WHEN Mount Gambier woman Emily Fenk took the first steps into her running journey a few years ago, little did she know it would lead to the start line of a gruelling half marathon through the Grampians.
After months of dedicated preparation, border restrictions now threaten the plans of Ms Fenk and around a dozen other Limestone Coast residents to compete in the renowned Wonderland Run at Halls Gap.
A popular event which attracts runners to tackle distances ranging from 2km though to a 60km ultra marathon, the introduction of new border restrictions has placed the event in doubt for South Australians.
Having already run her first 21.1km distance to qualify for the event, Ms Fenk remained hopeful she would step up to the start line.
“I would feel like my preparation has been for nothing if it does not go ahead and at the moment it is looking like it will not,” Ms Fenk said.
Completing her qualifying run in two hours and 28 minutes, Ms Fenk said she only just qualified for the 20km route with all competitors required to complete a qualifier in two-and-a-half hours.
“I never really thought about running in a race, I just saw it pop up and thought why not,” she said.
“It was quite a big jump for me considering before that, the longest I had ran was 10km.
“I was very surprised I made it especially to actually qualify as well.”
Starting her fitness journey around two years ago, Ms Fenk entered the running world through the phone app Couch to 5km.
Since losing around 20kg, Ms Fenk said running had been a catalyst in changing her life for the better.
As it stands, the event organisers expect to make an announcement this Sunday once weighing up the current situation.
Ms Fenk vowed to be at the start line in 2021 if the event was cancelled due to the area’s sentimental value.
“Even when my mum was growing up, she and her family would go every long weekend,” Ms Fenk said of the Grampians.
“I lost my Pa recently to pancreatic cancer, he loved visiting the area and loved the Pinnacle.
“He climbed it once in his slippers, so I thought it would be a good thing to do in his memory.”
Ms Fenk said her alternative plan was to complete a similar distance across the Blue Lake city on the weekend of August 22-23, the Wonderland Run weekend.
Earlier this year Mount Gambier’s own Tower Trail Run pulled the pin on its 2020 event – scheduled for late last month – however some runners are still completing the 56km ultra marathon solo and recording their result virtually.
