EP 45 | Why Would Anyone Run Seven Marathons in Seven Days?

What happens when running stops being about you?

For Jess Peil, running quickly became much more than chasing medals or PBs. Inspired by family, driven by purpose, and fuelled by an unwavering commitment to helping others, she's completed the Bravehearts Triple Seven challenge eight times, raised more than $650,000 for charity and become an Australian of the Year Local Hero nominee.

In this conversation, Jess shares how running became a vehicle for advocacy, why community matters more than competition, the emotional highs and lows of running seven marathons in seven days, and the simple mindset that continues to drive everything she does.

If you've ever wondered whether your running could make a difference beyond yourself, this episode might change the way you think about every step you take.

In this episode:

• Why running became Jess's platform for advocacy rather than personal achievement. 
• The emotional reality of completing seven marathons in seven consecutive days. 
• How Bravehearts is helping protect children across Australia. 
• Why community is one of running's greatest superpowers. 
• The surprising emotional crash that follows extraordinary achievements. 
• How everyday runners can create extraordinary impact.

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About Runbelievable

Runbelievable is the podcast for every runner. From your first parkrun to your 100th marathon, from walk-run intervals to dabbling in trail running, every runner has a story worth telling. Through honest conversations with runners from all walks of life, Runbelievable explores the challenges, achievements, setbacks, and experiences that connect us through running and shape who we become.

Transcript

When a Charity Is No Longer Needed

Jess 0:00

One thing I heard I've heard from a different organization a while ago from a guy who runs an organization in Thailand, and it's also child protection, then I've I've run for them as well this year. The sign of a good charity is one that's no longer needed.

Joshie 0:17

Hello everybody and welcome back to Run Believable. I'm your host, Josh Richard, and each week we chat with runners from all walks of life to explore how running is takes who they become. You know, one of the beautiful things about running is that for many of us, it starts as something deeply personal. But every now and then you need someone who reminds you that running can become something so much bigger than ourselves. A subtle shift between being an inspired runner to being an inspirational human who just happens to also be a runner. To help me explore that idea, I'm joined by Jess Peel. Jess, welcome to Run Believable.

Jess 0:53

Hi, thanks for having me.

Joshie 0:55

It is my pleasure. Now, if you can just allow me a very quick moment to share something from our Unbelievable community. And this week's Run Believable Moment comes from Cam from Cam's Run Club. Now, you'll have to bear with me, Jess. There's a little bit to unpack here. For more than two years, Cam's been chasing a sub three-hour 30 marathon. Now, in his words, it wasn't about the time on the clock, but rather honouring a commitment that he made to himself. Every early morning alarm, every long run, every session that he didn't feel like doing, every setback, and there's a few which I'll mention shortly, every race that didn't go according to plan. And little wonder that he um he actually doubted whether he was a c that he was capable of achieving his goal. Now, just for a quick bit of context, I'm going to recap his eight attempts. There was a four hour 15 at Adelaide, a three hour 33, got nice and close there in Melbourne, a DNF during a DIY attempt, a three hour 53 effort at the London Marathon, 3.51 Sydney, uh seven hours, I think, New York this year. Earlier this year, 3 hour 39 in Adelaide. Well, finally, at the GC Marathon last month, Cam finally kept that promise, finishing in a time of 3 hours 27 and some change. That is awesome. Now, Jess, you were actually there that day, casually clocking up marathon number seven for the week.

Jess 2:19

I was a lot further behind Cam, that's for sure.

Seven Marathons in Seven Days

Joshie 2:23

You can be forgiven uh be uh on your uh seventh in seven days. Um look, we'll we'll actually explore triple seven a little bit later on, but can you tell me something? Running seven marathons in seven days, which one tends to be the hardest?

Jess 2:37

I always find number two. And I think it's it's not, yeah, it's not, it has nothing to do with location. I think it has more to do with well, one, my mindset. Okay, because I'm like I I've talked myself into saying number two's hardest, but also because it is that first day that you're backing up.

