WOODFORD runners Raj Samrai and Chris Considine hope using their home-town’s running tracks will prove the perfect preparation for a 100-kilometre ultra marathon test.
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Samrai, 53, and Considine, 43, will tackle the Surf Coast Century – a single-track race which traces remote beaches, sea cliffs and wildflower hinterland in Anglesea on September 3.
“We feel Woodford provides a perfect back drop for what we do in terms of terrain and also the variety of running surface,” Samrai said.
“A lot of our trial runs are made up of single track, dirt roads, creek crossings and also bitumen in places as well.
“I think for myself variety is very good. I can’t do bitumen all the time and on the same token I can’t do sand all the time. I think even the difference in the undulations (is a benefit) – you can often recover on a downhill, you can make good speed on a downhill as well.
“There are elements to a trail run that make it exciting in many ways.”
Samrai is a Surf Coast Century debutant, while Considine is preparing to complete the gruelling course for a third time.
“The elite athletes do it in eight and half hours but anything between 12 and 14 hours is a good time to come in,” Considine said.
“Any longer than that starts to I think play with your mind a bit too long.
“For me it’s just the excitement of being out on some single tracks and you’ve only got yourself to compete against at the end of the day.”
Samrai will also use the run to honour his aunt Pritum Kaur, who passed away from cancer in England earlier this year.
“She was a really special individual and I just want to use this as my way of honouring her soul and her spirit,” he said.
Samrai believes leading a healthy lifestyle is empowering.
“I think we live in a society these days where money can’t buy good health,” he said.
“It’s a case of putting yourself out there and staying fit and healthy.”