JACQUI BELL - A CHAT WITH AN ULTRA RUNNING RECORD HOLDER!
I was very lucky to have run into Jacqui at this year’s International Women’s Day Fun Run in which she was the ambassador. It was great to talk all things adventure and running and also lock in a time to pick her brain! It’s not every day you get to chat with the youngest person to run ultramarathons on all seven continents! Also, Jacqui will also be the youngest competitor to line up on the Brisbane Trail Ultra 100 mile start line!
Jacqui, you’ve been very open with your low times in your life when you had sustained a fair number of broken bones and fell into taking prescription drugs. And then on top of that, spending time in hospital overseas after a violent robbery. Can you comment on how you felt and what helped to push you through such a low patch?
“For me I guess the wake up call was a fairly simple moment, but also a really pivotal big one. I remember sitting at home in my PJs, about 10kg overweight, scrolling through instagram, chipping away at a chocolate bar early on a Tuesday afternoon. I felt like total shit about myself and was very unhappy. It was in this moment that I realised enough was enough and it was up to me to make a change. I was not enjoying my life and was watching everyone else having a good time on social media while I moped around. I decided in that moment to change. That’s when I took the first step deciding to sign up for another race to train for and I guess i put all my eggs in one basket with the high hopes that running would pull me out of this massive slump. This was about 3 years ago now."
It’s great that you found running and it didn’t just seem to pull you out of the slump, but also appears to have ignited a passion in you for you to become a record holder. So where did this all start?
“I was involved in most sports when I was younger - mainly tennis, basketball, soccer, cricket and I ran and skipped a lot to keep super fit for the sports. I am also a personal trainer so staying fit and healthy is important to me because I know to be the best version of myself I need to be feeling good.”
“RUNNING IS A SPORT WHERE YOU CAN JUST THROW ON YOUR JOGGERS, STEP OUTSIDE AND GET INTO IT.”
“The feeling post run, the endorphins is like nothing else. I have always run and always knew it made me feel great so when I was at my lowest point I thought back to this and I figured well if I feel good running 5k then imagine how good I will feel after 250k... not sure where that thought process came from haha."
Um, I’m not sure there are many people reading this that wouldn’t agree with you Jacqui.. A runner’s perspective for sure!!
“IT WAS AFTER MY 3RD 250KM MULTI-STAGE RACE THAT I BEGAN TO ENJOY THEM AND NOW I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THEM.”
Jacqui, you've been smashing through some amazing runs in the last few years and have become a very prominent face of ultra running in Australia. You've also been crowned the youngest person to complete seven ultramarathons across seven continents!! Congratulations!! That is absolutely amazing. What motivated you to train for such a grueling quest?
“Thanks! I have had a wild ride the last few years thats for sure. It began with 1x 250km ultra and then I stumbled across racing the planets x4 desert grand slam and after 3 of these I realised I didn't want to stop there and set my sights on completing one on every continent. I never set out with the plan of ultra running pretty much becoming my life... it kind of all just unravelled as the journey went on.”
Talking about long ultras, you've just completed your longest race to date and totally unsupported at the Alps 2 Oceans Ultra in NZ. How do you fuel yourself for such prolonged races?
“During the races I eat pretty basic, I learnt after the first few races the most efficient ways to take calories in whilst keep the food super lightweight and compact seeing as I have to carry it all on my back. I sometimes don't take the most nutritional food because I also like to have some level of enjoyment. If you are running 60km's you want to be excited about the meal that is coming up! You will find me eating- Oats, Clif bars, noodles, True Protein, protein shakes, True Protein Endurance drink, chocolate, Pringles, nuts!”
That’s a very varied list of foods with both sweet and savoury. Nice.
And here comes the tough question that I think most of us want to know the answer to. How do you keep yourself positive through the grind? I’m sure there are a few times when you’re wondering why you’ve put yourself through this! “I have experienced many negative loops on these races and realised after about race 2/3 that they don't help and get you know where. So in those really low points I just remember that this horrible feeling is momentary and it will pass, I then ignore the voice in my head yelling at me to stop and soon enough I am able to feel good again. Don't feed the negative voice!“
“DON'T FEED THE NEGATIVE VOICE!”
Jacqui had a very full calendar for 2020 planned and as for all of us unfortunately the plans have all changed. “I did have a 250km multi stage race with Ultra X in Sri Lanka on the cards but it has been postponed. I am super excited to complete my first ever 100 mile event in my own backyard of Brisbane at the Brisbane Trail Ultra [and then] I have a few trip ideas I am trying to plan out myself to explore some of Australia when restrictions ease.”
With the postponement and uncertainty of so many events, what has kept you motivated to train and stay focused? “Covid was a fair bit of an adjustment for me in regards to the momentum of training, racing and travel coming to a complete hault. I think for me the biggest challenge was having race cancellations which made it difficult to keep up the same training regiment as I guess you could say the goal posts had moved a little. I also was now with more time on my hands which meant more time to 'overthink' things I guess you could say and I had to dig a little deeper and think about why it is I race and compete in ultras. Looking back on it now it was great to be able to assess where I was and am at and think about the direction I want to head in - still figuring out this exact answer. I made sure not to be too hard on myself though as it was quite literally a global pandemic and everyone was just doing their best to get through it. Moving forward I have realised how important having a goal is and being able to work towards it. I enjoy this and look forward to being able to be around all of the running community again. Aside from the races themselves that I miss, I miss the vibe and people!”
I’m sure most of us in the running community have done exactly that Jacqui, reassess some of the reasons we do certain things. And for sure we’re all looking forward to enjoying a race like we knew it.
What advice would you give someone thinking about getting into running and also looking at getting into training for their first ultra? “Don't over think it, don't go out too hard with training, don't get hooked on numbers. I would advise to pick a race that really excited you! My first trail race was 19km's then I did a 35k one and then a 50k. So a slow increase, try not to go 0-100. I also would say in the early stages just run for fun and enjoyment, checkout new trails and locations and run by feel. Don't get obsessed with numbers." Very well said Jacqui!
“FEEL GOOD, HAVE FUN AND YOU WILL RUN AT YOUR BEST!"
Jacqui is an inspirational runner, record holder, inspirational speaker and mental health ambassador. With this huge list under her belt, we know there’s also going to be some amazing sponsors involved. Jacqui, can you give your sponsors a shout out?
“Jaybird - been with me since day dot, I am a huge music fan - love listening to my favourite tunes whilst running trails and my Jaybird Vistas give me 14 hours battery life! True protein - fuel me pre, during and postruns. Brooks runners - I wear the Caldera 4 Trail shoes - these have gotten me through some of the most insane countries in the world! Flight Centre - They are having a tough time right now but they have been a great support for me the last 3 years! Also a massive shout out to my coach Matty Abel From DBA Runners and also Co-owner of Run Hunters App. He is an incredible coach to put up with coaching me as I have a tendency to go rogue on my program. 6 weeks working with Matty not and I am loving it. He is helping me get prepped for the BTU 100 miler.“
The team at the Brisbane Trail Ultra would like to send out a huge thank you to Jacqui for her time in chatting with us! Check out Jacqui’s website for more on her adventures. We’re looking forward to heading out onto the trails with you and also seeing you at the Brisbane Trail Ultra in October.
Cora & Shona -Brisbane Trail Ultra