Brendan Davies has cracked another milestone, and in the process realised his true potential.
The Woodford ultra distance runner was 10th at the International Association of Ultrarunners 100K Road World Championships in Spain late last month, finishing the 100km race in just 6 hours 44 minutes 20 seconds.
At an average pace of 4:03 per kilometre, he finished with an 11-minute PB.
“I realised for the first time my potential. Each of the last ones I’ve done I’ve felt I’ve missed an opportunity, so to crack the 6:40s is about where I should be,” Davies said.
Aged 39, he was second in his 35-39 years age category, and he’s been inspired to have another crack at South Africa’s 89km Comrades Marathon – considered the most competitive ultra marathon in the world. In the May event this year, he was the first Australian home, placing 19th.
In Spain he beat the 2016 Comrades winner David Gatebe at 12th and was just behind the 2015 winner Gift Kelehe who was ninth.
“This gives me so much confidence that I can challenge the big boys,” Davies said.
During the race his watch malfunctioned, displaying the incorrect time, so between 50-70km he was gunning it, passing 10 runners. Then he hit a rough patch, “drawing on a lot of mental strength” to lift the pace.
Back in the Mountains now, Davies is taking a break and recovering at home.