A team of ultra-marathon runners have set a new Oxfam Trailwalker record in Sydney tonight, completing the 100km challenge in an incredible 11 hours and 22 minutes.
The four members of team Hammer Nutrition, Paul Robertson, 44 from Glenbrook, Ben Blackshaw, 34 from Randwick, Brendan Davies, 37 from Woodford and Jonathan O’Loughlin, 34 from Birchgrove crossed the finish line just before 6.30pm.
Team member, and first-time Oxfam Trailwalker participant Brendan Davies, said being seasoned ultra-marathons runners they knew they were in with a shot to finish the fastest.
“We knew we had the team to do it, but you never really know in a team event – it just takes one person to have a bad day to change everything. You’re only as strong as the rest of your team,” said Mr Davies.
“We faced a couple of tough patches out on the track but we got through and it was a good day for us.”
While you may think the members of Hammer Nutrition would be hurting the most after such a monster effort, the team says they’re thinking of the other teams who will still be out on the trail overnight.
“The guys finishing tomorrow morning will be hurting and we have a lot of admiration for those teams.”
Hammer Nutrition beat the previous event record by 45 minutes – a record which was set by the team’s own Jonathan O’Loughlin back in 2010.
This is the 16th year Oxfam Trailwalker has been held in Sydney, with more than 55,000 people taking part since it began in 1999.
Nearly $2 million has been raised by the Sydney teams this year to help support Oxfam’s work in around 30 countries worldwide and in Australia. This includes the delivery of long-term community development projects in key areas such as agriculture, health, education, livelihoods, as well as emergency responses and campaigning.
To arrange interviews or for more information contact Oxfam Australia Media Coordinator Emma Whalan on 0418 873 782.
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