SHIRLEY YOUNG: LIVING LEGEND – AGELESS WONDER

Alexis Oosterhoff • April 14, 2019

By Kevin Cassidy
Ultramag June 2013 Vol 28 No 2

“This is probably my favourite photo, Kevin”.I’m sitting with Ron Young on a balmy autumn evening at the Collingwood athletic track in suburban Melbourne, perusing a wealth of photos and documentation on Shirley Young’s extraordinary running career. The photo in question is indeed a classic. Shirley had just crossed the line to become the World W55 Marathon Champion in 1987 in a PB of 3:18:38. Not only does Shirley look decidedly satisfied with her run, it also features her husband Ron embracing her proudly.

Engaging and talkative, Ron passionately shared Shirley’s career highlights with me. It wasn’t difficult to pick up on Ron’s pride in Shirley’s accomplishments as we reminisced about her incredible journey.

Born on Christmas Eve in 1929, Shirley lived the stereotypical life of that era [1950s and 60s] in that she grew up, got married, produced two daughters and filled the role of homemaker while Ron brought home the weekly wage.

Sport in the Young household was centred on Ron in those early years. One of the country’s more prominent distance runners, he narrowly missed selection for the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games in the 3,000 metre steeplechase. Fast forward to the 1970s, Ron and Shirley’s daughter, Lorraine, began making her mark as a race walker, ultimately representing Australia at the 1987 World Athletic Championships in Rome.

The popular Tidal River camping ground at Wilsons Promontory was where Shirley began running in January 1977. Aged 47, Shirley would walk down to the beach each day with towels for Lorraine at the completion of her gruelling interval workouts.

“Come on, Mum, run down to the end of the beach and back with me”, quipped Lorraine on one occasion.

“You know, Kevin” enthused Ron as we continued our chat, “That day changed her life”

“She’d always lacked confidence and was rather shy but she really grew as her running blossomed”, he explained.

As 1977 drew to a close, Shirley had developed into a regular and familiar competitor with both the Saint Stephens and Victorian Masters clubs and was enjoying a rapid curve of improvement. Not surprisingly, a marathon soon loomed in her sights. The inaugural Melbourne Marathon in 1978 was the definitive choice. 3hrs 51min and 31 seconds after the gun, Shirley crossed the line in her maiden marathon, aged 48. No one could possibly have known at the time, but the Melbourne event was to become synonymous with Shirley as she returned year after year.

Admiring her from a distance, I’ve vivid memories of the first time I spoke to Shirley. It was in 1984 after the now defunct 10km River Run and she was part of a small group jogging back to our cars at the start line. My immediate impression was of a quiet achiever with a very friendly and unassuming disposition.

While Shirley’s success at the 1987 World Masters Championships marathon propelled her name to new heights, it was her initial foray into the ultramarathon world that shook up the record books. Knocking out 63.425km at the 1990 Burwood six hour race, Shirley shattered the W60 world record in the most emphatic of fashions.

Over the next twelve years, Shirley’s achievements had record keeping officials around the world suffering substantial doses of writers’ cramp! [computers being in their infancy back then]. As a member of the AURA committee during that period, I can attest that the sorting of paperwork for Shirley’s record claims almost required the hiring of some outside help!!.

Affectionately known as “Nana” by her closest running friends, Shirley churned out quality ultra performances with amazing regularity. Personally, I got to share the track and road with her on more than the odd occasion, a fact for which I feel most privileged.

Bereft of ego and with absolutely no tickets on herself whatsoever, Shirley genuinely saw nothing special in what she did and could never understand the attention she received, a quality that gained her even greater respect and admiration among her peers.

“I let Ron look after any records”, was her typical deflection to the constant praise that came her way.

“I just love to run and I’m going to run a marathon when I’m 100”, she would laugh.

Shirley didn’t confine her talents to the ultra world. She continued to churn out standard length marathons as well as collecting numerous Australian titles over any distance from 1,500 metres to 10km. A significant highlight was her swag of medals at the 2001 World Masters Championships in Brisbane.

