MILLUM JUST KEEPS GETTING BETTER

By Kate Dzienis

For someone who has only been running since 2016, Jen Millum sure has a list of podium finishes under belt – and is definitely someone to keep your eye on in the ultra scene.

Hailing from Karnup in Western Australia, Millum entered her first triathlon in 2015 but it wasn’t until a year later that she stepped up to run further than the marathon distance.

She went hard too, with the 2017 WTF 50mi and claiming (in her first, for that distance) 3rd Female with a time of 11:24:07. Next she moved on to the 2018 WTF 100mi and moved up on the podium, taking 2nd Female in 20:44:23, but she didn’t stop there – and found herself loving the endurance side of things.

She took on the 100km at both the 2018 and the 2019 Lark Hill Dusk to Dawn Ultra, claiming 2nd Female (2018) with 11:14:34 and later 1st Female (2019) in 11:31:17.

2018 saw her claim yet another 1st Female placing but this time at the Feral Pig Ultra 100mi (24:31:10).

After having just started ultra running in 2016, Millum was certainly making waves at events.

This year though, she decided to get out of her comfort zone and tackle the Delirious W.E.S.T 200 miler which was held in the south west of WA from Wednesday, 19 February to Sunday, 23 February – and she placed 2ndFemale after securing a time of 74:31:42.

Like many runners, Millum said she was encouraged by others to do an event longer than 100mi, even though she thoroughly enjoyed the distance.

“Delirious W.E.S.T came up last year of course, and I wondered if my body would be able to handle it,” she revealed.

“I was really curious, but last year just didn’t eventuate, so the goal was to aim for the 2020 event.

“In a 100 miler, I get to a point where I know that I can get as far as I can run; it used to be 80km where I’d have enough in a 100km race, but then it extended naturally to about 120km.

“That’s where I know my body has run enough, and I enjoy the fact I can challenge my head and keep going so by the time 160km is done, I’m physically stuffed but my head is so incredibly positive and relieved.”

Millum officially began training for this year’s Delirious W.E.S.T late in 2019, but she already had the mileage behind her in her every day schedule; the biggest difference was adding hills.

“I already had the distance in my legs, and at one point I was getting in about 120km to 140km per week,” she said.

“I’m no expert by any means, but if you’re going to go into a race like Delirious with the mindset of walking or hiking it then I don’t really think the running distance is important as long as you’ve got some distance behind you.

“Yes, you’ll be able to do a 200 miler because you’ll be able to maintain that walk or hike comfortably; but if you’re going to run it – and I’m talking running it to race it – then you have to have quite a fair bit of distance in your background.

“I’d have liked to have been getting 200km done per week, but I think you have to be prepared for at least 150km a week; however, like I said, I’m no expert and I don’t know what the other participants were doing in terms of their training.”

Millum’s training had to take into consideration her lifestyle – being a full time teacher and a mother of three, so most of her training was split into mornings and evenings.

“I have three adult children, still at home, and am thankful for all the support they have given me as well as my Delirious crew – Mel Hays, Andrew Yeatman, Jason Phillips, David Kennedy, Tracey Child, Cheryle Bland and Jenny Schrader,” she said.

“My favourite part, I have to say, about competing at Delirious, was chasing down Sarah Foster (1st Female, 71:18:10); it was a great distraction in my head, just constantly thinking that I had to catch her.

“That was fun, catching up to her and going back and forth, and also playing with her mind that way.”

The next Delirious W.E.S.T is not yet scheduled for 2021 at the time of writing and Millum will continue her ultra training with no upcoming races in mind.