Runner tells the story of runner Charlie Watson and his quest to become the best in Australia. Charlie, a fourteen-year-old Indigenous boy living in Sydney, dreams of using running to escape the oppressive environment of his home and poverty. He is mentored by an Olympic legend, Jack Pharaoh, and begins to thrive in competitive running. Despite the odds against him, Charlie soon finds himself on a path to greatness, and discovers that by staying true to himself, anything is possible. Along the way, he faces a series of obstacles and antagonists, and discovers that with hard work and determination, success is attainable, no matter the circumstances.