From October 20 to November 30, Signaller Ben Sedunary, of 1st Signal Regiment, ran a full marathon every single day, raising money for 42 for 42, which supports veterans and their families.
The not-for-profit organisation is named in honour of the 41 soldiers who died in Afghanistan on active duty, with the number 42 representing all of those who have died since the conflict.
42 for 42 hosts an annual 42-hour challenge to raise funds for veterans and their families. However, Signaller Sedunary decided to take his fundraising efforts to a different level, pushing himself to his physical and mental limits by running 42 marathons in 42 days.
"It's probably a big shock to no one that the physical side of this is really challenging; I'm pretty sore and tired," Signaller Sedunary said.
"I did a lot of research on ultra-marathon running but you can't really prepare for something of this size.
"What I did was get into the habit of running every day and in challenging conditions, like in the heat or rain.
"I also did lots of mental exercises, because that's the part that allows you to push through. When I ran I'd ask myself difficult questions about my life, or I'd run 20 kilometres then go home and write an essay."
So far Signaller Sedunary has raised more than $16,000 - far more than his initial target of $4000.
He said the support he had received from his chain of command, and unit as a whole, had been incredible and had helped him get through the huge physical workload.
During the Caduceus Cup - an annual week of sporting competitions and celebration for the Royal Australian Corps of Signals - some members of 1st Signal Regiment took to the track to help start and finish one of Signaller Sedunary's marathons at Gallipoli Barracks in Brisbane.
'What I did was get into the habit of running every day and in challenging conditions, like in the heat or rain.'
Officer Commanding 1st Signal Regiment's 101 Signal Squadron, Major Thomas Flanagan, said the whole unit was proud to get behind Signaller Sedunary.
"We're incredibly proud of his courage to start this venture, and his resilience to continue through each day, knowing that each run will be tougher than the last," he said.
"He underwent significant preparation to ensure he was able to push through mental and physical barriers, including a quad injury sustained in the first couple of weeks."
Watching someone else push through a physical barrier is part of what inspired Signaller Sedunary to undertake the challenge in the first place.
"A memorable moment that stands out to me was Anzac Day this year at North Stradbroke Island," he said.
"At the march, there was a 100-year-old veteran from the Second World War who was actually at D-Day with the British Army.
"He walked about 50 metres - normally he uses a walking frame - but he powered on without one that day and showed so much determination."
That memory has helped Signaller Sedunary push through some tough times, including when he tore his quad on the ninth day of the challenge.
He pushed through the pain, taking hours longer than usual to complete the marathons over the next few days, before recovering and continuing towards his goal.
The runner said he was extremely thankful for all of the support - emotionally and financially.
Signaller Sedunary completed his feat at Suncorp Stadium on November 30, which was the host venue for the 42-hour challenge, and home of the Afghanistan War Memorial Garden, which opened in 2021.
Anyone interested in supporting Signaller Sedunary's efforts is encouraged to do so via his GoFundMe page.
