On this episode of Ready! Set! Goal! I spoke with Pat Farmer, who is an incredible example of achieving amazing goals.
Pat is a professional ultra marathon runner.
Pat has been awarded the high honour of the Order of Australia, for his contribution to ultra marathon running, politics and charitable works.
He was the winner of “Achiever of the Year” (2000), awarded by the Australian Prime Minister, and National Geographic’s Adventurer of the Year in 2012.
Pat has raised millions of dollars for causes during his 30-year running career.
Inspired by the awesome Cliff Young, Pat ran the Sydney to Melbourne Ultra run back when he was just 18 years old.
Since then, Pat has accomplished some of the greatest feats on Earth.
I first met Pat in 2012, after he ran over 20 000km (in 2011/12) from the North Pole to the South Pole, Taking 10 months and 13 days, Pat ran every day, averaging 80km a day. This was called the Pole to Pole run.
Pat has broken world records and created some of his own.
In 2016, Pat ran 4,417km in 65 days in his Spirit of India run to raise awareness of its people and to raise funds, supporting the education of Indian girls.
The Middle East Peace Run of 2014, included Lebanon, Jordan, Israel and Palestine. It was approximately 1,450km in 19 days. The purpose of this run was not to raise funds but to create awareness of the desire for peace in these nations.
In another massive achievement and in celebration of the 40th anniversary of the friendship agreement between Australia and Vietnam, in Dec 2012- Jan 2013, Pat ran the length of Vietnam, a distance of 3,200km.
Pat has served 8 years as a Member of Australia’s Parliament, with 3 years as Parliamentary Secretary for Education, Science and Training.
Just back from Uganda doing another amazing run called the Love Mercy run.
Pat lives in Sydney Australia, and travels widely inspiring many with his keynote speaking adventures, and massive goals
Other sporting achievements:
2006 – Pat revisited his 24-hour vertical climbing record, raising over $500,000 for the Millennium Foundation’s ovarian cancer research, this event was described as “running Mount Everest in 24 hours”.
1999 – Pat established the fastest around-Australia record of continuous running in around 6 months over 14,662.4km. during his Centenary of Federation run.
1993 – A virtually unknown Pat Farmer secured second place in his first attempt at the Trans-America Road Race – 4,719km from California to New York, 80km per day for 64 days.
Pat is twice record holder for crossing the Simpson Desert,
ranked third in the world for 1000 miles on a track.
He also ran 2500km around NSW for charity in 42 consecutive days as well as numerous international and national ultra marathons, including the first 1,000 mile track race in Australia, the second race of its kind anywhere in the world.
This is not just about running, this is an awesome conversation on how to push through goals that can seem way too hard, and breaking it down into a realistic achievement.
It’s always a pleasure catching up with Pat, and I wanted to share his story, contagious enthusiasm, and vibrant energy with you, to inspire you to reach your goals. Listen in, you’ll be amazed.
Check out more about Pat here: https://www.patfarmer.com/ and the Love Mercy Foundation here: https://www.lovemercyfoundation.org/500km-run/
Listen to more ‘Ready! Set! Goal! with Donna Campisi’ podcast at: https://donnacampisi.com/ready-set-goal/
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