How 15,000 Kilometres Changed My View on the Long Game

Yesterday was one of those days that makes you stop and actually look at the tracks you’ve left behind. I hit a milestone that’s been five and a quarter years in the making: 15,000 kilometres of consecutive daily running. When you say a number like that, it’s easy for it to sound like just another statistic, but when you’re out here on the road every single morning, usually in barefoot-style footwear, you feel every one of those metres in a very real way.

To give you an idea of the scale of what 15,000km actually looks like, I did a bit of digging into the maps. If I’d set off from London on Day 1 and run in a straight line, I’d be closing in on Tahiti in the South Pacific right now. I’d have left Australia in the wake of my Vibrams and be staring out across the ocean. It’s a distance that covers nearly the entire span of the globe, yet it has taken me 1,912 days of showing up, regardless of the weather or how I’m feeling, to achieve it.

But here is the thing about perspective. As proud as I am of those 15,000 kilometres, they are only a part of a much larger, far more daunting picture.

My mission is to complete a full lap of the world 40,075 kilometres on consecutive days. When I look at the data, the reality is quite humbling: I’m only about a third of the way around. I’m not even at the halfway point yet. It’s a bit of a reality check when you realise that after five years of discipline, the mountain still has a massive way to go.

But that’s exactly why I do this every single day. This journey isn't just about the miles or the running streak for the sake of a record; it’s about a mission to save children’s lives. I’ve committed to this because the more people we can reach through this vlog and these runs, the more money we raise, and the more children we can help. We are aiming for £2 million eventually, but that first £1 million goal is what keeps the legs moving when they’d rather stay in bed.

Running 15,000 kilometres has taught me that we often underestimate what it takes to achieve something truly massive. We see a "big" number and think we’re almost there, but true resilience is found in acknowledging how much road is left and choosing to keep running anyway.

The circumference of the world at the equator is 40,075km. To hit that, I need to maintain this barefoot-style running streak for over 16.5 years. Yesterday was Day 1,912. It’s a long-term play, much like the systems I build in my business or the way I manage my real estate portfolio. It’s about compounding efforts over time and avoiding the "optimism bias" that tells you the finish line is closer than it really is.

If you’re working toward something big right now, whether it’s a fitness goal, a business milestone, or a personal mission, take a moment to look at your "Tahiti". Celebrate how far you’ve come from your starting point, but keep your eyes on the full lap.

Perspective paints the true picture. It tells you that 15,000km is an incredible feat, but it also reminds you that the mission isn't over until the full 40,075km are under your feet.

I’ll see you tomorrow for Day 1,913.