Shirley’s list of World and Australian records below is somewhat lengthy so perhaps it’s time to pause, make a cup of coffee and find a comfortable chair before digesting what follows.

WORLD AND AUSTRALIAN RECORDS

W60
1. Six hour track 63.425km 27-10-90 Burwood
2. 30 mile track 4:19:07 21-6-92 Burwood
3. 50km track 4:28:45 21-6-92 Burwood
4. 40 mile track 5:52:34 21-6-92 Burwood
5. 50 mile track 7:32:44 21-6-92 Burwood
W65
6. 30 mile track 4:27:49 29-7-95 Burwood
7. 40 mile track 6:11:35 29-7-95 Burwood
8. 50 mile track 7:55:08 29-7-95 Burwood
9. 50 mile road 8:16:56 15-9-96 Shepparton
10. 100km road 10:47:13 15-9-96 Shepparton
11. 12 hour road 100km 15-9-96 Shepparton
12. Six hour track 62.658km 21-8-99 Coburg
13. 50km track 4:36:49 28-11-99 Moe
W70
14. 100km road 10:59:08 3-3-00 Canberra
15. 12 hour road 100km 3-3-00 Canberra
16. 12 hour track 103.600km 8-4-00 Coburg
17. 100km track 11:30:56 8-4-00 Coburg
18. 100 mile track 20:39:17 8-4-00 Coburg
19. 24 hour track 176.810km 8-4-00 Coburg
20. 50km track 4:50:49 13-5-00 Burwood
21. 50 mile track 8:08:55 13-5-00 Burwood
22. Six hour track 60.992km 11-11-01 Coburg

AUSTRALIAN RECORDS

W65
1. 50km road. 4:46:54 5-5-98 Glengarry
2. 100km track 13:22:56 22-8-98 Coburg
3. 12 hour track 91.200km 22-8-98 Coburg
4. 100 mile track 23:30:29 22-8-98 Coburg
5. 24 hour track 162.300km 22-8-98 Coburg
W75
6. Six hour track 49.324km 16-4-05 Coburg
7. 50km track 5:55:50 15-10-05 Adelaide
8. Six hour track 50.540km 15-10-05 Adelaide
9. 50km track 5:47:43 6-11-05 Moe
10. Six hour track 51.707km 6-11-05 Moe

Shirley also found time to take out three open National 100km Championships [1996, 2000 and 2002]

Midway through 2002, misfortune struck as Shirley was diagnosed with the early stages of Alzheimers, a situation that substantially curtailed her record breaking spree.

“It basically reduced her from a record breaking machine to someone going through the motions for her own well being”, explained Ron

Regardless, Shirley continued her unbroken streak at the Melbourne Marathon and in 2007 became the only female among the 13 individuals to finish all 30 editions of the race. Amazingly, she did this barely eight weeks after breaking two ribs in a fall. Her attempt at finish number 31 in 2008 came to an end at 33km when she cramped in her hamstrings. In all, Shirley ran 72 standard length marathons in and around her ultra career.

Ron was most emphatic, “If I could have got to her soon enough in 2008 to massage her legs, I’m sure she’d have made it, but you’ve got to respect the medical people as they have a job to do”

Ultimately, the 2008 Melbourne Marathon proved to be Shirley’s final run with the Adelaide six hour event in 2005 bringing down the curtain on her ultra career.

Looking over Shirley’s impressive CV, Ron was in no doubt when I asked if any one performance stood out.

“The 2000 Coburg 24 hour was clearly her signature performance. In fact, Andy Milroy [international ultra statistician] was firm in his conviction that he would never see another 70 year old woman do something like that in his lifetime” beamed Ron with understandable pride as I nodded in agreement.

“I also reckon her 7:32:44 50 miler back in 1992 was pretty well up there too”

Meeting Gary Parsons for the first time at the sad occasion of Bryan Smith’s funeral in 2001, Shirley was flattered to learn that Gary would think of Shirley every time he had to dig deep during his 19,000km run around Australia.

