Cambridge’s Jane McAlpine set a New Zealand women’s record last week in Queensland at the Dead Cow Gully Backyard Masters, running 355km in 53 hours.
Jane McAlpine retrieves her cow tag from the fence once dropping out of the race. Remaining tags are from remaining competitors. Photo: Supplied
The Te Awamutu College alumna is coached by fellow New Zealander and competitor Sam Harvey.
The 6.7km Nanango-based course takes competitors through stockyards, grasslands, gullies and gum trees, running alongside cattle in the surrounding paddocks.
Owned by the Walsh Family, Dead Cow Gully is a sixth-generation family cattle property that the family have called home for 150 years.
Dead Cow Gully is in a league of its own, it’s the ultimate measure of human endurance – entrants must run the loop within the hour, every hour, until there is one competitor left standing.
Runners who finish a loop in 45 minutes are rewarded with a 15 minute rest.
McApline completed 53 laps.
“Sam ran an incredible 118 laps and was the assist to Phil Gore who won on 119 – a new world record,” McAlpine said. “Sam has been my coach for the past six months, helping me to become a stronger and faster runner.
“I managed to run very strong physically and mentally for most of my race – taking in good nutrition to keep turning up each hour to complete the yard.”
McAlpine, who managed 39 laps, 261km last year, returned to beat Julia Chamberlain’s record of 342km, 51 laps.
Jennifer Russo from the United States was last woman standing overall.
McAlpine she expected to suffer some reaction to running on hard ground.
“My right Achilles niggled early Sunday morning but we kept it under control until Monday morning when it became a bit of an issue,” McAlpine said.
“After completing the 53rd hour, and speaking with Sam, we made the tough decision to end my race due to my Achilles. I entered the start coral alongside Sam, we started that yard together, stopped, embraced and I wished him well in his goal of breaking the world record.”
McAlpine said the community involved in backyard ultra marathons are very supportive on and off the course.
“In the backyard format you need the support of those around you to reach your limit,” she said.
“I ran alongside some incredible athletes from New Zealand, Australia, Japan, America, Belgium and Romania. All the time supporting one another to go one more yard.”
Jane McAlpine in action during her 53 hours of running at Dead Cow Gully.
