Bondi to Manly ultra-marathon runner only goes as far as Elizabeth Bay after getting scared about leaving the eastern suburbs

MENTAL ROADBLOCK: A Dover Heights man attempting to run the 80km Bondi to Manly ultra-marathon has only completed 16kms of the course after stopping short in Elizabeth Bay.

“I knew the run would be tough,” Lachie Morton-Smith told DBT.

“And I felt fine running through Bondi, Dover Heights, Vaucluse, Watsons Bay, Rose Bay, Double Bay and Edgecliff, but once I hit Elizabeth Bay I moved out of my comfort zone.”

The 32-year-old accountant says he still had loads of energy, but felt uneasy about leaving the familiar confines of the eastern suburbs.

“He kept telling other runners that he feels uncomfortable about crossing the Harbour Bridge,” said one passer-by.

Morton-Smith quickly hailed a cab on Macleay Street and went to Dover Heights where he is now recovering at his home sauna.

 “I might try again next year,” he said. “But I’ll probably just go from Bondi to Rose Bay or something more achievable.”