Normal People Would Drive

A team of middle-aged women, who have never considered themselves athletes, head to the remote Australian outback to test their physical and mental limits in a desert ultramarathon. Back-of-pack endurance athlete, Cath, has found training for and taking part in ultramarathons to be life-changing. Wanting others to share this transformative experience, she decides to recruit a team of ‘unlikely adventurers’ from around Australia to train and compete in a desert ultramarathon. Eighteen women join team ‘Normal People Would Drive’, united by their desire to challenge their own belief that they are not ‘athletes.’ They head to the Simpson Desert Ultra, a new trail running ultramarathon in the remote Australian outback town of Birdsville, created by local resident Jenna. Against the backdrop of red dunes, gibber plains, starry nights and endless swarms of flies, the women head out to challenge their bodies, and their perception of what they can do. In this tough event, with heat, soft sand and no paths, there is no guarantee of a finish for even the most experienced. The team includes Taryn, who has been diagnosed with cone rod dystrophy, and is slowly going blind. There is successful small business owner, Kerrie, who has never prioritised her health, and found the idea that she could be an athlete to be laughable. Kana, a single mum of three who devoted herself to the needs of her children. But when they grew up her life purpose seemed gone, and she felt completely empty and worthless. And long-time sufferer of anxiety Kylie, who will need to battle crippling panic just to make it to the start. While the team event results are mixed, ultimately this is not a story about finishing. It is a story about choosing to be brave enough to start. And about stepping out of what society tells middle-aged women that they are, and what they can do or should do. It is about women supporting other women to achieve their goals. And the self-belief to be whatever they want to be.