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Rachel Sharpe

Steve's SA Five 50 ultra series run in memory of Murray Burdett

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Steve's SA Five 50 ultra series run in memory of Murray Burdett

I had an idea that became the SA Five 50 ultra series in
2019.  Each year since a group of runners have pushed themselves to finish
the five ultra-marathons across SA, and this year I'll be joining them on the
trails to raise money for cancer research in memory of my Dad, who passed away
in October 2023.

Everyone that met Murray Burdett would agree he was a truly
wonderful person.  He was a school teacher, then country high school
principal and volunteered for local community groups.  In retirement Dad continued
with volunteering and spent lots of time helping the local migrant community,
particularly with vineyard contractors in setting up their business endeavours.

Mum and Dad held many tennis club and teacher social events held
at our tennis court in Suttontown.   You
could always find Dad at the centre of a group of keen listeners telling a
story, usually with a big laugh at the end.

Dad stayed active and positive during his battle with cancer,
despite all the surgeries and chemotherapy. 
He caught up with as many old and new friends as he could, and there was
a constant stream of visitors in his final weeks.   we miss him dearly.


1 in 2 Australians will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime, I’m raising funds to show my support.  


Please sponsor me to support cancer research and provide vital services for Australians living with cancer.


Thank you for your generous donation. Together, we can free the future from cancer.

My Updates

Heysen 50km Ultra, last of the five fifties!

Tuesday 15th Oct
The Heysen trail is 1,200km long so we were running such a tiny wee bit of it. The Heysen 105 event has quite a few running distances, the furthest being 115km. This sets off first at 6am then the others 70km, 50km, 28km and 13km start times are staggered after this. Our race, the 50km started at midday which felt a bit odd and a warm forecast for the day was not ideal for running but luckily it did feel quite cool at the start line on Barclay Road, Myponga.

I really enjoyed the single trails through Yulte and Myponga Conservation parks. Nice to cruise along the gravel roads, the paddocks and stile after stile to get over the fences, a lot of them electric! I wondered how many stiles there actually is along the Heysen trail..more than 340! A good amount of elevation on the course 1,264m and 1,100m descent.

Most memorable moment, coming over the top of the hill on Kings Beach Road was stunning. The deep blue colour of the sea and running along the coastal path in the sunshine with a perfect breeze. A little further on and downhill into Victor Harbor. A volunteer shouted not far now just through the car park along the bike path and you’re there! They are good at bluffing sometimes these volunteers! That path feels like it goes on forever and ever! You can see where the finish is but you don’t feel like you are getting any closer!

When you do eventually get there the welcome is the best from the organisers, volunteers, runners, friends and family. I was leading as first female for a while to around 30 or so kms then was overtaken by a girl that looked as though she had just started her race! Amazing to see at that stage of the run and speaking at the end she said she had improved her time on the course from last year by about an hour, so good! Really proud of my effort for the day bringing it home in 6 hours 11 minutes and 9 seconds. Second female and tenth overall. 

That’s the five fifties done and it feels a little strange not to have another lined up. Very happy for a rest now from ultras but there’s something about them that I grew to love. The long training runs in nature, the planning looking at the next course (though I still managed to get lost!) figuring out carb loading, race nutrition & recovery. I learned so much from other trail runners along the way and had a great coach with a wealth of experience to help me navigate it all. Tough journey physically and mentally but I did it along with the 5 50’s team! Go us!

Lead into Heysen

Tuesday 15th Oct
Twenty day turnaround from Yurrebilla to Heysen was the bit I was least looking forward to when I looked ahead at the dates of the 5 50 ultras. No time for whinging..a week of recovery and my legs felt great surprisingly! Training focus was still recovery mode leading into Heysen. Flat trail runs and a sneaky bit of single trail fun at Onkaparinga to keep me sane! I think this was the toughest one to go into mentally..really another 50km already?!

Yurrebilla Ultra

Thursday 26th Sep
A misty beautiful foggy start to the morning on Sunday 22nd September. Rocked up to the start line of Yurrebilla at the old Belair Railway station where people were quietly milling around getting their bibs, drop bags where they needed to go and chatting with friends. I felt very excited and calm waiting to start. The gun went off and off we went to start our journey along the Yurrebilla trail. 

Flowy downhill trails and gradual climbs through Belair. We ran together quite compact at the start, through echo tunnel until we reached Sheoak Road and spaced out a bit before Pony Ridge switchbacks. Going down these as apposed to up on 5 peaks was a dream. 

Race nutrition sorted with gels, tailwind and where I was stopping along the way.  Loved running through each of the aid stations and having encouragement from the volunteers and family of runners there, it gives you such a boost. 

