Meet the Man Who’s Running for 24-Hours Straight

How long can you run on a treadmill before tapping out? 20 minutes? 30 minutes? Maybe longer if you're training for a marathon?

What if you set yourself the challenge of running for an entire day, a full 24 hours? Well, that's exactly what 54-year-old former AFL sports trainer Scotty Clark is doing this month. On 14th March, he'll going further than he's ever gone before.

And he's not just doing it for the hell of it.

Clark has set himself the goal of raising $5,000 for Beyond Blue through their fundraising program.

But what made him decide to do this challenge? How does he manage the stress on his body and mind throughout it all? We spoke to him recently to ask him about what led him to do this challenge.

The journey starts on a fateful day in 2009, when a back injury left Clark out of action for 6 months. At the time, he'd been pushing his limits with the Ironman Triathlon, a punishing endurance test involving swimming, cycling and running that's often considered one of the most challenging sporting events in the world. But in an instant, he went from this high-level athletic achievement to complete inactivity while he recovered.

For many, that might have been the end of the story. But Clark wasn't going to let it stop him. Instead, he shifted focus.

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Rebuilding from the Core

Rehabilitation meant going back to basics. To strengthen his lower back, Clark committed to planking every single day. Starting at a few minutes and gradually increasing.

It became its own endurance mission.

Minutes turned into hours. In 2020, he held a near four-hour plank and went on to set the Australian weighted plank record with 50kg. It was his first taste of breaking records.

But alongside rebuilding his core, he also shifted his focus fully to running.

Training was limited at first. Slow. Controlled. Patient.

Over time, patience turned into progress. Marathons became ultra-marathons. Weekly kilometres climbed. His current training schedule averages around 110km per week.

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The 24-Hour Event

Originally, Clark dreamed even bigger: running from Melbourne Airport to Sydney Airport. But the logistics of a challenge that size proved overwhelming.

Once again, he wouldn't let a setback get in the way of things. He simply shifted his focus.

He thought to himself: "I've got a treadmill at home, and I love running on the treadmill, so let's just do it on the treadmill."

To stay active for 24 straight hours, he estimates he'll cover around 240km. That's more than half the distance from Melbourne to Canberra.

His longest treadmill effort so far? Seven hours. 60km. For him that's just a stepping stone.

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Training for the Unknown

Clark has given himself 12 months to prepare. He's not overly strict or regimental about his training. Instead, he balances consistency with recovery.

In fact, the hardest part is making the decision every single day to get out there and train.

"What keeps me motivated is the cause that I'm running for."

He surrounds himself with people during long sessions to keep his mind fresh and engaged. Because when you're staring down hours on a treadmill, mindset matters just as much as distance.

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The Role of the Viper Treadmill

Clark will be completing the challenge on the Viper treadmill, a smart treadmill from Lifespan Fitness that has become indispensable.

"It's a complete treadmill. The first time I ran on it, I just felt it was so smooth underfoot."

Over long distances, that smoothness and the spongy shock-absorbing cushioning make all the difference.

"With the cushioning… I can do the longer distances."

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More Than Just a Run

Clark is well aware that the 24-hour challenge will probably have some surprises in store. But he's ready for anything.

"Sport is sport, endurance is endurance, your body is your body. It's going to go through phases where you're not feeling great, where you're feeling really good. That's just how your body is, and that's how life works."

From the moment he presses the 24-hour countdown clock, he knows it will be a ride.

"It's going to be a lifetime experience."

Two days after the event, he turns 55. But rather than being a barrier, age has brought perspective.

"In my growing age, you mature as an individual. Over the years, with my boys and my family, you tend to do things to show them: what are you afraid of in life?"

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Advice for Anyone Considering Their Own Challenge

His message is simple:

Go for it.
Put in the groundwork.
Be consistent.
Enjoy your running.

Because at the end of the day, it's about showing up. It's about pushing through discomfort for something bigger than yourself.

And for Scotty Clark, every step of those 24 hours is for the people supported by Beyond Blue.

"If I can do something to help people with mental health problems live a better quality of life, then I'm all in for it."

Check out his donation page here or read more about the Team Beyond Blue charity event.