John Veloudos faced intense pain and fatigue at the 60km mark of a gruelling 100km ultramarathon, but never gave up.
“Obviously, I’m in a lot of pain and want to stop, but I’m just trying to get to the next point,” he said to the ABC, breaking the challenge into small milestones to push forward.
The achievement followed months of preparation, with Veloudos running up to 100km a week, balancing intense training with a full-time job and the final semester of his law and commerce degree.
His dedication was fueled by a cause close to his heart: raising awareness and funds for Running for Resilience, a Canberra-based charity promoting mental health through exercise.
“I’ve seen suicide touch people close to me,” Veloudos said.
After 10 hours and 38 minutes, he crossed the finish line, overwhelmed by the effort and support.
Running for Resilience, co-founded by Matt Breen, began in 2019 with the goal of making the ACT “suicide-free by 2033.” The group now hosts six weekly run/walks, engaging up to 800 participants.
For Veloudos, the ultramarathon was a defining moment. Although nursing an injury, he reflects on the experience as one he’ll cherish forever. “It’s something I’ll remember for the rest of my life.”
Source: ABC
