24 Hours for ME

“24 Hours for ME” carried a dual significance for us:

  1. Shining a spotlight on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME/CFS) — a complex, deeply debilitating neuroimmune condition.

  2. Championing the essential nature of personal “me” time — recognizing that by nurturing our own well-being through self-care, we strengthen our capacity to support those in our lives who need it most.

This project was deeply personal for Glen, whose family has been directly affected by ME. By pushing our own boundaries, our goal was to shine a light on the daily struggles of those living with ME and the urgent need for ongoing research and understanding.

Running the iconic Bondi to Manly trail had been on our bucket list for a while. So, we came up with a simple, high-stakes challenge:

  • Fly: Perth to Sydney.
  • Run: The 80 km Bondi to Manly course.
  • Return: Sydney to Perth.
  • The Catch: Do the entire thing within a strict 24-hour window.

Red-Eyes and Rushed Starts

We set off from home on the evening of 20 September 2025, with Joanne dropping us at Perth Airport for the 11:55 PM Jetstar flight to Sydney. We had high hopes of snatching a little sleep on the way, but with only four hours in the air, we landed in Sydney at 6:00 AM feeling anything but rested!

We were met at the airport by local running legend Ewan Horsburgh, who drove us straight out to Manly. We intentionally flipped the course to start from the point furthest from the airport, ensuring we wouldn’t get stuck in afternoon traffic on our way back.

After a quick change into our running gear, Ewan joined us for a short warm-up trot along the beachfront promenade at Manly as we made our way onto the first of many coastal trails. It was an absolute cracker of a day in Sydney—crystal clear blue skies and perfect temperatures for a long run.

The Lost Phone Drama

We’d covered about 5 km before meeting up with Ewan at the Barragula Lookout when panic struck: I didn’t have my phone.

We searched Ewan’s car without luck, so Ewan and I headed back to where we’d parked in Manly while Glen carried on ahead. Back in Manly, we searched high and low and were just about to give up when we checked a cafe across the road. Sure enough, someone had handed it in! It turned out my phone had slipped out of my pocket when I got out of the car earlier. The screen was covered in shattered glass, but miraculously, the phone still worked. Phew.

(As it turned out, only the screen protector had shattered—best $50 I’ve ever spent. Though I did get a glass splinter in my thumb before realizing I could just peel the damaged protector off!)

Reunited with the tech, we made our way to East Esplanade Park and the Manly Sailing Club to intercept Glen and resume the run together.

Headlands, Mis-Steps, and Hungry Jack’s

The route closely follows the headlands, offering endless stunning views. Ewan joined us for another stretch near Clontarf Reserve before we had to part ways, leaving Glen and me to tackle the rest of the journey on our own.

Around the 25 km mark, disaster struck again. I had a bad mis-step and rolled my ankle severely on the edge of the path. A few choice words were shouted (loudly enough that an older lady across the road gave me a proper side-eye), followed by some serious grimacing. For a few tense minutes, I honestly thought that was the end of my run. But I sucked it up and pushed on—though, in hindsight, that wasn’t the smartest move for my recovery over the following months!

Crossing the Sydney Harbour Bridge, we hit Circular Quay and wolfed down some Hungry Jack’s before pushing on past the Opera House, Farm Cove, and Potts Point.

By this stage, the phone detour and ankle delay meant we were running well behind our target time for the full 80 km route, so we began cutting a few corners to shorten the distance. The course is relentlessly undulating—if you’re not going uphill, you’re going down—but the silver lining was getting panoramic views from the top of every ridge.

At one point, Glen mentioned he could easily see himself living in Sydney. We were definitely doing the grand highlights tour… who wouldn’t want to live near Double Bay or Rose Bay? Plus, there were countless dogs to pat along the way, so Glen was well and truly in his happy place!

The Final Stretch & The 24-Hour Clock

Finally, we hit the last leg, tracking down the coastline past Dover Heights and into Bondi. After taking in one last set of amazing ocean views, we finished up at Bondi Park.

We grabbed a quick shower, enjoyed a well-deserved beer at a beachfront cafe, and hailed an Uber back to the airport just in time for our 8:15 PM Virgin flight home.

The flight departed on time, landing back in Perth at 11:30 PM. Goal achieved: Sydney and back in under 24 hours!

Photo Gallery

Sponsorship & Thanks

This entire project—from the physical challenge to the creation of the upcoming documentary—was only possible thanks to an incredible support network.

We extend our deepest gratitude to our official sponsors:

  • ASICS Australia for keeping our feet covered in top-tier footwear.

  • Ultra Series WA for their unwavering community backing.

  • Tribe & Trail for their long-standing support, which has also personally assisted Glen’s daughter, Lily.

To every single person who donated to help us fund vital ME research through NCNED and bring the (eventual) documentary to life, and to everyone who shared our message and helped raise awareness—thank you. Your belief in this cause fuels our every step.