Polidano to run 160 kilometres for Beyond Blue

Each loop will start and finish at the Victoria Park boat ramp, Polidano running down the walking track along Warren St, beyond the big three-exit roundabout before turning down Butcher St at the intersection with Murray Valley Hwy.

Polidano will finally join onto Campaspe Esplanade, starting the second part of the loop as he runs back to the boat ramp.

The local is completing the event to support Beyond Blue’s ongoing efforts helping Australians with anxiety, depression and suicide prevention and to ultimately achieve their best possible mental health.

“I'm only 21 yearsold, and I think for people my age and just everyone, it's an issue that everyone can relate to, most people go through different forms of it in their life, if it's depression, if it's anxiety,” Polidano said.

“People who have been suicidal or something like that, having someone out there to do a cause for (them), to be able to help these people who are suffering, that there are people out there that are willing to listen to what they're going through.

“That's the main reason why I'm doing it to help out those people who are struggling and who are weak to speak about it, and that's the bigger picture of why I'm doing this.”

Along with the run is a fundraising effort for Beyond Blue, with Polidano’s initial main goal being to raise $5000.

Such has been the strong show of support from the community that he has surpassed that target before even running, and has already set new goals on multiple occasions.

At the time of writing, Polidano has raised just less than $7000 and his current goal is $8000, with donations potentially still being received after he runs the 160km.

It’s not every weekend in Echuca-Moama runners are participating in events of such a long distance, and running hasn’t always been a passion of Polidano’s, having only started the exercise two years ago with a few of his mates.

After getting into the sport, they aimed to do a marathon, which Polidano has now completed, along with triathlons, backyard ultras, and half-marathons.

But a 160km event is new, Polidano initially planning to run the distance in a bigger event, but opting instead to complete it by himself and make it worthwhile by raising money for a cause.

So, a more rigorous training regime was required in the lead-up, complicated by the local often having to travel for work, lately to Queensland, where he was still able to keep up with his preparations while working full-time.

Over the past six months, Polidano has done more than 150 hours of training, sometimes waking up as early as 3am to do runs.

As practice runs for this weekend’s event, he completed 100km from Bendigo to Echuca during the Easter long weekend and, before that, a 50km run from Heathcote to Bendigo.

Polidano seems more than ready for his toughest challenge yet, which he will start at midnight on Friday, aiming to finish between 6.30pm and 7pm on Saturday, though admitting the finishing time will be dictated by how his body holds up during the run.

There will be an event hub at the Victoria Park boat ramp and Polidano is also encouraging interested locals to join him at any point during the 160km, even if only for a small portion, which can be run, walked, or on a bike.

Donations can also be made to his fundraising efforts at https://www.gofundme.com/f/willys-160km-run