A burst of Mag 58 gunfire blasting through the morning air signalled the start of Run Army 2024 in Brisbane on April 21.
Pouring rain couldn’t dampen the spirits of 6500 runners and walkers who turned out to pound the pavement in this year’s race.
Satellite and virtual events across Australia including Perth, Townsville, Darwin and several overseas posts brought the total number to more than 10,000 participants.
Run Army is an initiative to promote resilience, health and wellbeing across the Australian community, with 5km and 10km courses available to walk or run.
The 5km race kicked off at 7am, with Deputy Chief of Army Major General Chris Smith firing the starting gun on top of a Bushmaster.
In Brisbane, the course started in Southbank Parklands and wound through the central business district before finishing back in Southbank along the river.
‘I’ve done Run Army since the first one and it’s special to see how far it’s come in only four years.’
Winner of the 10km run, Sergeant Kieren Perkins, was a familiar face to race organisers, having won the past two events.
This year he ran a blistering 32:39 race – more than a minute and a half in front of second place.
“This race is one of my favourites, so I wanted to come back and get the three-peat. I’ve done Run Army since the first one and it’s special to see how far it’s come in only four years,” Sergeant Perkins said.
“It was a great run. It was good to come back and do the race again after last year. It was a fast course and nice to run around the Shrine of Remembrance.”
Soldiers overseas took the race global, with members in Egypt, Fiji and New Zealand holding events, and Chief of Army Lieutenant-General Simon Stuart and his entourage ran in London.
Run Army president Major General Jake Ellwood said it was wonderful to see how far Run Army had come from its first event at Gallipoli Barracks in 2021.
“It’s great to see Army out in force, but we are also celebrating with our police, ambulance and fire and emergency services out there together with the community, really focusing on physical activity for mental and physical health,” Major General Ellwood said.
“I ran the 10km race and I had a ball. The whole run I was thanking people and, as a runner, this was bliss.”
Runners were entertained throughout the morning by the Australian Army Band, and equipment displays including a Boxer combat reconnaissance vehicle, Bushmasters and M777 howitzers.
The race raised more than $150,000 for Legacy, with funds raised going to local Legacy clubs and charities who support Queensland first responders, ADF veterans and their families.
Run Army 2025 will take place on Sunday, March 30.
