@ Reddit

Cliff Young: the ultra-marathon farmer

Inspiring Runners

10/06/2025 10:36

In 1983, a 61-year-old Australian farmer lined up at the start of one of the toughest races in the world—the Westfield Sydney to Melbourne Ultramarathon. No one expected what happened next. Cliff Young, a sheep farmer with little formal racing experience, achieved the unthinkable: he ran 875 kilometers (544 miles) without sleeping… and won, beating all the favorites.

| The first westfield sydney to melbourne ultramarathon

Launched in 1983, the Westfield Sydney to Melbourne Ultramarathon earned a reputation as one of the most grueling endurance races on the planet. Spanning 875 km through searing daytime heat and freezing nights, it demanded extraordinary preparation, strategic planning, and near-superhuman stamina. It was a race for elite ultramarathoners—athletes who calculated every calorie, nap, and step. That year, top contenders like the legendary Greek ultrarunner Yiannis Kouros had well-honed strategies: scheduled micro-naps, precisely calibrated fueling, and energy-saving strides. So when Cliff Young showed up at the start line wearing overalls and work boots, people thought it was a joke. What most didn’t realize was that Cliff, a native of Victoria, wasn’t entirely new to running. Despite what some internet myths might suggest, he had completed the Melbourne Marathon three times between 1980 and 1982, after taking up competitive running at the age of 56. His personal best? A respectable 3:02:53—remarkable for someone who began so late in life. But this time would reveal just how much more he had in him.

| The “impossible” feat of Cliff Young and his sheep

Every day on his farm in Beech Forest, Cliff would run for hours chasing stray sheep across rugged terrain—often for days without rest. So when he calmly told race officials, “I’m used to running for two or three days straight when rounding up the sheep,” it wasn’t just a quaint anecdote—it was his truth. At first, no one took him seriously. Other runners raised eyebrows. Spectators chuckled. Yet, once the race began, Cliff stuck to his own rhythm: a slow, steady shuffle that never stopped. While competitors took breaks to sleep, Cliff simply kept going. “If I stop to sleep,” he reasoned, “I’ll lose too much time.”

By day three, he had caught up to the leaders. By day four, he passed them. With no coach, no sports science, and no sleep, Cliff Young ran continuously for 5 days, 15 hours, and 4 minutes, smashing the previous record by nearly two full days. He finished a staggering 10 hours ahead of the runner-up, George Perdon—himself a veteran, known as the first man to run across Australia back in 1973. At the finish line, exhausted but smiling, Cliff said simply: “I knew I could do it. I just did what I always do.” His time would stand until 1985, when Yiannis Kouros set a new record of 5 days, 5 hours, and 7 minutes. Cliff’s performance even inspired a race in his honor—the Cliff Young Race, held annually from 1983 to 2005.

Cliff Young on the Westfield Sydney to Melbourne Ultramarathon (1983)

| Cliff Young’s legacy: a new way to run

Cliff Young didn’t just win a race—he changed the very fabric of ultrarunning. Before him, no one thought it was humanly possible to run nearly 900 km without sleep. After him, scientists and runners alike studied his signature stride: the “Young Shuffle”—a low-impact, ultra-efficient gait that dragged the feet just above the ground to conserve energy. To this day, it’s taught in ultramarathon training camps. But Cliff’s real legacy goes beyond biomechanics. He redefined what endurance means. He proved that patience and grit could outlast speed and youth. That simplicity can beat sophistication. That underdogs—those who don’t fit the mold—often hold untapped potential. Even Eliud Kipchoge, the Kenyan marathon legend and first man to break the 2-hour barrier (in an unofficial race), cited Cliff Young as an inspiration: “He taught me that limits exist only in the mind.” In Australia, Cliff remains a national icon. His story isn’t just a tale of winning against all odds—it’s a reminder that greatness often wears humble shoes.