{"id":333646,"date":"2023-06-23T11:14:20","date_gmt":"2023-06-23T01:14:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=333646"},"modified":"2023-06-23T11:15:34","modified_gmt":"2023-06-23T01:15:34","slug":"runners-shatter-endurance-records","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2023\/06\/23\/runners-shatter-endurance-records\/","title":{"rendered":"Runners Shatter Endurance Records"},"content":{"rendered":"
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West Australian runner Phil Gore celebrates as he completes his record-breaking 102nd lap
(Photo: Nancy Jayde Photography)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

June 23, 2023<\/strong><\/p>\n

Nanango has revived its reputation as the ultra-marathon running capital of Queensland after Australian and world records for endurance running fell this week at the Dead Cow Gully Backyard Masters.<\/p>\n

Decades ago ultra marathon events were held at the Nanango Showgrounds, but lapsed after a couple of years.<\/p>\n

Three years ago, Runnymede resident Tim Walsh revived the tradition with a bang.<\/p>\n

Tim hosted his first Dead Cow Gully Backyard Ultra Marathon on his family’s cattle property in 2020, attracting some of Australia’s best long-distance trail-running athletes.<\/p>\n

His third event, held on the Easter weekend this year, tested a record 195 competitors over the 6.7km course.<\/p>\n

On Saturday, more than 50 runners – including the elite of this most elite sport – took off at 7:00am for the “last man standing” Masters event.<\/p>\n

Each competitor had 60 minutes to complete a loop or be eliminated.<\/p>\n

The quicker they completed the course, the more rest time they enjoyed until the cow bell rang at the top of the hour for the start of the next lap.<\/p>\n

By Lap 64, there were just four runners remaining.<\/p>\n

Four days and four very cold nights later there were two runners left, Phil Gore, from Perth, and New Zealander Sam Harvey.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sam dropped out on Wednesday morning after completing Lap 101.<\/p>\n

Phil went on to complete Lap 102, securing the world record.<\/p>\n

Days earlier US runner Harvey Lewis (90 laps total), Phil and Sam smashed the Australian record of 76 laps.<\/p>\n

Wednesday’s South Burnett Regional Council Budget meeting was interrupted briefly so local councillor Jane Erkens could announce the news the world record had fallen.<\/p>\n

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Runners head off into the dark at the start of Lap 63 on Monday night (Photo: Jane Erkens)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Video by Nancy Jayde Photography<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n