Spotlight On: Jeremy Rankin

FAVOURITE RACING OR RUNNING DISTANCE

Anything that includes a full overnight duration, so generally that means 100 miles or equivalent. These distances bring so many different challenges and things that you can improve on…eating real food (not just gels!), getting your clothing and equipment right, power hiking, managing sleep deprivation, battling through when your body wants to stop. It's a strange paradox that the longer the race, the less important (relatively) the actual running part is!

WHAT’S THE STORY BEHIND YOU GETTING INTO ULTRA RUNNING?

In 2017, by which time I’d completed a few marathons and a Six-Foot Track, a friend proposed that we plan a trek to Everest Base Camp. Whilst that still hasn’t happened and isn’t high on my bucket list, it got us both into researching about long distance trail running and especially in the Blue Mountains - which led us to The North Face / UTA. I entered the 100K in 2018 without having much of a clue how to prepare for it. I was fascinated by how the condition of my body and my mind evolved throughout that 18 hours. And it got me hooked. 

WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR FAVOURITE ULTRA RUNNING EXPERIENCE SO FAR?

Not a particular event, but there’s a favourite moment that I’ve experienced a few times. When you’ve been running around a forest all night; it’s mostly quiet. And then just before dawn, you hear the first bird song or chirp of the morning. Then another. Then a few more join in. Then the sun starts to peak through the trees. And you hear the forest gradually waking up for the day. It reminds me of this entirely ancient ecosystem that I am absorbed in, most of which does not care too much about what us runners are doing. 

IF YOU WOULD WANT ANYONE IN THE WORLD TO PACE YOU AT AN EVENT, WHO WOULD IT BE? 

Matthew Keenan, cycling commentator on SBS. Usually, I don’t feel I need a coach or experienced runner at the back end of a long race. I need someone to entertain me and take my mind of whatever is hurting. Matt’s passion and thirst for knowledge comes through when he is behind the microphone; he has a motto of trying to find nuggets of information that the viewer can’t find on the internet. And I reckon he could make a story out of anything ...“And here with have the Echo Point toilet block. This was first built in the 1880s by a local landowner...”

WHAT ARE 3 THINGS WE WOULD ALWAYS FIND IN YOUR DROPBAG?

(1) Europe Honey Nougat log. Not for nutrition; just a favourite treat (comfort food) since high school. (2) A couple of towels. To dip in water and freshen up my face at any time of the day or night. (3) 6 or 8 buffs. I’ve got so many of them from races over the last 5 years, and I never know how many I’ll need - but they don’t take up much space so I just throw in as many as I can find around the house.

DO YOU HAVE A FAVOURITE FILM OR BOOK ABOUT RUNNING?

Found On 49: The Story of Jim Walmsley. A documentary covering his 100 mile debut and ultimately the famous ‘wrong turn’ at Western States Endurance Run in 2016. I’ve always liked how he dreams big, races aggressively and is not afraid to fail. There’s great insight into his crew, the history, the aid stations, and the whole energy of this race.

RECOVERY IS IMPORTANT – WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE OR BEST POST-WORKOUT/RECOVERY STRETCH OR EXERCISE?

Easy walks starting the day after an ultra. Keeps the blood flowing through your muscles with low impact and low effort. I learnt this by accident about 20 years ago after doing the 14km City to Surf (which was a long race for me back then) and I tried to find my way from Bondi to the house of my then-girlfriend - now wife - in the neighbouring suburb of Clovelly. I got lost and found myself back in Rose Bay, halfway through the C2S course! So I ended up walking for about 7 or 8 kms that afternoon and noticed that I recovered much quicker than previous events.

WHAT’S YOUR DREAM RUN OR EVENT?

I have a long list but let’s choose Spartathlon in Greece - which has actually just been on this past weekend as I write this. It traces the journey of Pheidippides who ran from Athens to Sparta in around 490 BC to ask for help in their battle against the Persians. A little while later he ran the ~42km from the Bay of Marathon to Athens and dropped dead upon telling of their victory ... and hence establishing that famous run distance. But Athens to Sparta is about 6 traditional marathons. As well as the history, this is running amongst a very different culture, through villages and back roads. The atmosphere would be quite remarkable. 

If you would like to be featured in our Spotlight On segment, email ultramag@aura.asn.au with your interest!