Launceston man runs for 1000 consecutive days

What began as a new year’s resolution became an endurance milestone on Wednesday night as 42-year-old finished his 1000^th run in as many days.

He was able to share his achievement with the other members of the Launceston Running Company, with whom heads out weekly.

Mr Milner said it was business as usual, despite reaching four figures.

“We disappeared to the pub afterwards for a feed, which is no different to any other Wednesday night really,” he said.

Mr Milner’s tally has not only included weekly outings with the Launceston Running Company, but also many of the city’s hallmark events such as the Launceston 10, Launceston Marathon, and Convicts and Wenches.

The auto mechanic has even managed to combine his passion for motorsport with his strict regime, making sure to pack his running gear when he travels to take part in car rallies as a navigator.

He said finding the right time to run each day depended on a range of variables. 

“My main motivation has been to keep the numbers ticking over and not stop, but challenges have come in the form of everything from the weather to time,” he said.

“Some days I will slip out at 11.30pm and just go around the block.

“It all depends on how I feel on the day.”

While running is considered a healthy form of exercise, the onus is often on the individual to find the amount that works best for them. 

Pushing too hard, or running when not in good health can cause a variety of issues. 

Dr James Fell is an associate professor in the School of Health Sciences at the University of Tasmania, who works within the Sport Optimisation Research Team investigating ways to improve the success of athletes.

He said Mr Milner’s consistency meant there was nothing clinically wrong with what he was doing.

“The adaptability of the human body is substantial for everybody,” he said.

“Someone running for 1000 days is not damaging and it’s not unusual.

“The danger comes when you are acutely loading yourself without a chronic load in preparation for it.”

Sports scientists use a measure called an acute chronic workload ratio to assist in the planning and periodisation of training.

Comprised of an athlete’s fitness and fatigue, it helps practitioners understand the preparedness of an athlete, as well their relative injury risk.

Mr Fell said the main danger came when athletes became ill, but continued to train.

“If someone has a viral infection and they persisted, they could potentially do long-term damage,” he said.

“I’m not a cardiologist, but I have been to conferences where that has been identified as one of the major risk factors for cardiovascular problems later on in life.

“You see all of these once-great athletes suddenly having pacemakers put in, which has been linked back to running while in ill health.”

Mr Milner admitted he ran while he had a cold, and also through a bout of gastro, describing it as “a bit risky”.

“I think running every day has made me a bit resistant to bugs and viruses,” he said.

“Most running experts recommend you have a rest day every two or three days just to let your body recover.

“I don’t really get that as such, although I do the two kilometre runs at a gentle pace.

“I try to equate that to a rest day.”

Mr Milner has battled against more than just his own body during the last two-and-a-half years, with the elements also hampering his progress at certain points.

In 2016, he completed the Triple Top Mountain Run on the North-West Coast with other members of the Running Company.

The region had experienced about 75 millimetres of rain the night before, making for foggy, windy and waterlogged conditions on the day.

Mr Milner said the event stood out as his most memorable run. 

“You were supposed to be running up these single tracks coming from the top of the mountain, but they had become raging creeks,” he said.

“We managed to make it to the end, and declared we would never go back, but two weeks later when entries opened for next year’s event, there we were.”

Such as been the pattern of Mr Milner’s journey. 

He admitted he did not set out to complete 1000 runs, and will most likely keep going.

“Initially, I just wanted to run on each day of the year,” he said.

“That one ended up being a leap year, so it was 366 days.

“After I got through that, I didn’t know what else to do other than keep going.

“I don’t think reaching a 1000 will stop me.”

Launceston Running Company owner Mike Spray has had a front row seat to the spectacle, having run alongside Mr Milner each week.

The store is one of nine Running Company locations in Australia, with Mr Spray conducting weekly runs from the site since January, 2012. 

He said his fellow runner’s dedication was clear from day one.

“He was there at the start and he rarely misses one,” he said.

“Since 2016, he’s always found a way of getting his two kilometres in.

“There have been some extraordinary feats of endurance throughout the world, where people have run every day for 15 or 20 years.

“Obviously Jason has some way to go before he reaches that level, but he has made a great start.”

Mr Spray said other members of the Running Company had taken upon themselves to support Mr Milner anyway they could.

“We all celebrated when made the one year mark and it just carried on from there,” he said.

‘I think it is good to be able to applaud what he has done.

“Usually we get about 25 people coming to our weekly runs, but on Wednesday, there was twice that.

“Those that we only see occasionally came out to see Jason get to 1000.”

While you're with us, did you know that you can now sign up to receive breaking news updates and daily headlines direct to your inbox. Sign up here.