Elite endurance athlete Samantha Gash throws support behind Bali ultramarathon

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This was published 6 years ago

Elite endurance athlete Samantha Gash throws support behind Bali ultramarathon

By David Allan-Petale
Updated

"I sat down with Duncan at the finish line celebration we had organised and it was obvious to both of us that we had to do this again on a bigger scale."

Hot, tired, and with only one shoe fit for purpose, Tom Hickman could be forgiven for simply wanting to rest after he'd run clear across Bali.

But after 84-kilometres of hard slog, in which a dog stole one of his runners and he had to cut a hole in a hasty replacement that was too small, Mr Hickman had overcome too much and proved too much to take it easy.

Tom Hickman with Duncan Ward from Classroom of Hope, discussing the next run after the first Bali Hope Ultra.

Tom Hickman with Duncan Ward from Classroom of Hope, discussing the next run after the first Bali Hope Ultra.Credit: David Allan-Petale

"I had achieved my fundraising target of $10,000 which was supporting seven kids through primary school and we'd had a group of Bali expat entrepreneurs run the last 10k with me to raise additional funds," Mr Hickman said.

"It felt like the community had really come together to support it."

The Bali Hope Ultra in August 2017 saw Tom run from the beach at Tedjakula in North Bali, scale the heights around Kintamani and the Mount Batur volcano before flowing down to a temple at the shore of Canggu - Bali's (and the Briton's) first ever ultramarathon.

Seeking to improve his life and help others, the plucky entrepreneur quit drinking and smoking and took up running and hot yoga to prepare, teaming up with the Australian charity Classroom of Hope to raise funds for its work bringing education to communities across Asia and Africa.

Working with founders Duncan Ward and Nicola Courtin, Mr Hickman created an ultra marathon event that began as a desire to improve himself, and became a mission to help others.

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"I think I was a little programmed to think that only large scale change was meaningful. But learning more about the deep long-term impact we can have on an individual, family and community level by relatively small scale social enterprise endeavours like this, it's clear I was wrong."

His actions did more than just raise money - they inspired others.

And now runners from across the world have signed up to run with Tom across Bali again in May, potentially making the Bali Hope Ultra a new fixture in the global ultramarathon scene.

And while it can be easy to classify them as masochists or fitness fanatics, there's one defining characteristic each of these runners holds dear - that there's more to it than simply running.

Here's three of their stories.

The long distance specialist

She's crossed deserts, traversed more than three thousand kilometres across India and raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for charities like Save the Children and World Vision.

But now Australian endurance athlete and social entrepreneur Samantha Gash is embracing a new challenge - motherhood - all while preparing to support Tom Hickman and the Bali Hope Ultra.

"What Tom is giving here is the greatest gift, to be surrounded by a team of people who are doers," Ms Gash said.

"In a world where there is a lot of talk and follow-through doesn't always happen, it is inspiring to be around these kinds of people."

Samantha Gash

Samantha GashCredit: Bruce Viaene

The Australian Survivor star is pregnant with her first child, and she and her partner, former Australian Army special operations soldier Mark Wales, are planning to travel to Bali once the baby's born to support the Bali Hope Ultra - and she may even run a leg of the event.

Ms Gash said those taking part in the Bali Hope Ultra are motivated by a desire greater than simply proving they can go the distance.

"When you push yourself this far you are exposed to your vulnerabilities and emotions. Because of this your connection to the information you digest during this time, your surroundings, the people around you and your 'why' for doing it is heightened. I can't wait for the participants of the Bali Hope Ultra to experience this."

"Motivation comes when our desire to achieve the social impact is greater than the run itself. You don't think of your own personal plight, you run because there's meaning."

Legal eagle on a mission

Before she became a full-time social entrepreneur and endurance athlete, Samantha Gash was a lawyer, and her path often crossed with David Jones, a commercial lawyer at the high profile firm Baker & McKenzie.

A long-time ultramarathon runner and supporter of charities that promote social change, Mr Jones said Ms Gash quickly convinced him to take part.

