Local tradies swap tools for joggers and get moving in 4.01 Club run

MORE than 200 local tradies joined former electrician and ultramarathon runner Nedd Brockmann and former GWS player Cooper Hamilton for a run aimed at getting tradies moving, connecting and making time for their wellbeing.

Called the 4:01 Club run, the name is a nod to traditional tradie knock-off time.

But 4:01 isn’t just about what the clock says: It represents the time around work that tradies can give back to themselves, whether that’s going for a run, catching up with a mate, or simply taking time to reset.

The Port Macquarie turnout surpassed the more than 160 tradies who joined the 4:01 Club in Brisbane last week on the back of National Tradies Day.
The early-morning run brought the Port Macquarie trade community together, swapping the tools for running shoes to take part in a 30-minute run, followed by breakfast and conversation around looking after themselves and their mates.

Now in its second year, the 4:01 Club was created by Mitre 10 in response to research highlighting the challenges many tradies faced in prioritising their wellbeing.

Research found 84 per cent had experienced mental health challenges, while 75 per cent agreed work negatively impacted their ability to prioritise their mental health and wellbeing.

Concerningly, one in five reported experiencing suicidal thoughts as a result of work-related challenges.

The research also found 83 per cent of tradies didn’t exercise regularly or as much as they would like to, with the 4:01 Club encouraging them to carve out time around work to put down the tools and pick up their mates.

Nedd Brockmann knows first-hand the physical and mental demands of working in a trade, having worked as an electrician before becoming one of Australia’s best-known endurance athletes.

Cooper Hamilton joined the 4:01 Club as an ambassador in 2026.

More than 15,000 tradies have accessed resources through the program this year.