Latest news with #ultraendurance
Forbes
20-05-2025
- Forbes
The Surprising Tech William Goodge Used To Run Across Australia
William Goodge after arriving in Sydney. Running influencer William Goodge has been making headlines after becoming the fastest man to travel across Australia. He took 35 days to cover 3,800km of terrain, from Perth to Bondi Beach in Sydney. You can check out the data for his runs over on Strava, but what technology did he actually use to track those runs, which regularly ticked over 100km in a day? Goodge used both a watch some of you may already own, as well as a tracking device a little more hardcore in order to be compliant with the Guinness World Records rules. Let's dig into it. As noted on Goodge's Strava records, he wore a Coros Vertix 2S as his primary 'normal' tracker. This is one of Coros's top-end watches, and sells for $699. Coros Vertix 2S It's a good option for one of these ultra-endurance challenges as, unlike many new watches, it has a classic low-power transflective display rather than an AMOLED one. These are 'always on' by design and their visibility is only improved by high levels of ambient light, where OLED watches have to use more power to compete with it. The Vertix 2S is rated for up to 118 hours of GPS tracking, so even under the gruelling conditions of Goodge's challenge, it shouldn't have needed too-regular charges. While the Coros Vertix 2S would arguably be perfectly up for the job of GPS tracking this challenge, Goodge also took a Garmin InReach tracker with him. This is the Inreach Mini 2, a $399 tracker and emergency satellite communications device. It was stashed in Goodge's waist pack, but as it weighs just 100g it shouldn't have caused too much of a practical issue. It's this device that mapped out his route on a publicly accessible Garmin webpage. Garmin InReach 2 In his preparatory YouTube video, Goodge claimed it would be set to send a GPS ping every two minutes, rather than the default 10 minutes. This effectively allowed for real-time tracking, while the Coros Vertix 2S data would only be transferred when sync'd with a phone. Like most enthusiast running watches, though, the Vertix records GPS data every second. Last of all, Goodge also wore a WHOOP tracker, although this is likely because he has some form of sponsorship with the brand. His YouTube videos bear a link to the WHOOP website. A WHOOP would record additional heart rate results as standard, but such a band is typically used to moderate a fairly intensive workout routine and avoid injury or overtraining. And that doesn't really apply to someone attempting to run upwards of 110km a day for well over a month. WHOOP 4.0 tracker Despite using legit tech to track his runs, and posting publicly on Strava and the Garmin InReach web portal, Goodge has attracted criticism online, with some suggesting he may have in some way faked the attempt. Cited evidence includes aberrations in the GPS and pace data, and that Goodge's heart rate was unrealistically low in long stretches, with some days' tracking average not too far above 100bpm. Goodge's team refutes claims he did not run the full distance, as reported by Canadian Running Magazine last week. Its report is worth a read for more detail on these claims.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
British man claims record-breaking fastest run across Australia
A British ultra-endurance athlete says he has broken the world record for running across the width of Australia, after a gruelling 35-day journey. William Goodge, 31, started the 3,800km (2,361-mile) run from Cottesloe Beach in Perth on 15 April, and finished on Monday afternoon at Australia's iconic Bondi Beach, his father by his side. Goodge's team says he ran the equivalent of two-and-a-half marathons - about 100km - every day. Originally from Bedfordshire in England, Goodge started running marathons after his mother, Amanda, died from cancer in 2018, with this journey raising money for cancer charities in the UK, US and Australia. The record is yet to be verified by Guinness World Records, which certified Chris Turnbull's record-breaking dash across the continent over 39 days in 2023. The year before, Australian electrician Nedd Brockmann ran the same route in 47 days, raising millions for charity. Speaking to BBC Breakfast about 24 hours after he had crossed the finish line, Goodge said "it's the toughest thing I've ever done". Along the way Goodge ran through a dust storm, lost several toenails, and suffered from injuries, including rotting feet and bone pain, which sometimes caused him to hallucinate. "It was full-on from start to finish," he told the BBC, adding the first nine days were particularly hard. The Nullabor Plain - a vast area of desert that crosses from Western Australia to South Australia - was also "unforgiving", he said. Surprisingly though, Goodge said he was "feeling very comfortable" now that the run was over. Moments after crossing the finish line, Goodge placed a bunch of flowers on Bondi's famous shoreline in memory of his late mother. "She was the most special person in my life," he told the Guardian Australia, adding, "she would be proud of everything I've done - she'd also be concerned". Goodge said thinking about how his mother battled cancer was crucial during his journey, and helped him overlook his own suffering. "In the moments where it's tough, I'll think back to those times, I think about the woman she was, and how she handled herself, and how she supported me," he told the Sydney Morning Herald. "I feel like she's there with me a lot of the time." During the race, he says he saw almost all of Australia's famous animals - though most were dead on the road - and much of its unique countryside. Some in the running community however have questioned the accuracy of data tracking his speed and heart rate over the course of the run. "Goodge stands by his record keeping and asserts that he is taking every single step," his agent told the Canadian Running magazine last week. Goodge also claims to hold the record for the fastest British man to run across the US, crossing from Los Angeles to New York in 55 days. Get our flagship newsletter with all the headlines you need to start the day. Sign up here.
