The challenge: to run ~2,450 miles across Australia from Perth to Sydney. The journey will be solo and unsupported, so I will be pushing / pulling all my equipment, food and water, restocking as I go. As some of the stretches are up to 130 miles / 210km this is going to be interesting!
As for me, I’m a 35 year old guy living in Stevenage, England, and not an athlete by any stretch, although I do keep in shape. To be honest, I don’t really enjoy running that much, especially in winter, so before I started training for this run in December 2014 I was only averaging 5 miles a week. But long distance endurance is my strength so I am confident I can make it. I once rode a bicycle from Alaska to Argentina (check out my book, ‘North to South’) so I can use a lot of what I learned on that trip to push me through the hard times. Of which there will be many!
Wish me luck, and see you at the finishing line!
In Western Oz
Run Across Australia 
James this sounds like a crazy but amazing idea! Do you have a general idea of how long it will take and your route? Good luck! Michelle (friend of Tanya and Steve and an avid 10km max runner!…)
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Hello! And thanks for the comment, you are my first!
Route is from Perth to Norseman, then across the nullabor to Port Augusta, then to Broken Hill and then the backroads to Sydney. At least that is the current plan. Should take between 55 and 95 days, depending on how I get on. Wagers taken!!
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Good luck James! I will be following your travels closely.
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Thanks Arun!
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James, came across you on Strava when I checked how I was tracking on the monthly challenges… I almost couldn’t believe it when I saw the numbers so far and then to see the routes are in Oz, I started to think some bloke was lost on the Nullarbor! I’m from Melbourne and the thought of crossing the country is daunting and awesome. Hats off to you, it’s a fantastic physical and mental challenge. Good luck!
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Thanks Simon! I guess I will find out what it is like soon enough. So far so good though! Thanks for following along!
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Good to hear that you didn’t get “delayed” in Kalgoorlie (you know, the bright pink building!). Good luck for the rest of your journey 🙂
And thanks for following me on Strava!
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Haha well it was close 😉
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James! I realize how many different types of energy you need to do that you do! And I would like to share even a little bit of my energy with you. But now I have realized that I can feel and get your great energy through your posts even so far from you. Great luck for the great man!
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Thanks so much, and thanks for the support; that’s where the energy comes from. That and Nutella 😉
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Nutella is the big secret of great runners 🙂
Wishing you tones of Good luck from Barcelona, you are already my hero!!
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You are right!
And thanks for the kind words!
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James, I was trolling people on strava, and can across you today. This is amazing! I have always wanted to so something like this. Maybe one day….
Best of luck!
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You can do it Mike – if I can, you can! Just dream big and go for it!!
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Hi James, just stumbled across this incredible journey from Strava and looking forward to tracking your progress.
Amazing feat so far and surely more to come!
Shame you’re not heading through Melbourne on your route as I would have loved to see some of your attempt in action, but for now keep up the great work and keep the spirits high!
Mental challenge but I’m sure the scenery beats the Hertfordshire countryside!
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Sorry I am going to miss you. Next time (Darwin to Melbourne?!)
And you are right, this beat Stevenage!!
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Noooo, don’t suggest things like Darwin to Melbourne-with my competitive streak it only makes think that I should get on the road and join you!
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Ha! Well I am one part inspiration, one part bad influence!
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My son was looking through strava and said ” This can’t be right! This guy’s done 2565km!” So I looked you up. Omg amazing. You put me to shame. 🙂 Hope all goes well. We’ll be following your progress. Keep safe.
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It’s a lot of km – but if I can do it you can as well! Thanks for the support!
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Hi James ! I’m following you on Strava and I have a technical question. How do you charge your phone and upload the results to the web? Keep up the good job !
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I have a couple of battery packs that I charge my phone with as I go, and then charge those up at each roadhouse/motel I stop at. And I have a solar panel, just in case 🙂
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That’s fantastic! Good luck on the rest of journey and make sure you rest well in between runs. I still have a hard time understanding how you are making this adventure possible. The human body is full of mysteries..
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It certainly is – I am as mystified as you are, I thought it was 50:50 I wouldn’t make it past day 2…
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Hi James, I just got back from my measly 6km run down in Adelaide when I thought I would check out the loony who was leading the April Challenge on Strava. Then I saw you were out in the middle of South Aus and I thought, “that farmer has got too much energy!” Anyway I see what you are up to now :-). Hope you are enjoying the wonderful outback and don’t worry, the mice are the least of your problems ;-).
Inspirational stuff! I love a good adventure!
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Haha I’m just hoping the mice are the worst that happens – always an adventure. Thanks for the message!!
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Great job James! Found you through Strava and have been following since the start. Truly inspiring, thank you! I’m new to running and am training for my 2nd marathon (Grandma’s in Duluth, Minnesota USA June 20th). My long term goal is ultra running and I’d love to someday have a long journey similar to yours. Thanks again from Plymouth, Minnesota!
Brian
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Brian, thanks so much for the message, I am truly happy to have helped even in just a tiny way. Great work so far and good luck with the second marathon! Look me up in FB if you haven’t done so already, would love to see how your challenges progress! See you at the marathon des sables perhaps!
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