St Kilda’s Oliver Worthington tackles Run Melbourne during marathon exercise streak

SNIFFLES, nights out on the grog and jet lag have failed to break a St Kilda man’s three-year exercise streak. He’s hit 1095 days — and counting.

St Kilda's Oliver Worthington has been exercising for at least 20 minutes a day for three years. Picture: Wayne Taylor

SNIFFLES, nights out on the grog and jet lag have failed to break a St Kilda man’s three-year exercise streak.

Oliver Worthington said he was at a low point in life in winter 2014 when, like Forrest Gump, he “just started running”.

“I wasn’t feeling too great, I was in a bit of a rut at work and just at a bit of a loss in life,” he said.

“So I just started running and I haven’t missed a day yet.”

Even time differences experienced during international travel haven’t stopped the 35-year-old from completing his task of exercising for at least 20 minutes a day.

“During a layover in Dubai on my way to the UK I used the gym at the airport to make sure I got that day’s workout done,” he said.

And during a 14-day bus tour of Europe, Mr Worthington ran in eight different countries.

“Some days it is really tough and there have been times where I’ve not been feeling great but it has had such a positive impact on my mental state,” he said.

“I feel so great for it, so much more positive.”

Mr Worthington said he still liked to go out for after work drinks, or indulge in a decadent meal, but he made sure his daily exercise was a priority in his schedule.

“(The exercise streak) makes me organise my time better,” he said.

“If I’m invited out for drinks I’ll still go, but I plan ahead so I get up early and exercise in the morning and don’t have to leave drinks early or not go.

On top of improved health and wellbeing, Mr Worthington said hangovers were a thing of the past.

“I just don’t seem to get them any more,” he said.

“I’ve been out and gone hard on the drinks but I’m happy to say I’ve not had a hangover since I started this (streak three years ago).”

Mr Worthington posts updates about his daily fitness efforts on Snapchat and Instagram in a bid to track his progress and inspire others to get out and about.

“I get to see so much more of Melbourne too — I can run out to Port Melbourne and see boats coming into the pier or out to Elwood; all these beautiful skylines,” he said.

“Running gets me away from binge-watching Game of Thrones.”

So far Mr Worthington has worked up a sweat every day for about 1100 days, with sessions ranging from 20 minutes on a stationary exercise bike to 25km runs.

At this year’s Run for the Kids he notched up a personal best time of about four minutes per kilometre over the 15.5km course.

But he said he hoped to “dip under four minutes” a kilometre when he powers through the Run Melbourne course next weekend, raising money for beyondblue.

Run Melbourne presented by lululemon will be held on July 30.