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On Father’s Day weekend, while many dads were enjoying a leisurely breakfast in bed, Hawkesbury local Jeff Ferrara was grinding his way up and down the Blue Mountains, tackling the infamous Six Foot Track Marathon.
For Jeff, running isn’t just exercise — it’s his way of chasing all three “types of fun.”
Type 1 Fun: The Joy of the Run
There are moments when Jeff is out on the trail, the sun just rising, his lungs filling with cool mountain air, and every step feels light. “That’s the pure fun,” he says, “the kind that makes you smile while you’re doing it.”
For Jeff, Type 1 Fun is the freedom of the run itself. It’s the camaraderie of sharing the trail with other runners. It’s the feeling of moving through the bush, alive and present.
Type 2 Fun: The Hard Miles
But the Six Foot Track isn’t easy. It’s 45 gruelling kilometres from Katoomba to Jenolan Caves, full of climbs, descents, and the kind of punishing terrain that tests the body and mind.
“There are stretches where it’s just suffering,” Jeff admits. “You’re tired, you’re sore, and you’re wondering why you signed up. That’s when it’s Type 2 Fun. You hate it in the moment — but when you look back, you’re proud you pushed through.”
And proud he should be: crossing the finish line after hours of sweat and strain, Jeff joined the small band of locals who can say they’ve conquered one of Australia’s toughest trail marathons.
Type 3 Fun: Where the Risk Lies
Every runner knows there’s a line between challenge and disaster. Type 3 Fun is the kind nobody wants — the injury, the collapse, the story you’d rather forget. Jeff trains hard to avoid that zone, balancing passion with preparation.
“You’ve got to respect the trail,” he says. “Push yourself, but not so far you can’t come back.”
The Best Finish Line of All
This Father’s Day, the run ended with something even sweeter than a medal. As Jeff crossed the line at Jenolan Caves, exhausted but elated, his two-year-old daughter Thea ran into his arms.
“That moment was everything,” Jeff says, smiling. “I’d been out there for hours, but all I could see was her face at the end. That’s the kind of fun that makes it all worthwhile.”
More Than Miles
For Jeff Ferrara, running marathons is about more than times and distances. It’s about testing limits, embracing the struggle, and finding joy on the other side.
It’s about showing his daughter that life’s best rewards often come after the hardest climbs.
And on Father’s Day, at the finish line of one of Australia’s toughest marathons, Jeff found the perfect mix of Type 1 joy, Type 2 pride, and the purest fun of all — being a dad.
