Guy Schweitzer completes ultramarathon from Hedland to Marble Bar

Pilbara long-distance runner Guy Schweitzer completed a 27-hour ultramarathon from Port Hedland to Marble Bar on Saturday, a 203km trek from the Pier to the Iron Clad Hotel. Schweitzer is no stranger to extraordinary running feats; he competed in a 250km marathon in trying weather conditions in Victoria and did a 350km, 72-hour marathon in his home State of Queensland. He described his passion for running as an addiction and revealed in his two months of living in Port Hedland, he completed a goal of running down every street in the town. Schweitzer said he relished the challenge and adventure of his Marble Bar marathon. “Who decides to run 200km when there is no race on?” he said. “I just love the challenge of it, the emotional and physical challenge. During it there are times where I am going, ‘why am I doing this’ but I always get to the end and it’s that satisfaction of finishing.” While Schweitzer has experienced ultramarathons around the country, he said this adventure was completely different. “It’s the first time I have done something like this without it being under race conditions,” he said. “I don’t know anyone that has run to Marble Bar, I’m hoping nobody has done it.” After the gruelling hours of dehydration, “jelly legs” and sleep deprivation, Schweitzer said all he looks forward to is a cold beer at the finish line. “I usually have a beer at the end of a big race just as a kind of celebration,” he said. Schweitzer completed the ultramarathon in 27 hours and 30 minutes with help from a team of friends who drove alongside him.