Featured image: Aydan Papac completed his run along the Croatian coast in ten days/Private album
Australian-Croatian ultrarunner Aydan Papac has completed an 820-kilometre run along the Croatian coast, reaching Punta Oštro near Prevlaka on September 3 after ten days on the road.
Papac began his journey at the Savudrija lighthouse on August 24 and travelled from Croatia’s westernmost point to its far south. He now describes himself as the first and fastest person to run the country’s entire coastline.
The original route was estimated at 827 kilometres, while Papac recorded 820 kilometres upon completing the challenge. His attempt to establish a new Guinness World Record has not yet been formally confirmed by Guinness World Records.
The challenge brought together Papac’s Croatian heritage, endurance running and a deeply personal cause. He dedicated the journey to his grandfather, who died after developing Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and used it to raise funds for families affected by the rare illness.
Read more about his preparations, planned route and motivation in our earlier article Aydan Papac to Attempt 827km Guinness Record Run Across Croatia.
The 820 km run along the Croatian coast
Papac set out to complete the route in no more than ten days, requiring him to cover an average of more than 80 kilometres every day.
The final stage was among the most demanding. According to Papac, he covered the last 192 kilometres in 32 hours, stopping for only one two-hour nap before reaching Punta Oštro.
“820km. One country. Guided by love,” he wrote after completing the challenge.
In a later post, Papac said the journey had been a pilgrimage led by love through the country his grandfather called home.
“My name is Aydan Papac. I was never born the strongest, gifted or the most talented, but I never gave up and believed in the impossible,” he wrote.
Health problems forced a change of plan
The run along the Croatian coast did not go entirely according to schedule. By day six, Papac had developed gastrointestinal problems after several days of running in the summer heat.
His team decided that he needed medical attention. He visited two hospitals, underwent blood tests and received treatment before resting and changing his schedule.
Rather than continuing through the hottest part of the day, the team adjusted the plan so that Papac could recover and cover more of the remaining distance during the cooler night hours.
Despite the interruption, he resumed the challenge and completed the planned journey within ten days.
Local runners joined him in Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik was the final major city on Papac’s route before he continued through Konavle towards Prevlaka and Punta Oštro. Local runners joined him for part of the Dubrovnik stage, accompanying him during the closing section of the challenge.
After completing the journey, Papac was received at Dubrovnik City Hall together with members of his family and support team. Deputy Mayor Velibor Puzović and acting tourism and sports department head Ana Hrnić congratulated him on the achievement.
“Running the entire Croatian coast in such a short time requires exceptional physical fitness, but also enormous mental strength and perseverance,” Puzović said.
He added that the humanitarian purpose and Papac’s tribute to his grandfather gave the sporting challenge a significance that extended beyond running.
Moving for those who no longer can
Papac dedicated the challenge to his grandfather, Jandre Bilic, who died in 2020 after developing Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, or CJD.
CJD is a rare degenerative brain disease that can progress rapidly. Before his diagnosis, Bilic was known within the family for beginning his days before sunrise and walking several kilometres through his Melbourne neighbourhood. Within months of becoming ill, he was bedridden and unable to care for himself.
“Now I am moving for those who no longer can,” Papac explained before beginning the challenge.
Alongside raising awareness of the disease, he set a goal of collecting AUD 50,000 for the CJD Support Group Network of Australia, which provides information and support to people affected by CJD and their families.
At the time of writing, his campaign had received AUD 8,610 from 103 donations.
