As Kirrily Dear ran the last few metres of her epic 860km ultramarathon, her sobs of pure relief could be heard as she crossed the Newell Highway and made her way to Forbes Police Station where she was greeted by family, friends and the local police.
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She then gathered what remaining strength she had left and ran a few more metres around to the entry of Victoria Park, where Forbes High School students were anxiously awaiting her arrival, having lined the path to welcome her to Forbes.
Her absolute strength and energy as she ran through the students, high-fiving them as she passed, was incredible, and as she leapt through the white ribbon at the finish line, she proved just what an inspiration she has been.
Forbes was the final destination for Kirrily’s White Ribbon Ultramarathon journey, which took her through some of the communities most affected by domestic violence in NSW including Walgett, Burren Junction, Wee Waa, Boggabri, Manilla, Tamworth, Spring Ridge, Coolah, Mendooran, Dubbo, Yeoval and Parkes.
Tuesday, White Ribbon Day, was a day filled with emotion for Kirrily after having completed 860km in 12 days during some of the worst weather conditions.
The road has been anything but smooth.
Five days out of the 12 reached over 40 degrees and her very first day from Walgett to Burren Junction was a scorching 45 degrees.
That very first day was her toughest.
“Walgett was stinking hot, it felt like living on a different planet,” she said.
“It was like living in a massive furnace with a hair dryer blowing...it was so hot I thought we were running uphill because the horizon was distorted.
“It was a mentally challenging day.”
So for Kirrily to end in Forbes on the coolest day since she started was a welcome coincidence.
“It’s been the most perfect, perfect day,” she said.
“The weather has been perfect today - whoever turned it on, thank you.”
Even on some of the worst days, Kirrily said she never gave up.
“There was no self doubt, but how we were going to do it absolutely,” she said.
“Particularly some of the long legs with some over 90km in 39, 40, 42 degree heat - you don’t know how you’re going to get to the end.”
Kirrily said the support she received everywhere she went was incredible and very humbling.
“The support was sensational, it brought tears to my eyes,” she said.
Tuesday was a very special and emotional day for Kirrily as it was the culmination of all her hard work, both physically and mentally, to get her mind and body to Forbes.
It was particularly special after the previous day of attaining the 500 mile club, 7km outside of Parkes, making her a very special calibre of ultrarunner .
“At that point, 7km outside of Parkes we hit the 500 mile mark and I realised I was one of only a handful of women to do that - it was really special and I knew we were here,” she said.
“I got up this morning and thought today [Tuesday] would be a breeze but then the actual realisation of what we’d accomplished hit.
“15km out of town I realised what we achieved and reflected on all the stories we’d been told and reflecting on that brought on complete meltdown mode - relief and grief.”
When she arrived in Forbes, Kirrily told the crowd of students from the High School that she chose Forbes to be the end point of her journey because of all the work they’ve been doing to raise awareness for domestic violence, particularly with the Love Bites program and the White Ribbon Day community march.
“I’m incredibly inspired by the generation coming through and absolutely blown away by the work you’ve been doing,” she said.
“The work you’ve been doing now will have impacts for generations to come and what you’re doing is incredibly important - it gives people hope.”
The White Ribbon Ultramarathon came to life because Kirrily became inspired to do something about the increasing reports of domestic violence.
“About 18 months ago I became acutely aware of the problem through the media,” she said,
“I couldn’t not do something and marathon running is what I’m good at.
“I hope we’ve started the conversation, I hope it starts people talking.
“We’ve got to break the silence and got to make domestic violence history.”
Documentary filmmaker Owen Burns has been following Kirrily on her journey and hopes to produce a film about the run, the communities it touched and share the experiences of those that have been involved in programs combating violence against women.
Thirty 3 South Films are running a Pozible campaign to raise money to help fund the film and are asking for pledges to make it happen.
To pledge your support, go to www.pozible.com/project/187923.
For more information on the White Ribbon Ultramarathon go to www.whiteribbonultra.com.