The long run and hill training sessions had paid off as I felt strong and not as fatigued on the second half of the run when I usually hit a wall. Some very tough hills, 1,708m ascent and 1,884m descent but I have a love for the hills and like many other trail runners before me, loved Yurrebilla. 

Finished in a time of 06:48:45. Very happy to get a sub 7 hour time and second female overall. A memorable run in beautiful nature. 


Lead into Yurrebilla

Thursday 26th Sep
Federation was my longest run so far, 61km after a wrong turn but minimal elevation so my recovery was fairly quick compared to the others this year. Heavy legs but no new injuries and on to the next block of training for Yurrebilla. The Ultra that I have heard so many trail runners say was their first Ultra and they loved it. So much so that they have done it many times. I was pretty excited to be lining up on that start line this year to do it for myself. Training went really well and I pushed myself a bit more with my pace and those long runs got a little bit longer.  I was able to run the beginning and middle section of Yurrebilla on training runs with friends to get familiar with the course. A few runs with Levi and doing his first trail running sa event in Sturt Gorge was pretty special too.

Federation Ultra

Thursday 15th Aug

Starting in Monarto Safari Park and finishing in Murray Bridge, 55km of trails. I wasn’t sure if I’d like the course as I knew it was fairly flat and being a hills girl I thought it wouldn’t really be my cup of tea but get it ticked off the list. 


It didn’t take long to change my mind. The beauty of the scenery going through Monarto Zoo, the woodland & the single trails through Kinchina conservation park were stunning. 


My favourite part of the course was the rocky single trails through Kinchina conservation park, so much fun!


A bit frustrated I took a wrong turn in the woodland section, but I went back to make this up before continuing on my journey. A little setback and extra k’s but I needed to get it done.


My body seems to be getting used to this ultra kind of distance as I felt fairly good the whole way through.


By the last few k’s my legs felt like they didn’t have much left in them but I pushed on grateful for every cheering volunteer and taking in the beauty of the trails that were all new to me. 


Seeing Anabelle, Levi & Echo running towards me close to the finish along the river at Murray Bridge was the best moment! 61km in 6 hours 57 minutes & 56 seconds. 


Yay halfway through the five fifty journey! 

Lead in to Federation

Thursday 15th Aug

I recovered fairly well from Tower Trail though the hip flexor injury still there a little. I took an impromptu visit back to Scotland to visit family and focused on getting this better and soaking up running on my home trails again. Pic at the Cathkin Braes.


Two weeks later on my return to Australia, I got to work training for the next ultra in 4 weeks time. Tempo, hills, long runs and seeing the physio to continue to nurse the hip flexor and glute back to health. Combined with strength training, yoga & pilates when I could fit them in I felt good, much stronger and less injured for Fed. 

Tower Trail Ultra

Friday 21st Jun

Mount Gambier, a 5 hour drive south from home. This is where Tower Trail, the second ultra of the 5 fifty series is held. Beautiful city known for its Volcanic craters that form the stunning Blue Lake, Leg of Mutton Lake, Valley Lake and Browne Lake. Also the Umpherston sinkhole and Centenary Tower of course. 

The 56km distance is four 14km laps along the trails surrounding the dormant volcanoes and lakes. The race started at 7am, still dark and a gorgeous sunrise on the horizon. The atmosphere was a quiet energy. Drop bags being prepared for quick turnarounds between laps. Chats with familiar faces and selfies. It was cool but not freezing. Perfect running weather. 

My leg felt ok..the soreness had subsided but a kind of weak feeling like I needed to stretch it a lot but that really didn’t do much. 

Countdown from 5..4..3..2..1..go!! We’re off. I was at the back and felt happy to just let the rest pull away and run my own run. 

There was no pulling sensation in my muscle..I waited and fully expected it but it didn’t come! Amazing! I stuck roughly to a 6:30-7 min/km pace on the flats, didn’t want to push it..56km is a bloody long way and this pulling and pain could start at any time and it could be game over.

Paths and steps to start then down into a beautiful forest section of trail. Loop around the beautiful blue lake, under the tunnel and over the other side to views of Valley Lake. A steep climb up steps and there’s that hip flexor..not happy. A moments thought of what to do..lead with your good leg and do one step at a time. Phew, all good. Onto a flowy woodland trail, a gradual climb then a steep climb to Centenary Tower. The section of trail after the Tower had been closed off for quite some time due to a bushfire. The devastation it left was evident but gosh that view was quite spectacular when you reached the top of the climb and glided along the trail.

I had a couple runners from the half marathon and 10km distances hike the hills and chat with me. One I noticed had made it on the podium even. The volunteers were great cheering on and good humour. 

