418kms to cover for fresh food security

ON-foot in the great outdoors, Pauline O’Shannessy-Dowling feels at home and at peace.

Growing up on the family farm, she’d spend hours with her dad, brothers and sisters, walking through paddocks, moving sheep around.

“We’d just walk and walk and walk. It’s a beautiful thing to get outside, and I’m used to being amongst it,” she said.

These days, Ms O’Shannessy-Dowling picks up the pace, jogging along the Yarrowee River. Jumping on at Hill Street and heading towards Magpie, or in through the city and out to Brown Hill, this track has been her favourite for more than a decade.

Lately, her focus has been distance running. Self-motivated, she’s never without a personal challenge.

“In the last couple of years, I’ve been slowly building back to marathon running. This year, one of my goals was to run two marathons.

“I thought, I may as well use my running and do something useful at the same time. It can help keep me accountable to run the kilometres I want to run,” Ms O’Shannessy-Dowling said.

Currently part of the Feed Ballarat Challenge, an initiative of the Ballarat Foundation, she’s running 418 kilometres, the equivalent distance of a Goldfields Track round-trip; Ballarat to Bendigo, and back.

“I like the idea of a really long, big challenge. You enter all your data and it virtually tracks where you are. I’ve passed the 300-kilometre mark and I’m back near Castlemaine now.

“The idea is that you’re raising money while you run, for people who need assistance with food security in Ballarat. I’ve raised over $750,” she said.

“Over 12 per cent of people in Ballarat are in need of support when it comes to good, fresh, nutritious food.”

Ms O’Shannessy-Dowling’s campaign began on 17 May, and she’s hoping to be done by the end of July.

Along the way, she’s participated in virtual events like the Great Ocean Road Marathon, and registered for four separate Gold Coast events including a full and half marathon. These runs have given the Feed Ballarat stats a healthy boost.

But whether she’s set a goal, or is just out running to keep active, Ms O’Shannessy-Dowling simply enjoys the pastime’s meditative movement, and results.

“I don’t run fast, I just jog along. I’m present in this beautiful environment and go into a zone. The after effects are great, you feel good, healthy and you sleep well at night,” she said.

Alternatively, runners or walkers can take part in the Feed Ballarat Challenge by completing as many laps of Lake Wendouree as possible, or travel 209 kilometres, representing the one-way Goldfields Track distance.

Visit ballaratfoundation.org/feedballaratappeal for more information.