Most people would struggle to stay awake for a full day, but Australian ultra-runner Phil Gore spent 152 hours repeatedly running 6.71km laps, sleeping for only a few minutes at a time.

The 40-year-old took on the extraordinary challenge in a Backyard Ultra event, hoping to run continuously for a week. He eventually stopped during his 153rd lap after pushing himself to the limit.

The race started again every hour

In a Backyard Ultra, runners must complete a 6.71km lap within one hour. Once they finish, they can rest until the next hour begins.

Gore had just two minutes to put on his shoes and headtorch when the bell signalled another lap. After running for around 40 minutes, he would return to his bed, often with only about 15 minutes available to sleep.

The routine continued through day and night as exhaustion steadily increased.

He had only minutes to sleep

Gore said the hardest part was often getting out of bed rather than running.

Despite having only short periods of sleep, he said he could sometimes reach deep sleep quickly and feel as though he had rested for hours. His support crew had to wake him before each new lap.

Food also became part of the unusual routine. He relied on sweets, Nerds, Coco Pops, meat pies, microwave meals and even a cheeseburger to keep going.

Then his body said enough

Gore completed 152 laps, but his final completed lap took 58 minutes, leaving almost no time for recovery.

He began lap 153 but stopped after about 25 minutes when he realised he could no longer finish within the required hour. He collapsed and was helped away by his crew.

Although disappointed that his limit arrived sooner than hoped, Gore said discovering that limit was the purpose of the challenge.

The run helped children too

The gruelling effort also raised $285,000 for Telethon, supporting medical research and health services for children in Western Australia.

Gore said the challenge had taken more out of him than his previous events and that he was using crutches during recovery. He has since worked with his doctor and physiotherapist on a plan to prevent similar problems in future races.