Rosie Hollands must be a tiger for punishment. Having ticked off the Firefighter Sky Tower Challenge, she is now facing the gruelling challenge of running a 100-mile mountain race to raise money for hospice.
The Wakefield mother of two, airline pilot and volunteer firefighter is somehow finding the time to put in the miles to build the stamina she will need when she competes in The Spectacle’s 100-mile (160km) race in December.
Her sky tower challenge raised more than $11,000 for blood cancer, and now her goal is to raise more than $12,000 for Nelson-Tasman Hospice by completing the 100 Miler.
She has been described as “crazy and overcommitted”, but she just can’t help herself – she has to tackle the next challenge.
“I’m not particularly good at running – I’m never going to be the best at anything because I focus on so many things! I just have to be involved in everything and give everything a go.”
Despite saying that she’s not a runner, she ran 90km at Easter and last year completed the 50km run at The Spectacle. At the time, she thought the 100 Miler would be the next step, and ultrarunner Ed Shuttleworth encouraged her to take on the challenge and raise awareness for hospice.
“Hospice relies on community funding and wouldn’t be there without it,” she says. “Around one in three people who pass receive hospice care – it can be in their own home with specialist care.
“You hear people’s stories and I haven’t spoken to a single person who isn’t mind blown by the care they’ve received for their loved ones.”
The names of all her sponsors for the run will be on the trail with her.
“I’m going to wear a white cape for the run with everyone’s name who sponsors my run for hospice.”
She acknowledges the 100 Miler will be her biggest challenge yet, with trails behind Nelson adding up to 6000m in elevation gain.
“There’s a point where you come off Dun Mountain to a T-junction and you are supposed to go left and climb right up the top to Dun Mountain again – or go right and the finish is very close.”
Rosie says that will be the point where her pacer at the time will have to work hard to encourage her to head back up.
Fortunately, she loves training, with a mix of runs, plyometrics, strength training and generally time on her feet to build up to the hours it will take to run 160km. She hopes to complete the trail in less than 36 hours.
Some of her training is with husband Chris, who will have his own challenge at The Spectacle when he competes in the 100km race.
While The 100 Miler is Rosie’s biggest challenge in the diary, she also has plans for a nine-hour adventure race, the Old Ghost Ultra and the Backyard Ultra on Rabbit Island.
“I’d love to get to the end of my life and feel I’ve given everything a go.”
