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Gruelling 100km ultra-trail run for charity in Stirling Range National Park for Albany-raised personal trainer

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Cameron NewboldAlbany Advertiser
Nat Bakker at Mt Trio, preparing for his ultra-trail run.
Camera IconNat Bakker at Mt Trio, preparing for his ultra-trail run.

Inspired by his love of fitness and a determination to help get cleaner water for the people of Pakistan, Albany-raised personal trainer Nat Bakker will embark on a gruelling 100km ultra-trail run in the Stirling Range National Park on Sunday.

Bakker, 25, aims to run up and down the six major peaks in the Stirling Range inside a 24-hour period on April 25.

His quest will begin at the base of Bluff Knoll in the early hours of the morning before he runs to Mt Trio and scales that summit.

If all goes well, he will repeat the feat at Mt Toolbrunup, Mt Magog, Mt Talyuberlup and Mt Hassell — with the six peaks giving a total elevation of about 5000m.

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After extensive cardio sessions and trail-running in the lead-up to this weekend, he is confident he can achieve his goal. “Initially I was telling myself I could never do this and that’s when I thought ‘Why not have a go?’,” he said.

“To my knowledge, no one has run to them all and done them all in one day.

“I’ve been training flat-out — weights a couple of times a week plus 60-90 minutes cardio in the gym and then a 40-60km trail run every weekend, so I’ve been racking up the kilometres.”

Nat Bakker in the Stirling Range National Park.
Camera IconNat Bakker in the Stirling Range National Park.

Bakker’s parents live and work in Pakistan.

On a trip there in 2017, he was shocked to see poverty in the country first-hand.

“I was taken aback by the poverty and living standards when I was there and decided to do this run and raise some money to help improve the water quality,” Bakker said.

He has a set a fundraising goal of $5000 for Anglican Aid’s Waterworks program.

To make a donation to the cause, visit bit.ly/2OUih5t.

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