Nineteen ultra-marathons and counting for AV Director
August 8, 2024in News
As the 2024 Olympic Games take place in Paris from 26 July to 11 August, we’re featuring some of Ambulance Victoria’s (AV) very own sporting stars.
One is AV Director Strategic Planning Fiona Smeaton, who has completed 15 marathons and 19 ultra-marathons, including all six of the world marathon majors.
She began running at school, with her furthest distance a 200-metre sprint, before running a bit further in her 20s simply as a way to keep fit.
“It probably would’ve continued as an ad-hoc fitness activity if it wasn’t for my sister running a marathon – my sibling rivalry was ignited,” she said.
“I signed up for my first marathon and chose New York as I was pretty confident that I would only ever run one so I may as well make it good one!”
Ambulance Victoria Director Strategic Planning Fiona Smeaton at the Boston Marathon, the world’s oldest annual marathon and one of the six World Marathon Majors.
Fiona said completing that first marathon was a major achievement, matched four years later by the feeling when she finished her first 100-kilometre ultra-marathon event.
“That was very emotional,” she said.
“I love how I’ve been able to explore parts of the world that I wouldn’t have seen if I hadn’t been running,” she said.
“Nothing compares to running across the high country or the coastline with no-one else in sight, solely focused on the trail and the end goal.”
Fiona completing a 100-kilometre ultra-marathon at Victoria’s Surf Coast Century.
To complete ultra-marathons requires a significant training load, and Fiona said it does take compromise and discipline to balance training with her career at AV and her family.
“To run as much as I do, I need to get up very early in the morning so that I’m done before my kids need to get off to school and I need to start work,” she said.
“When I’m building up for a long event, and the long runs get longer each week, the alarm goes off earlier and earlier.
“For safety and motivation, I run with my kelpie and I’ve connected with other runners who live local to me so that I can meet them for a run.
“I’ve also started a running group in my local area which organises group runs and connects people to a broader community, and I do a lot of volunteering at events and at parkrun to help out and give back.”
Fiona has completed 15 marathons and 19 ultra-marathons.
Despite the sacrifices, Fiona said running benefits her in her role as Director Strategic Planning at AV.
“Running has shown me that I can do hard things,” she said.
“That flows over into my career as I’m more comfortable being uncomfortable and more confident in my ability to persist in the face of challenge.
“I also do a lot of thinking whilst running, and that tends to mean a lot of picking apart problems and coming up with ideas or solutions.”
With 34 marathon and ultra-marathon events under her belt, Fiona said there are plenty of runs still on her list.
She said her passion for running stems from its simplicity and the community it creates.
“I love how easy it is to start running, and how quickly you can improve – all you need is a good pair of shoes,” she said.
“The running community is very supportive and encouraging, and there are events of all shapes and sizes that allow us to get involved and set our own goals for improvement.
“Overall, my biggest achievement in running is all the people who tell me that they’ve started running because I’ve showed them that it’s possible.”
Fiona completing an ultra-marathon along the Northern Territory’s Larapinta Trail.