Wavell Heights resident Jack Vander Velde is clocking up the kilometres, with four major endurance events on his calendar over the coming months.
The local athlete will compete in the Gold Coast Marathon this month before taking on the Sunshine Coast Marathon, Sydney Marathon and the Ironman 70.3 triathlon in Port Macquarie later this year.
Jack said while he always had a natural ability for long-distance running, the real turning point came about four years ago when his father began running marathon distances.
“Being competitive by nature, I thought if he can do it, why can’t I?” he said.
He soon signed up for New Zealand’s Queenstown Marathon, followed by the Brisbane Marathon and Sunshine Coast Marathon, where he broke the three-hour mark and recorded a personal best.
Training, Goals and Future Ambitions
To prepare for his upcoming endurance events, Jack trains daily, running 60 to 70 kilometres across five days. His program includes interval training, speed work, easy runs and a long run, alongside swimming, cycling and strength training. He also participates in Kedron Parkrun every weekend.
Jack has to balance training with work and university commitments.
“It comes down to a very tight schedule and an early alarm,” he said. “I’m up around 5am every day to get my training done before the day starts.
“I’m always on the move, but I’ve learned to be very deliberate about how I structure my time.”
Jack said the encouragement of family and friends had helped him pursue his goals. He credited his girlfriend, best mate and the Old Skool Run Club in Wavell Heights for their support.
“Of course, my family as a whole is always in my corner, understanding the commitment involved and cheering me on every step of the way,” he said. “They understand what I’m trying to achieve and get behind it wholeheartedly, which makes a real difference when the schedule gets demanding.”
Among his goals for the year are sub-2:30 finishes in all three marathons and completing the Port Macquarie Ironman 70.3 in less than five hours.
“It’ll be my first triathlon, so there’s an element of the unknown, but that’s part of the excitement,” he said.
Looking ahead, Jack said he planned to tackle the full Ironman next year and eventually compete in events around the world.
“Running has shown me just how much the mind governs the body,” he said. “When everything hurts and you want to stop, it’s your mental state that determines whether you do or not. I’ve also learned that I’m more resilient and disciplined than I ever gave myself credit for and that I genuinely thrive when I have big goals to chase.”
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