Sun 14 Jun 2026
3 Jun 2026 • 9 minutes read
Paige Fletcher is 29, based on the south coast in Gerringong, and three years ago she started running 1km a day.
“I started running 1km a day for a month until I could progress to 2km and so on. In the same year I completed my first 10km and then a half marathon.” Since then, Paige has run seven half marathons, two road marathons, a 22km trail run and two 50km ultras. The latest of those was Ultra Trail Australia (UTA) 50!
Last year, Paige signed up for the UTA 22km with no real idea what she was getting into. She just wanted to push herself out of her comfort zone and try trails.
“I got out on that course and couldn’t wipe the smile off my face. The atmosphere is unmatched and unlike any other event. Trail runners are incredible, so nice and supportive, and being surrounded by nature is so special. I finished and felt like I could do more. I genuinely wanted to be out there in the mountains longer.”
She soon signed up to take on UTA 50km in 2026.
Paige had come off her biggest year of running, finishing with the Sydney Marathon on the back of a 50km ultra and a string of injuries. She took a few months off, travelled, then came back to it slowly and built up a base of 40 to 50km a week.
Then life got in the way. She and her partner sold their house and moved, and training took a back seat. In the weeks leading into UTA she was running 20 to 30km a week, but she kept up her Pilates and strength work twice a week, which she credits with keeping her injury-free on race day.
“As soon as you started you went uphill for 3km then back down for 3km, so the heart rate was well and truly up.”
The first 18km flew by. Paige didn’t use her headphones. She kept reminding herself to look around and take it in. Single file trails, up and down stairs, through the mountains. “It truly felt like a blur. I felt really good and was having so much fun.”
The niggles crept in after the 18km aid station, but it was the mental side that hit first. Paige started doubting whether she’d finish.
At 28km she heard the cowbells and cheering from the 30km aid station and knew she had a choice to make. “Once you go down into the valley, that’s it. No more aid stations with people and no way out but to keep going.”
She took a solid 10-minute rest, ate five finger buns (“favourite part of the run”), watermelon, and Coke. She unloaded gear she didn’t need because her back was hurting, and set off with a plan: run the downhills and flats, walk the uphills.
“At this point my hips felt like I had knives digging into them either side with every step. My knee killed on the downhills, not to mention my ankle that I had accidentally sprained a week before.”
Paige put her music on and started singing to distract herself. For the next 8km, she kept reminding herself why she was out there. “I could prove to myself I could do hard things, and nothing hurts more than a road marathon, and I had done two of those.”
After the final aid station, it’s continuous uphill on fire trail. “Every time you think it’s going to end, you come around the corner and see more hill.”
With about 5km to go, Paige found a group of about eight people she’d seen out on the course. They offered to let her pass. “I said I didn’t want to because I might decide to walk again soon. Everyone laughed and they all agreed they were comfy shuffling together until the stairs.”
They talked about the run, what they were going to eat when they finished, and kept each other going. “I couldn’t have gotten through without them. Trail running is about community and just helping others!”
“The final push is actually not as hard as people say. It’s so exciting to see that sign and push with everything you have left. By that time everyone is a bit delirious, especially because when you do the 50km you’re climbing with 100km and milers also. Everyone is just encouraging everyone to push and keep going. Once you hear those cowbells and cheering, it’s so emotional. You get goosebumps. You know it’s only 200 metres to the finish line and all your hard work has paid off.”
Paige started the day with a bagel with honey and banana, and a black coffee. On course she ran two flasks, one with water and one with Tailwind, topping up at every aid station. Between stations: Nerd gummies and a Clif Bar. At every aid station: two cups of Coke, a handful of chips and pretzels, and plenty of watermelon. And of course, the five finger buns at 30km!!
“I love trail running because you can eat really well along the way, which is hard to do during road running events where I mainly just stick to gels.”
When Paige first crossed the line, she said she wasn’t sure she’d come back for the 50km. The 22km, absolutely. But the 50? She needed time.
The post-race glow had other plans. “I will definitely be back for another 50km, and hopefully one year the 100km.”
“Do it. It’s hard but it’s so beautiful. The first half of the run is worth the step up in kms. Seeing spectators and loved ones along the course is so amazing, something you don’t get in the 22km. And the final aid station has the best food. Like finger buns.”
Check out some of the upcoming trail and ultra events around Australia on RunDais:
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