Bigger than Ben Hur! Or is that Ben Hirst?
Grab a cuppa and get ready to be inspired…
Ben has combined his passion for running with suicide prevention through his own awareness campaign Run for Mental Health. Run for Mental Health is all about spreading awareness, educating the community and creating conversation about the mental health issues that so many of us face.
He used his passion for endurance running to come up with gruelling runs to shine a light on mental health and support an amazing organisation SPEAK UP! Stay ChatTY who work to promote positive mental health and prevent suicide by reducing stigma and encouraging people to seek help.
In 2016, Ben ran 340kms from Burnie to Hobart in 3 days.
In 2018, he ran for 48 hours on a treadmill (here I was thinking my 5 hour treadmill training runs were impressive 
).
In 2019 he ran for 7 days straight covering 800kms around a school oval dedicating 2,348 laps to the 2,348 males lost to suicide in just one year.
- How long have you been running and why did you start?
I started running after signing up to the north face 100 in 2014 while hearing about it drunk in a pub. I followed through and crossed the line over 20 hours later and that gave me the confidence and self-esteem to keep with it. I suffered from poor mental and physical health in my 20s and running helped turn that around for me. It wasn’t a sudden change, but I probably started running a bit more often from 2016.
- What draws you to the backyard ultra-format?
I love the format because it brings people together rather than pitch them against each other. No one is winning at any stage, and everyone gets to hang out loop after loop. It reduces the gap between elite athletes and runners that might not be fast but super gutsy.
- If you could do any race in the world what would it be?
Something gnarly, either the Montane Spine Race or the Barkley marathon.
- What is your greatest running moment to date?
It would be finishing my Laps for Lads suicide awareness run in 2019. 800kms of laps around a 320m oval over 7 days. 2,348 laps dedicated to 2,348 Australian males lost to suicide in a year.
- What has been your worst running experience?
I got gastro the night before UTA100, stopped being sick at 1am and got to the start line 5 hours later. It didn’t last long as I was the second person to pull the pin that year.
- If you could share a course with any runner/athlete, who would it be?
Cliff Young.
- What advice would you give to a new runner thinking about doing a backyard ultra?
When training for a backyard ultra, spend more time focusing on your routine in between loops. Smile often, eat a lot, don’t run the hills. Get a comfy reclining chair.
- What inspires you to stay motivated?
Seeing other people changing their lives through running and achieving things they thought were impossible. The Backyard Ultra format is a huge motivation as it is ever changing and getting more competitive.
- What do you think about during long runs?
I try not to think about anything, I’m quite good at zoning out and just appreciating the landscape and nature of where I’m running.
- For you, running is like…?
For me it’s a chance to reset and refocus and just calm my mind from the heavy thoughts throughout the week. I work in suicide prevention and that can be triggering and heavy so being able to run to lighten the load is important.
- What is your next race?
My next race will be DCG and then I will double up and head to Mirrim Wurnit Back Paddock Ultra two weeks later.
- Have you ever hallucinated in a backyard ultra?
A number of times. The most memorable one was during the second night of the Down Under 135 run. Everywhere I would look, faces started to form in trees, on the ground, rocks and in the sky, I even started to hear voices, it was quite terrifying at the time.
- What is the toughest part for you in a backyard ultra?
Probably running in the heat, being a pale Tasmanian, I’ve been caught in the past. Sunscreen, legionnaire hat and ice are a must.
- Do you have a goal for DCG?
My goal is to enjoy the experience as much as possible and meet as many new people as I can. If I can help others in anyway get further than they expected and I’m still standing at the end that’s a bonus!
We are so lucky to have Ben lining up at DCG! Thank you so much for sharing with us Ben. If we weren’t already inspired to push ourselves, we sure are now! See you at the Gully!