Joshie 2:56

Yeah, of course. And so the body's already feeling fatigued, and it's the first time that you have to get used to running on those fatigued legs.

Jess 3:05

Correct, correct. And then by the day three or four, your body's just used to it.

Joshie 3:11

Wow. I can't I can't imagine the concept of being used to running back-to-back marathons. Um we actually had a few uh questions from um from unbelievable community, and now it's probably a good time to introduce one of them. Uh, this question comes from Rob, who wants to know when you get to marathon four or five, how do you like shift your mentality to get through those two that are left?

Jess 3:34

I think once you get to is especially number four, you know you're halfway. So it's almost that peak of the hill, and then you're running back down now. Um, and it's I think to feel like for me being in Canberra and Canber being number six, that gives me something really to look forward to. And then you just know that you get the number seven or Gold Coast at Gold Coast Marathon as our as our last one. That's the party run. So it's almost like you've had this six days of warm-up and then party run time at the at the last one. So it just it just pushes you along.

Joshie 4:08

So you're actually able to almost see that last one as a almost a victory lap for what you've um yeah, absolutely, absolutely.

Jess 4:15

It is it is the celebration of everything you've done before, and obviously all the the training and um the six marathons prior, it's a real victory lap. And for context, this year was probably the first year that we had a lot of people recognizing the back of our tops because we've got the 777 and what we where we've been. Um, and it's it really was there was a lot of people this year that actually were like, Oh, you 777 runners, ah, triple seven runners, great job, great job, and recognizing what it was for. So that was that was very special this year.

Joshie 4:48

It sounds like you've had just an incredible you've achieved a hell of a lot, but uh I've got one thing. Have you had a chance to reflect on having lost to the 2026 bed race?

Jess 5:00

Oh gosh, you're giving Mel too much credit. I swear she rang the hotel beforehand and said, Can you please put a lock on the on that one bed? I swear, I swear. One year I even had car like the whole, there was a hole in the carpet, so I couldn't move very well. So I think she's she's she's onto something.

Joshie 5:20

Sabotage your bed or something.

Jess 5:22

Absolute sabotage. But no, I I give her credit. She won this year. She had to win one at least.

How Jess's Dad Inspired Her Running

Joshie 5:30

For anyone who's listening that's not aware, it's I encourage you to check out um the bed race series that's on um Jess's profile, uh, with Jess's profile. Now look, your um your dad was a huge inspiration for you in your running journey. What can you tell me about your early um experience and love for running and in particular the impact that your father had on you?

Jess 5:50

Um I think so. My dad was a big runner down in down in Melbourne.

Joshie 5:54

Okay.

Jess 5:55

Wasn't really, you know, well known or anything like that, but he was credited for starting the great train race down at puff like against Puffing Billy. Um so that was so he it wasn't him officially starting it, but him suggesting to his run group, let's try and beat Puffing Billy up to Emerald from Belgrave. And that kind of really kickstatted something. So when he so when he passed away, it was the 10th anniversary of his passing and the um the 30th anniversary, official anniversary of the great train race. So that was kind of that was my kickstart for that that event. And it was just, I thought I was gonna come over the end and just ball, but it was it was so connecting, I guess, in a way, like running through the places that my dad ran and and stuff like that. It was really, really, really cool. Um, but yeah, it was just really special. But I my my running journey with him in particular was more um we started in in Saudi Arabia, um, where I grew where I grew up from six years old to ten years old. And it was more the Jetta Roadrunners um that they'd put on kids' runs and stuff through the desert. And so that kind of kick-started it a little bit.

Joshie 7:07

I didn't know that you went that you grew up or spent a number of years in Saudi Arabia. That's all I grew up in in Melbourne, and so I remember so much m mystique and this allure of the great train race, and I also I saw it as something that was almost like unattainable. Um and have sort of, I guess, rich family history and having that uh being established is is incredible.

