DISCOVER OUR IMPACT: MARCUS STAKER, WSER ‘26
How did you get into running, and what does it mean to you?
I got into trail running in 2017 after making a fairly impulsive decision to enter a race I wasn’t prepared for. Up until then, I’d been doing shorter road runs and some triathlons, and assumed it would be a similar kind of challenge. It wasn’t. I was completely out of my depth, but I loved it immediately.
There was something about being out on the trails, navigating technical descents on the fly and pushing through long climbs, that stuck with me. It was demanding in a way that felt both physical and mental, and I was hooked.
Since then, trail running has become an essential part of my life. It gives me structure, long-term goals and a way to reset outside of work and family. Just as importantly, it’s introduced me to a genuinely supportive community of people who show up for each other as pacers, crew, competitors and friends. It’s something that’s hard to fully understand until you’re part of it.
What challenges have made it hard to pursue trail running?
The biggest challenge has been balancing training and racing with everyday life. I’m a full-time accountant and a father of two school-aged boys, both with busy schedules of their own, so fitting in the volume required for trail running takes careful planning and a fair bit of compromise.
Being based in Adelaide also adds another layer. Many of the races I aspire to are overseas, which brings significant cost and logistical complexity. On top of that, we don’t have access to the kind of mountainous terrain these races demand, so my coach and I have had to be creative in how we prepare.
Even getting to the start line of a race like Western States is a major undertaking before the race itself even begins.
What did the STRIDE grant allow you to do that you otherwise couldn’t?
The STRIDE grant made Western States genuinely possible. Not just in a bare-minimum sense, but in a way that allowed me to approach it properly.
Before receiving the grant, I was focused on simply finding a way to get there on my own. The support from STRIDE removed a significant amount of financial pressure and allowed me to plan the trip with the level of preparation the race deserves.
Most importantly, it made it possible for my family to come with me. My wife and our two boys have been part of this journey from the beginning, and having them there to experience Western States alongside me means a great deal. It turns what could have been a solo pursuit into something we will share as a family.
What would have happened without it?
Without the STRIDE grant, there was a very real chance I wouldn’t have made it to the start line of Western States.
I had already made significant trade-offs to prioritise Western States, including turning down an elite direct entry to UTMB because I knew I couldn’t commit to both. Even so, the cost of travelling from Australia to California remained a major barrier.
At best, I may have managed to attend alone. At worst, I may not have gone at all.
STRIDE removed that uncertainty. It made the opportunity achievable and, just as importantly, made it possible to share the experience with the people who’ve supported me every step of the way.
STRIDE is proud to support Marcus at the 2026 Western States Endurance Run. We look forward to making this an exceptional opportunity for Marcus and his family. And we look forward to welcoming Marcus and his family into ours.