Podiatrist Ryan’s amazing ultramarathon ‘feet’
STARS podiatrist Ryan has recently won the Ikara Ultramarathon event.
STARS Senior Podiatrist Ryan Bonnefin knows a thing or two about feet, which has put him in good stead for one of his chosen sports, ultramarathons.
Ryan was recently the overall winner in the 100km Ikara Ultra which takes places along the iconic Heysen Trail in the Finders Ranges in South Australia. He finished the gruelling 100 km event in an amazing 13 hours 33 minutes.
“I wasn’t really a long-distance runner previously. I always liked running in the wilderness and wanted to do something with my friends. The length of the ultra was not really what I was drawn to,” said Ryan.
“When I entered my first ultra, the West Macs Monster on the Larapinta Trail, the longest run I had competed in was only 20km.
“It has been really gratifying knowing that my body can run the 100 kilometres.
“I’ve now competed in seven ultras. In the lead up to an event, I train about 10-15 hours a week.”
Ryan also enjoys other outdoor pursuits including outdoor climbing and mountain-biking.
Being a podiatrist has certainly given Ryan an advantage when it comes to looking after his feet while running long distances.
“I have a few tips for runners – make sure your shoe fits properly and they are suitable for the terrain you will be running on,” said Ryan.
“The right socks are important, a wool and synthetic blend is ideal to reduce friction or you can even get toe socks, where each toe has a separate compartment, like a glove. When a cotton sock gets moist with sweat, for example, it is quite abrasive and can cause problems with blisters and calluses.”
Ryan has been a more recent addition to the STARS team, joining in September 2024. Before coming to STARS, Ryan worked in public health at Alice Spring for eight years, followed by a stint on Thursday Island.
“I had a great deal of job satisfaction working in Alice Springs as I saw a lot of complex cases. As it was a reasonably small health service, it also meant I worked closely with other health professionals such as endocrinologists and surgeons.”
After working in remote Australia, Ryan decided a change was in order and moved to Brisbane and STARS.
“Working in the rehabilitation space has been a really interesting career change. My work at STARS involves working with patients following an amputation and also pressure injury cases and diabetic wound management,” he said.
“As our work is mostly with our hands, it frees us up to talk to people. You get to know patients well and you can chat to them about things that are meaningful to them.
“Healthy feet are very important to a person’s overall health, affecting their balance, posture and overall mobility and independence. It is rewarding knowing that my work as a podiatrist can have such a positive impact on a patient’s life.”