Born and raised in Australia, Anderson was “always outside, always moving.” From a young age, he was all-in on rugby league, playing for over eighteen years and absolutely loving it. The team environment, the physicality, and the competition were everything to him. However, as time passed, he found himself questioning if there was more out there.

Raised to believe that "hard work is everything", Anderson knew that "you must show up and put in the effort" – no effort, no reward. Playing rugby for so many years instilled this in him, but it wasn’t until he discovered endurance sports that he realised how far that mindset could take him and which limits it could overcome.

ROOTS OF RESILIENCE

Physical activity was always a part of Anderson’s upbringing. However, he recalls a defining moment when he watched David Goggins talk about pushing limits, and something immediately shifted. At the time, Anderson was in a tough place mentally and needed to prove to himself that he could handle more. From here, he started running. Not because he loved it, but because it was hard. It forced him to face himself, push through discomfort, and allowed him to choose his own limits, seeing what he was really made of.

His determination came from the craving "to do more hard" things." He was searching for something that would challenge him like nothing else had, and running was his answer. It was never about pace or distance at first; it was about proving to himself that he wouldn’t quit — that he wouldn’t stop before finishing what he started and achieving the goals he set for himself. This mindset shift made him realise that he wanted to completely immerse himself in the endurance lifestyle. The rest is history.

AN ATHLETES MINDSET

Like everyone, Anderson has faced many setbacks — injuries, burnout, and moments of questioning himself. However, after playing rugby for almost two decades, he reminded himself that setbacks are just a part of the process. You either let them break you or use them to come back stronger. This is the mindset he applies to running — setbacks don’t stop him; they show him where he needs to improve.

Beyond racing, running has completely changed his mindset. Anderson has become more disciplined, patient, and, most importantly, more comfortable with struggle. At his lowest, he had no clear direction — something we can all relate to at times. Running has given him direction and shaped how he approaches challenges, deals with adversity, and pushes himself to grow in other areas of life.

THE TURNING POINT

Anderson was recognised when he ran 160 kilometres (100 miles) within his first year of serious training. From there, his presence grew — through brand partnerships and a newly built community following his journey. Anderson realised he had "an opportunity to inspire others who might be going through their own struggles." That’s when he knew he was onto something bigger than just running.

Initially, becoming a professional athlete in the realm of running didn’t necessarily cross his mind. He ran because it gave him purpose. However, by continuously pushing himself and documenting his journey, he quickly realised there was something more here. All he needed to do was show up, put in the work, and prove to himself that he had the potential to turn this into something bigger.

OVERCOMING CHALLENGES AND SETBACKS

One of the hardest things Jordan has had to face? Letting go of who he used to be. Always imagining himself as a rugby player, it was difficult for him to see himself any differently when that chapter closed. Anderson had to find out who he really was, and eventually, running became that path. 

Anderson explains: “The hardest part wasn’t the training or the races — it was shifting my identity and stepping into something completely new.” 

Over time, Anderson has grown to not let setbacks define him. He takes a moment to acknowledge them before moving forward: “I don’t have time to dwell on what went wrong — I just focus on what’s next.”

THE POWER OF GOAL-SETTING

A strategy that has evidently helped Anderson is goal-setting. “It’s everything. If I don’t have a goal, I feel lost,” he reiterates. Currently, he’s training for a full Ironman, which, for those who may not know, is a grueling, long-distance endurance race consisting of a 3.8 km swim (2.4 mile swim), a 180 km bike ride (112 mile bike ride), and a 42.2 km run (26.2 mile run) — essentially a full marathon, totalling 226.3 km (140.6 miles).

In relation to external noise and internal self-doubt, this is something Anderson has struggled with but has come to understand: “Some will support you, some won’t.” He continues: “When I first started running, a lot of people didn’t understand it. But I realised early on that the only opinion that really matters is my own. As long as I know I’m putting in the work, that’s all that counts.”

VISIONS FOR THE FUTURE

Looking ahead, Anderson is focused on pushing his own limits and testing how far he can go. He’s also thinking about other aspects of his journey, such as growing his presence as an athlete, building partnerships, and creating bigger opportunities for himself off the track.

When we asked how he would describe himself away from sports, his answer was simple: “Pretty much the same.” This highlights just how authentic Anderson truly is. He continues, “I love challenges, I love growth, and I don’t like sitting still. I’m always looking for the next thing to push myself.”

Jordan Anderson, who we describe as humble, gentle, and passionate, wants to be remembered not just as someone who chased big goals, but as someone who helped others believe they could achieve the same. He reiterates, “If people look at my journey and think, 'If he can do it, maybe I can too,' that’s what matters to me.”

Looking ahead, Anderson is training for his first full Ironman, but that’s just a short-term goal. A 321.87 km (200-mile) run is now on his radar. He says, “I don’t know where my limits are yet, but I’m going to find out.”