Tom Evans skyrocketed to ultrarunning fame in 2017 with a groundbreaking third-place finish at Morocco's iconic Marathon des Sables. Entering the grueling 251-kilometer race on a dare, Evans became the highest-placed European in the event’s history, just a year after winning his first ultramarathon, the 2016 Beacons Ultra. This remarkable start signaled the rise of a new endurance icon.
A stranger approaches you at a pub offering a chance to purchase an axe once owned by Ned Kelly. The implement looks more Bunnings twenty-first century than one that belonged to a man hanged in 1880 you say, to which comes the reply: “well, it has had a few new blades and new handles.”
Bianca Borgella, a visually impaired sprinter from Canada, has had an extraordinary journey in Para athletics. Born with Leber congenital amaurosis, a condition causing severe vision loss, she initially viewed running as a fun activity. Her potential was recognized in high school, where coaches encouraged her to pursue the sport competitively. After entering the para sport scene at age 18, she quickly rose to prominence, breaking national records in her classification (T13) and earning a reputation as a world-class athlete.
Philip Sesemann, a British long-distance runner, has made a remarkable shift from medicine to marathon training. Originally balancing a medical career with his athletic pursuits, Sesemann gave up his medical license in 2023 to fully dedicate himself to his Olympic dream. His decision paid off early this year when he achieved a qualifying time of 2:08:04 at the Seville Marathon, which secured his spot for the 2024 Olympics. His journey to this milestone has been marked by grit and resilience, particularly as he trained up to 174 km a week, often with his dogs, Haile and Kipchoge, who he fondly refers to as his "mileage mutts".
A legacy event that didn’t deliver a legacy. On life support after five years. A course you couldn’t run fast on.
Sydney staged Australia’s first marathon back in 1909. The city hosted an Olympic marathon in the year 2000. The course was reckoned to be “a beauty,” crossing the Sydney Harbour Bridge – for which the descriptor ‘iconic’ is, for a rare occasion, appropriate - from the start in North Sydney, circling the lush Centennial Parklands before making its way westwards to Homebush and the finish inside Stadium Australia.
Natasha Wodak is a celebrated long-distance runner who has achieved notable success in both track and road racing. Initially finding her strength in the 10,000m and half-marathon events, she set a Canadian record in the 10,000m in 2015, clocking in at 31:41.59. Overcoming personal and physical challenges, including injuries and setbacks that sidelined her for nearly a year, Wodak returned to form, qualifying for her first Olympics in Rio 2016 in the 10,000m, where she placed 22nd.
The recent announcement that there would be no road events at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games was poignant enough for Australian athletics followers. As Commonwealth marathon champions ‘Deek’, ‘Monner’, Kerryn, Lisa, Michael and Jess are on first-name terms as far as most of us are concerned.
In our RT Snap Q&A series, we’ve had the privilege of interviewing some of the world’s best runners, delving into their extraordinary journeys, celebrating their achievements, and exploring the unwavering dedication that defines their careers.
Kipchoge and Bekele eclipsed in Paris. Hassan triumphant, certainly but, like Said Aouita in his pomp, probably too fascinated by her own versatility to focus on excelling at one event. Moderate results in Berlin, by the German capital’s previous standards anyway.
In our RT Snap Q&A series, we’ve had the privilege of interviewing some of the world’s best runners, delving into their extraordinary journeys, celebrating their achievements, and exploring the unwavering dedication that defines their careers.
