Youngest to ever conquer the Simpson By BLAKE METCALF-HOLT   THROUGH heavy terrain, across three long days, an unbridled desire to see out a historic goal came true. Traralgon’s Blake Bourne became the youngest person ever to run across the Simpson Desert, mounting 380 kilometres along the red sand plains and dunes for a cause close to his heart. Adding to the fact he made history, over $30,000 was also raised for mental health charity Speak and Share during the course of his journey. While Bourne had his sights solely on setting the new world record, he ultimately had to make do with second best, finishing it still in a ridiculous time of three days, 17 hours, and 40 minutes. Traversing through taxing conditions (to the say the least) alongside a group of friends and family as his support team, he pushed through to the finish line in the remote town of Birdsville, Queensland. Pushing his body to the absolute limit, Bourne fought through illness, physical torture, and years of devotion to arrive at this exact moment. “Physically I felt strong the whole time, but fatigue definitely did start to set in towards the end,” he told the Express. Each step, every ounce of sweat, the mental fortitude, and the time taken to train for this mammoth mission began well before he took off on this running odyssey. The 26-year-old tasked himself with this all the way back in 2021. After years batting depression, he arrived out of the hospital with his head cleared for what he could do not only for himself, but to raise awareness. As a younger man, Bourne turned to boxing in his times of struggle, but in this latest crossroad, he looked to an objective otherwise viewed by many as crazy. “I was able to rely on (boxing) for about 10 years, and then had fallen out of love with the sport and I just needed something,” he said. “At the time, I didn’t really have anything and I read about someone who had run across the Simpson Desert and it was a simple as that.” That person was ultra-marathon runner and former politician Pat Farmer, who traversed the intersection of Queensland, South Australia and the Northern Territory nine hours and four minutes quicker than Bourne in three days, eight hours, and 36 minutes. The Traralgon local originally mounted his first attempt in 2023, and due to a range of setbacks including a torn calf during the build-up to the run, Bourne still managed 203.2km across a little over two days. “I was gutted because I knew that I had more in me when it was called off,” he said. To prove to himself, Bourne ran the remaining 177km on a treadmill, reinforcing his beliefs, if only marginally. Plenty to be happy about: During the course of his journey from training to crossing the finish line, he raised over $30,000 for mental health charity Speak and Share. Photographs: Jadyn Lam After a lengthy period of recovery in the wake of his disappointment, Bourne recommenced his journey back to the top of the mountain. “I had a few injuries, so I spent most of last year just getting on top of those (and) got the all clear from the sports doctor in December last year to start running again,” he said. “I started doing 30 minutes on, 10 seconds off, 30 seconds on, 10 minutes off, and just gradually (kept) building it up.” From the latter stages of last year through to July, Bourne readied for his second go round. Learning lessons from his first attempt, admittedly not going as hard as before, with his previous training runs including back-to-back days of 80km. In his latest, he still needed to gets the kays in, but dropped back the total running load significantly to keep himself as fresh as possible. “I wasn’t as fit as I was the first time, but I wasn’t as fatigued or sore, so I was able to get there with my legs and body feeling pretty fresh,” Bourne said. Taking off from the Alka Seltzer Bore in South Australia, and after a strong start, he developed gastro 50km in, making it an even more difficult effort as he dealt with stomach issues through to around the 300km mark. Bourne wore a hydration vest throughout his run, allowing him food and water for an hour and a half at a time, while also being treated in other ways by his support team. Learning from his last run, he increased his carbohydrates intake, giving him further energy to see him through. The plan was to have powernaps of 10 minutes every two hours, and then slowly increasing by five minutes throughout, but those periods would quickly be used up for massages and strapping. He estimated that he got around two hours sleep across the three-and-a-half days. Bourne dealt with polar opposite weather conditions as it switched from day to night, going from north of 30 degrees and then plummeting into the negatives once it got dark. “During the day, I was running at a good pace, but when it come around to night time and it got sort of -1, -2 degrees and the muscles just cramped up and got tight, which wasn’t even so much that it was painful, it was just that my legs just wouldn’t move,” he said. By the time Bourne knew he’d done it, emotions understandably poured out, embracing those who’d been there with him in the thick of it and even hugging people he didn’t know. In reflecting on his four-year voyage, he’s grateful for what he’s been able to achieve and for the people who’ve supported along the way. During his first attempt, Bourne launched ‘The Uncomfortable Challenge’, allowing those in