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‘You don’t know what you’re in for’ – Ben Duffus and Kellie Emmerson have forgotten the pain of running an ultra, but will soon learn

Two top ultra runners have set their sights on the 9 Dragons in Hong Kong after months recovering from injury and 170km at minus 10 degrees respectively

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Ben Duffus is running his first ultra marathon in over a year. Photos: Lloyd Belcher

Experience running an ultra marathon can be a hindrance when knowing what is coming adds to the nerves.

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But Australian ultra runner Ben Duffus has been out with an injury for so long, he has almost forgotten what running 50 kilometres is like.

On Sunday, he will take on the 9 Dragons 50km race in Hong Kong – his first ultra marathon in over a year after suffering a bulged disk in his back.

“[When you’ve been injured] you haven’t experienced it in a while so you are sort of back to being a beginner when ignorance is bliss and you don’t know what you’re in for,” Duffus said.

But on the other hand, he is hungry to get back on the trails, he said.

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The 9 Dragons is a two-day race. On Saturday, runners take on 50 miles (80km) and on Sunday they race again on a 50km route. They can do both, or one race.

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