Wilson secures a record at Southern Sydney

Contributed by Greg Wilson, AURA member (Kyneton, Vic)

SOUTHERN SYDNEY 24 HOUR ULTRA 6HR EVENT, SYDNEY (NSW), 11 June 2023

In 1992 I raced in my first ultra marathon that did not involve spending the final 16km ascending Mt. Buller in Victoria. It was an AURA 6hr track race at Burwood in suburban Melbourne. I won it with a touch under 80kms and Hooky and Dot announced that I was Australian record holder. That’s pretty nice…I should do some more of these.

Within the month Trevor Jacobs had brought their attention to his superior performance. Then Yiannis Kouros said his was better still and then I kept going for 24 hours. Can’t argue with that! My brief reign was over.

The next year I was again victorious, but with just under 75 kms. I was not as fit and we had two hours of cyclonic conditions, causing most to retire to the tents still standing and consume pancakes. Thus ended my 6 Hour career of last millennium. It was the only distance in which I remained defeated.

Three years ago my track ultra career was belatedly resurrected in a 6hr at Southern Sydney 24 Hour Ultra. I had come off the trails to attempt John Nuttall’s M65 6hr record. Unfortunately I had also come off my feet on a wet tile and spent months carrying an injury after a very heavy fall. Covid restrictions meant a last minute drive to Sydney and alas I lost my unbeaten record! Not unexpected, but I was disappointed to be just above 60kms.

Fast forward a year and I returned for a final record attempt at age 69.9 with no expectation of success. In the end I ran my best ultra and covered 65.230 kms, missing out by a mere 261 metres. Bother!

So on to 2023 and some unfinished business at Southern Sydney 6hr, this year at Campbelltown. Three months earlier I had completed my first 48hr and arrived just hoping I had recovered. I had set a schedule which gave me the chance of equalling last year if all went well. If not, then I would pay for my early heroics, but not die wondering.

At the lower end my ambition was to run further than my previous July M70 Australian Age Record of 61.777kms. Seeing I had then run for another 18hrs, it didn’t seem overly ambitious. The ‘Pie in the Sky’ was to be able to surpass 65kms, which would put me in front of some pesky non-record performances listed on DUV Statistik. I had recently discovered the IAU World Best Performance was 60.994kms (Paul Aillery FR, Hamme BLG 26/11/2022).