Thursday, August 24, 2023

Issue:

Mackay and Whitsunday Life

SARINA SUPER MUM!

Breaks World Record By Running 50km A Day For 15 Days

Well-known Sarina mum of three, Sammy Coles, has just smashed a world record, completing an Ultra Marathon every day for 15 days and earning herself a place in the Guinness Book of Records.

With the motto that “life just happens” and “it’s never going to be the right time”, Sammy embarked on the challenge (which took her eight hours a day) while also simultaneously working full time, raising three kids and walking the dogs.

Image: Ultra runner Sammy Coles (right) with Billy and Courtney who officiated running times

An Ultra Marathon World Record Breaker

Last Thursday Sarina mum of three, Sammy Coles, broke the world record for running an Ultra Marathon every day for over two weeks.

In a twist of fate, her title was overtaken by another opponent just one day after she secured the record but despite this, Sammy said she was thrilled to accomplish such an incredible feat which saw her run a total 795 kilometres (53 kilometres a day) for 15 days.

Still pumped from her victory, Sammy says she is eager to see how far she can go with besting the new record which is now set at 22 days.

“I’d love to beat it!” she said.

“My body held up so well and I paced myself the whole way, I knew I had the fitness to do it and I would love to go longer next time.”

While most competitors would train and set aside time to achieve a challenge of this magnitude, Sammy worked full time taking classes at the gym.

She would then race home to start each Ultra Marathon which would take her on average eight hours a day, jogging along a 10 kilometre circuit around her home.

“Life just happens!” said Sammy.

“There is no perfect timing, you’re never going to be in the mood, you just have to do it!”

Sammy was only allowed to break for a maximum of eight minutes after each round and often took the dogs for a run while she completed one of her circuits, she also found the time to feed her children and take her son for a spin to clock up some hours on his P plates.

This was not her first taste of endurance running, Sammy had previously competed in the Irrational East challenge which saw her run for 98 hours straight, 330 kilometres through the Wilderness in Adelaide.

“I had the fitness level to do this too, but you never know how your body will hold out and on that occasion, it was the second toe on my left foot that cramped.”

Next-up Sammy is looking forward to conquering the Triple Crown – which involves completing three 200-mile races within a six month period.

Despite the massive amount of endurance, physical ability and mental strength it takes to run this far, Sammy said that she thinks anyone can do it.

“I honestly feel like this is something anyone could do,” she said.

“You just have to believe in yourself.”

Sammy would like to say thank you to her closest supporters: Lauren Matthews, Sarah Brown, Tammy Vaiga and her partner Thian Bardnard.

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