Michael Collins at the start of his 100-kilometre run attempt with support crew Donna Jewell, Chris Blythe and Amanda Haines. Photo: Supplied.
A Weipa runner famous for fuelling up on bananas to get through long runs decided to challenge himself by limiting his intake for his recent 100-kilometre effort, as if the mammoth distance needed any extra challenges.
Fuelled with less sugar but a lot of determination and community support, Michael Collins ran from Mapoon to Weipa in 14 hours and clocked up 103km, his longest run yet.
When Collins set his personal best in last year’s Weipa Running Festival marathon, he consumed 23 bananas for his 42.2km journey.
“I’ve actually cut back on my banana intake – roughly one every 10km for the bananas,” he said proudly.
“I think I wanted to know if I could still do it without having so many bananas in the marathon, so it felt good to perform just as well but not having to rely on them.
“I did have 33 bananas there, just in case.”
Carrying those bananas, as well as water and plenty of snacks to keep him going, was the support team that accompanied Collins throughout the 100km journey, including the woman who inspired the long journey.
The three supporters – Amanda Haines, Donna Jewell and Chris Blythe – started in Mapoon at 5pm with Collins, and rotated between driving, cycling and running with him.
“I’m just really thankful to the people that helped me, having all the drinks and food ready, helping with stretching and massages and all sorts of things,” the runner said.
“They probably clocked up about 40km of running and 40km of biking between themselves.
“Amanda Haines was the first person I’d ever met personally who had previously run 100km; meeting her and having a chat with her helped inspire me to undertake this run.”
Right on schedule, the group reached Mission River Bridge at 3am and was met by Weipa Running Festival chairperson Rose Robbins.
“Rose Robbins supported me and pushed me with moral support and storytelling in the last 30km from a bike …[she] also helped inspire me to undertake this run through the awesome community spirit and support from the Weipa parkrun and Weipa Running Festival,” Collins said.
“Without these community events and community spirit, my goal would not have been possible, as well as for many other community runners who are continually pushing themselves past what they previously thought were their limits.”
For the last 5km of the marathon journey, he joined the weekly Weipa Parkrun, where he was greeted by proud fellow runners and a hand-drawn 100km finish line banner made by 10-year-old Zigmund Freiberg.
“I think that goal of having to make it in time to start parkrun with everyone really motivated me and kept me going,” Collins said.
“They put up streamers and set up an ice bath at the end; it’s amazing what everyone did to help, you obviously can’t do it alone.
“I’ll have to wait to fully find out for sure, but walking around at parkrun after the 100km felt like it gave me a sneaky sample of what it might actually be like to be 100 years old, both physically and mentally.”
Michael Collins is all smiles as celebrates his 100-kilometre accomplishment with Weipa parkrun’s Zigmund and Vide Freiberg. Photo: Supplied.
