Running found her late – now she’s heading to the Great Ocean Road

NADYA Caminer did not find running until her late 40s. Now, at 59, she is preparing to take on a 60km ultramarathon along the Great Ocean Road.

Born in Papua New Guinea, Caminer came to the sport after extended periods in health rehabilitation, following years of drug and alcohol addiction.

She didn’t ease into it. Chasing what she describes as a “peak experience”, she “went from zero to one hundred”.

Her first major test came on the Kokoda Track, where she completed an ultramarathon. The experience was a turning point.

 

“When you’ve been in addiction, you’re kind of on the edge of life, and at that great point of guilt and despair,” Caminer said.

“Years of hardship, and all it took was joining one gym and doing my first ultra at Kokoda.

“Doing something so extreme like that showed to me my amazing capacity to do hard things. I’ve been addicted to that feeling since.”

Since then, Caminer has taken on endurance events across Australia and overseas, including the Comrades Marathon in South Africa, widely regarded as the world’s oldest ultramarathon.

 

“When you’re addicted, you’re always chasing that high,” Caminer said. “But for me, racing now gives me that high.

“You’re clean and you’re under the influence of your own hard work.”

The Great Ocean Road Running Festival will mark her first time racing along the Victorian coastline.

“This will be my first venture down to that part of the world and I’m really excited,” Caminer said.

 

“I’ve heard the course is a bit exposed and rugged, so I’m preparing myself for that.”

The event, to be held 16-17 May, is expected to attracted more than 10,000 participants, bringing together runners of all levels.

While the ultramarathon, marathon and half marathon events have sold out, entries remain open for shorter distances, including 14km, 12km, 10km, 6km and 5km events, as well as the 1.5km Kids’ Gallop.

For more information, visit greatoceanroadrunfest.com.au