Channel 7 weatherman Tony Auden training for Bridge to Brisbane 2023

Channel 7’s Tony Auden is ready to tackle the long course at next month’s Sunday Mail Transurban Bridge to Brisbane after feeling a little under the weather in recent years.

Participants in this year’s Bridge to Brisbane have already raised more than $450,000. File picture

Channel 7’s Tony Auden is ready to tackle the long course at next month’s Sunday Mail Transurban Bridge to Brisbane after feeling a little under the weather in recent years.

The popular Brisbane weatherman has been restricted to the shorter course after a knee operation for a torn meniscus.

But he’s ready to test himself at the 10km distance again after building back up his strength and fitness through a mix of F45 gym sessions, cycling, surfing and swimming.

“My training these days is different to years gone past. Off the back of my knee surgery I’m wary not to put too much pressure on the knee over a long period of time,” Auden said.

Tony Auden prepares to run 10km in this year’s Bridge to Brisbane. Picture: Nigel Hallett

“So my plan is to keep my general fitness up ... then ramp up the running training with about two weeks to go.

“My main tip for anyone training for the 10km course, and hasn’t done a 10km run before, is that you don’t have to run the full 10km in training beforehand. As long as you’ve done a few runs, and are comfortable running 5km, then you should be okay on the day.”

The countdown to the Sunday Mail Transurban Bridge to Brisbane is officially on, with four weeks to go and organisers expecting a bumper field of runners, fundraisers and community champions.

The event has already raised close to $450,000 for charities this year, with 2652 donations and 168 fundraising teams registered.

Auden will be supporting Foodbank Queensland, a charity close to the heart of his 7NEWS colleague Kendall Gilding.

“Kendall is an ambassador for Foodbank, so I’ll be jumping on the cause too. Foodbank Queensland sources millions of kilograms of food from farmers, manufacturers and retailers, and does a great job distributing it to hundreds of food relief charities across the state,” he said.

Register at bridgetobrisbane.com.au