By PRATHAMESH DESHPANDE
Esperance’s Lisa Mannix, the reigning champion of the Goldfields Pipeline Marathon, secured her second consecutive victory in this year’s event on July 16.
Mannix dominated the full-length marathon from Coolgardie to Kalgoorlie-Boulder.
When asked about her feelings on winning again, she expressed her delight saying she “wasn’t really expecting it”.
Mannix said her decision to participate in the marathon was last-minute.
She said she and her husband Harlan decided to register just a couple of weeks before the event.
Despite the cold morning temperatures, Mannix said she tackled the challenging course with grit and determination.
She said there was a bit of a headwind during the second part of the race, but her previous experience on hilly terrain in Esperance prepared her well for the flat track in Kalgoorlie.
Mannix said the historic pipeline and surroundings did not pose significant challenges for her — she described the route as a long straight run through the bushlands.
She credited the organisers for running a seamless event with well-placed water stops every seven kilometres, and an encouraging atmosphere from spectators.
In terms of training, Mannix said she adopted a “tag team initiative” with her husband, taking turns to train early in the morning.
Despite facing some hurdles due to her kids being sick, she said her preparation helped her secure the win.
Although this year’s marathon was a slower run for Mannix, she expressed satisfaction with her performance, clocking in at three hours and seven minutes.
Last year, she set the ladies’ record with a remarkable time of three hours and two minutes, which remains unbroken.
Reflecting on her success, Mannix attributed her victory to consistent training and a supportive team effort.
“I just love running so I thought ‘why not’. I just wanted to do it but was lucky enough to come home with a win.”
