Over the course of 26 hours, Michael Steele repetitively lapped Jamison Park to encourage his mates to get active.
From 5am on Friday, January 24, to 7am on Saturday, January 25, the determined man walked 124 kilometres and was joined by 40 people throughout.
The Weekender briefly joined in at the nine-hour mark to see how the walkers were going and discover what sparked the endeavour.
“There’s 22 of us in this social club, and every time we have a gathering or catch-up, everyone’s complaining or whingeing, saying ‘We’ve got to do something’, so I said this is what we’re going to do,” Steele explained.
“It was in December when I put it out to the boys, and I didn’t get a good response, but I kept pushing it and now they’re all on board.”
The blokes have known each other for upwards of 20 years, meeting through local rugby league or through friends.
Steele is optimistic that this walk will prompt lifestyle changes for the group, proudly pointing towards one of his friends walking ahead.
“Luke was only going to walk three kilometres before the sun came up, and he might be hurting a bit now, but he’s pushing 47 kilometres,” Steele said.
That was the case for multiple walkers, who all surprised themselves with their efforts.
While chatting with Steele, it was clear that the secret to a quick walk is some good talk and a bit of a scenery change.
“We just walked a kilometre, and you don’t notice,” Steele pointed out.
“As long as you’re talking, it’s good, and every three laps we change directions.”
It was a successful mission for Steele and his mates, despite getting a bit tough around midnight, and he’s hopeful that everyone will be better off for it.
Ally Hall
Ally Hall joined the Weekender in 2024, and focuses on entertainment and community stories. She's a graduate of the University of South Australia and has previously worked as a Video Journalist with Southern Cross Austereo and as a News Reader with Australian Radio Network.