NOT even a fractured elbow can stop Brad Tilley from tying up his laces and “pounding the pavement” on a daily basis.
In December 2016, the well-known South East resident and now devoted runner set himself a challenge to run 5km a day, every day, and he has not looked back.
Brad clocked up a whopping 500 consecutive days on his “running streak” last week and as a member of Millicent Runners he says that above keeping fit, his family and running crew are his biggest motivators.
“I have a massive sweet tooth and a fairly sedentary job, so after retiring from football I knew I needed to keep exercising,” he said.
“Running was a great way to burn a large amount of calories in a short amount of time.
“I love running distances and races that inspire people to push their limits – inspiring my family and running crew is a big motivator for me.
“I love the fresh air, freedom and the mental health properties of moving
“I liken running to meditation, 30 minutes alone to allow yourself to switch off from the world’s problems, your own problems without interruption.
“I love exploring and finding new tracks or roads to run.”
Brad added that over the course of his streak he has not had too many “I cannot be bothered” days with bad weather conditions and long days in the office not even deterring him.
“I do find it hard to find the time to get out and get it down when I’m working long hours at tax time in the middle of our winter,” he said.
“It is also tough to run the day after a 50 or 100km race.
“Last August I fractured my elbow while playing basketball so I ran a few weeks on some hardcore painkillers.”
Despite his passion and love for running Brad has never actually completed a marathon, he has however gone one step up and completed approximately 20 ultra-marathons in the last three years.
Marathons are always exactly 42.2km in distance, any race longer is considered an ultra-marathon.
Among Brad’s biggest achievements is the completion of his longest competing race, the Heysen 105.
Held every October, the Heysen 105 is a gruelling 105km trek through the Adelaide Hills from Victor Harbor to Kuitpo Forest.
“I have completed it three times,” Brad said.
“My longest run however was the Movember fundraiser I did last year – I ran for 24 hours and completed 133km”.
With the finish line far from his sights, Brad has devised a bucket list of races he would like to compete in.
“I’d like to run a major road marathon, maybe overseas in New York or London,” he said.
“I’d al so like to complete a multi day trail race where you might cover 250km over 4 days and run a 100 mile race and also run a 5km under 20 minutes.
“My current personal best is 20:22.”
As well as running Brad still plays basketball locally and sometimes dusts off the lycra to go bike riding.
Millicent locals will join him in his next 59.5km ultra-marathon, which will be the town’s first ever FAT ASS run to Mount Gambier.