My favourite section was down into the woodland trails (Leg of Mutton Lake trail) at the start of the lap. I won’t forget that stunning sunrise over the blue lake. Climb up to the Tower was a killer each time, but it was so worth it for that view at the top. Loved it. A lady called Cathy ran most of the last lap with me. She’s been running ultras for 9 years, now in her 60’s. I love hearing about people’s journeys and she was amazing, real inspiration. 

Finished in 7 hours 27 minutes and 34 seconds. Brought it home with the kids and puppy across the line and a family hug to celebrate all those emotions of the past few weeks, the run and to finish. I got to that start line. I did what I could do at the end of the day. Injury not worsened and almost healed. Number two of five done..Happy, so happy.

Selfie with Steve at the end!

Lead into Tower Trail Ultra

Friday 21st Jun

A week or so recovery from 5 peaks I thought I may have come out unscathed but a few runs back and I could tell I’d done some damage to one of my hip flexor muscles.  Physio diagnosed the sartorius muscle damaged on the downhills of 5 peaks. It’s not usually involved much in running but it overcompensated due to tightness I’ve had in my glute for a long time. Lifting my knee was very painful so not an ideal training block at all for Tower but I did what I have done so many times before when injured and can’t run! Adapt to do everything else I can to keep my fitness up until it was ready to go again. 

I was given the ok to run again from the physio one week before the ultra and had to just see how it went running a couple times before the race. I felt this pulling sensation that got sore the further I went even at a slower pace. How on earth I was going to run 56km on the weekend..I had no idea.

Stick to the plan of steady easy pace on the flats, hike the hills and easy on the downs. You might make it through or you might have to DNF. I was fully prepared for the latter.

TRSA Five Peaks Ultramarathon, First of the 5 fifties

Monday 13th May

5 peaks is a really tough Ultra. Total ascent is 2359m and descent 2237m over the 58km. I’ve done the three training runs for it a few times but putting it all together is hard! I felt strong for the first half, struggled a bit in the middle and just kept putting one foot in front of the other towards the end. I snuck in a time of just under 8 hours by 5 seconds! 


Highlights were seeing trail friends along the way running and volunteering. That helped a lot in those difficult moments when it all felt a bit too hard. Beautiful trails and views especially along Brownhill track across Adelaide and out to sea. Got a selfie with Aaron running in his kilt! 


Typical runner..

Thoughts while I was hiking up Carrick Hill in the heat..I’m not doing this again…

5 minutes after I finish.. Yes I’d do it all again!

SA 5 fifty challenge 2024

Monday 13th May

I’ve set myself the goal of completing the SA 5 fifty Ultra series this year. I’ve tried for a few years to train for 5 peaks, the first of the 5 but injuries have prevented me getting to that start line. I finally got there and did 5 peaks last weekend, which was my first ultra! 58km from Foxfield oval in Athelstone through the rocky terrain of Black Hill, Morialta, Horsnell Gully, Mount Lofty Summit, Cleland, Carrick Hill & finished up in Belair. It’s a massive achievement in itself for me but I’m going to challenge myself further to complete the 5. 


The organiser of the 5 fifty ultra series back in 2019, Steve Burdett sadly lost his dad Murray to cancer last year. He is running the 5 fifty ultra series this year for the first time and hoping to raise money for Cancer Council. He has asked for those doing the series this year to join his team and fundraise if they’d like to as well. 


I’m keen to do what I can to help raise money for cancer research. I’ve seen the heartbreaking effects of cancer in so many peoples lives in numerous roles I’ve had as an RN. Also had friends and a work colleague diagnosed a few years ago who put up a brave fight but sadly passed away. Having support during this difficult time is so important for the person diagnosed and their loved ones. 


It’s my plan to do all of the 5 fifty ultras but know there is a high risk of injury with them being quite close together, 6-8 weeks apart. I’ve got my fingers crossed I’ll make it! The next one is Tower Trail in Mount Gambier in 5 weeks time 56km.


Every dollar raised goes towards helping people whose lives have been affected by cancer. Funding world class research, prevention and support services across Australia, helping patients today and in the future. Do it for cancer and help by donating a small amount to Cancer Council in memory of Murray Burdett and supporting team 5 fifty 2024!

Thank you to my Supporters

$52.75

Joanne

$52.75

Michael Kirk

Inspirational work Rachel! All the best for the next few runs.

$50

Rachel

Great cause Steve. Every little helps. Good luck on your journey through the 5 fifties in memory of your dad. Go team five fifties 2024!

$50

Peter Childs

Awesome work champ

$31.65

Caity

Great reason to run!

$26.38

Bonnie Mills

$26.38

Darren Ward

$26.38

Heidi

$25

Leigh Harris

$21.10

Peter Grigg

Great running!

My Team Members