British endurance runner William Goodge has unofficially broken the record for the fastest run across the width of Australia. Covering nearly 2,500 miles from Perth to Bondi Beach in just 35 days, he beat the previous record by four days. Goodge, 31, faced intense physical and mental challenges, running the equivalent of two and a half marathons every day through extreme temperatures and isolated stretches like the Nullarbor Plain, which has no services for over 1,200 kilometers.
His motivation stems from the loss of his mother Amanda to cancer in 2018, which inspired him to begin endurance challenges to raise money for cancer-related charities across the UK, US, and Australia. Rather than turning to destructive behaviors, Goodge used grief as fuel for good. Already known as the fastest person to run from Los Angeles to New York, and nicknamed the real-life Forrest Gump, this latest feat further cements his place among elite endurance athletes.
The record is still pending official verification by Guinness World Records. Despite the hardship, Goodge expressed immense gratitude, describing the run as the toughest challenge of his life but one he’s proud to have completed.
Vocabulary:
• across (preposition): from one side.
• width (noun): side-to-side distance.
• seemingly (adverb): apparently but uncertainly.
• blazing (adjective): very hot or bright.
• numb (verb): remove physical feeling.
Source: BBC News