In Adelaide's parklands, an ultramarathon has been testing the limits of competitors for the past two days and nights, presenting a gruelling challenge that continues around the clock. Among those still in the race is a former South African cricketer who has transitioned into a Big Bash coach. Remarkably, he is one of just two runners remaining, enduring the exhaustive conditions of this intense endurance event.
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00:00 It looks like a jaunty jog through Adelaide's parklands, but appearances can be deceiving
00:06 because these runners are taking part in a gruelling ultra marathon.
00:10 I've been fresher.
00:12 In the past two days they haven't slept and have propelled themselves more than 300km.
00:18 For a former South Australian and South African cricket captain and the new Queensland and
00:22 Brisbane Heat coach, it's a very different challenge to leather on willow.
00:26 Since I stopped playing I was always looking for that competitive side of it, so I think
00:30 this is where I've found it.
00:33 You just push against yourself really.
00:34 The stop until you drop event is known as a backyard ultra.
00:38 Runners complete 6.7km every hour and use what little time is left over for a brief
00:44 breather before getting back on track.
00:46 It's as hard as you would imagine having no sleep and running 300km plus.
00:53 There's nothing easy about it.
00:54 It's constant mental battle.
00:56 This event has a James Bond theme, no time to die, but it's certainly claimed its victims.
01:02 More than 130 runners started on Friday and there's only one winner, the last person standing.
01:08 Watching from the side was a former world record holder.
01:11 When I did the 102 hours, the first couple of days it's always a bit of a grind.
01:17 You can kind of go through some rough patches.
01:24 Winners are in it for the glory and national selection.
01:28 We're certainly one of the favourites to take out the world champs which will be held this
01:30 year in Perth.
01:31 Hence these guys are pushing because they want to get on the team.
01:36 There's little time to put the feet up just yet.
01:38 It's a long way to go.
01:39 It's a long way to go.
01:40 It's a long way to go.
01:41 It's a long way to go.
01:42 It's a long way to go.