At the 2024 Gutsy Girls Adventure Film Tour we were introduced to Brooke McIntosh—a down-to-earth truck driver turned endurance runner who ran 1,600 kilometres through Western Australia to raise awareness for mental health. Her film struck a chord with so many of us, not just because of the physical feat, but because of the raw honesty she shared around her own mental health struggles. Well, we’ve got an exciting update: Brooke is back, and the rumours are true, she’s taking on something even more jaw-dropping—running all the way around Australia.
Yes, you read that right. Brooke is currently more than halfway through an epic 14,080-kilometre mission, running the equivalent of two marathons a day for 180 days straight. It’s part of her project called Just One More, aimed at raising $1.4 million for mental health charities, especially those supporting regional and remote communities where help can be harder to find. Her message is simple but powerful: if her run can inspire just one more person to speak up, seek help, or have a real conversation, it’s all worth it.
Since she began on 2nd March 2025, Brooke has covered about 6,500 kilometres, making her way through South Australia, Victoria, the ACT, and into New South Wales. Her days start early and end with exhausted legs, but she keeps moving with an attitude that’s equal parts gritty determination and big-hearted optimism. She even got lost on Day One (classic Brooke) and managed to laugh about it later—because what’s a world record attempt without a few wrong turns?
Fuelling that kind of effort takes serious planning—and even more snacks. Brooke eats roughly 8,000 calories a day, though she admits it’s probably not enough to keep up with the 12,000 she’s burning. Her diet includes everything from carb-heavy breakfasts to keep her going in the morning, to mid-run sandwiches, lollies, and chocolate milk passed to her by her crew. Dinner is usually something hearty and comforting like brown rice, veggies, and loads of cheese. It’s not glamorous, but it’s effective—and it keeps her going, step after step.
Of course, it’s not just the food that keeps her body functioning. Brooke’s recovery routine is practically a sport in itself. She takes power naps, plunges into ice baths, uses compression boots, and relies on a rotating cast of physios, sports doctors, and massage therapists to keep her legs in motion. Her support crew, which includes her run manager, recovery specialists, and a steady team of legends helping behind the scenes, is crucial to the mission. As Brooke puts it, “There’s no way to fully prepare for the toll this takes on your body. I’m just trusting the process and prioritising recovery every day.”
Emotionally, the journey hasn’t been easy either. Brooke has spoken openly about how tough it’s been to be away from her partner, Matt, and her two stepkids, Indi and Ollie, back in the Perth Hills. “That’s the real challenge,” she says. “But they know why I’m doing this, and they’re proud. That means everything.” Still, she finds motivation in the people she meets along the way. From school kids who high-five her at the roadside to adults who share stories of their own struggles, those connections have become the heartbeat of her journey.
And, of course, there have been some laugh-out-loud moments too—like the time she got stung by a wasp while taking a selfie, or when she described her feet as resembling “baked potatoes with laces.” It’s that mix of raw honesty and wicked humour that makes Brooke so easy to root for.
So what’s next for Brooke? Another 7,500 kilometres, give or take. But for her, every kilometre is about more than the finish line. It’s about sparking real conversations, spreading the message that “it’s not weak to speak,” and making mental health support more accessible across Australia.
You can follow Brooke’s journey and support her fundraising efforts at brookemcintosh.com.au, or keep up with her day-to-day updates and candid mid-run voice notes here on Instagram and check out her blog updates here!
ALSO you can watch Brookes film from Gutsy Girls 2024 on Adventure Reels TV! Stream it HERE
