Australian ultra marathon runner breaks world record

More than five days after he started his journey, an Australian runner has set the world ultra-marathon record. Read about his history making 680km feat here.

Preparing for another lap of the Australia Backyard Masters Ultra Marathon are (from left) Phil Gore, Harvey Lewis and Sam Harvey.

Aussie Phil Gore is a world record holder.

Four days and more than five hours after he started the Australian Backyard Ultra, the West Australian finished loop 102 of the 6.7km Dead Cow Gully course to set the record at 683.4km.

New Zealand runner Sam Harvey began the word record loop with Gore but turned back and returned to the starting line.

Gore, Harvey and American runner Harvey Lewis conquered the Australian record of 76 loops on Tuesday afternoon.

“Traditionally our races are open to anyone who wants to sign up,” Dead Cow Gully race director Timothy Walsh said.

“This race however is different.

“It’s essentially the best of the best in ultra marathon from Australia, America and New Zealand.

“When we announced we’d be flying USA champion Harvey Lewis over for the race we almost immediately had the best runners in Australia and New Zealand sign on as well.

American ultra marathon legend Harvey Lewis was in the final three but tapped out in the early hours of Wednesday morning after suffering severe sleep deprivation and hallucinations.

After smashing the Australian record the duo are now eyeing off the world record of 101 loops set last year in October by a Belgian runner in his home country.

The Backyard Ultra Marathon is a format that has grown in worldwide popularity in recent years with participants pushing the boundaries of physical and mental endurance.

On course runners are not permitted any assistance and they must be in the starting coral ready prior to the start of the new hour.

At night the runners switch to a road course for safety reasons.

“It’s an extremely demanding event at the best of times,” Walsh said.

“Now every loop needs to be perfect if they (the runners) want to keep going.

“The smallest mistake could cost them now.

“Sleep deprivation is a massive factor and so is the risk of injury at this stage in the event.”

Now Walsh is excited to see how Lewis and Gore continue through the morning to break the world record.

“They’d have to run until about lunch time tomorrow (Wednesday) to break that record,” Walsh said.

“First off all they need to get through the night.”

Originally published as Australian ultra marathon runner breaks world record