58 marathons in 58 days

Have you completed a marathon? Only 0.01 per cent of the global population finishes the 42.2km each year. That data was sourced in 2019, before COVID triggered a whole generation of CrossFitters to lace up their Nikes and hit the road selling out major running events across Australia and abroad. 

In January, I’m taking my son Monty to the United States to spend time with a bloke who’s digging deep to raise $100,000 for the Mental Awareness Foundation. Lachlan Stuart is stepping way out of the ordinary by running 58 marathons in 58 days, crossing 50 states of the USA and eight states and territories of Australia. That’s 2,447km in all seasons and terrains. 

He’s calling it the 58.Two.58 challenge. If completed, it’ll be a world-first and it all kicks off in Alaska on January 21, 2025 before wrapping up in Brisbane on March 21, 2025. So, my 10-year-old son and I will join Lachie on the start line in Alaska to help him launch his global adventure. We’ve been clocking up the kms in 90 per cent Brisbane humidity, trying somehow to prepare for blizzards and whatever else Alaska’s weather delivers. Why am I taking Monty along for the ride? I want him to see exactly what it takes to achieve outside of the norm, the benefit of sheer hard work, and the priceless value in never giving up. Monty will run approximately 10km of that initial marathon in Alaska, while I’ll be doing my best to get the whole distance covered after recently rupturing an ankle ligament playing footy with the kids in the backyard. 

Here’s Lachie on motivation and purpose:

“Why take on this massive task? In the past I’ve constantly struggled with doubt – never believing in myself, not liking who I was, and not trusting my own abilities.

That doubt made me feel like a failure, and I turned to drinking and drugs just to escape the person I couldn’t stand to be.

I wasn’t the man that could. But over the past decade, I’ve turned that around. Now, I’m running to show every man out there that they can rise above, just like I did.

Because too many men, especially under 40, are losing hope, and we need to change that.​

​My mission is to run 58 marathons in 58 days across 58 states, raising $100,000 for the Mental Awareness Foundation.

But this journey is about more than just numbers – it’s about inspiring men everywhere to rise above their challenges, proving that no matter how lost or doubtful you may feel, you can become the man that can.”

If you’d also like to support Lachlan and what he’s trying to achieve, you’ll find all the information by following the Instagram pages below:

@lachlanstuart

@themanthatcanproject 

And to donate, please go to the Mental Awareness Foundation.

I hope you enjoyed the read. 

Matt Lancashire