AGE IS NO BARRIER FOR ULTRA RUNNER (EXAMINER NEWSPAPERS, WA)

This story was featured in Examiner Newspapers and published 13 February, 2020

By Kate Dzienis

Kelmscott ultra runner Bernadette Benson has added yet another trophy to her mantlepiece, taking out the Australian Ultra Runner Association’s Helen Stanger Award (2019) announced last month for her inspiring athletic performance at an event last June.

The 50-year-old has a long list of achievements already on her running resume including being named AURA’s Female Ultra Runner of the Year in 2014 and breaking a multitude of Australian open and age group records in the 50km, 100mi, 200km and more.

The Helen Stanger Award is presented to an Australian for the greatest single best ultra running achievement by a female under the age of 60 and Ms Benson happily accepted the title from AURA for her Australian open women’s record for 100 miles (15:24:44) set at the Sri Chinmoy 24 Hour race in Campbelltown, NSW last June.

She said she was truly pleased and happy to be recognised in such a way.

“I had just finished a four-and-a-half hour endurance session when I got the news I had received the award,” she said.

“I had that slightly exhausted nature about me, finishing my run and balancing everything in life, but it turned out to be the best day ever; the timing was perfect.”

Ms Benson also said she was incredibly pleased in the last five years to see, within AURA and the wider community, a lot of changes in recognising women’s performances.

“I’m so thrilled to see that with more women in the sport of ultra running, there is a growth in recognition by sporting associations as well as naming awards after incredible pioneering women who have been role models for us in Australia,” she said.

“As women, we run differently to men and to just be recognised on our own it’s very cool to see the changes happening.”

Ms Benson said she would love to be seen as a role model for aspiring long distance female runners, especially the younger generation, and encouraged them to give running a go. 

“I’m a 50-year-old woman, and I mean…where are the younger girls?” she said.

“I’m hoping a much younger runner will come along and blow my record/s out of the water; the right age, the right training and the right girl, well that open record should really have some movement.

“Inspiring those girls to go longer, give themselves a chance to do something different and really challenge themselves both physically and mentally, makes it all so worthwhile.”