"I think it took her all of about 30 seconds to have me pulling together my application to join, I was on the phone to Tom a couple of days later and signed up after that ... from memory before the call for participants had officially gone out," he said.

"It really ticks all of the boxes for me with its focus on children's education, backed by an organisation in Classroom of Hope that has clearly demonstrated its ability to follow through with its promises and create lasting change in communities."

David Jones is a vastly experienced endurance athlete.

David Jones is a vastly experienced endurance athlete.Credit: David Jones

Mr Jones first took up ultramarathons in his 30s to get fitter - but his pursuit of the sport has evolved to take in higher goals, like helping others, a recurring theme amongst many ultramarathon runners.

"For me, the harder the better - I love mountain running, pushing myself to the absolute limit and finding out what the body is actually capable of when the mind is strong enough to ignore the pain and the constant mantra that sometimes creeps in telling you to stop.

"My passion for fitness and what I have seen it achieve for me personally and for others, both directly and as a tool for raising funds and awareness, have led to me setting up a fitness business (V&B Athletic) with my running mate to help train others and encourage them on this journey."

The Bali Hope Ultra is aiming to raise enough money to put 100 Balinese children through primary, and Mr Jones said the event and Classroom of Hope exemplified the notion that small groups could make big impacts.

"Some of the most successful charities I have seen have the smallest teams - high quality people with passion and focus. From what I've seen of Classroom of Hope it falls squarely within that category," he said.

"When it comes to children's health and education though the potential for widespread change is exponential. If you educate a village or generation of kids then they're not only going to go out into the world and achieve their own goals, but they're going to, generally, come back and help change the lives of those around them including in terms of attitude to education and a willingness to continue those practices for future generations."

Veteran with a cause

For Queenslander Wayne McMurtrie, running the Bali Hope Ultra represents a chance to elevate his work supporting Australia's veterans and giving back to communities in need.

Mr McMurtrie served in the Australian Defence Force for seventeen years and completed two tours of duty apiece in East Timor and Afghanistan.

By the time he'd left the ADF in 2009 he had been diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and as he worked as a paramedic in remote parts of WA, McMurtrie "unconsciously" became an ultramarathon runner for solace.

"In 2015 I experienced a relapse of PTSD after being made redundant from work and I escaped to Bali," he said.

"While in Bali, I developed a deep connection to the island and it's people and overtime I developed a conscious awareness of my 'why' for running ultramarathons, I also learnt skills and developed other positive coping mechanisms for managing my mental and physical health and well-being.

Wayne McMurtrie served in the ADF and now runs to support veterans.

Wayne McMurtrie served in the ADF and now runs to support veterans.Credit: David Allan-Petale

"It was due to this connection and conscious awareness that I was inspired to take on the challenge of The Bali Hope Ultra."

To prepare for the Bali run, Mr McMurtrie is taking part in a number of events including a 50km run called A Salute To Sacrifice from Manilla to Tamworth in New South Wales that supports young veterans.

He believes lasting change can be made by people willing to get up and take part.

"There is such a positive community environment that Ultra Running provides, there is a common purpose and sense of belonging. the experiences are life changing, and the bonds formed with other runners truly are lasting.

"The ultra running community works as a team and there is a ripple effect as the impact is spread through the greater community."

Pushing to the starting line

As runners from across the world prepare to travel to Bali to take part in the Bali Hope Ultra, Mr Hickman is quietly satisfied that he and his friends from around Australia and the world have started something worthy.

But he knows it is only the beginning of a longer journey that all who travel to Bali can learn from.

"I've also been reminded that real joy comes from a sense of purpose beyond my own self-interest and the importance of building community around supporting others," he said.

Tom Hickman is running to raise funds for childrens' education in Bali.

Tom Hickman is running to raise funds for childrens' education in Bali.Credit: David Allan-Petale

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"My sense of us as guests in Bali is there is an imbalance. Many of us come here on holiday from overseas looking to 'receive' an experience which can often separate us from the people and the land.

"This kind of endurance challenge linked to supporting families here redresses the balance and provides a much more fulfilling experience."

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