November 22nd 2024.
In an exclusive interview, ultra-marathon runner Nedd Brockmann opened up about his grueling 1600km run at Sydney Olympic Park. He revealed that he was in excruciating pain and felt like he was losing his mind, but his determination to finish was unwavering. "I would have rather died on the athletic track than quit," he told 9News.com.au.
Just a few weeks ago, Brockmann successfully completed the mammoth 1000-mile run in just 12 days, raising an incredible $4.5 million for Homeless Charity We Are Mobilise. However, the toll it took on his body and mind was immense. One month later, Brockmann described feeling like he was trapped in a time loop during the run. "I literally felt like I was in the movie The Edge of Tomorrow... reliving the same day over and over again," he shared.
Despite this never-ending feeling, giving up was never an option for the 25-year-old. He explained that the decision to push through and finish the run was made long before he even started. "It's not just about finding the right words to motivate yourself in the moment. It's about the commitment you make to yourself beforehand," Brockmann said. "You have to follow through on your decisions, no matter what they may be. For me, that meant finishing the run, even if it meant putting my life on the line."
Brockmann's preparation for the run was intense, to say the least. He only allowed himself a warm shower if he had run over 100km that day, a decision he committed to for an entire year. "It was the middle of winter and I would stare at the cold and hot tap, knowing that no one was watching but myself. But that was the decision I made, and I had to stick to it," he shared.
Despite his strong mentality, Brockmann's body began deteriorating within days of starting the run. His average resting heart rate doubled, his feet and toes were swollen and infected, and he was battling a chest infection. He also experienced extreme pain in his knees, ankles, and shins. "Running felt like sandpaper on my feet," he said.
Sleep was also a luxury that Brockmann couldn't afford during the run. "I would get in bed and my heart rate would be up, making it impossible to sleep. I would lie there, stressing about the lack of rest I was getting, knowing that I had to go back out and run again in just a couple of hours," he shared.
Adding to the pressure, the run was live-streamed, making it even more challenging for Brockmann. "Anyone could tune in at any time and see if I was still moving. For others, it may have been exciting, but for me, it felt like I was in The Truman Show," he explained. "I couldn't stop until I finished, and that was a tough pill to swallow."
But Brockmann found ways to push through. He listened to music, took quick naps, and stopped for food breaks. And when he finally crossed the finish line, the overwhelming feeling was relief, rather than joy or pride. "I was in so much pain, more than I ever anticipated," he said.
Weeks later, Brockmann's body still hasn't fully recovered. He has lost five kilos, his resting heart rate is still too high, and his joints and mobility are not back to normal. "My body was chewing away at itself during the run. It's taken a toll, but I'm getting it checked out to make sure there's no long-term damage," he said.
Despite this, Brockmann knows that he will soon be planning his next challenge. Why? Because of his "zest for life." "I have this desire to push my limits and live life to the fullest," he said. "I don't want to just go through the motions and feel like I'm living at a six. I want to experience everything this world has to offer at a ten, even the lows. That's what it means to truly live."
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