If you offer Nedd Brockmann a coffee, he will only accept it if he can drink it from a dine-in mug.
The reason he hasn't used a disposable coffee cup or a plastic water bottle in five years is the same reason he hasn't taken the lift in four.
Only this month, he hauled a heavy bike bag up the stairs at London's Heathrow Airport rather than breaking a promise he made to himself.
These daily decisions, or what Mr Brockmann calls "receipts", may seem like quirky habits but they are actually the building blocks of an unbreakable mindset.
For a man who captured the nation's attention by running from Perth to Sydney (almost 4000 kilometres) and raising about two million for a homelessness charity, endurance isn't fueled by fleeting bursts of enthusiasm.
"If I only ran on the days I felt motivated to run, I wouldn't run very much," Mr Brockmann said.
Instead, the 27-year-old's success is rooted in discipline and an unshakeable commitment to his own word.
He believes that small, compounding acts (like taking the stairs) of integrity prepare the mind for monumental adversity.
"What happens when it's really tough?... you're going to fall back on your word and you're going to try and find the easy way out," Mr Brockmann said.
"But if all you ever do is do what you say you're going to do, you will get through the thing that's uncomfortable."
This relentless dedication to growing through discomfort has led Mr Brockmann to profound mental spaces during his gruelling ultramarathons.
He admits to being "possessed" by the excitement of chasing long-term goals, yet, the true reward of his physical suffering is found in the exact opposite of future planning - being present.
When embarking on massive runs, Mr Brockmann pushes his body until he reaches a deep flow state.
"Once you succumb and accept that you will be in pain and you will be suffering, it's OK," he said.
"It's actually quite a nice, very present feeling that I think a lot of us yearn for. A lot of people want to be present ... I think that's what it means to be human and to be content and at peace."
The intense public attention of being named 2026 Young Australian of the Year felt like a "second or third rodeo" for Mr Brockmann, who approaches fame with an "it is what it is lens".
However, he recognises the immense power of the title, noting that it opens doors and gives him "credibility quicker"
Now, rather than just testing his own physical limits, he is eager to pass the baton.
In October, he is launching the "Uncomfortable Challenge," inviting everyday people to commit to 10 days of discomfort to raise money for the charity Mobilise.
Nedd Brockmann's core message is simple: integrity is a disappearing trait in today's world, and he wants to see more people walk their talk.
"If like by committing to your word and being that person. When people can rely upon you, that is a very valuable trait ... I think more people need to be that," he said.
"A lot of words are fleeting now. It feels good to say 'I'm going to do this'. It's like, f---ing do it."
Whether it is refusing a takeaway coffee, carrying luggage up flights of stairs, or running across the country, Mr Brockmann is the living epitome of the statement "mind over matter".
"If all you ever do is do what you say you're going to do, you will get through the thing that's uncomfortable."
Reflecting on his unique situation where he found recognition even before being nominated for Young Australian, Mr Brockmann said the award could be an opportunity for people doing incredible work in a niche field to receive valuable exposure.
"Nominate them because it can change a lot of people's lives by changing that person's life," he said.
Nominations for the the 2027 Australian of the Year Awards close at midnight on Friday, July 31. Go to the website australianoftheyear.org.au to nominate someone who inspires you and your community.
