Introducing our April Athlete Profile, Rhys Williams!
Hi, I’m Rhys Williams, 34 years old, a Capricorn and this is my life outside of running. I’m a wood butcher by trade, sometimes they call me a carpenter. No, I don’t lay carpet, I build houses. I have a 15-month-old daughter and a wife at home. When I’m not running, I spend my down time taking life pretty easy. I like the simple things in life, like time with the family and I really enjoy doing the housework. I’ve filled the last 30 beautiful, cool Central Queensland summers playing cricket, spectating cricket and pretty much living and breathing cricket.
I am a huge war buff and love researching and discovering new facts about the wars. Had family serve in both world wars and am extremely grateful for all those who have made sacrifices in their own lives and all those who have made the ultimate sacrifice to Australia. I use this knowledge to fuel my everyday life and running.
How long have you been running and why did you start?
As a kid I ran cross country and represented Rockhampton and Capricornia, then running faded into the background when I started my apprenticeship. From 18-26 my running was limited to cricket season and that was about it. Then in 2016 the missus bugged me to go to Parkrun, my initial response was “why the hell would I want to run 5k every Saturday morning”. After going backward and forward with the ‘discussion’ I gave in and went to PR. As I ran that first PR I could feel the fire in the belly ignite and from then ‘if I was going anywhere, I was running’.
Have you done a Backyard Ultra?
I debuted at DCG in 2022 and stayed in the game long enough to push out 31 loops.
What draws you to the backyard ultra format?
A mate of mine, Matt Arnold, did the inaugural DCG run and speaking to him about it, it made no sense, sounded dumb, and all I could really then think about was how the hell do I sign up. People who know me really well know that the weirder and whackier something is the more drawn to it I am and when you think about it, it is completely illogical to just run in a loop and finish where you start and then just do it over and over again until you can’t. But that is also the sex appeal of it. If someone can figure it all out and explain it to me then I’m all ears.
If you could do any race in the world what would it be?
I guess there a few big name events that would sound good on the old running resume. Barkley Marathons, Badwater for example. Something that really tests me mentally, physically and emotionally. Even something like running across Australia would put a horn on a jellyfish.
What is your greatest running moment to date?
This one sparks up a few memories. I’ll divide this into 3 answers. Short distance, middle and ultra. Going sub 16:30 for 5k was an awesome feeling, I did this in prep for my second answer which was doing a 2:46 marathon in 2021. Finally, my ultra highlight came just a matter of days ago at DCG23 where I was able to stay in the fight and put together 37 laps.
What has been your worst running experience?
Worst was my debut at the marathon, was feeling good, had an injury free training block body was good, mind was on point. Got 18kms in and was inside the time I was chasing and within one step I knew I was in damage control just to make it to the finish line. My right leg just stopped playing the game, ankle knee and hip went all on the same stride. Targeting 2:45 finish time and came hobbling over the line in 3:08. Still an awesome finish time but I knew that I had so much more to give.
If you could share a course with any runner/athlete, who would it be?
Emil Zatopek- yer I know you’ve probably never heard of him. At the 1952 Olympics he took out the 5000m and 10,000m events and on a whim decided to enter the marathon and yep you guessed it, he won that too. In world record time to boot.
What advice would you give to a new runner thinking about doing a backyard ultra?
The simplest advice I would give is just enjoy the challenge, don’t come into the event with a number of loops in mind, that will be your downfall. You may be hurting but I can guarantee everyone else there is too. Relax the best you can, then get out of your chair and do it all over again.
What inspires you to stay motivated?
There are a few little tricks that I use to keep wanting to lace the shoes up. Travis Ireland and Run the World is probably the biggest motivator. Thanks to Travis and his creation I have already virtually run around Australia and am currently completing the Great White North map (Canada).
This next one is very much tongue in cheek and based around Strava. So Strava has KOM’s and Local Legends as many would know, so if anyone in our running group hold a KOM or Local Legend and someone takes it, they become a ‘HATER’ and we don’t let haters get the best of us and we have to prove them wrong! This is very much just fun little games that we play around with to entertain ourselves and fuel the fire to keep going.