Jess 7:30

Yeah, it's it's cool because you like I get to well I've only done it twice now, but the um I you run past the house my dad built and stuff, which is even more special, and then you go past my school the school that I went to there, and yeah. So there's a lot of connection there, and the you know, where my grandmother lived and where it finishes where my auntie and uncle lives. So it's really it's pretty special.

Joshie 7:53

Yeah. So I mean your your dad sadly passed away quite young. I think he was what, 53 um yeah. 53, yeah. I mean, can you tell me I guess how that um experience changed the way that you approached life and and running?

Jess 8:07

Uh

When Running Became About Something Bigger

Jess 8:08

well the with when he passed away because he he had a um heart condition that we didn't know about. And um after he passed, I I started, you know, thinking about oh, who can I I I need to do something. Wanted to do a few more runs and stuff and try to push myself a little bit more. So I did the Camp Times half marathon um and raised money for the Heart Foundation during during that one uh and was their highest fundraiser at the time.

Joshie 8:34

Oh, brilliant.

Jess 8:34

So I think having having that like a connection to that and having having running as like the the conversation starter was a really cool thing for me. And that's what's from then on, that's what's really pushed me. Like it's um for want of a better word, it's not just about running, it's about what you can do for community outside of doing something that you really enjoy.

Joshie 8:59

You seem to have worked it out pretty early on in life though. I mean, for a lot of people, they they'll spend many decades running, achieving personal goals, and then it's almost seen as if uh as like a natural progression to then start contributing to community and cause and challenge yourself. But you seem to have tackled that very early on in your running journey.

Jess 9:20

Yeah, I I think um I need something to push me along because I would be honestly, I mean, at the moment I'm kind of just sitting around doing doing not much running right now after 777. But if I can get away with not running, I at this point I would. So having something that pushes me beyond you know, just pounding the pavement is a really good thing for my mindset. Um and yeah, it's kind of I don't know, it's it's it is really that that kind of um I don't know how to put it. I was gonna say like the the inspiration behind. Yeah, like it, yeah, just doing something more than more than um just for me. And I'm not knocking anyone doing stuff like doing runs for PBs or for you know personal achievements at all. Everybody has their journey. Of course. Um I just I need something a little bit beyond that.

Joshie 10:16

So is part of that like an accountability thing?

Jess 10:19

Yeah, I think so. I think so. And I really do I really do love I guess because I I have been very lucky in um in life and in I've had a great upbringing, I've got a great, you know, family life now and great husband and very lucky with um with what we've been able to achieve and stuff, and I just want to see other people um reach goals and you know I want to be able to help them in some other way. And if that's financial or if that's inspirational, then that's that's that's goal.

Joshie 10:53

So can you remember the moment? Was there a particular uh cause or a milestone or some kind of moment where you realised that running was something that for you that was much bigger than just crossing a finish line?

Jess 11:06

Uh

Discovering Bravehearts and the 777 Challenge

Jess 11:07

definitely when I did that first that first run for the Heart Foundation, um, that really that was kind of the Kickstarter for it. And that kind of just came about organically, just meeting pe meeting people in the run community and then going, oh, okay, cool, we can do something else. Um, and then when I met I met a woman called Jane, I won't, I won't say her surname, um, who she was doing a training run while we were during uh an event in Canberra, the Cohen um Cohen Half Marathon.

Joshie 11:37

Okay.

Jess 11:37

And she's like, Oh, I'm just here doing it, you know, it's just a training run for me. And that's how I found out about Bravehearts and like that with the 777 marathon. Yep. And you know, the universe tends to have its weird ways of connecting things. That that week after that, my husband went up to Sydney and was in the office up there, and he had been talking to our uh in-house solicitor at the time who said um that he had been speaking to these people from this Bravehearts, something, something, something. And I went, oh, 777. And he's like, Oh, you've heard of it. And I said, Yeah, do you want a runner? So that's kind of that was my first kind of connection into doing stuff with Bravehearts as the basically the representative for Anytime Fitness Australia as the runner in that. So that very, very first year back in 2018. That's a long time ago now. Eight years.

