It was about mid-way through his attempt at running the Great North Walk from Newcastle to Sydney and back within a week last year that Burt "Burty" Kennedy said something that his support crew immediately noticed was out of character for the typically positive man.
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The Maitland runner doesn't remember what it was that he said but knows the darkness that had been building within him in the lead up and during his charity run was starting to show.
"All the pressure leading up to the attempt made me pretty depressed," he said.
"I think what made it worse was that I didn't feel like I could talk about it. I was doing the run to raise money for motor neurone disease and I thought if I talked about how I felt I would lose credibility and people wouldn't support what I was doing."
Despite the depression he fell into, Mr Kennedy and his team, who are known as The Immortality Project, completed their goal of running the 530 kilometre trek within 157 hours. It is understood that this had never before been completed.
National parks recommends those who undertake the trek to do so over 16 days for just one way.
Mr Kennedy's feat was not complete without injury. At around 220kms into the run Mr Kennedy sustained a stress fracture to his foot, micro fractures to the shin and severe tendon damage. He also had extreme fatigue.
"It's funny how it played out," the 34-year-old said. "I knew I was depressed but the running actually became an escape. I didn't have to worry about anything but running, about moving forward."
After completing the run in June 2019 Mr Kennedy spent eight weeks in a moon boot. He also sought help for his mental health through the Black Dog Institute.
After the moon boot came off he began training and taking part in long-distance events like The Great Southern Endurance Race and from Oscars Hut2Hut.
During his recovery and road back to training Mr Kennedy and team began to formulate a new goal - re-run the Great North Walk but with even tougher conditions in support of the Black Dog Institute.
On June 9, Mr Kennedy and The Immortality Project will attempt to undertake the 530km Great North Walk from Newcastle to Sydney and back within 100 hours.
Before the break out of the COVID-19 pandemic and rapid escalation of the situation this week, including the Australian government discouraging mass gatherings in favour of self isolation, the team were also set to take part in three extra endurance runs in Newcastle, Port Stephens and Lake Macquarie, which they were opening to the community to take part in.
The first event was due to be held in Newcastle on March 21 with Mr Kennedy and team planning to run 100 laps from Bar Beach to the top of Anzac Walk during a 40 hour period, equating to 200 kilometres.
The second event was due to be held at Mount Tomaree in Shoal Bay on April 18 with Mr Kennedy and team attempting to undertake 80 laps of the mountain within 48 hours. The third event was due to be held at Heatons Gap in Freeman's Waterhole on May 2.
The three events have now been postponed.
Mr Kennedy said after speaking with his team on Thursday, May 19 they all thought it would be "irresponsible" to hold the community events "with the severity of the impact the virus is having on people".
"The Newcastle event will be postponed until the outbreak settles and a date can be rescheduled, the same as for the other events involving the community," he said.
"The health of the community is a priority to all of us involved in the project.
"Training will continue but in more isolated circumstances, keeping the team's health in mind as well."
Mr Kennedy said he wanted to add something"extra" to his Great North Walk 100 hour attempt, which is why he added the three community events.
"Unless you do something absolutely insane like this you find that people won't get on board. This project is personal to me. I want as many people as possible to know what we're doing and why," he said.
Mr Kennedy added that last year's run had a "huge impact on why this next attempt is being undertaken".
"What I want to get across in this run is that it's okay to talk about your mental health and raise money for the Black Dog Institute," he said.
"You'd think with what I went through the last time I wouldn't want to do it again.
"But through the lessons we learned last time we have confidence this next run is achievable, although it is going to push the boundaries of limitations physically and mentally for everyone involved.
"As mental health affects such a large portion of the population the project wants to give the community an opportunity to become a part of the project.
"That's why we have structured a series of lead up events that will allow people to participate."
To raise further awareness about mental health and the Black Dog Institute David Bryne from The Rusty Cage will be following The Immortality Project's feat to make an educational documentary about the feat.
For more information about the feat or to support Mr Kennedy and team find The Immortality Project page on Facebook.
Ellie-Marie Watts
A journalist with 10 years experience, Ellie-Marie connects readers to the stories that matter in their communities. A Port Stephens-based news, sport and event writer and photographer with a passion for human interest features.
A journalist with 10 years experience, Ellie-Marie connects readers to the stories that matter in their communities. A Port Stephens-based news, sport and event writer and photographer with a passion for human interest features.
