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Martina’s miles of smiles

Holly ThompsonSound Telegraph
Martina Tairea came in second place for the Waterous Trail on Foot event held in Dwellingup last month.
Camera IconMartina Tairea came in second place for the Waterous Trail on Foot event held in Dwellingup last month.

A Wellard resident was awarded second place after competing in a running event which spanned across 50 miles through Dwellingup last month.

Martina Tairea, pictured, ran the 50 mile Waterous Trail on Foot event, equivalent of about 80km, in 10 hours and 11 minutes, coming second out of 12 women.

“It is a local event, run by someone based in the Mandurah area, it was really good and actually quite a lot of fun,” Ms Tairea said.

She said she runs six days per week and averaged 300km to 330km per month in the lead-up to the Waterous Trail on Foot.

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“I ran an event in August that was 50km, but this run was different, it had more hills and being 80km, I was really in an entirely different mindset during it,” she said.

“I tackled the first half like I was training and then for the second half I decided if I felt OK I would push a little harder.

“I just had to be strategic with such a long distance, I didn’t want to go hard too soon and then bomb out.

“Also for the last 20km or so there was just a torrential downpour, I was trying to dodge puddles and I almost lost my shoe, so that last part was quite intense.”

Ms Tairea, pictured, said it was her stubbornness which had really helped her finish the race.

“When I say I am going to do something, I have to do it,” she said. “I said to my coach even if I walk, I have to finish it.

“I have a pre-existing health condition where my spleen is double the size and my blood work can be a bit irregular. It was playing up a bit a few days before and I knew it was going to be a bit more of a push to finish so I did take a break and walk some of it.”

Ms Tairea said she would love to do the event again next year and one day wanted to build up to run the 100-mile event.

“My husband is so supportive, I couldn’t train as hard with study and five kids, four who are still at home, without him,” she said.

“I have also been getting coached by Mick Francis, he is 62 and was training for the 100-mile before he got injured, he really helped motivate me as well.”

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