John Veloudos pounded his body on the 100 kilometres run across Cabrera’s Lake Burley Griffin in support of a charity dealing with mental health, something close to his heart.
The 24-year-old Canberran took his body to the absolute limit in November as he competed in an ultramarathon race around the lake to help local ‘Running For Resilience’ (R4R).
The fundraiser organised by Veloudos’ podcast ‘Sunday Sippers’ aimed at raising $20,000 for the Canberra charity.
“I started going to R4R three years ago after a friend suggested we go,” Veloudos told Neos Kosmos.
“He explained it is a group that runs to promote positive mental health through exercise and connection.”
Veloudos quickly became passionate about the organisation and its mission, forging a close bond with co-founders Ben Alexander and Matthew Breen.
“Both Ben and Matthew have gone through their own intense adversity, and they have created something truly amazing in R4R,” Veloudos said.
Alexander and Breen founded the charity and running group in 2019 with the ambitious goal of making the ACT “suicide-free by 2033.”.
“What R4R means to me is that we can respond to tragic circumstances that life throws at us with immense good,” Veloudos said. He said that many have disclosed that R4R saved their life.
“We as humans can make significant impact on others just by putting a bit extra effort, kindness or thought to each other’s circumstances.”
Veloudos said he approached R4R four months ago with an ultramarathon idea – which became a formal charity event.
“With the Sunday Sippers podcast, I set out that we would run the fundraiser and use our social media and podcast to raise awareness,” he said.
Veloudos – a graduate lawyer – said he has embraced running over the last three years as his main outlet to keep fit and disciplined, which is part of what motivated him to undertake this epic task.
“Running 100 kilometres is one of the toughest tests in the running world. I wanted to take it on to push myself physically and mentally,” he said.
The 24-year-old was no stranger to supreme physical tests, having previously completed an Ironman Triathlon in May, though he admitted the ultramarathon posed different challenges.
Veloudos trained for three months in anticipation of the 100km challenge, wherein he ran that same distance spread across five times a week, along with strength training twice a week.
Particular training sessions simulated the fatigue he would face in the ultramarathon, and he put his body through great distances to help get himself in shape for the big day.
According to Veloudos the biggest challenge was avoiding injury before the ultramarathon.
“The increased load of kilometres increases the chance of injury, and it was important to know when to pull back and then push hard,” he said.
“Balancing a final semester of a law and commerce degree, working four days a week, producing a podcast was a challenge.”
It is at the 43 kilometre mark in the ultramarathon when he began to feel the effects of the challenge.
“My body started to feel depleted and the mental challenge of knowing you have more than halfway to go was difficult. I had to zone in at this point as there was no way out,” Veloudos said.
“By the 70 kilometre point, I could only think of the next kilometre, rather than the whole thirty left – it felt too big at that point.”
Veloudos’s approach worked he complete the 100 kilometer race, yet, his “greatest thrill” was in hitting the $20,000 target for R4R.
“It means the world to me” he said.
“I appreciate everyone who took the time and donated for the cause,” Veloudos said.
“Spreading awareness about R4R and what they are doing in the ACT was the main goal, and I believe we did that.”
Support is available to anyone who needs it through various services, such as:
Lifeline: 13 11 14
Kids Helpline: 1800 551 800
MensLine Australia: 1300 789 978
Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467
Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636
Headspace: 1800 650 890
ReachOut: au.reachout.com
Care Leavers Australasia Network (CLAN): 1800 008 774