“She never forgot that”, grinned Ron. “It really was the ultimate compliment”

Having known Shirley and Ron for a lengthy period, one thing that stands above all is their life long devotion to each other. It truly is one of the great love stories.

Now aged 83, Shirley has resided at the Anglican aged care centre in the Melbourne suburb of Box Hill for some time now and has spent the more recent months confined to a wheelchair. Ron spends most part of each day there.

Climbing into my car, Ron bid me goodbye with his usual enthusiasm, positive outlook and upbeat manner. He always sees the glass as being half full.

As for Shirley’s plan to run a marathon at 100, don’t write it off just yet.

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AUTRA News Report 19-02-2025

By Kate Dzienis • February 19, 2025

The latest in race results, covering Cradle Mountain Run, City Run, Oscars 100 Hut 2 Hut and Yaberoo Trail Ultra.

Final 2024 Points Competition Results

By Alexis Oosterhoff • January 30, 2025

Results for the 2024 AUTRA Points Competition have been finalised, and are available on our Points Competition page. Full details of the top 10 (as shared on Facebook during January) are detailed below, and results for all participating AUTRA members can be found in the documents at the above link. It was a real battle throughout the year between our top two finishers, Phil Gore & Kevin "BK" Matthews, with both giving it their it their all at events, and through contributions to the community - volunteering at multiple events, and submitting articles to our monthly newsletter, Ultramag. They finished within 2km of total distance for the year (Phil on 1203.087km, and Kevin on 1205.510km), and it was only Phil's final volunteering effort on 6 Inch Trail Marathon in December that gave him the that very narrow victory. As you'd be aware from previous communications, this marks the end of the Points Competition. With trail running (of all distances) now incorporated into AU T RA's constitution, and after careful consideration of the costs of the competition payouts in it's current form, the committee felt it was time for it's retirement. This marks my seventh and final year of delivering the points competition to membership (2018-2024), after taking on the role from Cheryl Symons. It has brought me great joy in doing so, and I feel like I've had an opportunity to get to know so many of our members through seeing their race (and volunteering) performances over the years! I'm continuing in my role as the AUS/NZL statistician for DUV (from whom we shared the data for the points comp), and you can expect to continue to find your ultra-race result on their site. 1st Place - Phil Gore (WA) - 86 points Phil's achievements this year have included a massive 265.653km (and 2nd place) at the IAU 24h Asia & Oceania Championships, wins at the Red Dirt Backyard Ultra (33 laps), the Australian leg of Big Dog's Backyard World Team Championship (96 laps), and the Soochow/Taipei 24h Ultramarathon (270.826km). He also knocked out an easy (!) 72km at the Light Horse Ultra 24h in between supporting his amazing wife Gemma. Those two 24h wins netted Phil new Oceania 24h Open Male records, IAU Level 1 qualifiers, and pushed him to the top of Australia's 24h trophy board (with only the great Yiannis Kouros having run further). Phil topped-up his points by contributing one article to Ultramag, worked as an Event Director at Herdy's Frontyard Ultra, and volunteered at a further five events through the year. He finished on 86 points. 2nd Place - Kevin Matthews (WA) - 84 points Finishing in 2nd place in the AUTRA 2024 Points Competition is WA's Kevin Matthews. He monstered his way through the year with finishes at Australia Day Ultra 100km, Delirious WEST 200mi, 24 laps at Herdy's Frontyard Ultra, 190km at Light Horse Ultra 24h, 23 laps at Birdy's Backyard Ultra, and also completed Feral Pig 100 miler, Sandman 50km and Six Inch 47km. And to top things off, he contributed five articles to Ultramag, and volunteered at five events. BK ran 1205km in Ultramarathon races this year, all of them AUTRA-listed, and surpassed 100 marathon finishes (including 51 Ultramarathons!) Kevin finished the year on 84 points, a massive 34 points ahead of our 3rd place finisher Sue Robertson. 