Australian marathon legend Pat Farmer announced his next ultra-marathon challenge: running the lengt

India, South to North. One man, 60 days; a whopping 4,600 kilometres.

Australia's ultra-marathon running legend, Pat Farmer AM, announced that he will run the length of India, covering 4,600km in 60 days. The Spirit of India run will begin on 26 January 2016 - a significant date for both countries, marking Australia Day and India Republic Day.

Starting in Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu at the southern point of India, Pat will head north, running an average 80 kilometres each day. But it won't be your usual daily run. Pat hopes to reach Srinagar, Kashmir on 26th March 2016.

Along the way he will run through bustling cities, rural towns and coastal villages, stopping to speak with school students, business leaders and community representatives. He will pass through landmark cities such as Mumbai, Surat, Ahmedabad, Udaipur, Ajmer, Jaipur, Agra, New Delhi and Chandigarh.

Pat's aim is to promote goodwill, friendship and trade between Australia and India, while also highlighting and raising funds for girls' education in India.

"My goals are to raise $100,000 to support the education of girls in India through The K.C Mahindra Education Trust and to showcase this amazing country, India, and its people," said Pat.

The Spirit of India run has the support of both the Australian and Indian Governments. The Minister for Foreign Affairs, The Hon Julie Bishop MP, attended and spoke at Pat’s launch of the Spirit of India run.

"I wish Pat all the very best for the Spirit of India run and support his efforts to highlight the strong people- to-people links between our two countries,” the Minister said.

The Spirit of India run will also be filmed by Australian film maker of Indian origin Anupam Sharma, Director of ‘UnIndian’, and his team of film professionals.