His mission is to raise extra money for Ballarat Health Services’ Base Hospital children’s ward redevelopment, in the spirit of Run Ballarat.

Whyte completed the Surf Coast Century 100-kilometre earlier this month and wanted a new challenge, to test if he could run for a full day.

“I’m putting the invite out there for people to join me – on bikes, on foot, whatever – whenever through out the day,” Whyte said. “I probably won’t be able to talk much during the run, but it will be nice to have the company.”

Whyte will have a support crew based at the St Patrick’s College boat shed. He hopes to pass them “33 and a bit times” in a projected 200km.

Hailing from Mordialloc, Whyte moved to Ballarat to study para-medicine/nursing at Australian Catholic University. He loves it here, especially the trails and tracks about, and the lake.

“I do all my speed work here on the flat and have been running here all month to get used to spending a lot of time here,” Whyte said. "Running in the bush there is something new to look at all the time but I’m still trying to figure out the mental aspect of the lake, running the same course and backdrop.”

Whyte hoped the change in slight change scenery for the Run Ballarat course – from North Gardens up past the Arch of Victory and back – and the lively atmosphere would help spur him along for the final leg of his journey.

He has planned an hour between his lake laps to refresh and get to the Run Ballarat start line, quipping he might skip the pre-race aerobic warm-ups.

Although, he hoped his support crew would give him a lift in the car from his lake finish at St Patrick’s Point to the Run start precinct. 

Whyte will start his 24-hour run at 7.30am on Saturday, October 22.

To support Whyte: www.mycause.com.au/page/136260 or offer a gold coin to join him on course.

Run Ballarat on October 23: runaustralia.com.au.