Joshie 12:37

Um, I mean, you are certainly incredibly passionate about Bravehearts. From what I know, you're also an ambassador for Bravehearts. For any of the listeners who don't know much about the organization, are you happy to just briefly explain what its mission is and why it's become such an important part of your life?

Jess 12:52

Yeah, no problem. So Bravehearts is the one of the leading organizations in Australia to keep kids safe from sexual abuse. Um they, you know, obviously they give a lot of um like just assistance and stuff and work in schools, very age-appropriate programs throughout schools, etc. Um, it's a it's amazing. But like I really I think having support as a child helps alleviate so many other issues later on, like um suicide prevention, mental health issues, drug and alcohol abuse, all that sort of stuff. So if we're really hitting it at the core, then that child could have a much better, a much brighter future as an adult. So yeah, I just I I love being an ambassador. I'm very grateful to be an ambassador for them and um you know, keep I want to do more.

Joshie 13:43

You've already done a lot, you've raised over $650,000, I think.

Jess 13:47

Yeah, yeah, just over $650,000.

Joshie 13:50

Talk about, you know, um what that helps to contribute to in, I mean, you mentioned sort of education um awareness and other programs, but in terms of what difference that can make, are you happy to sort of take a few moments to explain um what that what the that fundraising can do?

Jess 14:06

Yeah, for sure. So a lot of the a lot of the fundraising goes towards um counseling services for kids, okay, um, as well as their families, because obviously it's not a it's not just about it's not just about the kids, it is also about the whole, the entire family, because it affects everyone within. Um and a lot of advocacy goes into that as well, um, reaching out to governments trying to get more support in that regard too, um, and just yeah, just really regrowing kids, really. Um, being able to again put the the ditto, they've got a program called the Ditto Ditto Program, um, which they put out into schools and stuff. And again, that is an age-appropriate um things. They do a lot of songs, etc., through the through the school, and they put out a Ditto program book, and that went out to all schools across Australia uh quite a few years ago now. I think my kids were still in, I think my kids were still in primary school and the book went out to to the schools then. And um, yeah, so they really, I mean, advocacy is a massive one, of course, and trying to, you know, just try to keep kids really well supported in every way they possibly can.

Running Until Her Legs Won't Carry Her

Joshie 15:11

You know, I don't know if you remember writing this. Um, I've done my homework, Jess. Oh, look at you. On the Brave Heart website, it says on your profile that I'll run for Bravehearts for as long as my legs will carry me. Oh, yes. Then I'll walk or crawl until we see an end to these assaults. That's an incredibly powerful statement.

Jess 15:30

Look, let's let's be real that eventually I'm gonna have very sore knees because one day I will be crawling. Look, one thing I heard, I've heard from a different organization a while ago from a guy who runs an organization in Thailand, and it's also child protection, then I've I've run for them as well this year. Um the sign of a good um charity is one that's no longer needed. And I know that is one thing that is virtually impossible, but if we try to get to a point where, you know, an organization is no longer needed because there's no more problems, that's I mean, that's that's the dream. It really is the dream, but it is you know, we have to fight for it. And obviously, there's there are so many amazing organizations out there who are vying for a piece of the pie from the government, but they're they still need to be boosted up by people putting themselves out there, doing whatever they can. And it doesn't, and I've I say to a lot of people as well, you don't have to run, you don't have to, you do something that you enjoy doing to make a difference. And a lot of the time it's not necessarily about, you know, you could be someone knitting scarves for an organization just to raise awareness at you know, cafes or or whatever, but then that person can then affect someone else who comes in and they've got an idea, and then they can they're financially viable. And you know, it's like that whole tumbleweed of um tumbleweed of community making a real difference because you know, together we can do so much more. Um, but it's everyone's affected by something, and everyone has the opportunity to reach out in every way that they possibly can.

Joshie 17:13

You know, with all the work that you've done, it's sort of little wonder that you're an Australian of the year nominee. I mean, is that much time to reflect on? It was what, five years ago now? Um I mean, what kind of a difference did that recognition or that acknowledgement have in terms of I guess helping you feel empowered, further empowered to keep doing the work that you are?

