By Brett Kennedy
TWO Limestone Coast women are currently locked in a battle to become South Australia’s top ultramarathon trail runner.
Millicent’s Dannielle Vanderheul and Mount Gambier’s Anna Mitchell are both in contention for the SA Five 50 Series title – an ultimate test of endurance staged over five trail races 50kms in length or greater.
Mitchell was ranked second outright heading into last weekend’s Federation Ultra Trail 50km race at Murray Bridge – trailing male competitor Jan De Braconier Harders – but Vanderheul was able to hold her nerve on Sunday’s fast and flat 50km effort to regain ground on her regional rival.
The third race of the series was marred by a navigation error that saw a spectator wrongly direct the lead runners on an incorrect route, leading to organisers to make the tough decision of issuing ‘did not finish’ results for racers who did not complete the correct course.
While the race’s social media has been flooded with Steven Bradbury references – an Australian speed skater who won the nation’s first Winter Olympics gold medal following a last-corner pile-up – praise flooded in for the official podium finishers, including Vanderheul (first) and Mitchell (second).
Vanderheul originally finished the race in just over four hours and 56 minutes – the third female over the line – but the post-race drama and subsequent ruling elevated her atop the podium.
While race organisers had yet to release the full results prior to The Border Watch deadline, Vanderheul and Mitchell’s placings had been confirmed.
It is no fluke for either runner, having finished first and second respectively at Mount Gambier’s Tower Trail Run 56km race in June – a race which is also part of the overall series.
Vanderheul entered Saturday’s race with a total time of 13 hours, 50 minutes and 42 seconds from her first two races, around five minutes more than the second placed female and a solid gap back from Mitchell (13 hours, 20 minutes and 54 seconds).
However, the hard-working runner believes the updated results, when released, will narrow that gap to just a handful of minutes, having completed the Murray Bridge course around 25 minutes quicker than Mitchell.
Lining up at Federation Ultra Trail for the first time, Vanderheul said she was glad to have Mitchell to toe the start line with, running together in the early stages.
“It was flat right from the start and the pace was set quite early,” Vanderheul said.
“We knew we had to stick to under six-minute pace (per kilometre) and there were no real spots to reward yourself with a walk,” she said.
“I am just loving that there is two (Limestone Coast) locals doing well – it’s quite nice to have a local competitor.
“I was quite happy to see Anna at the start line with me.”
If the pair intends on gunning for overall glory, they will need to prepare for the popular Yurrebilla 56km in the Adelaide Hills in late September, as well as the revised 50km Heysen Trail race the following month.
However, Vanderheul isn’t looking that far ahead, instead setting her sights on a mammoth 120km round trip between Millicent and Mount Gambier next week.
Starting Friday night, Vanderheul will be joined by decorated endurance competitor and fellow Millicent runner Brad Tilley in running from Millicent to Mount Gambier, meeting up with several Blue Lake city-based runners to make the return trip.
While these feats of endurance and podium finishes are impressive, Vanderheul’s recipe to success is mostly simple.
“Five kilometres a day is what I mainly stick to,” she said.
“It’s quite a steady pace, it’s still a pace where you can chat as you go.
“Having that base fitness makes a difference when the time comes to running a bit faster.”
