From Adelaide Harriers to Ballarat: Shaun Fitch’s Marathon Journey

At One Running, we’re fascinated by the process behind strong marathon performances, the consistency, discipline, and resilience that goes into months of preparation long before race day arrives. Marathon training has a way of exposing both the highs and the hard moments of the sport, and there’s always something valuable in hearing how experienced runners approach the challenge.

Heading into the Ballarat Marathon, Shaun Fitch was coming off another strong training block with a clear goal in mind: breaking the 2:30 barrier. From balancing high-volume weeks with the Adelaide Harriers crew to building back carefully from injury, Shaun’s approach reflects years of steady progression and commitment to the marathon.

Following race day, Shaun crossed the line in 2:34:53 to finish 35th overall after a gutsy effort on what turned into a challenging day. Going through halfway in 1:14:29, he was right on pace and well in the hunt for his sub-2:30 goal. Shaun settled into a strong pack early, which included Olympian Ellie Pashley, and the group worked well together through the opening stages of the race.

But as the second lap of the two-lap course unfolded, the conditions began to shift. The combination of rising temperatures and persistent wind started to take its toll, and runners throughout the field began dropping off pace. Despite the difficult back half, Shaun continued to fight all the way to the finish, digging deep to hold things together when the race became less about splits and more about resilience. While it wasn’t quite the time he was chasing, it was still a performance that showed both courage and determination against tough conditions.

Here’s Shaun’s story in his own words:

When did you start running and what got you into running?
I started running in early 2016 mainly for my health. When I started working in an office in my early twenties I got pretty overweight, running was one of the ways that I addressed that. From there the obsession was born.

What’s a standard training week for you? What’s your favourite session/workout?

During a marathon build:

Monday
AM: 70 min easy
PM: 40 min easy

Tuesday
AM: 40 min easy
PM: Workout (8x1km or similar)

Wednesday
AM: 90 min easy
PM: Gym

Thursday
AM: 70 min easy
PM: 40 min easy

Friday
AM: Marathon workout, usually around 20km of work (e.g. 4x5km)

Saturday
AM: 70 min easy

Sunday
AM: Long run - 2.5 hours

Tuesday workouts are always a highlight. It’s great to get out with my club, the Adelaide Harriers, and train with the group. The same goes for the Sunday long run - it’s a great way to start the day with the group and get it done.

What made you choose Ballarat Marathon?
There were a couple of reasons:

1. I’ve had friends run the event the last couple of years and everyone I’ve spoken to has recommended it.

2. When I was recovering from an injury through the end of last year, I wanted a race to work towards that wasn’t going to rush my return and the timing of Ballarat really helped with that.

3. Being early in the year, it gives me an opportunity to run a second marathon later in the year.

What are you aiming for? And what is the race plan?
A sub-2:30 marathon is the current goal. I’m hoping there’ll be a decent pack to work with and the aim will just be to settle into a rhythm and tick off the k’s.

What’s your fondest running memory?
That’s a tough one. Probably running 2:38:00 at Gold Coast in 2022. At the time it was a 15-minute PB and gave me a lot of confidence to keep working and improving.

What’s been your favourite race to date and why?
Probably Gold Coast 2024… sensing a theme? My current marathon PB is from that race and it was just a really good training block. I felt like it was a good reward for the effort.

What are your current PB’s?

• 5km - 15:47

• 10km - 33:39

• Half Marathon - 1:11:22

• Marathon - 2:31:33