Ezekiel’s running feat worth the weight

Ben Ezekiel has continued his impressive track record and approach to tackling charity runs.

Namely, choose an extremely tough physical challenge, raise the bar in terms of personal performance and fundraising targets, train the house down to adequately prepare, and leave nothing in the tank on the big day to achieve the set goal.

Last Sunday, Ezekiel, who with his wife Dom runs the Chapter Unwritten personal training gym in Bellevue Hill, triumphantly crossed the 2026 Hoka Runaway Sydney Half Marathon finish line at the Domain in Sydney’s CBD, having run the 21.1km distance while wearing a 14kg weighted vest.

He had two big aims: to attempt and break a new world record for weighted running in a half marathon, and to raise $10,000 for the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation.

And he achieved them both, with the generous support of individual donors through a fundraising page.

The previous record was 1:30.11 and Ezekiel finished in 1:22.31.

In the final weeks of his training for the half marathon, he had worn the 14kg vest while doing three sets of 5km runs in below 4:15 splits, with two-minute rests in between them.

“If you’ve followed along for the training, the early mornings, the dark roads – this is what it’s all for,” Ezekiel said.

Dom told The AJN last week that Ben has raised more than $100,000 for charities in the last couple of years by undertaking highly challenging endurance running events, including for important Jewish causes, particularly since October 7, 2023.

“He is consistently putting his body on the line for the community, and it’s great to see the support he has got in the Hoka half marathon, surpassing the $9500 mark in donations received, even before the event.”

On November 5, 2023, Ben and Dom led the Steps in Solidarity event, through Chapter Unwritten, raising $50,000 for ZDVO Australia, to support wounded soldiers and victims of terror in Israel with their ongoing treatment and rehabilitation.

In that fundraising challenge, participants ran or walked 18km while wearing 20kg vests, to symbolise the weight carried daily by those serving Israel on the frontlines.

Then on May 31, 2024, through Chapter Unwritten, he and other participants ran 13km every four hours, for 48 hours, to smash a challenge record originally set by renowned ultramarathon athlete David Goggins.

In the process, $32,000 was raised for Community Security Group (CSG) NSW, via the Jewish Communal Appeal (JCA), to contribute directly to keeping the Jewish community safe.

After that feat, Ezekiel reflected “Together we will continue to stand up against Jewish hate.”

Chapter Unwritten’s latest initiative is the launch of a kids’ program focused on building strong, resilient and confident children through age-appropriate strength training and play-based conditioning.

Ben Ezekiel’s donation page remains open. Visit runawaysydneyhalf2026.grassrootz.com/schf/ben-ezekiel