British ultra-endurance runner William Goodge has made headlines after claiming a new world record by running across Australia in just 35 days, surpassing the previous best by four days.
The 31-year-old athlete began his remarkable journey on April 15, departing from Cottesloe Beach in Perth and triumphantly finishing on May 20 at Bondi Beach in Sydney, emotionally wrapped in an Australian flag and welcomed by his father.
An Extraordinary Feat
Covering 3,800 kilometers (2,361 miles), Goodge ran the equivalent of two-and-a-half marathons daily, maintaining a relentless pace of approximately 100 kilometers per day. This effort eclipses the 2023 record set by Chris Turnbull and places him ahead of fellow endurance runner Nedd Brockmann, who completed a similar route in 47 days in 2022.
“It’s the toughest thing I’ve ever done,” Goodge told the BBC.
Pending Guinness World Records’ verification, this could officially become the fastest trans-Australia run ever recorded.
A Tribute to His Late Mother
The run was more than just a physical challenge for Goodge—it was a personal tribute to his mother, Amanda, who passed away from cancer in 2018. His journey served as a fundraising campaign for cancer charities across the UK, US, and Australia.
At the finish line, Goodge laid flowers in her memory, saying:
“She would be proud of everything I’ve done—she’d also be concerned.”
In interviews, he emphasized how thoughts of his mother’s strength during her illness helped him persevere through excruciating pain, extreme fatigue, and mental battles.
Braving the Elements
Throughout the cross-country run, Goodge endured:
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A dust storm across the Nullarbor Plain
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Rotting feet, lost toenails, and bone pain that caused hallucinations
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Severe heat and isolation in the Australian interior
Despite the suffering, he described feeling “very comfortable” at the finish. Goodge also commented on the state of wildlife he encountered, noting, “Most of the animals I saw were sadly roadkill.”
Record Controversy and Clarification
While some online users questioned the accuracy of his tracking data, Goodge’s team assured the public that every step was accounted for. His agent confirmed to Canadian Running that:
“He is taking every single step.”
Not His First Transcontinental Run
This isn’t Goodge’s first record-setting achievement. In 2022, he became the fastest British man to run across the United States, covering the distance from Los Angeles to New York in 55 days.
As the world awaits official recognition of his latest feat, William Goodge has undoubtedly etched his name into endurance sport history—both as a record-breaker and a man on a heartfelt mission.
