Reformed jailbird achieves dream

Flinders View resident Lou Athan receives a warm reception from his niece Jade Parker, nine, of Bundamba after completing his 150-kilometre marathon.

David Nielsen

PUTTING his troubled past behind him, a determined Lou Athan has achieved his dream of completing a 24-hour, 150- kilometre run.

After spending the better part of 20 years in prison, Mr Athan said he wanted to be a positive role model for troubled youth and show them their past didn’t have to define their future.

He said the run showed he had turned his life around.

“Today is a public display that I have done that,” Mr Athan said.

The 45-year-old left Ipswich at 8.30am on Saturday and followed a route to Grandchester before returning to Ipswich and heading out to Walloon and back.

He finished at Limestone Park’s Bill Paterson Oval about 8am yesterday.

Mr Athan said he ran for about 20 hours, with four hours of down time to take in nutrition.

He said light showers on the overnight stretch of his run and on the final leg into Ipswich worked in his favour.

“I finished strong,” he said.

“The rain cooled me down as opposed to Saturday when the humidity was hard to handle.

“In endurance events, managing your temperature is easier during cooler weather; you can push yourself harder.”

Mr Athan said the event raised about $10,000 for the Ipswich Independent Youth Centre.

“The generosity exceeded my expectations,” he said.

“The response to the event blew me away. I felt I owed it to the city to dig deep.”

Mr Athan said he originally planned to run 100 kilometres, but after speaking with Ipswich City Council decided to make it 150 kilometres to mark the city’s 150-year celebration.

“The city really embraced me, which meant a lot to me,” he said.

“I’m not used to being wanted. I’m used to being shunned.”

He said he now hoped to work with youth.

“I feel like I have a lot to offer in that regard,” Mr Athan said.

Maree Athan watched on as her son completed his test of endurance.

“I’m just extremely proud of him and astounded by his achievement,” Ms Athan said.

“His father passed away in November and I know he would have been proud of him too.

“He hasn’t been the perfect son in the past, but he has changed his life.”

Mrs Athan said her son had achieved his aim of setting a positive example for others.

“There’s never no hope. While there is life, there is hope,” she said. “A few years ago I never would have said that.

“He had been in and out of jail a few times, but now he is trying to make a new life for himself.”