Blake is a 26 year old from Traralgon, Victoria. He’s completed an incredible fundraising pilgrimage through that same Simpson Desert, traversing three state borders in the process. In only three days and 17 hours, he covered an astonishing 380 kilometers. Along with this extraordinary achievement he became the youngest person to ever do so. Herbold’s journey is a testament of his remarkable physical endurance. It symbolizes his ongoing struggle with mental health, which has deeply shaped his life.
Bourne has fought his own mental health demons starting at a young age. He began taking antidepressants when he was only 11 years old. He credits running as perhaps the only outlet that’s kept him sane through some tremendous difficulties he faced. Rather, it gives him an opportunity to transform his pain into something productive. As victorious as the resulting run was, getting there didn’t come easy. In 2022, Bourne decided that the Simpson Desert was going to be her next running challenge. He was forced to stop his ride early at 203 kilometers due to injury and fatigue.
The Journey Across the Desert
Bourne’s new mission has taken some intense preparation and an extra level of willpower. Carrying a hydration vest equipped with food and water sufficient for an hour and a half at a time, he navigated through extreme conditions that included temperatures reaching 35 degrees Celsius during the day and dropping to 28 degrees at night. He utilized ice packs overnight to help combat inflammation and soreness while on the run. This is an indication of his dedication to actually seeing this complicated project through.
Even with hurdles to overcome, Bourne showed iron clad determination over the course of the run. “There is absolutely no reason to stop this run, unless I physically can not move,” he stated, reflecting his determination. With each mile he crossed a physical and mental barrier that brought him to the breaking point of his body and spirit. “I sort of hit a wall and stumbled through the next 10km,” he admitted. Instead, he took his previous suffering and made it his inspiration. “All the pain of the last four years, I had bottled it up and used as fuel for the run,” Bourne noted.
He completed the run in three days, 17 hours and 40 minutes. Miraculously, he fell only nine hours short of the world record! Each of these accomplishments has been a personal victory for him. It’s a major step forward in his mission to combat stigma and raise awareness about mental health.
The Impact of Running on Mental Health
To Bourne, the passion and pursuit of running has provided not only an outlet, but a source of hope and resilience. He expressed how medication affected him negatively during his teenage years, stating, “If anything, [the medication] made it worse.” His time on antidepressants had been deeply exhausting. “It took away the energy to commit suicide, but it took away the energy to do everything,” he explained.
Through running, Bourne was able to address his demons in a productive manner. For U.S. mental health management to grow stronger, practical solutions must be taken seriously,” he added. “They give practical solutions to those suffering so they can manage their own mental health, and I think that’s so important,” he said. Beyond overcoming incredible odds, his journey is a huge success story in the growing narrative about the intertwining of physical activity and mental wellness.
Celebrating Achievements and Future Goals
Finishing this incredible journey has made Bourne feel more empowered and liberated from his past emotional shackles. “And now that the run is complete, it has all disappeared,” he remarked with relief. Even so, he is still very much dedicated to mental health advocacy. By sharing his story, he seeks to continue inspiring others who are currently battling the same challenges.
As a result, Bourne’s achievement has earned him praise and recognition not just in his community, but from many across the country. “I managed to become the youngest person ever to run across the Simpson, which is pretty cool,” he remarked proudly. Yet as he looks back at his trip, he is the first to admit how it had taken over his life for so long. “Because I’ve spent four years training for it, dreamed about it for four years and planned it for four years,” Bourne concluded.
