Fun Run, Darwin

When the Greek messenger Pheidippides was sent to Athens to announce the Persian’s defeat in the battle of Marathon, he ran 42 kilometres without stopping, burst into the Athenian assembly, delivered the news and died on the spot. Fun Run is his story…

Not only a homage to Pheidippides, FUN RUN is a riotous celebration of the cult of personality that marathon running and sport has become. Oprah’s done it; P. Diddy’s completed the quest; and now in FUN RUN, Tristan Meecham pushes himself to the limits of human endurance to complete the hallowed marathon.

Clad in tight lycra shorts and golden sneakers, the star of Fun Run and its’ fearless hero, is Tristan who runs the gruelling 42.2. kilometres on a treadmill, supported by massive visual effects, a booming soundtrack, a silky-voiced MC and hundreds of performers and athletes. Humps’ journey will have the audience cheering, gasping and asking: can he succeed, will he hit the wall and collapse in humiliating failure?

Throughout the marathon, there is an energy pumping performance approximately every 10 minutes. These include hundreds of performers and athletes sourced from the broader local community. The live performances are framed in front of a huge LED video screen that provides the backdrop for the marathon and screen epic imagery urging Humps, the crowd and the performers on. The video screen, like a sporting scoreboard, tracks Humps’ progress offering the audiences a platform to engage with the event as they would a sporting event or race. Fireworks, strobe lighting and stadium style lights complete the effect.

Family friendly and suitable for all ages. FUN RUN is a site specific event that combines sport, biological science, video art, live performance, community group engagement and physical risk to create a public durational spectacle.

I’m an experienced Marathon runner but to run a Marathon on a treadmill is an amazing effort all on it’s own… I supported Humphrey from the beginning til the end…What a guy, what an athlete….The atmosphere was fabulous, it was like a big street party… I LOVE PARTIES…. woo hoo….GO TRISTAN – Shaye Hatty, Fun Run Performer