The first week of Brooke McIntosh’s run across Australia has been BRUTAL. It started with a massive send-off with heartwarming support from family, friends, and random people who showed up to witness history.
BUTTTT… just 2 hours in, she took a wrong turn. LOST. More kilometers, more time on her feet, and an early reminder—this journey isn’t going to make anything easy.
Day 2 and Day 3 were emotional. The overwhelming support, the messages, the reality of what she’s taking on—it’s a lot. Her body is still adjusting. The first three days, her family was there in the caravan, keeping her going. But then, Day 4 hit. And it hit HARD.
Saying goodbye to her family crushed her. The second they left, the loneliness sank in. No distractions. Just her, the road, and her own thoughts. She cried—A LOT. But the only way out is through. So, she ran.
By Day 7, the pain set in. Her body ached, her feet throbbed, and no amount of painkillers could fix the exhaustion. Three hours of sleep a night. Tossing, turning, body screaming. The hardest part isn’t even the running—it’s getting out of bed, knowing she has to do it all over again. Every. Single. Day. This is where discipline kicks in. Not when things are easy, but when everything in her is begging her to quit.
But no amount of support can replace the ache of missing home. Brooke is tough, but she’s human. The sleepless nights, the exhaustion, and the endless road make the distance from her family feel even bigger. She misses her dogs. She misses India and Ollie. She jokes about schooling them on the run, but deep down, she just wants them there.
Then came an unexpected visitor—Grandad Mac. Standing on the side of the road, watching it all unfold. The same day he showed up, Brooke found herself giving a keynote speech—to a paddock full of cows. How ironic, considering her grandad was a farmer with 500+ cows. They stuck around, so whatever she said must have been good.
By the end of the week, Brooke had clocked 560 kilometers. There are 175 days to go. Her body is battered, her heart is heavy, and the road ahead is still so damn long. But quitting isn’t an option. The job’s not finished.
Because this isn’t just about running. It’s about something bigger—mental health. Brooke is putting one foot in front of the other for everyone who has ever felt like they couldn’t go on. For everyone who has battled the demons in their mind. For everyone who has suffered in silence.
She’s running so no one has to face the depths of darkness alone. She’s running to remind people that it’s not weak to speak. That asking for help is strength. That pushing through the hardest days is possible, even when it feels impossible.
This mission is bigger than her. And if she can keep going—through the pain, the exhaustion, the loneliness—then so can you.
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If you need immediate support, here are some options:
📞 Lifeline – 13 11 14 (24/7 crisis support) 📞 Suicide Call Back Service – 1300 659 467 (free professional phone & online counselling) 📞 1800 RESPECT – 1800 737 732