the community to test their limits in any way they could. For each week of the month of July, people were tasked with doing one thing outside of their comfort zone in an effort to spark meaningful change around mental health by kick starting those uncomfortable conversations. Bourne had 40 members of the public take part in 2025, while many businesses, families and friends got involved also. “I’m very grateful for the partners and those involved who helped make the run possible, and then the community and everyone who’s supported my efforts so far as well,” he said. Bourne will now let the body rest, completing what was four years in the making, but may look ahead to future initiatives in the next few years. His fundraiser for Speak and Share helps cover the cost of one student (for every $20 donated) to participate in a mental health workshop, meaning that Bourne has helped more than 1500 young people. You can still donated to Bourne’s cause at www.blakesbigredrun.com

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Bourne set to tackle the desert again By TOM HAYES   TWO years after attempting to break the record to become the fastest person to cross the Simpson Desert on foot, Traralgon’s Blake Bourne will be out to try again this winter. Across a four-day period in August 2023, Bourne made his first attempt at running the 380 kilometres in less than three days and eight hours, in an attempt to break the current record set by Pat Farmer (379 kilometres in three days, eight hours and 36 minutes) in 1998. Unfortunately for Bourne, it wasn’t to be at the time, running 203.2km in 53.5 hours (two days, five hours and 33 minutes). But despite the disappointment, Bourne took much away from that experience. Going into the run, he was faced with a number of physical challenges, as injuries stunted his ability to train in the lead-up to the world record attempt. During training, he suffered a torn hip labrum, hip bursitis, bone stress in the femoral neck, a torn calf, and two weeks before the run he tore both of his patella tendons, to which he said “leading into the run the most I’d ran was probably about 10 kilometres”. Despite the pain and failed attempt, the effort was incredible, and on top of that he raised more than $21,000 for charity. Since the day he stopped running in the Simpson Desert, Bourne has continued to strive towards a second attempt, which he will endure once again this August. “I learnt a lot through my efforts last time, and this time around I’m changing things up,” he said. “I’ll have with me two to three support vehicles to ensure I’m able to run the entire thing non-stop, whilst also having the appropriate personnel required, and carrying food and water.” The objective remains the same: run 380km across the Simpson Desert in less than three days and eight hours. And once again he will be raising money for a great cause, with an extended focus on the fundraising front. “Through this run, my aim is to spark meaningful conversations around mental health and raise much-needed funds for suicide prevention, with all money raised going directly towards Speak & Share, with the goal of raising upwards of $38,000, which represents $100 for every kilometre run,” Bourne told the Express. “In the lead up to my run across the Simpson Desert, to help assist with fundraising efforts I will be hosting a community fundraising initiative with prizes for those who take part, such as a family pass to Luna Park. “The challenge is called ‘The Uncomfortable Challenge’, and each week people will set their own uncomfortable challenge.” Throughout this challenge, participants can set and complete their own uncomfortable challenge and fundraising target, with every $10 raised counting as one entry into the giveaway. On his socials, Bourne has showcased a plethora of uncomfortable challenges, recently undertaking amusing challenges such as sorting skittles with chopsticks, standing in a lake overnight, and doing 1000 steps for every degree (Celsius) which saw him walk over 200,000 steps in a week. Much has changed since preparation for the first run, and Bourne’s body appears to be in much better nick now compared to two years ago. “Given I was significantly injured a couple of years ago, my body’s feeling a lot better,” he said. “Definitely not running as long as I was. (I’m) doing a lot more strength training (and) focusing a lot more on strength training than I was previously.” Speak & Share is described as “a not-for-profit mental health organisation who encourages the tough conversations and challenges the stigma associated with mental health”. Bourne’s passion for mental health awareness was sparked by his own personal experience, which he told the Express in 2023. “I’ve been through a few mental health battles myself,” he said two years ago. “I’ve seen mates go through the same thing and watched mates lose people to suicide. “The impact and seeing how it affects their lives, I don’t want anyone else to go through that pain, so I’m doing this to hopefully spark some change and bring those (suicide) numbers back down.” Keep an eye on Bourne’s Instagram (@blakexbourne) for updates regarding the run and his preparation, as well as his uncomfortable challenges. For more information about Blake’s Big Red Run, ‘The Uncomfortable Challenge’, and to donate, visit: blakesbigredrun.com

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