Jess 17:33

I guess it was it was just really special to be recognized by, in particular by a friend who said, I love what you're doing. This is really cool. You should be recognized for um for what you put out into the community. Um, I so the one that I was nominated for was uh local hero. And I was told by one of the people in there that I was very close to to winning for the ACT um at that time. But I really appreciate him.

Joshie 18:01

Sorry to interrupt, Jess. What's local hero?

Jess 18:03

Oh, so they've got four categories. So they've got Australian of the year, they have local hero, they have senior, and they have um like senior of the year, sorry, and they have young Australian of the year.

Joshie 18:14

Oh, I see.

Jess 18:14

So local hero is someone who's just putting something out into the community and trying to make a difference in that way. Um, so I was in for that. And the the really, really cool thing is too that now there have been three people. So I'm also associated with um Running for Resilience, which is a a suicide prevention run group in Canberra. And three of us now have been nominated for um Local Hero of the Year. Um, so Matt Breen and then also Ben Alexander has have also been nominated for that for ACT. And la this year, sorry, um Benny Alexander won ACT um Local Hero and went to the the Australian round. So yeah, which was really, really cool. So it's it's it's cool knowing that the stuff that we're doing, and we're doing it through running. All three of us are uh are runners and we're we're getting through to that point. And so clearly running is a really good, I guess, a conversation starter for um for issues and for advocacy, um, and seeing Ned Brockman in there as young young Australian of the year for this year, and um I can't remember her name now. She won Australian of the year, she's also a runner, Grace Tame, and and she um yeah, yeah. Um yeah, so Grace Tame, and she's she's also a runner and a sexual abuse survivor as well, a child sexual abuse of uh survivor. And it's really cool seeing that running can really be such a like I said before, such a conversation starter for advocacy and awareness and campaigning and all that sort of stuff. So I think we're we're we're in a pretty cool uh we're in a pretty cool group.

Joshie 19:48

I I completely agree. And uh correct me if I'm wrong, but running for resilience, um, is it true the the ACT, I think you said, was the only jurisdiction, was it last year, that had a reduction in its um suicide rate?

Jess 20:00

Yeah, so it had a it it had a like a large reduction. So and we like to say that we're we're part of that.

Joshie 20:06

I have no doubt that you were. I mean, it sounds like a a program that's increasing it in awareness. Um, you know, I really love the concept of these um uh walk and talk conversations. Um you're sort of happy to explain to me that what that sort of looks like, that sort of power of simply moving alongside someone.

Jess 20:24

When my kids were really young, uh someone said to me, if you ever need to have a conversation with it about something that's a little bit uncomfortable, have it in the car because you're sitting beside them. Are you not looking directly at them and it's not like a threat, like a threat if you're looking straight directly at them. And it's the same thing with running. Like if you're running beside someone, the conversation, as so many people listening to this podcast would know, it's such it's so much more comfortable and non-com like non-confrontational.

What Seven Marathons in Seven Days Really Looks Like

Joshie 20:56

Okay, so Jess, you've now completed the 777 challenge, is it eight times? Yes, yes, correct. I mentioned it at the start of this chat. Um, I sort of glossed over a little bit what's involved. Are you happy to explain what 777 looks like and why people are creeping up to sign up?