Also, now that I have a daughter, she inspires me to keep going and to do her proud. She is my number one supporter very closely followed by the wife.
What do you think about during long runs?
I try my best to switch off completely when I run and just listen to my body when I’m running alone. When running in a group setting there isn’t much thinking going on. We usually just throw banter or discuss and solve the world problems.
For you, running is like…?
Therapy- it’s my time to break free from the stress and strain of the world and just tick over the k’s.
What is your next race?
Don’t have a next ‘race’ per se. Have the Bella the Brave charity ½ marathon at the start of May, I will be a pacer at Rockhampton River Run ½ marathon, then there is the deep and meaningful discussion to rolling the dice at the BYU Masters in June now that I’ve qualified and a certain RD keeps chewing my ear on the idea. Then there is also some local-ish events around Rockhampton I wouldn’t mind throwing my hat in the ring for.
Do you have the support of your family and friends of your running?
The support I receive from friends, family and the wider running community is unbelievable. Whether its commenting on training runs, asking how training blocks are proceeding, they are behind me 100%. Probably the biggest sign of support is when someone asks for advice on their own running. I mean, if they have enough respect and admiration to ask for advice then that is surely the greatest sign of support. But in saying that there is one person who thinks I’m a bloody idiot, crazy, dumb and stupid but that what brothers are for. I know that’s just his way of saying man, you’re killing it, keep going.
Have you ever hallucinated in a race?
Funny you ask that question, I also feel this may have been recently added to the questionnaire… at DCG this year the old eyes did start playing tricks in me. Sticks were becoming snakes, trees were people and contrary to recent publications I was not talking to trees, but it did make for good advertising. Never let the truth get in the way of a good story.
What is your favourite fuel during a race?
I loves me some banana bread and carrot cake on ultra runs. During marathons and shorter races I stick with SIS gels.
How important is mental strength compared to physical strength in a race?
I have found coming into ultras its about 80-90% mental and 10-20% physical. It’s easy to build your physical strength and endurance up. Building the brick wall in your mind to block out the part of you that says STOP, WHY THE HELL ARE YOU STILL RUNNING, THIS HURTS, that is the hardest thing to overcome. That’s where the real training is and you don’t find that in motivation, that can only be found in discipline. Motivation gets you off the couch, discipline keeps you off the couch.
What is the toughest part for you in an ultra?
Have minimal ultra experience and only really tackling the big number distances in the BYU format. I find having the down time between the loops mentally challenging. Telling yourself to get out of the comfortable chair with legs up and faded pain, that’s a challenge you need to fight.
How do you balance your running and training with your competing priorities?
In a word, poorly. A lot of people around me have had to make sacrifices to their own lives so that I can run. Now having a daughter in the mix has also meant I have had to change my running schedule to suit her needs. For example, a mid-week long run which usually would start at 4 or 5 in the afternoon may have to be kicked back to an 8 or 9 o’clock start time, which then cuts into sleep time. My boss is also super understanding of my passion though and knows that every so often I may be a bit zombie in the mornings until the coffee hits in.
Do you have a special goal for 2023?
I have set myself a rather large annual running goal of over 5000kms which would be my largest annual aggregate. A secondary goal is to push well past 40 at a BYU. Having come off 37 at DCG this year, I know it is right there, I just have to keep the body whole.
You had a significant PB at DCG this year. Is there something you specifically worked on or changed to achieve this?
I think looking back on my training during the warmer CQ summer, as a training group we ran at a higher training pace but to the same relative heart rate as last year, so I’m thinking I came into the event with an increased fitness level and was able to push that little bit further until the knee had had enough. The rest of the body was still in a great place. Also, people may have noticed a little social media battle between myself and another competitor at DCG. It may have looked like a hot-blooded battle, but it was just friends throwing banter and that kept my prep very light hearted and enjoyable.
Thank you Rhys for sharing with us and for always being such an integral part of our community. I think we can all agree that you should take that spot at Masters and give that 40 plus goal a crack! We are all behind you!
