Townsville man uses Sunshine Coast Marathon as training for 1800km run

A father-of-two who never enjoyed running is completing 1800km in 30 days to raise awareness for men’s mental health after battling his own demons.

A man pushed to the brink in his own mental health battle is aiming to run a mammoth 1800km in 30 days to raise awareness of suicide prevention.

Townsville man CJ Flood decided he “needed to get eyeballs” on the issue of men’s mental health after fellow ex-servicemen mates, other friends and loved ones had died by suicide or struggled with their own mental health.

The 33-year-old said he had also considered suicide and it was “only upon reflection” that he realised how unwell he was in the past.

“It was only through a support network of amazing family and friends around me that I didn’t go down that path,” Mr Flood said.

He said he did not know who to turn to for help and that needed to change.

Townsville man CJ Flood training for his mammoth running attempt.

“It’s not an easy line to walk,” Mr Flood said.

“I’ve never been to a doctor or psychologist because I didn’t know where to go, who to talk to and I didn’t know what it looked like.”

Townsville man CJ Flood will attempt to run 1800km in 30 days in November.

The ex-Army infantryman turned inspirational speaker and leadership trainer said he “was called” to raise awareness and cash for the Movember cause.

“If we did something so obscenely out of control and big that it would get attention, that is a good place to start,” Mr Flood said.

Movember focuses on raising awareness of men’s mental health along with prostate and testicular cancer.

According to the Movember Foundation website, across the world a man dies by suicide every minute.

CJ Flood with his boys Seth, 11, and Cooper, 4.

The father-of-two, with a growing group of supporters, will attempt to run 60km a day for 30 days in November, which coincides with Movember.

Mr Flood and his son, 11-year-old Seth, will run the Sunshine Coast Marathon in August as part of his training.

Seth will compete in the 5km event and Mr Flood will run the full marathon, 42.5km, after running 10km in the event last year.

Mr Flood said he actually did not enjoy running but he discovered it during his incredible weight loss of 45kg over a year.

CJ Flood lost 45kg over a year.

He once weighed in at 130kg.

He would like to run on Townsville’s school ovals, The Strand and at the Army barracks.

Mr Flood also hopes to raise $100,000 for the Movember Foundation.

Mr Flood’s wife, Ashlee, said she had witnessed Mr Flood’s transformation first-hand.

CJ Flood with his wife Ashlee.

“To say I am proud is an understatement,” she said.

Mrs Flood said he just “keeps pushing” himself after his weight loss and he wanted to be an example for his boys.

“He wants them to know that they can do anything,” she said.

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