Jess 21:16

As we always say, we are um a little mentally unstable, but a group of people who really want to do do good in the world. And um, so it really, it really kicks us. Like we all meet in Perth originally, um, at the very start of the event and have a dinner, etc. Get up the next day and go for a run. So it's a it is as simple, like as you know, in the rose-colored glasses of the world, it is as simple as that. So you get up, you run, you are completely looked after as well. So we have a full crew that comes with us, we have a medic crew that come along as well, um, amazing RRT guys who have food for us, um, the physio cream guys who massage. us afterwards and you literally you go out you run your distance and then you go back to the hotel and we're given two bit two rooms to for everyone to shower in we're sitting around on the floor we're massaging we're getting treatment we're like doing all our recovery because it's the the afterwards is so rushed and so manic but you've got to get a flight don't you into the next location that day as well. And we don't want to be sitting on a flight stinking like like you know as runners do at the end of a marathon next to next to poor Betty Jones or you know somebody who's like what the heck is going on on this flight and regretting her choices to be on that plane that day. You know it it is it is manic when you get back but it's it's still um I guess because you're out on course you do you know you do have a lot of conversations on course with people with um public because they they want to know what the heck are you all doing? And also with the other runners etc but a lot of the time you're just basically running past high five well done go job you know great work etc etc so you do sort of come back together and then you're off on the flight. Yeah and um I have to always say that and I and I put this down to like a you know like a a football terminology for example so many people don't see the behind the scenes and the crew are phenomenal. They are the absolute goats of the event we're like the players on the pitch they're the ones that run around do everything behind the scenes and we can't we can't do we can't do our little running run without them doing what they're doing. So we appreciate them beyond belief.

Joshie 23:48

Posted some of those behind the scenes pardon me photos would be none the wiser I mean it's very easy to just look at the runners on course the nice tops and the finished line photos but like you say there's a whole bunch it's happening behind the scenes with logistics um the the crew I guess and also the emotional roller coaster that you go through as well.

Jess 24:06

Oh

The Side of 777 Nobody Sees

Jess 24:07

yeah what would you say is the hardest part of triple seven that people don't see leaving at the end leaving everybody yeah it's really I mean obviously your body hurts yeah always hurts um the emotional roller coaster that you go through that people don't expect um is it can be pretty pretty devastating for some people like people you know you do have people that end up in tears you have people who emotionally are drained and people don't people people don't expect that part of it um but leaving everyone at the end is really hard it's really hard and you do have this I I still remember that very the very first year that I did the event um I was pretty broken after after that like my I was on crutches for three days later and stuff because my foot blew up like crazy and um the I went into a hole like for again again for about that sort of time I just went into this you know bit of a hole and stuff because I was like well yes I've got my family with me yes I've got some friends with me here but where are all the others? And I didn't and I think because that was my first year I didn't expect it. This year I kind of went into a bit of a hole again and was like I should know this by now like what is going on? And it's I think as well because you know busy with other things in life etc too but um you don't know when that stuff's going to hit you and that is hard. But as long as you know that you have everybody else in the group that you can lean on you can still reach out to they offer counseling services for us if we need it afterwards that still having that support and making sure that you are kind to yourself afterwards and that you reach out when you need to you do the things that that bring you a bit of joy. Yeah and that's you know that's what you can do. I always sort of find that if I have a couple of days up at the Gold Coast afterwards or thereabouts that tends to reset me before just coming straight back home. So I think that's what happened this year was straight back home.

Joshie 26:09

I completely underestimated what that feeling would be like I mean I can relate to the feeling of post-marathon blues and maybe this is it on on steroids because this isn't just a one-off marathon this is you know seven three hundred kilometers in seven days and you you probably form such a close bond and connection with the people around you it must it must almost feel like a like a um a sense of of loss or grief that you go through.

Jess 26:36

Yeah it does it really it really can and it and I guess it depends on again it depends on your own personal mental strength as to how much of a loss it feels like at the end of it. But it is and again like I said first year I was down in the dumps this year I was down in the dumps but it was you know you just don't know when that's going to happen or if that's going to happen as well. Yeah it's interesting.

Joshie 27:02

It might be slightly out of date now um it's more than 56 marathons surely that you've run now yeah I was trying to count it I I always keep forgetting it so bad.

Jess 27:12

Um 61 I think which one's your favorite that's a really hard question because I really I do really like Gold Coast I like I like the Sydney Marathon course as in the actual Sydney marathon um course I prefer I'm I'm more like I I prefer trail um as a go-through and like a 50k or a hundred miles sort of you know those sorts of the bigger distances and stuff I really like that I can't pinpoint a favorite favorite marathon like standalone marathon so maybe it maybe it's yet to be discovered.

