by Nicholas Duck
Trafalgar mental health advocate and long distance runner Jason Rantall will take on his newest challenge this week as he aims to run 801km in 10 days - and he's encouraging the community to get involved.
Starting Thursday morning, Jason will be running laps at the Joe Carmody Track in Newborough for close to 10 hours a day in what he described as his toughest challenge yet.
The 801km represents the number of Victorians who died by suicide in 2023, 40 more than the previous year despite an overall drop in numbers in Australia.
He is aiming to average 80km a day around the track in a battle that will push him to his limits physically as well as mentally.
It is the latest challenge Jason, who runs Trafalgar-based mental health service Bettermentall with his wife Kerry, has undertaken after his 100-day Have a Chat run last year.
As he has done before, Jason is running in an effort to empower others and encourage them to talk more openly about their emotions and mental wellbeing.
"I've been pushing the envelope on my training, pushing myself harder than I have. It's going to be the hardest run I've done," he said.
Going around and around in circles will present a brand new set of obstacles as Jason looks to keep his mind occupied. While others might look for distractions, he's more about managing it within.
Breathwork and meditation have become a part of his routine as he prepares to combat the tedium and "not get lost in the pain."
His secret weapon, however, will be the community around him.
Having already secured a few helpers to run some pretty serious distances alongside him, he's also asking locals to join in at any stage to walk or run with him and have a chat.
"Anyone is welcome to run and walk anytime. The support of others takes away the pain naturally. The more people that get there the easier it'll be for me."
"Unfortunately when it comes to mental health people think reaching out is weak, but anyone who has success in life, they have so much support."
Jason, having dealt with many personal demons, often compares running long distances to overcoming issues relating to mental health.
"When you're running you always come to this hill you think you can't overcome and you just want to quit, but then for some reason you keep going and on the other side is bliss and freedom," he said.
"Mental health is the same way, and if you keep going as much as there's pain, on the other side is freedom."
The run has taken some inspiration from Nedd Brockmann, who captured the attention of the Australian public last year by completing 3760 laps of Sydney Olympic Park in 12 days.
"I'm 26 years older so I probably don't have that in me...this is going to be hard enough," Jason said with a laugh.
Jason will be running on weekdays from 6:30am until whenever he calls it quits, on Saturday from 7:30am-4:30pm and on Sunday from 9am-4pm.
Thursday will feature a breakfast from 10am while the Saturday will have a barbeque from noon run by male suicide awareness group the Victorian Brotherhood.
To follow Jason on his journey and to donate to Bettermentall's cause head to the Bettermentall Australia Inc. Facebook page.