TODD Hayward of Aranda started running again as an adult after a good friend passed away from ovarian cancer. Her death made him feel like he should be getting more out of life and helps him finish gruelling ultra marathons.
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''I was living a sedentary lifestyle and I wasn't getting the most out of life,'' Mr Hayward said.
''When she died, I thought 'Stuff it, I have to get more out of life', so I started running.''
The 36-year-old is using next week's 50-kilometre ultra marathon, which is part of the Australian Running Festival, as training for the 100-kilometre North Face run in the Blue Mountains in May.
''Doing marathons is pretty emotional. Everyone has their own motivating factors that drives them over the line. I guess the memory of my friend keeps me going.
''I always think no matter how tough I'm doing it, it doesn't compare to how she did it or anyone else that has terminal cancer is doing it.''
He said finishing a marathon felt like ''getting hit by a truck.''
Elbows, groin and inner thighs can all cramp.
He trains by running about 100 kilometres a week, cycling and swimming.
''I have three pairs of shoes on the go at any one time and am constantly rotating them. I never wear the same shoe on two runs.''
While Mr Hayward will be running the Canberra ultra marathon for the first time, 52-year-old Rob Ey will be running the 42-kilometre race for the 26th time.
The father of two says he is slowing down, only training 80 kilometres a week, after knee surgery and having competed in 79 marathons around the world.
His top tip for entrants next week?
''Vaseline and tape your nipples,'' said Mr Ey, who's never pulled out of a race.
His fastest time of two hours, 38 minutes was in 1988.
''For a while I did it to see how fast as I can run and now it's just to finish. Ever since I've turned 40 things have been going wrong.
''At my best I was running 150 kilometres, week in week out. Now, in a good week it's 80.''
