BeyondBarriers

I'm fundraising for The Run Beyond Project.

A charity close to my heart, The Run Beyond Project empowers students by asking them to go beyond their comfort zone. These students aren't runners. They're high school students from a variety of circumstances who commit to undertaking this program in order to develop personal and social capabilities that see them not only get to the finish line of their Goal Race, but thrive beyond this, personally and as contributing members to their communities. They are young people who have had the same opportunities as you and I.

Run Beyond has graduated over 345 students so far, including 69 indigenous students, 38 students from refugee backgrounds, and 17 who have been in out-of-home care, as well as students impacted by numerous other factors such as exposure to discrimination and long-term parental unemployment.

I'm participating in The Beyond Barriers Virtual Run and going beyond my limits to empower these students in need! Any donation you can give, large of small, will have a huge impact on the lives of these young people.

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My Updates

A SPECIAL SHOUTOUT FOR NEDD

Tuesday 15th Oct

1600km and $1.6 million in donations - what an achievement for your charity! Every time my mind was in a dark place during those 1000km raising funds for The Run Beyond Project, I would channel some of your energy knowing that you are also deep in the pain cave at the same time as you strode around Sydney Olympic Park doing laps. https://www.facebook.com/share/v/fRr2Byp9P16o2rho/?mibextid=UalRPS

1000+KM IN 22 DAYS (THE RUN DOC EXPERIENCE)

Tuesday 15th Oct

That’s more than 45km daily, for 22 days (an ultramarathon) and FINISHING on the HEART ❤️ of the MCG (Melbourne Cricket Ground) wearing your team (SYDNEY STRIDERS) singlet was AMAZING! And yes, I raced this marathon and came within whisker of my Sydney Marathon time (with >960km of mileage over 21 days!). ABSOLUTELY AMAZING THANK YOU “THE RUN BEYOND PROJECT”!!! ************************************************** Having completed the Sydney Marathon and ran a virtual marathon 5 days after (The Conqueror Challenge), I embarked on the Beyond Borders Virtual Run Challenge with a modest goal to gentle taper for the Melbourne Marathon…. Then my plans went out the door. With three children and a full-load of research and clinical work, I suffered quite nasty post-viral cough which led to torn pectorals muscle affecting deep breathing and sleep. Due to a drop in running pace as I could not get enough air due to 9/10 pain, each run took longer to complete and so these were divided into multiple shorter (10km) runs in order to fit into the schedule of the day. ****************************************************** TO ALL THE YOUNG HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS and those who question how I got it done, it’s all about prioritisation. GOAL-SETTING! COMMITMENT! RESILIENCE! I’m extremely thankful for my partner and three children for being patient with me when I completed this 1000km challenge over 22 days to raise vital funding for The Run Beyond Project. ****************************************************** Thank you to my fellow competitors for rekindling my LOVE OF COMPETITION as a young boy. You know, now that I have rediscovered the MOJO (RUNNING WHY) we can all look to making further progress in all our running goals, and venture BEYOND BORDERS! ****************************************************** Thank you so much to Gina, David and the team (our team captain Lynn Herrison) of one of two Sydney Striders who have supported this event and have taken out #1 charity team position. Lastly I would like to dedicate this A++ effort to my late mother who would have been so proud of the efforts these past 22 days.

WHO WON?

Monday 14th Oct

With 75 minutes left of this challenge, it would be impossible for someone to make up 64km… **************************************************** I will let the adjudicator decide who won this one. ☝️ PS: in the final hour of the challenge a fellow competitor Steve logged 123km.

TOWARDS 1000KM”: “BEING EXTRAORDINARILY ORDINARY: DAY 22

Sunday 13th Oct

Photo courtesy of: Nedd Brockman Instagram “Being extraordinary isn’t reserved for the rich, the famous, the powerful, or the privileged. Extraordinary people exist within even the most seemingly ordinary lives.” For someone who runs purely for healthy ageing and giving new runners advice and tips on how to take up jogging / running as a healthy lifestyle measure, running 1000km (that’s more than a marathon, in fact 45km daily) over 22 days wasn’t ever on the cards. I won the 2022 challenge. When I was successful in being the runner with highest mileage in 2023 it was half of this distance (531km). So coming into 2024 I was hoping to put in an extraordinary effort….. As fellow competitor Steve Lomax puts it, this challenge is far more difficult than his 21 marathons in 21 days challenge so having his 750km goal to better I set out an ambitious target of 800km. The rest is history… being pushed physically, mentally and emotionally to the edge, I have had to regroup myself on several occasions to chase down mileage deficits of 80, 90km at a time. I had to run 100km in on Tuesday (8th October) to catch up to Steve, who would suddenly post a 3 day cumulative total of 160km, meaning I would be leading for two days and then be far behind… Inspired by fellow “ordinary guy”, NEDD BROCKMAN, I will be looking to do something EXTRAORDINARY which few ordinary folks have done, and that is to complete the Melbourne Marathon 2024 and complete 1000km for this “extraordinarily” meaningful challenge for myself and for all the students and teachers it helps to inspire…. As one of my coaches Dale Thompson of Sydney Striders says, “J, you’re gonna get there. It’s just one foot after the other….” See you all at the finish line 🏁 and continue to give generously to support my run towards 1000km.

RUN FOR MENTAL HEALTH: DAY 21

Saturday 12th Oct

Running has pleiotrophic effects on the body as well as the mind. A South Australian study (https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/02/230223193417.htm) found regular aerobic exercises such as running to be equivalent if not better than psychotherapy or medications for a range of mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety. It has also helped me battle my own demons and to rebuild my mind and body. 🏃‍♂️ 🏃‍♀️ 🏃🏿 🧠

RUNNING FOR TEACHERS DAY - DAY 20

Friday 11th Oct

When I first came to Australia and I could not string a sentence in English together, it was my third grade teacher who helped identify my special needs, and assisted my journey through negotiating the at-times complicated English language (I’ve since written 2 books!). She also made me feel welcomed into the new class environment with 22 new friends. Since then, I have had many teachers whether this be my chemistry lab tutor, my PhD supervisor, my first running coach and in every single client that seek my help daily, you have all been my teachers. And today I dedicate ALL my runs to you - DAY 20. (Yes, Deek too! 💪🏻)

YESTERDAY’S 100KM DAY

Wednesday 9th Oct

Yesterday I set a lofty goal to run my second 100km day ever (the previous time was during UTA100). With a busy family schedule I had to work around chunks of 10km throughout the day. I wore pink for my final 10km commemorating my late mother… Please keep on making donations great or small to help this wonderful charity.

Go Striders x Beyond Borders

Monday 7th Oct

GOAL SETTING. COMMITMENT. RESILIENCE.

BEYOND 2022 and 2023

Sunday 6th Oct

This morning, chasing a strong competitor who has acted as my pacer, I sailed past 531km which was my award-winning distance in 2023. I can’t wait to see what I can achieve in the final week of this challenge! 💪🏻

BEYOND 500KM

Saturday 5th Oct

This is a significant milestone. Last year I completed the challenge with 531km. It is difficult to imagine that last year’s finishing line is this year’s milestone.