Marathon runner Dave Alley is on the home stretch to Lismore after breaking the around Australia running record early on Monday morning.
The 39-year-old police officer is now just 400 kilometres from Lismore, where he started his run.
But the record was set at 1.51am on Monday, when Mr Alley reached the key mark of 13,383 kilometres in just 169 days, 15 hours and 31 minutes.
The record was broken at the corner of the New England Highway and Barley Fields Road, about 4 kilometres north of Uralla.
It surpassed Pat Farmer’s previous record of 174 days, set in 1999.
Mr Alley was joined for the final leg by Ron Grant and his wife Anne. Mr Grant was the first man to run around Australia.
Ron completed the circumnavigation of 13,383 km in 217 days for an overall daily average of 61.67km.
Lismore mayor Jenny Dowell, who has followed Mr Alley’s efforts on Facebook, posted ‘Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant’, as Mr Alley passed the record.
It’s expected Mr Alley will arrive in Lismore later this week.
Cr Dowell said council events staff were in contact with Mr Alley’s crew and were already planning a welcome home event.
‘He left from Oakes Oval so I would hope we welcome him back there. It’s a momentous occasion. The record is one thing but coming home and finishing is also very important to him and we want to welcome him home in style,’ she said.
Cr Dowell said details of the reception party would be announced in coming days.
It’s not the first time Mr Alley has set a long distance record.
In 2011 he become the fastest person to ever cycle around Australia.
Between 12 September and 20 October 2011, he achieved the incredible 14,251km journey in a staggering 37 days, 20 hours and 45 minutes, taking over three days off the previous record held by Canadian Perry Stone.
The event became known as ‘Race Around Australia 1’.
His latest marathon effort is a fundraiser for the White Cloud Foundation, whose mission is to increase support and resources to people living with depression.
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