Ben Duffus has an abundance of running experience. After twice representing Australia as a junior at the World Mountain Running Championships, he initially struggled to turn his potential into ultramarathon results. After starting to work with Mile27 in 2012, he reaped the benefits of race-specific training and finished 7th at the prestigious Ultra Trail Australia (then TNF100) in 2013. From there, steady improvement has led to many amazing experiences around the globe through running, such as a bronze medal at the 2014 Skyrunning World Championships.
With a background in scientific research, Ben values evidence based and up-to-date training methods, but as an athlete also understands the importance of a personalised approached. His passion for chasing for audacious goals overflows to his peers and he is dedicated to assisting other runners as a Mile 27 coach. While Ben is fascinated by, and continues to expand his knowledge about, the physiological side of running, he recognises that the psychologic side is of (at least) equal importance. Hence Ben strives to find out what drives his clients, in order to help them become the best that they can be.
QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelor of Science (Physics Major, Honours Class I), University of Queensland
Master of Education (Sports Coaching), University of Sydney
Level 3 Middle and Long Distance Coach, Athletics Australia
Level 1 Strength and Conditioning Coach, ASCA
Certificate IV Fitness, Fit Dimension Education
Certificate III Fitness, Fit Dimension Education
Certificate of Applied Functional Science, Gray Institute
ATHLETIC BACKGROUND
Ben fell in love with long distance running as a teenager running cross-country and this love spilled over into the mountains. Although he is most focused on ultramarathons lasting several hours or more, he continues to enjoy shorter races as well and is a two-time Australian Mountain Running Champion. He uses running as a means of exploration and some of his results around the world include:
• 1st Australian Mountain Running Championships 2019
• 1st Guzzler 50km (Australia) 2019
• 1st UTA22 (Australia) 2019
• 1st Blackall 50km (Australia) 2018
• 1st Australian Mountain Running Championships 2018
• 2nd UTA100 (Australia) 2018
• 3rd 9 Dragons 50km (Hong Kong) 2018
• 3rd Nantaux VK (France) 2017
• 2nd UTA100 (Australia) 2016
• 1st Hounslow Classic Ultra (Australia) 2015
• 3rd Skyrunning World Championships (France) 2014
• 1st Shotover Moonlight Mountain Marathon (New Zealand) 2014
• 1st Surf Coast Century (Australia) 2013