Who is
RODNEY ‘ROCKET’ COTTAM
Rodney is an ex-military man of the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment who loves to run — and whose love of running has helped him overcome some pretty major challenges.
In 2004, Rodney was in a serious motor vehicle accident, sustaining several injuries including a spinal injury, fractured pelvis, broken ribs, punctured lung and multiple lacerations. After two 10-hour surgeries and 12 months of treatment, his long-term prognosis caused by spinal nerve damage is a condition called Brachial Plexus Palsy, which has left Rodney permanently paralysed in his left arm.
In a split second, Rodney went from being an elite soldier, in the best physical shape possible, to completely losing all movement and feeling in one arm, from shoulder to fingertips.
The turning point
Rodney’s military training and previous experience as a high-level sports competitor instilled a strong sense of resilience that helped him make a crucial decision at this point. Rather than hate the world and see what happened as a negative, Rodney chose to accept the change, move on and live the best life he could.
He turned to running, something he’d always loved. It was a challenge after the accident, as he had no strength or support in his shoulder joint. But over time, Rodney found his balance and rhythm, transitioning from an elliptical machine to a treadmill, then to road and trail running.
Eighteen years later, he now runs at least five days and up to 200kms per week, usually on trails, which he loves for the beautiful scenery and the diversity of the terrain. This 500km challenge is the second in what is now a yearly ultra-trail challenge, in Australia and around the world.
“For me, resilience is facing something and going - I can get past this.”
Rodney ‘Rocket’ Cottam