Chris Turnbull: Sydney enginner running two marathons a day in bid to break world record

Chris Turnbull, a modest civil engineer, calls it ‘Running of The Bull’ — his exhausting bid to run from Perth to Sydney in a world record 39 days. He’s on track to make it happen.

‘The Running of The Bull’ — Chris Turnbull, 39, of Clontarf, is running from Perth to Sydney, completing the equivalent of 2.3 Olympic Marathons each day, in an effort to beat the world record of 43 days for the 3,856km distance. Picture: Jack Bullen

Move over Forrest Gump — an unheralded and exhausting world record bid by a modest civil engineer from Sydney’s northern beaches is currently unfolding across the country.

For the past 35 days Chris ‘Bull’ Turnbull, has been completing the equivalent of 2.3 Olympic Marathons every day in an effort to smash the time it takes to run from Perth to Sydney.

Turnbull, from Clontarf, who has had a lifelong passion for running — he competed in his first half-marathon, 21kms, when he was jus nine-years-old — is on track to hit Manly Beach on Saturday, just 39 days and 3856kms after leaving Western Australia’s capital on his “Running of The Bull”.

Chris Turnbull, 39, of Clontarf, has been poumding the pavement across the continent every day since August 8. Picture: Jack Bullen

If he does it, the married father of two small kids will secure a new world record for the fastest run across Australia, from west to east.

The current record holder is Achim Heukemes from Germany, who completed the distance in 43 days back in 2005.

Turnbull’s epic run also comes nearly a year after a high-profile run from Perth to Bondi Beach, in 47 days, by Forbes tradie Nedd Brockmann, who was raising $1 million to combat homelessness.

Chris Turnbull has a small support crew to help him break the 43-day world record for running west to east across Australia. Picture: Jack Bullen

In the Hollywood blockbuster movie Forrest Gump, Tom Hank’s character decides to run across the United States and ends up doing it five times. But Forrest was averaging just 21kms a day.

Turnbull, known in running circles a The Bull, Bully and El Torro, is now completing between 100 and 105km daily, starting at about 6am and finishing at 7pm.

Still from “Forrest Gump”. He only averaged 21kms a day when he ran across the United States. Picture: Supplied

He describes the odyssey as the “adventure of a lifetime’

“I’ve always loved running. I ran my first half marathon when I was nine years old and

since then have enjoyed the adventures that come with running ultra-marathons at different times in my life.

He even runs to his office in the city and back from Clontarf every day.

“With my 40th birthday coming up next year, I wanted to set myself a new challenge – to see what my mind and body could really do.”

Chris Turnbull, 39, wanted the adventure of a lifetime and to challenge himself before his 40th birthday. Picture: Jack Bullen

Hi wife Katie and children Lucy, 5, and Finn, 4, have been tracking his progress on a map from their home as he makes his way across the continent.

Katie said her husband has run every single day since they met.

Ultra-marathon runner Chris Turnbull, from Clontarf, with his wife Katie and children Finn and Lucy. Picture: Supplied

But Turnbull, who manages his own civil engineering firm that specialises in complex transport and energy projects, said her was staring to think about the finish line.

“I’m feeling pretty emotional about seeing my family again after what will be six weeks away.”