3rd Place - Sue Robertson (WA) - 50 points Finishing in 3rd place in the AUTRA 2024 Points Competition is WA's Sue Robertson. Sue completed the Ultra Series 100 miler trilogy of Delirious WEST, Irrational SOUTH and Unreasonable EAST, and rounded out her year with the Sandman 50km and Six Inch 47km races. She received 30 points from the racing at AUTRA-listed events, and was awarded a further 20 points by volunteering across eight events and contributing two articles to Ultramag, for a total of 50 points for the year. Thank you Sue! 4th Place - Margie Hadley (WA) - 47 points Finishing in 4th place in the AUTRA 2024 Points Competition is WA's Margie Hadley . She was the top-female finisher at both the No Time to Die Frontyard Ultra & Wild Dog Backyard Ultra, 2nd at Birdy's Backyard Ultra, ran 182km at the Australian 24h Track Invitational and placed 3rd at Coast to Kosci. Margie received 47 points in the competition 5th Place - Melissa Robertson (NSW) - 44 points Finishing in 5th place in the AUTRA 2024 Points Competition is NSW's Melissa Robertson. Melissa took out 1st place at Irrational SOUTH 200 miler, 2nd place at Lakes Trail Festival 100km, 1st place at Hume & Hovell 100 miler, 3rd place at Rumble in the Jungle and 6th place at Ultra-Trail Kosciuszko 100 miler! She also volunteered at the GNW 50km event, receiving 44 points in the competition! 6th Place - Aaron Young (WA) - 42 points Finishing in 6th place in the AUTRA 2024 Points Competition is WA's Aaron Young . Aaron finished in 1st place at each of the Ultra Series "Triple Crown" of 200 milers (Delirious WEST, Irrational SOUTH and Unreasonable EAST), 55 laps at Big Dog's Backyard World Team Championship, and rounded his year out with Feral Pig 100 miler. Aaron receives 42 points, just nudging ahead of Maree Connor (who also finished on 42 points) on a count-back 7th Place - Maree Connor (NSW) - 42 points Finishing in 7th place in the AUTRA 2024 Points Competition is NSW's Maree Connor. Maree had an outstanding year, achieving 2nd place with 221km (and an IAU Level 1 qualifier) at the IAU 24th Asian and Oceania Championships, 1st place at the Lakes Trail Festival 100km, 1st place with 67km at the Southern Sydney 6h race, and 1st place with 116km at the Narrabeen Allnighter 12h. Maree also competed at Spartathlon race this year (for which she contributed an article to the September Ultramag on her experience), receiving 42 points in the competition. 8th Place - Darren Linney (SA) - 41 points Finishing in 8th place in the AUTRA 2024 Points Competition is SA's Darren Linney . Darren completed 34 laps at No Time to Die BYU, 199km at the Adelaide 24h race, and 814km at the Australian 6 Day race, for a total of 1241km raced and 41 points . 9th Place - Tristan Cameron (WA) - 40 points Finishing in 9th place in the AUTRA 2024 Points Competition is WA's Tristan Cameron. Tristan completed the Ultra Series Triple Crown of 200 mile races (Delirious WEST, Irrational SOUTH and Unreasonable EAST), along with Feral Pig 100 miler, for a total of 1154km raced and 40 points. 10th Place - Jen Millum (WA) - 39 points Finishing in 10th place in the AUTRA 2024 Points Competition is WA's Jen Millum . Jen finished 1st at all three of the Ultra Series Trilogy of 100 milers (Delirious WEST, Irrational SOUTH and Unreasonable EAST), and was 2nd female with 35 laps at the Wild Dog Backyard Ultra. With a volunteer stint at the Yaberoo Trail Ultra, Jen finished the year with 39 points in the competition. To view the complete list of members who secured points in 2024 click here and then follow through to Points Summary under the 2024 tab. All winners have already been contacted, with cash prizes distributed for 1st - 7th places, and AUTRA Store vouchers sent for 8th, 9th & 10th.