Rookie Ambassadors
Prior to 2025, each year we appointed a ‘Rookie Ambassador’ who is lining up for their first ultra marathon at the Surf Coast Century.
2 Surf Coast Century Rookie Ambassadors were appointed for 2024:
- 100KM Rookie – a 100km first-time participant – Caroline Overbeek
- 50KM Rookie – NEW – a 50km first time participant – Matt Drysdale
After receiving a number of very inspiring applications for the program, and as communicated to all our applicants – it’s always (yes always!) a very tough decision. After careful consideration of our key criteria and the applicants own personal story of why/who/how, it is Caroline and Matt who we can’t wait to learn more about and to follow their journey to the 2024 Surf Coast Century.
2024 ROOKIE AMBASSADORS
Click Here to jump to 2024 ‘in full’ journey of Caroline and Matt…
2016 – 2023 ROOKIE AMBASSADOR JOURNEYS
Here we highlight the journey and commitment that first time runners also make to the event so we can share and learn from their journey as well – we call them our Rookie Ambassador and their journey is always super inspiring as they learn their way to the start (and finish) line.
2023: Our Rookie Ambassador was Jarrod Bloomfield aka. ‘J Bomb‘. He’s a regular 38 year old guy who realised be needed to make some changes to his life and running 100km is part of them. Read his PDF biography here OR video intro here and watch an update from June here
2022: Our rookie Amabassdor was Daniela Ruffato. Why does Daniela want to run 100km? She says “why not?”. Read about Daniela’s journey HERE in her monthly updates here: March, April, May, June, July, August.
2021: Our 2021 Rookie Ambassador was Rapid Ascent’s very own Annie Knight (pictured right)! Annie was the expert behind the info@ email and the athlete registration manager for all competitors. CLICK HERE is her Q&A, and keep reading her monthly updates here: June, July, September.
2020: Our 2020 Rookie Ambassador was Sean Purcell – a Torquay local with an IMPRESSIVE story. Read his Q&A HERE or listen to a podcast we recorded with Sean HERE.
2019: In 2019 former world champion endurance mountain biker Jess Douglas was our rookie ambassador. She had plenty of experience racing long bike events but had never run – until now. Relive her progress here: Q&A with Jess, “In 3 months time” , my year as a trail runner.
2018: In 2018 we were lucky to have Leonie Waldron from the Blue Mountains as our Rookie Ambassador. She had never been to the Surf Coast before and was far more accustomed to running in the mountains than on the beach. Relive her progress here: Hi, I’m Leonie / May/ June / July / August / September / Race report – I did it!!
2017: In 2017, we appointed Emmeline Fisher as she stepped up from a background in road marathons to the full 100km on the trails! About me; April; May; June; July; August; September; you can also follow Em via her instagram account @funrun75
2016: In 2016 we appointed Julie Savage as our Rookie Ambassador and followed her progress to the 100km finish line, here is an archive of Julie’s posts: About me / January/ February/ March / April / May / VIDEO: Leg 1 and 2 / June/ VIDEO: The Forgotten Hill / July / VIDEO: Leg 4 / August #1 / August #2 / Post race blog – I did it!!
2024 ROOKIES – Caroline and Matt
POST 1: INTRODUCING CAROLINE AND MATT:
Here’s a little more about our Ambassadors – CLICK HERE TO READ >>
Caroline at the Trail Running Series in Anglesea. Matt Drysdale ready to roll…
POST 2: TRAINING UPDATE – MAY
Caroline recently ran the 50km at UTMB, again as a first time “longer than a marathon” distance (see pics below). And Matt’s been rolling around the Peninsula.
- Check out Caroline’s pics – lots of running and snoozing!
- Click Here to see and read Matt’s latest training run updates on his Facebook Page.
POST 3: MAY – CAROLINE’S Twelve Days of Christmas, Part A
“Hi everyone, I was planning on singing my Part A report but I chickened out. Some would rightly say that in doing so, I did you all a community service. So please read/sing my Part A report below to the tune of the Twelve Days of Christmas (if you know it)…”
Click Here to Read/Sing >> with Caroline about her latest training and racing adventures (pics too!)
…
POST 4: MAY – Matt tweaks an ankle
“I’ve been building my base pretty well, working up to a 40km on the two bays trail a few weeks ago. Had a slight hiccup on Sundays run rolling my ankle but should be back on my feet in 2-3 weeks. The new shoes (La Sportiva – thank you!) are great! Strength and bike training for me until I can hit the trails again…” – Matt
POST 5: JUNE – Carolines event adventures and battle of blisters
“Me and this thang called trail running…
If I don’t put down the money/run with someone, my run simply doesn’t happen. I lack the discipline to run solo, as I am, at heart, a social runner. And I am okay with that as social running (like the Trail Running Series for me), has led to an exponential increase in my enjoyment factor (and changed my life really). This, in turn, has led to greater courage and capacity to undertake harder and longer events but still in my characteristic, slow burner, style.”
READ FULL JUNE REPORT HERE (including Blister Discussion) >>
POST 6: JUNE – Matt’s rehab and back to running…
“Less than 100 days to go now and I’m so excited. Oh and a massive shout out to La Sportiva for my new shoes!!”
POST 6: JULY – Carolines happy places and a blister quest…
Check out me in my happy place in the Dandenong Ranges (can you guess where it is?), with very happy feet. Absolutely loving my La Sportiva Prodigios – their responsiveness, traction and cushioning.
My ‘bugger off blisters’ quest is going well too.Check out my latest runs and updates HERE >>
POST 7: JULY – Matt tests out the Skratch Labs and La Sportiva Shoes
“The Skratch labs pineapple mix is the bomb and I ate all of the chews before I could go and test them!”
Read Matt’s full account for July HERE >>
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POST 8: August- Carolines preps for Run Larapinta
Caroline’s adventures this month included multi-day running, event volunteering, night running practice, water crossing practice (ba ha ha ha ha – the video footage reveals all)
Plus Caroline preps for Run Larapinta – how’s her layout?!
Read Caroline’s poem for August HERE >>
POST 9: AUGUST – Matt meets fellow SCC100 alumnae
Had a great experience on my long run over the weekend, meeting and running for a bit with 3 legends who are in training for the SC100. I also learnt some interesting Olympic facts along the way!
POST 10: SEPTEMBER – THE LEAD UP WEEK!!!
It’s the lead up week, so we caught a few words from both Matt (50km) and Caroline (100km) as they begin the final countdown to race day!
POST 11: THEY DID IT!!!
A post-event reflection from both Matt (50km) and Caroline (100km) on their event journey at the 2024 Surf Coast Century. AMAZING!!!
Ask the Experts
The Running Man: David is the man behind ‘The Running Man’ website, providing training programs and advice for runners. He has also written some great training programs and training tips that are available for FREE from the First Timers page
David is happy to share his knowledge and expertise with anyone considering the Surf Coast Century and are an INCREDIBLE RESOURCE for runners and are honestly available for you to contact with your questions.
They can also provide customised training programs and techniques to improve your running even further but these additional services may be for a paid fee. Email: [email protected]