Jason has come a long way with his running the last few years. This year saw him break 100 miles in 20 hours (goal was sub24!). He’s also earned himself a spot on the start line of the 2022 Coast to Kosciusko! He tends to be drawn to the soul crushing races and is on a mission to find out where he breaks and how far he can go.
He works really hard not just to achieve his running goals but also in his professional life and his family life.
It’s a privilege to call this man one of my best mates and if you ever get a chance to run long with him you’ll understand why he’s my favourite long run buddy…you’ll just have to let him know they’re posts, not kangaroos and when he goes quiet it’s not your poor company, he’s just enjoying the pain cave 
- How long have you been running and why did you start?
I’ve been running with consistency and intent for about 2-3 years now.
- Have you done a Backyard Ultra?
I have done three. Dead Cow Gully twice, and Clint Eastwood once. None to my satisfaction to be honest. I’ve gradually improved with 15, 17, 20 yards but I know I can run a lot further than that!
- What draws you to the backyard ultra format?
The deceptiveness of the challenge. On paper it looks incredibly easy – you get to run slowly, set up camp with a comfy chair, carry very little gear, see your support crew every loop – but in practice answering that bell every hour is soul destroying.
- If you could do any race in the world what would it be?
Well, in this format it has to be Big’s Backyard Ultra. The calibre of runner that assembles there is something else. It’s the spiritual home of the backyard, and I reckon it would be worth the journey just to have a yarn with Laz!
- What is your greatest running moment to date?
I had a good run at the BVRT 100 Mile this year. Just over 20 hours, 5th overall in my first “miler”. My goal for 2022 was to run 100 miles somewhere in under 24 hours. Big tick.
- What has been your worst running experience?
I am tormented by Dead Cow Gully this year. My preparation was absolutely perfect from a training point of view. I had gastro in the days leading into the race and couldn’t get myself together physically or mentally. For me, 17 yards there was (and is) my greatest disappointment.
Other than that, I had a massive fall on a trail run back in 2019 and tore some tendons in my hip. It made for an unpleasant final 8km that day.
I also had a Baker’s cyst pop during Butter 24 hour in 2021 just after punching out a decent first 100km on the track. Fluid running down into the calf muscles isn’t a recipe for happiness!
- If you could share a course with any runner/athlete, who would it be?
Courtney Dauwalter. Aside from being pretty much the best ultra runner on the planet, she’s just an incredibly positive human! Seriously good vibes. Unless she’s nothing like her public persona, of course, but that seems unlikely.
- What advice would you give to a new runner thinking about doing a backyard ultra?
Run to effort, not pace, and you might surprise yourself!
- What inspires you to stay motivated?
I’m a fairly driven individual generally, but in terms of running motivation I’m not going to rest until I truly find my limit.
- What do you think about during long runs?
Surviving, ha ha. It waxes between deep philosophical exploration to talking shit, and everything in between. I often run alone on trails and enter a truly meditative state.
- For you, running is like…?
Therapy. And I don’t say that lightly. It’s incredibly important to have a release from the day to day grind. Long runs are an opportunity to confront your own demons (whatever they are) and to truly test what you are made of.
- What is your next race?
It’s Coast to Kosciusko in December. I feel incredibly privileged to be running there. I’m enjoying a gradual ramp up in mileage and doing a lot of visualisation of success – 240km is a long way. It’s going to be something special.
- Do you have the support of your family and friends of your running?
I surely do. Training for ultra marathons does create time pressures for family life and you need to be realistic about that. My wife Tonia has encouraged me every step of the way but she worries about me on the really long ones! I have some incredibly supportive friends who train with me, crew me and generally drive me to be better! And there’s nothing like getting a message of encouragement at 2 am from another ultra runner who is following your journey and knows just when you need some encouragement!
- Have you ever hallucinated in a race?
I’ve seen things that aren’t there (like kangaroos which are actually posts) but that could be related to poor vision? At my absolute limits, I loose my speech, the words just don’t come out.
- What is your favourite fuel during a race?
As little as possible. I struggle with GI issues beyond about 6 hours of running. Go to foods are pretzels, nuts, gels, donuts, chips, fruit, coke. On the really long runs I like to eat a meal at dinner time – roast beef roll, hamburger, hot chips – you can run for hours after that without putting in more cals.
- How important is mental strength compared to physical strength in a race?
At your limits it’s more important. There’s a moment of self reflection in every long race when either you admit that you haven’t done the work, or you remind yourself that you have, and you dig in.
- What is the toughest part for you in an ultra?
Hydration. This year I made the effort to have sweat and salt loss tests done, and it was a revelation. I’ve always known I’m a heavy sweater but now I’ve got the numbers – 1L/hr with about 1600mg sodium dropped – I can plan around it!
- How do you balance your running and training with your competing priorities?
Lots of my training is done pre-dawn to minimise impacts on other aspects of my life. Accordingly I walk a tightrope of inadequate rest and recovery.
- Do you have a coach?
Yes I do. Paul Gourlay. He’s a pretty handy runner himself and known to many!
- What does your training week/load look like?
I run most days, with the bulk of the running at low intensity. Typically I do one hard interval session a week and a long trail run on a Sunday. In terms of volume this year I’ve averaged 90km/week, ramping up to about 150-160km/week at the peak of training.
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Thanks for sharing Jase. We all wish you the best for Coast to Kosciusko. I’ll be the one messaging you at 2am 
