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British runner beats Australia coast-to-coast record

PA Media Jack Pitcher runs along a road. He has a ginger beard and wears a baseball cap back-to-front, a grey T-shirt and blue football shorts.PA Media
Jack Pitcher arrived at Bondi Beach in Sydney early on Thursday, having set out from Perth in early October

A man has broken the British record for running 2,684 miles (4,320km) across Australia.

Jack Pitcher, 28, from Bracknell, Berkshire, set off from Perth on 6 October and ended his adventure at Sydney’s Bondi Beach early on Thursday.

He completed the challenge in 61 days, beating the previous record set last year by Nikki Love, from Nottingham, by 16 days.

Mr Pitcher had started the challenge with 21-year-old Joshua Smith, from Reading, but Mr Smith was forced to stop running and completed some of the route by bike before flying home.

PA Media Jack Pitcher and Joshua Smith running along a road, running along the centre of the road. Jack Pitcher is wearing Crocs shoes, shorts, grey T-shirt and a brown hat. Joshua Smith is wearing trainers, black shorts and a blue hooded top with sunglasses resting on the top of a capPA Media
Mr Pitcher (left) and Mr Smith faced challenging conditions on their run across Australia

“I’m over the moon,” Mr Pitcher said.

"To have a round number of 60 days would have been nice but I’m incredibly proud of what I’ve done."

'Dizzy and hallucinating'

He was aiming to finish on Wednesday but was forced to pause a final 93.2-mile (150km) run because he was hallucinating following an earlier 74.6-mile (120km) run.

He had taken a 45-minute break between the two.

“I went through the night and I got to Sydney and started to hallucinate,” he told BBC Radio Berkshire.

"I was very dizzy on the road, it was not safe.

“I wasn’t even enjoying it. I really needed to sleep so I thought I’d get a load of calories in me and got my head down for four to five hours, and then pushed on.”

Map showing the positions of Perth and Sydney. A red line drawn across southern Australia connects the two cities.
Mr Pitcher completed the run in just over 61 days between the two cities

Mr Pitcher, who has previously suffered with depression, said he hoped the run would inspire others who are struggling with mental health issues.

“When I get home I’m just going to see what comes my way," he said.

"I’m very keen to get into motivational speaking and working in mental health.

"I’m just going to see what opportunities come my way after this run.

"If something comes my way, great. But I’m certainly going to have a rest and eat as many calories as I can."

Mr Pitcher and Mr Smith set out to raise money for SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, and ARC Wokingham, a volunteer-run counselling service.

In 2022, Australian ultra-marathon runner Nedd Brockmann managed the feat in just 46 days and 12 hours.

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