The Great North Run: 250km of Madness and Mental Grit
What started as a casual joke over drinks – "Do you want to run to Newcastle?" – has now transformed into the greatest challenge of our lives: a 250km run along the Great North Walk, from Newcastle to Sydney. A path that typically takes around 10 days to complete when thru hiking, we’re aiming to finish in just four days.
Although it connects two of Australia’s major cities, the Great North Walk isn’t your average stroll through the park. It begins at Newcastle’s sandy beaches, meanders through the rugged Watagan Mountains, crosses the picturesque Hawkesbury River, and then hits the brutal hills near Thornleigh, before finishing off with a gentler track that winds along the Lane Cove River ending with a ferry ride into Sydney Harbour. Sounds delightful... if you’ve got time to smell the wildflowers and spot the wildlife. But we’ve opted to flip the script and run south on the Great North Walk, tackling the biggest mountains right at the start, just to keep things interesting.
Why Run 250km?
Good question. Originally, the idea started as a bit of a joke – a light-hearted conversation that quickly spiralled into the audacious plan of running the full Great North Walk. The sheer absurdity of the challenge was enough motivation for us at first. Why not push our limits a bit and see if can do what almost sounds impossible for us?
As we began to grasp the enormity of what we’d signed up for, we realised that this run could be about more than just testing our physical limits. That’s when we decided to tie it to a cause that holds personal significance – mental health. Supporting the Black Dog Institute, a charity dedicated to mental health research and treatment, became a natural fit. Mental health is something both I (David) and Bronte are passionate about and turning this “crazy idea” into a mission for good has given us an extra layer of purpose.
So yes, the charity came as an afterthought to the initial madness, but it has now become the driving force behind every step we take.
The Training Journey (and Struggles) So Far
Neither Bronte or I are hardcore or lifelong runners, but our running journeys have been nothing short of transformative for us. I’m an avid climber but only began running earlier this year. The first run was 2km long and I hurt for days. But I’m quite stubborn and with some determination and consistent training, I’ve worked my way up to running longer and more challenging distances throughout 2024.
Bronte, although already an experienced athlete through her passion for jiu-jitsu, rock climbing, and an overall active lifestyle, hadn’t run much before deciding to tackle this monumental challenge. As the owner of her own startup business, time for training has been a challenge. But with her driven mindset, Bronte committed to the training, knowing that both mental and physical resilience would be key to taking on this 250km test of endurance.
Tackling the Terrain and Gear
It’s not just about keeping our legs moving. How do you carry enough gear to survive the trail, while keeping your pack light enough to actually run? As we found out, it’s not easy. Chafing from heavy packs, bruising from bouncing water in soft bottles, and figuring out where to get clean water are all very real problems.
Our solution? Go minimal. Strip back the gear to just the essentials, and when exhaustion hits, they’ll take a quick “rest” under a space blanket. Who needs sleep anyway?
How You Can Help
As much as we’d love to pretend this is all for fun, Bronte and I are doing this for a bigger purpose – to raise awareness for mental health. We’re asking for your support – whether it’s a donation or simply cheering us on – because every bit of encouragement helps. If you’d like to support our cause, check out the donation link below. 🙏
Black Dog Institue - The Great North Walk Donoations
So, as we lace up our shoes and prepare for the biggest (and perhaps craziest) run of our lives, we hope you’ll follow along and support us on this epic journey.
- By David Dearnley & Bronte Jade
