Going the distance for body and mind

RUNNER Alex Brown will take on the 2024 Gold Coast Marathon in July for a cause close to his heart.

A former finance professional, now an aspiring youth worker, Brown will pound the hot pavement to raise funds for mental health service, headspace which supports young people nationally.

“I want to highlight the correlation between physical activity and having positive, or good mental health,” he said.

“headspace is one of those organisations that sees people at such a young age, and early on, they can teach them mental health skills to use later in life.

“Running the marathon is not just about raising money, but to start conversations about activity and mental health.

“If you haven’t been active recently, get out and go for a walk, for a run, or to the gym.”

Brown got the “bug” for running within the last two years, increasing his training 12 months ago.

The Gold Coast event is his first marathon, but he has previously run half marathons in Melbourne and the Grampians, and will likely complete this distance at the inaugural Ballarat Marathon in April.

“It’s a good outlet,” he said. “For me, running is good because it’s a bit of time out, and it’s a time in nature.

“You can work it into your lifestyle and make it a healthier one. I’ve noticed my sleep’s better, I eat more, better foods, and it’s social.

“There’s a lot of people that run, and if you want to run with someone, there’s always someone available, especially in Ballarat.”

Brown’s shift to study a diploma of community services came out of a lack of fulfilment in his finance work.

“When I’m involved in something community based, I can see the direct impact I’m having,” he said.

Brown has a $500 goal and donations can be made at bit.ly/3u6rE6K.