The Independent
20-05-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
British athlete smashes record for running width of Australia: ‘Like a revolving nightmare that wouldn't end'
A British ultra-endurance athlete has broken the world record for running across Australia in just over a month. William Goodge, 31, crossed the finish line in Sydney shortly after 4pm on Monday, completing the 3,800km run in 35 days at Bondi Beach. The athlete from Bedfordshire started his run in Perth on 15 April and covered about 100km every day, the equivalent of two and a half marathons. Mr Goodge shattered the world record held by Australian Chris Turnbull, who ran the width of the country in 2023 in 39 days. Mr Turnbull had taken the record from Nedd Brockmann. The Australian electrician had completed the same run the year before in 47 days. Mr Goodge said he started running marathons to raise money for cancer charities in the UK, US and Australia in honour of his mother, who died from cancer in 2018. The athlete was handed bouquets of flowers after he crossed the finish line, which he placed at the shoreline in memory of his late mother. "She was the most special person in my life," he told The Guardian. 'She would be proud of everything I've done – she'd also be concerned.' Mr Goodge's father joined him at the finish line where the athlete said the run was 'like a revolving nightmare that wouldn't end'. "The first nine days were extremely challenging,' he told the Sydney Morning Herald, 'but you have to tell your body and mind that even though you're struggling, you're going to persevere, and you're going to get through it.' Mr Goodge explained how the challenging run took a toll on his body as his toenails started falling off along the way, feet started rotting and the pain in his bones disrupted his sleep, causing him to hallucinate. 'So, in the moments where it's tough, I will think back to those times, I think about the woman she was and how she handled herself and how she supported me,' Mr Goodge told the Australian daily, adding that he felt 'like she's there with me a lot of the time'.
BBC News
20-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
William Goodge: British man breaks record for fastest run across Australia
A British ultra-endurance athlete has broken the world record for running across the length of Australia, after a gruelling 35-day Goodge, 31, started the 3,800km (2361 miles) run from Cottesloe Beach in Perth on 15 April, and finished on Monday afternoon at Australia's iconic Bondi Beach, his father by his from Bedfordshire in England, Goodge ran the equivalent of two-and-a-half marathons - about 100km - every day. He started running marathons after his mother, Amanda, died from cancer in 2018, with this journey raising money for cancer charities in the UK, US and Australia. The previous world record for running across Australia was held by Chris Turnbull, who managed the feat in 39 days in 2023. The year before, Australian electrician Nedd Brockmann ran the same route in 47 days, raising millions for to local media after he crossed the finish line, Goodge said the run was "like a revolving nightmare that wouldn't end". "The first nine days were extremely you have to tell your body and mind that even though you're struggling, you're going to persevere, and you're going to get through it," he told the Sydney Morning Herald (SMH).Moments after crossing the finish line, Goodge placed a bunch of flowers on Bondi's famous shoreline in memory of his late mother. "She was the most special person in my life," he told the Guardian Australia, adding, "she would be proud of everything I've done - she'd also be concerned". Goodge said thinking about how his mother battled cancer was crucial during his journey, and helped him overlook his own suffering."So in the moments where it's tough, I'll think back to those times, I think about the woman she was, and how she handled herself, and how she supported me," he told the SMH."I feel like she's there with me a lot of the time."On Goodge's website about the run, he also thanked Turnbull for sharing his knowledge and experience on how to tackle the the journey. Goodge also holds the record for the fastest British man to run across the US, crossing from Los Angeles to New York in 55 days.
The Guardian
19-05-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
William Goodge smashes record after running across Australia in 35 days
An ultra-endurance athlete has smashed the world record for running across Australia after spending more than a month on foot. Spurred on by his mother's battle with cancer, and with his father by his side, William Goodge crossed the finish line in Sydney just after 4pm on Monday. It brought an end to 35 days of pounding the pavement, striding the equivalent of two and a half marathons per day. That's four days quicker than previous record holder, Chris Turnbull, who completed the 3,800km feat in 39 days in 2023. The 31-year-old British athlete crossed the finish line at Bondi beach, making his massive run a new Guinness world record. Goodge set out from Cottesloe beach in Perth on 15 April, averaging more than 100km per day at about seven and a half minutes per kilometre. 'Done a run in Centennial Park,' he said in a video posted to social media just moments before finishing. 'What's up!?' he shouted to the hundreds of runners behind him who turned out to run the last five and 10 kilometres with him. 'It's obviously been quite the journey … we start before the sun comes up and finish when the sun's gone down,' he previously told AAP. 'I've seen every one of your famous animals, other than sharks and crocodiles, but unfortunately, a lot of them have been dead on the side of the road.' After crossing the line he was handed a bunch of flowers which he placed at the shoreline in memory of his late mother who passed away from cancer in 2018. 'She was the most special person in my life … she passed away seven and a half years ago to cancer,' he said. Throughout the run, Goodge raised money for the Cancer Council of Australia in honour of his mother, Amanda. He said he used his grief and the strength his mother showed while fighting the disease to motivate him to do something positive instead of 'waving the white flag'. Sign up to Australia Sport Get a daily roundup of the latest sports news, features and comment from our Australian sports desk after newsletter promotion 'She would be proud of everything I've done. She'd also be concerned,' he said with a chuckle. The punishing run has tested Goodge. 'The first nine days trying to sort of acclimatise to what I was doing was a big challenge,' he previously said. 'I wasn't sleeping at night and I had deep pain in my bones and things like hip flexors … and mentally I was tossing and turning throughout the night, hallucinating a little bit, which isn't that fun.' Goodge said he suffered multiple injuries as he crossed the country, including toenails falling off and one toe that's 'been rotting for the past probably a week'. 'Ironically, the knees have felt OK. They've been very solid,' he said. Goodge, who celebrated his birthday on the Nullarbor Plain during the run, is also the fastest British athlete to run across the US.
