VICTORIA Point man Kieron Douglass has made an appearance on Channel Nine lifestyle show My Way to tell the story of how he became an ultra marathon runner after overcoming severe anxiety and depression.
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Mr Douglass spoke on the show about moments of trauma in his home life as a child and had cameras follow him on a grueling 100 kilometre run on the Sunshine Coast.
He had few concerns about speaking on national television as he felt his story had to be told, particularly with the number of mental health issues that had been caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
"I was always in fear of being embarrassed to talk about some of my childhood experiences," he said.
"I thought If I was going to help people, I would have to stand up and speak about it, because I'm not helping anyone keeping that sort of stuff to myself."
Mr Douglass spoke on the show about how intruders ransacked his family home as a child after he and his sister were left alone late at night.
His mother had gone out drinking with her boyfriend, who Mr Douglass said had problems with drugs, when the group came into the home.
He said running was his salvation.
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"I don't look back and say 'I wish this didn't happen, and I wish that didn't happen'," Mr Douglass said.
"I am grateful that it did because I am the person I am because of those moments and those challenges."
Mr Douglass had attempted the 100 kilometre run seven years earlier but fell about 20 kilometres short of the finish line.
It was his first trail race and he was not used to the difficult terrain that he has been conquering routinely since.
"I had only run roads," he said. "It was a big shock to the system.
"I was running with two of my best mates ... We were running quite fast for the first 30 kilometres but eventually I dehydrated and was absolutely buggered."
He said he did not feel any extra pressure with cameras filming his latest attempt, and completed the run in 10 hours and 52 minutes.
"Usually I am really shy and quite introverted but I had a task at hand and just being in that race mentally was my focus," he said.
Mr Douglass, who has three children, said he was born to be a dad and felt he would be lost without his family.
He met wife Melanie at Victoria Point State High School when they were 15.
"I always wanted kids early and be able to educate them on life, show them all the good things and all the things I didn't get to do growing up," he said.
"They are really supportive, especially my wife."
Mr Douglass has added to his portfolio, having recently joined council's conservation team after winning the environment and sustainability award at council's Australia Day ceremony.
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