Scoreboard Podcast Episode 50: Tim Franklin (Endurance Running)

In this milestone 50th episode of Scoreboard, endurance coach and keynote speaker Tim Franklin sits down with Chris Titley to reflect on his extraordinary 26,245-kilometre run around the world. From the deserts of Australia to the streets of Europe and the heartbreak of personal loss, Franklin shares what it really means to chase a goal that few would dare attempt.

The Spark That Lit the Fuse

“The genesis of it started in 2017. I was competing in my first ever ultramarathon, the Big Red Run, from Birdsville into the Simpson Desert… There was a bloke on the plane reading a book about Tom Denniss, who’d run around the world.”

“Tom was actually sitting behind us. I asked him a million questions, and ever since then I was like—I’m going to do it.”

“It was about going on a crazy adventure… try and be the fastest person to ever do it.”

One Rule: Just Start

“I didn’t want to turn a 600-day run into a 900-day run and completely trash my body. So I slowed it down, no ego—just time on feet.”

“There wasn’t a Google search for ‘how to run around the world easily’… so I built it myself.”

“You’ve got to pick a date and start. You’re never going to be ready. No one’s ever ready to do something outrageous.”

Crew, Kebabs, and Cardiologists

“Thirty-nine people came and crewed for me—mostly mates. They flew in, took time off work, away from family… just to help.”

“I had a mate who’s a cardiologist say, ‘This is not a good idea.’ In my medical opinion, do not do this. So I stopped talking to him.”

“We ate a lot—kebabs, pizza, chicken parmies. I was burning 4,000 to 5,000 calories a day.”

The Run Was the Easy Bit

“The running was probably the easier component. It was all the logistics—the accommodation, where’s the car, what’s next?”

“I think I slept in something like 380 different beds. We’d book accommodation on the flight because we never knew where we’d end up.”

“Recovery? Literally nothing. I’d run, lie down, eat, and sleep. We had compression boots, maybe one physio in France, and a few dodgy massages from the crew.”

Breaking Down Pain and Purpose

“There were days where I could hardly move… just pain. Tight, sore, slow. But I’d get through it.”

“I’m not a big advocate of ‘when it hurts, push harder.’ If you’re broken, stop. You’ve only got one body.”

“The mental side never really stopped. Even when I was lying awake at 2am—it was logistics, not leg pain.”

The Moment That Changed Everything

“Mid-run, my father was diagnosed with a terminal illness. I got a call saying, ‘He’s got two weeks. If you’re going to say goodbye, come now.’”

“I flew home from North Carolina and landed in Brisbane. That week—being with my family, saying goodbye—was the most amazing of my life.”

“The last thing Dad said to me was, ‘You go and finish that damn run.’ That became the only thing that mattered.”

Life After the Finish Line

“I finished on a Sunday. There were thousands at Southbank. Monday, a bit of media. Tuesday, I was yesterday’s news.”

“I had to re-assimilate into society—go to the bank, get my licence renewed, go food shopping. It all felt mundane.”

“But then the phone started ringing. Coaching opportunities. Speaking gigs. That gave me a new sense of purpose.”

His Scoreboard Moment

“That week with my dad—that changed everything. It made me realise we don’t live forever. I’m 42. I’m halfway, if not over halfway. Let’s go.”

“Be the first you. Don’t try to be the next LeBron. Be the best person you can be, and everything else will follow.”