"you've just got to keep going I think"

Right, so in the 80s there was an annual running race organised from the biggest Westfield shopping centre in Sydney to the biggest Westfield shopping centre in Melbourne - incredible promotion from them. The distance was 875kms and the course was set to take runners 6 days to complete. This kind of race, an ultra marathon, is obviously only possible for elite and highly specialised runners, and if you know the story, you know where I’m going. If you don’t, it’s incredible.

In 1983 the race was set. Runners would start inside the halls of the massive shopping centre amidst significant public interest, news crews, announcers, the whole deal. They’d head off through the Westfield, out on the street, then onto the highway and hook in for 6 days of running to Melbourne. From Sydney.

The field of highly prepared runners included 1 unusual entrant. A 61 year old sheep farmer who was completely unknown to the other competitors, Cliff Young. He left his dentures at home for the race. They rattled when he ran.

The race began, the pack took off and Cliff’s shuffling gait was much slower than the other competitors. By the time convention and race strategy dictated the athletes stop that night for their meal and 6 hour sleep session Cliff was a long way behind. Cliff didn’t stop though, he just held on to his strange efficient shuffle through the night. By the morning he was in front. The pack woke up, took on their pre-calculated calorie dense fuel and charged after him.

Cliff ran for 5 days straight, won the race by 10 hours and completed the run from Sydney to Melbourne 2 days faster than anyone had ever done it before. During the race he was interviewed over a jar of milk served from his support van’s window. “…what’s your secret do you recon?” Cliff looked deep into his near empty jar and said “you’ve just got to keep going I think.”

6 runners finished the race in 1983, all in fast times. Cliff said he wasn’t aware there was a $10 000 prize for the winner. He split it and gave the other 5 athletes $2000 each before heading back to the sheep farm.