SITREP#2: The Weight of War Run is Officially GO
- Josh Atkins
- Jun 23
- 2 min read
Date: 23 June 2026
Author: Josh Atkins, Managing Director & Founder
Righto, listen up. The wait is over, the dates are locked, and the routes are all but set.
I am officially calling all veterans, first responders, and everyday Australians to the start line.
The Weight of War Run 2026 is officially GO for Saturday, 5 December 2026.
What started as one bloke taking the piss in a weight vest and a pair of budgy smugglers to shine a light on a heavy issue has exploded into a national movement.
This year, we are hosting four major locations: Brisbane, Cronulla, Karratha, and Canberra.
If you're new to the movement, here is the brief:
We are bridging the gap between military service and civilian life. To do that, we tackle a gruelling 21km endurance challenge wearing a 10kg weight vest and nothing but a pair of budgy smugglers.
Yes, it’s uncomfortable. Yes, you will get some strange looks. That is exactly the point.
We use a bit of classic Australian larrikinism to tackle a life-or-death issue. The 10kg vest represents the physical and psychological burden of service, the invisible weight that so many of our mates carry long after the uniform comes off. The smugglers? They represent the raw vulnerability it takes to admit you are struggling, drop your ego, and ask for help.
But we don’t just run to suffer. We are a direct-action charity.
Every single dollar raised by the public on December 5th is deployed directly into our constitutional pipelines. We use these funds to sponsor transitioning veterans into world-class pipeline programs run by our trusted partners: Survive To Thrive Nation (STTN) and the Zero79 Foundation.
RULES OF ENGAGEMENT:
Everyone Runs Free: As always, registration is 100% FREE for all. We will never let cost be a barrier to finding your community.
Public Welcome: You don't need to have served to run. In fact, we need you there. Come down, stand shoulder-to-shoulder with us, and literally share the load.
Fundraise: Once you register, create a team on our Chuffed page. Tell your family, your workplace, and your mates.
The duty of service is not shed with the uniform. If you have the ability to help, you have the obligation to act.
It’s time to step up, strip down, and share the load. Registrations are now officially open on the website.
I’ll see you on the track.
Josh Atkins
Founder, Weight of War Ltd
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