RUN FOR WISHES
A life-changing journey for many

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RUN AROUND AUSTRALIA

10 MARCH 2024 – 22 AUGUST 2024

On Sunday, March 10, 2024, Sean started running from gate 2 at the MCG in Melbourne at 5:04am (AEDT). He then proceeded to the A1, running up Australia’s east coast to Sydney and Brisbane, before turning left at Townsville and heading west to Mt Isa. Sean then ran to Darwin and Broome before heading south towards Perth, reaching a major milestone – 10,000km (6,214 mi) in 118 days, 2 hours and 4 minutes between Geraldton and Perth.

Sean then continued through Perth to Adelaide via the Goldfields and the Nullarbor before returning to gate 2 of the MCG in Melbourne at 5:30pm (AEST) on Thursday August 22, 2024, completing the full circumnavigation of Australia in 165 days, 13 hours and 26 minutes, having run a total distance of 13,964.10km (8,676.88 mi). Sean had no rest days and maintained an overall daily average of 84.34km (52.4 mi). Sean’s journey circumnavigating Australia on foot raised over $177,000 for Make-A-Wish Australia.

run_for_wishes_yellow_vest_shot_from_behind_me

In 1983, Ron Grant completed the first known run around Australia, covering 13,383km (8,316 mi) in 217 days, establishing the benchmark distance and time that future attempts would be measured against. During Sean’s run, he reached the historical benchmark distance of 13,383km in 158 days, 16 hours and 52 minutes, surpassing the previous fastest time of 169 days, 15 hours and 31 minutes, set by Dave Alley.

While Sean’s full route ultimately extended to 13,964.10km with his complete return to gate 2 of the MCG, the 13,383km benchmark remained the recognised comparison point for the existing record structure at the time of the run.

In 2024, Sean Bell set the Fastest Known Time (FKT) for running around Australia, completing the full circumnavigation in 165 days, 13 hours and 26 minutes.
His record breaking Run Around Australia is officially verified by Fastest Known Time (FKT)

Sean’s run has been officially verified by Fastest Known Time (FKT), the governing body for endurance route records. That makes Sean the fastest known person to run around Australia: 13,964km in 165 days, with no rest days. As part of this process, FKT has formalised an official Run Around Australia route.

It’s a full circumnavigation that must finish back at the original starting point, closing the loop. The route is set by a sequence of mandatory waypoints and key landmarks. Runners can take any foot-legal path between them. The result is a clear, standardised benchmark for every future attempt around Australia.

How the Record Run Around Australia Works

Explore the rules, route and requirements that define a complete Record Run Around Australia.

The Moment Sean Bell Broke the Record

Sean Bell’s 13,383 km Australia Running Record.Giddy Up!

Finishing at the MCG: 13,964 km Around Australia

Tasmania 2024

27 August 2024 – 3 September 2024

But Sean still didn’t finish there… unsurprisingly to those who know Sean, just 5 days after finishing his run around Australia, Sean ran down and up the A1 of Tasmania, from Devonport to Hobart and back. It was a run of 566km (351.7 mi) which took Sean 7 days, 6 hours, and 49 minutes to complete. Tasmania was Sean’s most challenging leg of his entire run, as Tasmania experienced its worst weather in 50 years including 95km/hr headwinds.

Whilst Tasmania is not included in the record run around Australia route because previous record holders ran solely Australia’s mainland, Sean wanted to include Tasmania to recognise it as a part of Australia, and for one last adventure and fundraising push for Make-A-Wish Australia.

Sean battling the cold in Tassie!

Sean celebrating with friend Mitch (left) and brother, Aaron (right) after completing his run from Devonport to Hobart and back.

Cairns to Melbourne 2022

11 April – 11 June 2022

Cairns to Melbourne was Sean’s inaugural Run for Wishes. This run came as a COVID backstop after being unable to run around Australia in 2021 as originally planned. Ultimately, this became a ‘rehearsal run’ for his run around Australia which he knew was still to come. It formed a great opportunity for Sean to learn how to back up big mileage day after day, and how to become as efficient as possible with all the logistics that are a part of such a huge undertaking.

Sean ran 4,001km in 60 days, raising over $100,000 for Make-A-Wish Australia. Despite facing the devastating loss of his running coach and business partner Jase Cronshaw during his journey, Sean’s resilience and determination inspired many. His efforts helped make hundreds of unique wishes come true, bringing hope and happiness to sick children and their families.

On June 11, 2022 Sean completed his 4,000km run from Cairns to Melbourne

Cairns to Melbourne Trailer

Watch the full documentary here.

Chasing my dream to help sick kids achieve theirs
Over the 2 Run for Wishes journeys, Sean has fundraised $277,000 for Make-A-Wish Australia

Sean Bell is the fastest known person to have run around Australia, verified by Fastest Know Time (FKT). Today, he is a keynote speaker and online run coach, helping individuals and teams build resilience, take ownership and win their own run within.

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