Mel Cockshutt is one of the few that can as she prepares to embark on her fourth Greater Port Macquarie Treble Breakwall Buster at the Port Macquarie Running Festival on Sunday.

She was the first female to complete separate 21-kilometre, 10-kilometre and five-kilometre runs in the one day before it became an official thing to do.

"I did it a few years ago when I was training for Ironman and thought it was a novel idea and a bit of fun," Cockshutt said.

"Now I'm the only female on the honour board (to have completed the three events) so I must finish at all costs.

"I really feel very privileged although I'm a bit sad there are not more women out there running those distances, but it's gaining momentum."

Last year only 30 or 40 people took on the challenge of the three different runs in the one day; this year there will be around 200.

Cockshutt said there was a growing interest surrounding a running culture in Port Macquarie mainly due to the emergence of Park Run.

"I really love being in the community because running now is not just for serious runners, it's for the everyday person," she said.

"I love seeing the smiles and the positive energy and Port Running Festival is all about the hashtag of 'Run Happy'.

"We're not out there to go and be the next Olympian, we're just out there to have a good time and run with a lot of people and have some fun."

A number of competitors competing in the Treble Breakwall Buster alongside Cockshutt will use it as preparation for the run leg at the upcoming Ironman Australia event in early May.

Cockshutt also knows about that side of things having completed in numerous Ironman races over the years.

"When you do those long (training) hours for Ironman it's really nice to mix things up and create some memories along the way," Cockshutt said.

The original Treble Breakwall Buster competitor admitted she did feel compelled to return annually.

"There is a bit of pressure now to come back year after year because I'm the original so I feel like I've got to stay there for all the women out there that run," she said.

"It looks like this is my next 20 or 30 years."

Competitors are expected to come from around New South Wales for the event.

"I know so many people that are coming up to race that are coming over from Tamworth, Newcastle and Sydney," Cockshutt said.

"I'm going to be running, constantly smiling and saying hello to everyone which will hopefully take away from the fact that I'm running 36 kilometres."

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