Nedd Brockmann’s 1,000-mile (1,609km) charity run has been dubbed “Australian of the year type shit” by Dylan Alcott, the wheelchair tennis star who won the award in 2022, after the runner completed his challenge at 6.17am on Wednesday.
Alcott’s message of support to Brockmann is one of dozens from Australia’s athletic and celebrity elite celebrating the end of his arduous near-two-week run in which he averaged 128km per day around an athletics track at Sydney Olympic Park.
The 25-year-old has raised more than $2.6m for Australians experiencing homelessness, although his time could not beat the 1988 world record set by Greek ultra runner Yiannis Kourous of just under 10 and a half days.
Brockmann finished his run in 12 days, 13 hours, 16 minutes and 45 seconds – around half a day behind Bryan Smith’s Australian record set at the 1998 Nanango 1000 Mile Track Race – and burst into tears after crossing the finish line.
The epic run was live streamed on TikTok as “Nedd Brockmann’s Uncomfortable Challenge” and viewed more than 4.7 million times across 50 countries, while as many as 2,000 people gathered to watch his final night of running from the grandstand at the athletics track.
Afterwards, Brockmann revealed a left shin injury in August hampered his preparation, and rain on day two triggered damage to his feet. “From then, just trying to get up in the morning, ripped so bad – my toes looked like King Charles’ fingers,” he said.
An injury to his right shin on day three, as well as subsequent problems with his left shin and right knee made running almost impossible, and Brockmann had to take injections to reduce swelling. “From day five onwards it was a downwards spiral, trying to just hold on,” he said.
Television presenter Hamish Blake said on Instagram: “It started as a world record about time. It grew into the world championships of never giving up. And Nedd, you finished undisputed.”
Surfer Mick Fanning said Brockmann’s achievement brought a tear to his eye. “You’re a selfless man. Inspiring, courageous and real. Utmost respect,” he said.
And Alcott added: “Australian of the year type shit. Give the man what he deserves. Unbelievable effort brother.”
Swimmer Shayna Jack, AFL player Jeremy Cameron, and Wallaby Taniela Tupou all expressed their admiration for the electrician from western NSW, in response to a video posted on Instagram after Brockmann finished which has been liked more than 180,000 times.
after newsletter promotion
Allow Instagram content?
This article includes content provided by Instagram. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. To view this content, click ‘Allow and continue’.
Brockmann has had to endure substantial discomfort during the event, and had to be ferried to and from the track in a wheelchair. He would barely sleep a few hours each day due to his schedule and the pain in his legs.
His feet swelled three shoe sizes and he developed severe blisters due to the grip of the track and the sheer load of the run, significantly more than the 100km per day he covered in his 2022 run from Perth to Sydney.
Vice president of the Australian Ultra and Trail Runners Association, Corrina Black, said Brockmann’s run highlighted that ultra running can be for anyone, and he has showed grit and tenacity.
“It’s opened up the doors and highlighted that anyone can be an ultra runner and just need to put one foot in front of the other,” Black said. “If you can use your running at the same time to motivate others and to raise money for charity, it’s a win all round, isn’t it?”
Brockmann earlier raised $1.85m for We Are Mobilise, an outreach program combatting homelessness, with a 46-day run of 4,000km across Australia in 2022.