Jack Pitcher, age 28, of Bracknell, is currently attempting a British record for running from Perth to Sydney. Josh Smith, age 21, of Reading, was looking to break the record alongside Jack until a recent injury forced him to complete the remaining 1,300km by bicycle, as part of a run and cycle across Australia. Together, they wish to raise vital funds for charity.
With a shared passion for running and a desire to push their personal boundaries before they embark upon new career paths, friends Jack and Josh partnered up for an ambitious trek across Australia.
The current British record for running across Australia was set by Nikki Love in 2023 at 77 days*. The duo are now hoping that Jack will shave a staggering 2.5 weeks off that record, completing their journey in just 60 days. With a goal of covering 72 kilometres per day – more than 1.5 marathons – for 60 days straight, the 4,320km trek is equivalent to 95 marathons in total. Before Josh’s injury, the pair had already run 2,700km, the equivalent of 64 marathons in 48 days.
In addition to setting a new British record, the pair also want to use the experience to raise £100,000 for good causes. Their fundraiser is now open on Givestar, with funds raised going directly to SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, and ARC Wokingham, a confidential volunteer-run counselling service.
Jack said,
“We are hoping the money raised by Perth 2 Sydney will raise awareness and funds for SSAFA and ARC Wokingham, helping individuals get the crucial help these two charities provide.”
Jack is a seasoned ultramarathon runner, so preparation wasn’t new to him. He commented,
“The only thing I couldn’t prepare myself for was the terrain and the heat.”
But for Josh, endurance sports are far newer to him, having only completed his first marathon in April. He said:
“Preparing mentally to run across Australia was 99% of my training. Once underway, I was shocked at the body’s ability to recover and adapt. It is beyond what I expected. I ran the first 10 days on a fat swollen ankle, and made it weeks into the journey before finally having to accept that I would need to complete it by bicycle.”
When asked about the hardest part of the experience so far, Jack said,
“We set out to run the perimeter of Australia, but relatively early into our journey, that ambition was stifled because of car issues. We had to revise our route and planning and ultimately decided to run across Australia instead. That was a moment of really low morale for us, but it is important to never give up. Luck can completely change overnight.”
Planning has been key throughout the journey. With their route and pacing set to a tee, each day’s journey kicks off at 7:30am. Breaks are scheduled every 17km and a “light jog” helps to cool down for 4km at the end of each day.
Josh emphasises the need for continual planning:
“At one stage, we were running through a remote stretch of Australia from Norseman to Port Augusta. There’s limited water and it’s a vast landscape which makes hydration and logistics difficult at times. Planning ahead is important to ensure safety through these parts of the journey.”
Military links and fundraising for SSAFA
Both Jack and Josh have military links. Jack’s grandfather served in the Armed Forces and was based at the Suez Canal, and his father was a volunteer in the Territorial Army.
For Josh, supporting current and veteran servicepeople is important to him since he is set to join the British military ranks himself, once he has completed the Australian adventure.
However, it was Josh’s chance encounter with a veteran that prompted the pair to support SSAFA.
Josh explained:
“I was on a train not long before I left for Australia. A homeless veteran came on board and told everyone about his situation, explaining he was after a few pounds for a hostel. No one should be put in that position, let alone someone who has served our country.
“SSAFA provides tailored wellbeing and welfare support to serving personnel, veterans and their families, and has helped numerous veterans experiencing homelessness to get back on their feet and overcome the problems they face. Knowing I’ll be serving my country, it feels only right that we support the charity.”
After the adventure
Once the challenge is complete, Josh will head to military training, having passed the Army Officer Selection Board in Westbury last year. He was at Worthy Down on the Potential Officers Development Programme and is due to begin training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst when he returns home.
Meanwhile, Jack, who worked as a self-employed roofer, is looking to change career once he returns to the UK. A passionate advocate of mental health, he is looking to step into the field himself, while also sharing his experiences as an endurance athlete through motivational speaking.
Thinking about the finish line, Josh said,
“It will mean a lot. I’m just a normal lad from Reading. I’m not an endurance athlete. But I’ve set myself a goal to get from Perth to Sydney on my own two feet with Jack and I’ll get it done.”
Jack added,
“Achieving this would mean everything to me and my family. All I’ve wanted to do is to inspire people and make my family proud.”
Victoria Findlay, Senior Events Officer at SSAFA, said:
“Jack and Josh are undertaking an incredibly inspiring journey and we are very grateful that they have decided to use it to raise funds for our work. From vehicle breakdown to injury, they have overcome obstacles throughout. We’ll be cheering them on from afar as they reach the finish line!”
To donate to Jack and Josh’s Perth to Sydney fundraiser, benefitting SSAFA and ARC Wokingham, visit: https://givestar.io/gs/project-perimeter
