevation gain and a distance of 155 metres.

John started on Friday night at 10pm and just after 8pm the next day, Saturday, he had completed what no Tasmanian and Australian has ever been able to achieve before. John also covered a distance of 66 kilometres in that time. He is a very humble and softly spoken bloke who loves Tasmania and in particular the endless trail running possibilities the state has to offer.

John's incredible effort has so far raised over $5,800 for
Just Like Jack

https://www.givenow.com.au/justlikejack?fbclid=IwAR1xmJ_9ZpeVMDP9T20S8cQirw-gjaHPrIK4rNyCY9UkJnuIq6j5p_0RsDc

JASE MILNER

Caught up with Jase today as he completed 5 consecutive years of running every day. 1827 days. He has no plans to stop the streak. Jase was supported by a small group of mates for 5 kilometres around Launceston.