Chasing $1 Million Through Running

Joshie 27:55

Quite possibly so what what does I need to keep doing that of of um well actually I'll ask you in two different parts firstly in terms of your charity work I mean you've done a hell of a lot I mean you've talked about running for resilience um your work with brave hearts which I know is continuing um what's sort of next for you in terms of um success criteria for your charity work um I really would for for brave hearts in particular I want to get to a million uh like a million dollars so you know $350,000 to go I'm sure we can you know that's that's gonna have to go over the line for sure.

Jess 28:30

So I'd really like to get to that um and just in continuing the same in the same way like doing dumb fun things um running to make a difference running for advocacy again um but that is my real for brave heart in the in the terms of brave hearts that's where I really want to get to I still want to keep continue as well with um so through anytime fitness we do an event uh a Fitforia event that we called so we ran and rode um so two of us ran five uh 212ks in Thailand just a couple of in May May yeah in May so we did that and we had a group of people also they rode over 500k's in that same in that same time frame over five days and we are doing more events through Anytime Fitness and the Fit4 expeditions um which is going to be really fun but it's a watch this space moment so we're just trying to line up the line all our ducks in a row and work out the next event so which would be fun correct me if I'm wrong but was it you and your um husband that brought Anytime Fitness to Australia yes and a another few people on that one as well so we're st we're still um so two of the co-founders are still involved so Rich my husband and um his business partner Justin and he and obviously his his wife as well so can I ask I mean you've got three children you've three kids community work that you're doing plus your your um your own I guess um uh career ambitions as well how do you go about finding a balance between all of them alcohol I mean what do I say that uh yeah I I will say that because because of uh like well the the Eddy time stuff yeah um I've been really lucky to be able to stay home and be able to you know concentrate on the advocacy stuff and concentrate on the family stuff um and it's only now that the kids are all well they've all actually just moved back to Australia um so I had one living in Hawaii and one living in Portugal um so only recently we've gone from a house of three to a house of six um because my son from Portugal also brought his um his girlfriend back as well. I'm loving it. It's so much fun I have to just I have to just put that little disclaimer in there. It's so much fun. I love having a full house but because now they're all at that a all at those ages that they are independent and they're all working starting to work in the businesses and stuff I can now start looking into you know getting into getting into the any times myself um and working within them too. So I've set in this year we've set two Anytimes up in Canberra and loving it. So much fun and so the it's really cool.

Joshie 31:21

It's really cool I feel like an adult now for a change it's taken a long time we actually have just a a couple of listener questions actually um before we finish up um so we mentioned Mel before your arch nemesis with the uh with the bed race um she wants to know what's on the horizon for 2023 you know what if you had even said that question without saying that it was her I I knew what was coming.

The Next Ridiculous Running Challenge

Jess 31:46

I think she used the word run venture which I like oh run vent yeah she would she would have used run venture I love that so next year it's gonna be a little bit fun so in February we we're going over to for my for my 50th birthday um we'll be going over to New Zealand and doing Southern Ultra which is around Queenstown camping she is going to she's freaking out but she's gonna love it when we get there. So we end up doing about 280Ks over six six days in that one. So we'll do that that's my birthday explore run venture explore um so we'll do that but we're also gonna go and do the um the plan at this point and yes Mel I have gotten in contact with these people now um we're gonna go do the seven um continents next year as well explain that to me so the seven continents is um seven marathons on seven continents in seven days and so logistically possible I don't know how it is either but um we will find out next year for sure so it is it follows the time zones yeah so you start in I think and I am potentially incorrect on where on everywhere that it goes but it does it does cross um Antarctica is one of the first ones Miami is the last the last one um you go through all the continents Perth is the and bizarrely enough the Perth the Perth leg is exactly where we run um the Brave Hearts 777 um exactly the same location so I do know one of the other guys who has done 777 before in in Australia has also done the seven continents before as well um and is the first indigenous person ever to run the seven continents so that's the world the great world race.

