On 1 May, British woman Fran Hurndall set out to run 3,800km from Cottesloe Beach in Perth to Sydney’s Bondi Beach in just 34 days.

For Hurndall, it’s not only an attempt to set a new world record, but an opportunity to start a conversation about domestic violence.

TDA Sport sat down with Hurndall a few weeks ago to understand what’s driving her. Here’s what we learnt, and the latest on Hurndall’s progress.

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This isn’t the first time Hurndall, a former soccer player, has attempted something out of the ordinary. In 2023, she dribbled a soccer ball from the Gold Coast to Sydney. In the process, she raised $20,000 for women’s sport. That challenge saw her cover about 30 kilometres a day.

Hurndall spent nine months preparing for her latest mission, which includes covering 110km a day for over a month. While she took the training period seriously, Hurndall acknowledged that you can never be fully prepared for a challenge like this.

“This is something that you can't physically prepare for. Otherwise, I'd be running 770 kilometres a week, which is just nuts.”

When I asked Hurndall what her biggest fear on the road was, she replied without hesitation, “my body breaking.”

After only one week on the road, it seems that to some extent, her fears have come true. The sheer impact of trying to run 110km a day has taken its toll, with worsening pain in Hurndall’s Achilles tendon substantially slowing her down.

In a post to her Instagram on Wednesday, Hurndall wrote: “After calling into Kondinin Hospital and getting confirmation of the injury, I’ve decided to keep going, but at a slower pace for now.”

Public interest in ultra-running has increased significantly in recent decades. A 2020 study by RunRepeat found that ultra-running participation had increased by 345% since 2010.

In 2022, Nedd Brockmann captured Australia’s attention by running from Perth to Bondi, which he completed in 44 days. At the time, the record was 43 days, set by German runner Achim Heukemes in 2005.

Then, in 2023, Australian engineer and ultra-runner Chris Turnbull set the current record of 39 days, eight hours, and one minute.

As you read this, British ultra-runner William Goodge is somewhere in South Australia amid an attempt to run across the country in 35 days. Goodge started on 15 April, and he hasn’t missed a beat after 20 days on the road covering at least 110km a day.

When asked about her ambitious goal to cover the same distance in 34 days, Hurndall says, “The female record, I think it's around 79 days. I could've taken a less challenging way out. But… would you run 3,800 kilometres to start a conversation?”

The fastest known time for a woman to run the distance is in fact 76 days and was set by 56-year-old British woman Nikki Love in 2024.

However, there is no reason that the men's record should be any faster than the women’s record. The same RunRepeat study found that female ultra runners are 0.6% faster than male ultra runners at distances over 195 miles. The study, conducted by RunRepeat in partnership with the International Association of Ultra-running, used data from the previous two decades of ultra-running competition.

Hurndall’s run coincides with Domestic Violence Prevention Month, and she is aiming to raise $1 million for RizeUp Australia, a charity supporting families fleeing domestic violence. The cause is personal for Hurndall.

“In 2024, I found out my sister had been suffering in a domestic violence relationship… all while trying to raise a child,” she says. “We had no idea.”

While she is intent on breaking the record, Hurndall is not losing sight of her ultimate goal: “The most important thing for me is getting help and making a change and impact for those who are suffering in a domestic violence-like relationship.”

Hurndall seems determined to finish the journey, despite her Achilles injury. In her latest social media update, the runner said: “I have always known no matter how this challenge tested my body, I’d never stop – even if I have to crawl to reach my goal of raising funds for those impacted by domestic violence.”

If you want to show her your support, “the best thing you can do is donate – all funds go directly to RizeUp who do amazing work with families impacted by violence,” she said.

You can learn more about Fran’s cause and donate here.

You can follow her journey on Instagram, here.

1800 RESPECT
Call: 1800 737 732
Text: 0458 737 732
Video: 1800RESPECT.org.au

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