Ultramarathon runner takes aim at 161km Queensland trail
After becoming the youngest person to run ultramarathons on all seven continents, Brisbane’s Jacqui Bell has set her sights closer to home.
For many people, becoming the youngest person to run an ultramarathon in all seven continents would be enough to earn a rest.
But Brisbaneās Jacqui Bell is training for her next big challenge ā this time at home.
The 25-year-old runner and motivational speaker aims to set a new time record for the 161km Brisbane Valley Rail Trail.
As if that wasnāt ambitious enough, Bell plans to do the race āunsupportedā, which means there will be no fans supporting her along the way.
Everything Bell needs to complete the mission she will have to carry herself.
āI donāt have any pacers, no one handing me food, water, cheering me along. Itās just me out there for the whole time,ā Bell said.
āMy original goal was 25 hours but Iāve knocked that down, I think I should complete it in under 20 now.ā
The current record for a supported run is 19 hours and two minutes, according to Bell.
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The trail follows the old Brisbane Valley railway line, from Wulkuraka in Ipswich toĀ Yarraman, north of Toowoomba.
The endurance runner attempted to complete the full course in August this year, but her body gave up after the 100km mark.
āI went into it run down and I guess through the night, running, my body just shut down on me and I ended up getting acute bronchitis,ā she said.
āI was vomiting and spitting out blood so I made the call at 135km to stop.ā
But the experience didnāt leave her feeling defeated.
Instead, it motivated the world record holder to make another attempt early next year.
āI just absolutely love the sport and itās weird ā the more I do it, the more I love it and I honestly couldnāt think of anything more I enjoy than being out there on the weekend and running in the trails,ā she said.
Thatās lucky because she does a lot of it in preparation for each race.
Bell described the mantra behind her training as ābuilding up the kilometres in your legsā.
āAn average week is probably 100 kilometres running and then thatās paired with a couple of 100 kilometres on the bike, plus gym, swimming and yoga,ā she said.
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Her work is clearly paying off.
While Bell has plenty of experience with multi-staged events, which is how she broke her first record, she recently clocked her first Ultra 100 Mile race in 28 hours.
āPeople thought it would be easy for me after doing all the multi-staged stuff but theyāre a totally different kind of ball park,ā she said.
āTheyāre over the space of a week and youāre carrying all your stuff and itās really spilt up.
āWhereas the 100 miles is just you out there for 160 kilometres in one go. You go as fast as you can ā¦ you wake up and you start at 5:00am and you just go until youāre done.ā
Bell ran her first ultramarathon at the age of 19 and by last November had completed endurance races on all seven continents.
In 2018, Bell became the youngest woman to complete the 4 Desert ultramarathon series. The multi-stage event requires competitors to run 250 kilometres unsupported through deserts in Namibia, Mongolia, Chile, and Antarctica.
When it comes to Bellās record-breaking ambitions, nothing surprises her dad Allan anymore.
āDuring the day sheāll train, then she might go swimming, then she might do cycling, whateverās been programmed by her coach,ā Mr Bell said.
āShe can leave home here of a morning at 4:30am, and we wonāt see her till 7:45pm at night.ā
Mr Bell became emotional as he recalled his daughterās long list of achievements and the difficult task that lies ahead.
āWhatever your children do, if theyāre successful at what theyāre trying to achieve, youāre very proud,ā he said.
ā ABC / Brittney Kleyn
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