A LONG distance runner has trekked through some tough off road terrain through streams and up large hills, all in an attempt to finish her first off road 50km run.
Swan Hill’s Toni Gracia took on the Surf Coast Century in Anglesea, finishing a 50km run, hills and all.
The trail runner has been a marathon runner in the past, but decided to get off the bitumen to try her hand at an all terrain race.
Speaking to The Guardian, Gracia said she was feeling good and did struggle on the incline.
“I have had a lot of injuries so I thought I would do the 50kms and it was quite good, the trail runs aren’t considered too hilly but to a Mallee runner it was,” she said.
“The first 20kms was on the beach and we had water crossings, through rock pools, it was hard going. And then the last 30kms was up and down hills, I took a few tumbles but it was good.
“I have done a number of road runs and this was the first time I did an off road one, I loved it.”
Gracia is seen as a leader in the local running circles, helping train a group of people with a local gym.
She lead by example and do her 50km run to show everything anyone can do anything they put their mind to, but the reasoning behind her run was simple — a personal goal.
“This run inspired something in me, I feel like when you run the road you just sort of try to beat personal bests, but on the trails it’s more about the journey and what you see along the way,” she said.
“I have trained with people who couldn’t even do a kilometre and now they run far, if you push yourself, you can do it. I never thought I could try and do this but its fairly addictive, my next goal is 100kms.”
