From Suburbia to the Simpson Desert

Just an ordinary person achieving extraordinary feats, local running enthusiast Donna Saunders has taken on the impossible Simpson Desert Ultra Marathon—and completed it!

Being a resident of Bunya Riverside, most of Donna’s extensive training took place right on her doorstep, on the trails of the Bunyaville Conservation Park. With the support of local running group Run with Rob, she also trained alongside her coach Cath Wallis, a Canberra-based coach, adventurer, and ultra-athlete who has experience herself with Simpson Desert Ultra. Having worked to hone the skills of athletes all over Australia, Donna knew she was in capable hands with Cath. Their program commenced in January of this year, and incorporated strength training, increased distances, hiking and running with a pack full of mandatory gear, as well as speed work, hills, and stairs. At the end of all their hard work, alongside 23 of Cath’s other trainees, Donna took on the Simpson Desert Ultra.

Of course, not one second of Donna’s training was easy. How could it be? In her words, the challenge was ‘big and scary’ and an ambitious goal to say the least. However, in her two years of building up to the moment she knew she had it in her to conquer Simpson Desert Ultra, Donna discovered how rewarding training can be. She tells Echo News, ‘It is giving me a strong body so I can keep doing the things I love and exploring the world. It means I make time for myself, and it is so good for my head and my confidence.’

Sometimes, it can be good to do the things that scare us. To be frank, the insane 50km length of Simpson Desert Ultra is nothing short of terrifying!

Each year, it takes place just outside Birdsville on Adria Downs Station, the land of the Wangkangurru-Yarluyandi people. There is a 2pm Welcome to Country ceremony on the day, as well as an official send off for the first of the 100km participants. Remaining competitors, including Donna thought it best to set up their tents and sleeping gear. It wasn’t until 2am, after only 3 hours of rest, that Donna took off for her first 25km loop at 2am, hoping to arrive back by 7am. She shares that ‘it was beautiful walking at night under the full moon. The course is a combination of sand dunes, gibber plain, and clay pan full of holes.’ Competitors were forced to navigate via headlamps and the reflective tape on course markers. ‘Headlamps lit up tiny insects in the sand like glow worms,’ Donna says.

Underestimating the terrain’s difficulty, Donna returned to camp at 7:30am, and off again by 7:50am after refreshing, eating, and hydrating. Despite an altercation with a lukewarm Coca Cola and the course’s final aid station, Donna completed the rest of the track with strength and grace. The last few kilometres were the toughest of all, Donna recalls, with the final dune feeling ‘like a punch in the face.’ However, she crossed the finish line at 2pm with a smile and unwavering pride.

‘I realised during this whole endeavour that, when the situation calls for it, I am my very own hype woman. As I was mostly alone on the course, I talked out loud, telling myself how strong I was, how I was doing so well, how awesome my body is to carry me through the desert.’

With Simpson Desert Ultra awarding no winners or place getters, it truly was all about the journey and comradery for all participants. Upon finishing her final leg of the (non) race, Donna was cheered on by friends and strangers alike, welcoming her back as if it were a homecoming.

Though nothing is set in stone, Donna is considering the Lonely Mountain Ultra in Orange later this year, as well as Ultra Trail Australia in the Blue Mountains next year. Kudos to her for making the impossible seem all the more possible. Echo News wishes her good luck for all future endeavours!

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Suitable for ALL ability levels. Our no cost sessions will change your life.