Joshie 33:37

If I send lost for words it's because I'm lost for words the process how that's even achievable perhaps that actually could be the answer to this uh question although if you've got a different answer that's totally cool. We have a question from Brett who wants to know what future challenges like I guess is there like an ultimate goal that you have your site set on.

Jess 33:56

If it's not the that um is there anything else that you see as being like a a mecca um my unicorn sort of thing yeah yeah yeah I I love a good unicorn so my thing with with running in particular obviously the semi content that's going to be epic that'll be something really cool really fun um I would really love to do um Delirious West so Delirious West does a um they do a it's along the coastline in over in uh near Perth into over in WA and they do a um a double um double myler so 320 kilometer event in one go so I'd really love to do that so I'm hoping it's it it looks really cool. So they I I was um registered to do it last year and then had had surgery so I couldn't actually do it but only to do the half so you can do I know it sounds only um just the half one which is the um 100 miler so 162 162 kilometers and um had to pull out of that one but I'm hoping to go and support my friend um uh Laura uh or as I call her Loz um next year when she goes over and does the the double again what's the plan that just sounds incredible so is this your way of trying to make triple seven look like a walk in the park honestly I will say that Thailand um running in Thailand this year as well that made triple seven look like a walk in the park really because that was a whole different beast and you'd only barely recovered from that before you tackled 77 this year I didn't think I'd recovered at all I think you're going through like a perpetual state of non-recovery but yeah it was um that was tough yeah that was tough when you take in the 97% humidity and the my my body just went into shut down from that one so that was that was really hard but it was so great community great cause great um just really awesome.

Joshie 36:05

Yeah you know Jess there's a lot of runners I know that have have this con this feeling this yearning of wanting to do more but they don't know they don't feel like they're a runner enough or they don't feel confident enough or know how to take those first steps um what message would you want them to take away from this conversation if they are sort of left with a feeling of not being you know either good enough or runner enough to contribute?

Jess 36:29

Oh you know what mate my thing is if you run you're a runner. There's no and it doesn't like I'll turn around and I'll go to um like trail events or marathons and stuff. I walk half of those things. So it's like you just have to get to the end in any way you possibly can and if you again if you are wanting to do something for advocacy and stuff like that too it's it's such a great way to push yourself along.

Joshie 36:55

And just one final question before we finish up and I need to prep you on this we ask all of our guests this what's the biggest lesson that running has taught you about yourself I think my thing is you can do hard things to inspire others is probably where I'd sit at more um and you know that's yeah that'd be that'd be probably it'd be just keep doing hard things and keep doing hard dumb things too because that's fun to be able to find this perfect balance between your own goals um raising awareness for charitable causes and community that you're very passionate about but also still having a lot of fun along the way it's a very unique conversation honestly you have to have fun.

Jess 37:38

If you saw us at the oh my gosh when we did the the Canberra leg of um the Braveheart strippers of marathon this year and my brother found because we themed it purple and because we always tend to theme well we try I personally try to theme Canberra um for the group so that we're all you know looking all connected. Okay. And my brother found these um purple um octopus beanies that had like all the tentacles off them and stuff. So we're running around in the lake in these octopus tentacles and stuff and yeah probably one of my favorite photos of that day is my brother in and he's a really good runner I must say I hate to say it because you know I'm not competitive at all but his face just lit up by the side of the lake with this big octopus thing on his head. Best photo.

Joshie 38:31

So good the biggest thing I took away from Jess is just how empowering it can be to use running to make someone else's life just that little bit better. Running seven marathons in seven days however shit can keep that if there's someone in your life who you think would appreciate hearing Jess's perspective then send this episode their way. And if you're enjoying Run Believable don't forget to hit follow because next week imagine being told you'll probably never run again. Went into a three man tackle two up high one down low and we all went to the ground and the guy down low laying on my leg, twisted around and when I looked down there was a bit of pain and I my foot of disappeared