This Saturday, Parkes Running Group founder Sarah Hartin is putting herself to the test. She'll run more than 120km through Goobang National Park, from its southernmost to its northernmost tip. Sarah said the aim of Project Goobang is to put Goobang National Park on the map, and instill a sense of curiosity in the Parkes community to inspire them to get out there and explore their own backyard. "Our community benefits from this project by gaining awareness of Goobang National Park's natural beauty and recreational opportunities, encouraging people who have never visited to explore its hidden trails and enjoy local gems like Lake Endeavour, fostering an active and healthy community," Sarah said. "It fosters a sense of curiosity, adventure, and a deeper connection with the nature in our own backyard, and as a result showcases what our region has to offer." Evolution Mining and local Parkes businesses have backed Sarah's project and she has been able to engage an accomplished media team who will be documenting the entire journey including all the breathtaking scenery and the physical and mental challenges along the way while Sarah pushes beyond her limits. "Project Goobang started after a conversation with my running coach earlier this year, right after I completed my first 100km trail running event in New Zealand," Sarah said. "He suggested, ‘why not create your own challenge – something that’s personal to you, with the people you want, done your way?’ The moment he said that, I knew exactly what I wanted to do: run through Goobang National Park." Goobang National Park is one of Sarah's favourite places, she has spent countless hours exploring the trails. "What continues to surprise me is that so many locals have never been there," she said. "That realisation was a big part of why Project Goobang came to life – I wanted to encourage others to discover this beautiful, untouched area." Sarah's love for running started when she was a kid where she ran for fitness and found joy in the simplicity of movement. Her long-distance running journey began in 2020 when she completed her first half marathon only 16 months after her first daughter was born. "I quickly fell in love with the endurance aspect of running—the way it offers space and reflection through active movement, but also the places it allowed me to explore, and the connections I made along the way," she said. It was after this she discovered trail running which quickly became her true passion. Sarah won her first trail race this year and finished in the top 10 of her first international 100km race. "Each race leaves me asking, “What’s next? What am I capable of?” I’m always searching for the next challenge, constantly pushing my limits," Sarah said. "One of my recent joys has been establishing the Parkes Running Group (PRG)—a supportive, inspiring group of locals I’m lucky enough to train with every week. The PRG crew is a huge part of Project Goobang; they’ll not only be running segments of the project with me from the early hours of the morning to late into the night but also crewing and assisting at every aid station. "A special milestone in my running journey was in 2015, when I participated in “The Ultimate Wingman,” (the ultimate wingman, being my brothers best friend) a charity run to Sydney to raise funds for muscular dystrophy—a cause close to my heart as my brother was diagnosed with the condition." When asking Sarah why Goobang National Park her response was "why not?". "It’s right in our backyard—vast, beautiful, and untouched, with so much to offer. There’s no need to travel far when we have this incredible patch of nature so close," she said. "Every segment of the park offers a totally different experience; from low lying dense creek filled segments to arid red dirt landscapes covered with xanhorrhoea grass trees." Sarah said Goobang National Park and Lake Endeavour gives us the perfect opportunity to step outside, disconnect from the busyness of life, and fully immerse ourselves in the outdoors without leaving our region. Sarah has been training for this massive feat by base building and getting weekly mileage to build a strong aerobic base. She has also been doing different run training such as hill sessions, speed sessions, and ample time of trails to get a mix of elevation but also to practice running technical terrain. "Running has consistently pushed me out of my comfort zone, teaching me resilience, the value of discomfort, and that nothing worthwhile comes easy," Sarah said. "It’s not the act of running itself I love, but where it takes me, the people it brings into my life, and the lifestyle it fosters. It’s become as routine as brushing my teeth, something that always gets done, but it’s about much more than just movement." The over 120km run includes six segments of Goobang National Park. "I've made sure to run every segment of Project Goobang's course separately, so I'm well prepared for all the different segments and directions of the course," Sarah said. Through Project Goobang, Sarah wants people to 'get out there'. "I want to inspire our community to get outdoors and explore the incredible natural beauty that's right at our back door, that being Goobang National Park and our local Lake Endeavour." Sarah hopes to show people that the park has so much to offer and that it is possible to step out of your comfort zone and take on challenges that may seem daunting at first. "Personally, I'm pushing my limits with the longest run I've ever attempted, and I want others to feel motivated to pursue their own goals, whatever they may be, to unlock untapped potential. "I'd love to see more people connecting with nature, being active, and exploring what's right here in our region; movement through nature," Sarah added. If you are interested in following along the Project Goobang journey, make sure to follow Project Goobang on Instagram. "I want to express my deepest gratitude to Evolution Mining, Central West Funerals, Central West Fluid Power, Parkes Running Group, Goodsell Group, Bella’s Italian Restaurant, Goodsell Machinery and Kerin Health for supporting Project Goobang to make the project come to life. "My sincere thanks to the crew members of Parkes Running Group for their invaluable support in making Project Goobang possible. The physical execution of this project simply would not be possible without their dedication and commitment," Sarah added. Project Goobang's funding goals have not yet been reached so if you are a local business interested in supporting this exciting venture make sure to get in touch with Sarah via the Project Goobang page.
