‘Pain is worthwhile’: cult hero Nedd Brockmann defies the agony in 1,000-mile charity run

• The tradie turned ultra marathoner has run 1,300km in ten days
• Brockmann, 25, has raised $1.3m for people experiencing homelessness

As night closed in on Nedd Brockmann's quest to run 1,000 miles (1,609.3km) in 10 days, the loneliness of Australia's favourite long-distance runner could be felt by every member of a 1000-strong crowd who crowded into Sydney Olympic Park on Sunday to cheer him home.

The former tradie turned endurance athlete was in agony - and frequently, in tears. By 5pm on the 10th night, Brockmann, 25, from the New South Wales central west, had covered 1,322.62km. He had run every day for 16-20 hours a day around a 400-metre athletics track. He had raised over $1.3m in donations for charity. But his body was failing him.