Umina Beach doctor Joasia Zakrzewski won the first female place at the Coast to Kosciuszko ultramarathon which started on December 4 at Twofold Bay.
Zakrzewski completed the 246km course in just over 28 hours, eclipsing the previous record by nearly two hours.
She competed with second placed female Amy Lamprecht for the top spot over the course of the event, ultimately taking the lead in Dalgety.
Zakrzewski said she had little time to prepare for the race, fitting in runs around her work at Umina Surgery in West St.
“I didn’t look at the route because I’ve never done it … I didn’t want to scare myself into not doing it,” she said.
“I sat down once one I got to Dalgety – you tend to eat whilst you run at the start, and then walk later.
“It was a case of putting one foot in front of the other; it’s the longest distance I’ve ever done.
“You just have to keep going – you can’t think of the race as a full thing.”
Runners begin from Boydtown Beach in Twofold Bay and travel across a range of terrains to pass through Bibbenluke, Dalgety, Jindabyne, up to the summit of Mount Kosciuszko and back down to Charlotte Pass.
In the only sporting event in Australia that goes through multiple climate zones, Zakrzewski said she struggled with the heat at some points of the course, with other runners terminating their race due to heavy rain conditions.
Zakrzewski said she had enjoyed the experience but felt the $700 entry fee was unjustified.
“It was an amazing route and race, but I think the organisation could be better – there are several organisational aspects that could be worked on,” she said.
“People should be aware it’s not as hunky dory as it might seem.”
With only 50 people available to be selected, race organisers said they try to select a good mix of participants, from first-timers to long-term runners, local and international runners.
And as this year’s lone international runner from Scotland, Zakrzewski said she had a personal connection to the race, citing her Polish ancestry as a reason for signing up.
“My ambition was to get to the summit as my father was originally from Poland and Kosciuszko is a famous Polish-Lithuanian general,” she said.
“In World War 11, the Polish air force joined the British air force and they stuck together as a squadron – the Kosciuszko squadron.
“In the Battle of Britain, the Kosciuszko squadron shot down more planes than anyone else and won the battle.
“So, I was teaching everyone history lessons as we went along.”
Zakrzewski completed the course late on the Saturday morning and was back at work first thing on Monday.
“Running is my de-stress and it’s made me my friends here,” she said.
Maisy Rae