Finding the Edge: Josh Harris on Endurance, Sport and the Power of Persistence

There’s a stretch of the Maroochy River that’s quiet just before sunrise. That’s usually where you’ll find Josh Harris, working through another early kayaking session before the day shifts to property, clients and deals.

It’s a routine built around a mindset that Josh applies equally to competing in endurance sporting events and his role as a Commercial Property Consultant with RWC Noosa & Sunshine Coast, one defined by tenacity, drive and determination. 

Whether it’s a multi-day expedition or a 10-hour running race in Landsborough, the common thread for Josh is persistence: testing limits, adapting under pressure and continuing to move forward despite the challenges encountered along the way.

“I’ve always been a pretty driven person, and that carries across everything I do — work, sport and life in general. For me, it’s not about winning, it’s about being as good as I can possibly be. That’s what I enjoy most, just pushing myself to get a little bit better every day.”

Earlier on, that drive led Josh to compete in Ironman events around the world including Spain, Slovakia, Thailand, Vietnam, Taiwan, New Zealand and Australia. Closer to home, he also won the 10-hour Trail Run Australia endurance race in Landsborough.

“It was a 6km loop every hour, on the hour, for 10 hours. You finish a loop, sit down briefly, then have to get back up and go again. That was more mental than anything. Physically it’s tough, but the real challenge is getting yourself up each time and going again, no matter how you feel. I enjoy the mental side of it.”

For Josh, the motivation has always been in finding the next challenge. He’s taken on events like New Zealand’s Godzone Adventure Race, a multi-day expedition race regarded as one of the world’s toughest endurance races.

“Godzone was a chance to do something I didn’t think I could achieve,” he says. “Doing something new, something hard, or something people think I can’t do has always been a driver for me,” he said.

It’s the same thinking that has kept him returning to the annual Kathmandu Coast to Coast in New Zealand over more than a decade. After first crewing for a mate in 2010, Josh stepped up to compete individually in 2011, returning again in 2014 and 2015, before winning the tandem division alongside Dave Slater in 2020. In 2025, he answered a late call-up from a team in need of a paddler, committing with just a month to prepare.

This year, he competed in the two-day individual event, finishing 10th across a demanding course that includes a 2km swim, 55km road cycle, 33km mountain run, 15km cycle, 70km kayak and a final 70km ride.

“The personal challenge is what drives me,” Josh says. “It’s about seeing how I respond when things get uncomfortable. Finishing becomes the goal and a lot of it comes down to whether you’re willing to keep going when it gets uncomfortable. Mentally it’s just taking it one moment at a time, not getting too far ahead of yourself.”

It’s this same approach that underpins how Josh works in commercial real estate. After 12 years in commercial banking, his move into property several years ago was driven by a desire to challenge himself in a new environment and continue learning. Like endurance sport, it’s an industry where outcomes are directly linked to effort, discipline and consistency.

“It’s the same mindset,” he says. “You stay focused on what’s in front of you, commit to doing the work well and keep moving things forward. Over time, that’s what builds trust and gets the result for our clients.”

Because whether it’s on the river before sunrise or across a complex property transaction, the goal ​remains the same: keep showing up, keep improving and be better than yesterday.

Get in touch with Josh on 0452 604 478 or josh.harris@raywhite.com