Runners go — and go — the distance

Sleep-deprived Maya Edmondson runs back from her 28th loop (over 187km) at the Scenic Circles...
Sleep-deprived Maya Edmondson runs back from her 28th loop (over 187km) at the Scenic Circles Backyard Ultra. PHOTO: SHELLEY INON
Contestants were running circles around their opposition at the Scenic Circles Backyard Ultra in Centennial Park over the weekend.

The event, which started on Saturday morning, finished 34 hours later.

Organiser Paul Forbes said contestants ran a set loop — which was just under 7km — every hour until there was just one contestant standing.

It was the second year the event had been held in Timaru.

The overall winner was Connor Aldridge with 34 laps (228.14km). Second was Josh Hastie with 33 laps (221.43km).

Female winner — and fan favourite — was 18-year-old Fairlie resident Maya Edmondson, who completed 30 laps (201.3km).

Miss Edmondson said she was very thankful for the support she received throughout the race and after.

"I really appreciated it, and it truly kept me going.

"I ended up running with three guys and they were jokingly jealous of the amount of support I was receiving, but then I reminded them that they were competing against an 18-year-old girl who was half their age."

She said she was lucky to gain a lot of support and guidance from many people.

"But especially from my dad — he gave me the running bug."

She said between her and her father they had found keeping nutrition as close to what they would have any other day worked best for them.

"A tuna sandwich with mixed lettuce in the early afternoon and a home-made kumara curry with rice was for dinner.

"During the night I mostly had cup-a-soup. Throughout most of the race I was snacking on a mix of dried fruit and nuts, potato chips and cookies. By the second day I couldn't really be bothered to eat, so that's when I had my first gels."

Competing through the night only left short moments for the entrants to sleep.

"I don't know if you could call it sleep but I definitely managed to close my eyes for a bit. On one of the night loops I came in to the tent and dad was half asleep — mind you, he had run that day too."

The youngest contestants at the event were two Geraldine High School year 7 students — Zac Anderson, who ran four laps (just under 27km), and James Lewis who ran one.

By the second day, most of the audience was via livestream.

However, one spectator — 8-year-old Jago Walker — said, "I might do it next year."

His father Matt Walker said he made 34km before his knee "blew out".