WEEK 6: BROOKE’S OUTBACK GRIND
This week, Brooke McIntosh hit Day 42 of her 180-day mission to run around Australia — and things got real.
After crushing the wild stretch of the Nullarbor, the scenery may have shifted, but the inner work? Still intense. Brooke’s been deep in reflection, peeling off layers of “I’ve gotta do it all myself” and finally letting support actually land. The external heat has been brutal (34 degrees but feeling like 38 on that hot bitumen), but the internal fire? Still burning strong.
On Day 40, Brooke had one of those heart-hitting moments that reminded her what this is really all about:
“It’s not always the conversation. Sometimes it’s just about giving someone space to be seen. Heard. Felt.”
One man said nothing that morning. An hour later, he pulled up beside her on the highway with a donation and a simple, “Go girl… I know what this is about. I’m going through it too.”
That’s the stuff. Quiet impact. Unseen power. Lasting change.
Brooke’s also been feeling the weight of this wild, elite experience — running the same route as legends like Ned Brockman, Sean Bell, and Timmy Franklin. She’s seen their markers on the road. She’s felt their legacy.
“There are so many Aussies who’ll never experience the country like this. It’s madness… but it’s magic.”
Groundhog Day is real out here — but the little moments, the roadside convos, the random dog stories, the stickers from runners past… they keep her going. That, and a second bowl of brown rice, veg, and cheese every damn night. She’s earning every bite.
On Day 42, Brooke hit full-on sensory overload. The traffic’s wild now, the noise is next-level, and her ADHD’s firing up. She can’t even run with music anymore — too much stimulation. Mix that with a bad night’s sleep and the chaos of city life creeping in, and yeah… the mental load is heavy. She’s missing the stillness of the bush.
“Take me home to the bush. West Virginia…”
She joked about taking the long way around — because they are. Through the Great Ocean Road, not the shortcut. Torquay, Apollo Bay, Lorne, Geelong, then into Melbourne. Every step intentional. Every detour for a reason. Because this run’s never just been about getting from A to B — it’s about showing what happens when you choose Just One More.
Day 42 also brought some physical challenges. Brooke’s right knee’s flaring up badly, and physio in Adelaide is officially a must. The plan was to run. The reality? Walking it out. Slowly. With purpose.
“When you’ve got plans to make it to Adelaide, but your body’s kinda got other plans for you…”
So if you see her out on Augusta Highway — jump in, walk a few kms, bring a snack, or just wave her on.
She’s halfway across SA now, one foot in front of the other, fueled by purpose, pain, power, and the promise to do JUST ONE MORE.
And ps — if you see her out there, don’t just honk. Stop. Say hey. Drop a donation if you can. Every cent goes straight to the Blue Tree Project, helping educate and raise awareness around mental health in our communities. 🌳
Donate here: https://just-one-more.raiselysite.com