December 9, 2025 • 50 mins
Garry Jackson has lived two lives: one before running… and one after.
At ~120kg, smoking up to 70 cigarettes a day and drinking hard, Garry never imagined he’d become a runner. But between his father’s terminal illness and the birth of his second child, life forced a reckoning. One day (whilst mixing tunes) he stepped onto a treadmill, ran 200 metres, and everything changed.
What followed wasn’t just weight loss or fitness, it was a complete mindset shift. A new confidence. A new identity. A belief that he could show up better for his kids, his partner, and himself.
In this raw and uplifting episode, Joshie and Matty sit down with Garry to talk about grief, fatherhood, habit changes, Strava love–hate chaos, and how a nerve issue in his foot isn’t stopping him from chasing his dreams.
In this episode:
- The life events that pushed Garry toward change in 2013–2015
- Going from a 200-metre jog to 5km in 30 days
- How running reshaped his confidence, mindset, and identity
- Navigating grief, fatherhood, and lifestyle transformation
- Staying motivated through nerve issues and setbacks
Runbelievable: real runners, unreal stories.
Follow us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/rnblv_official/
Got a Runbelievable story or interested in being a guest on the show? Hit us up on socials or email us at joshua@runbelievable.au
🎧 New episodes drop fortnightly; hit follow so you don’t miss a lap!
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Garry (00:14):
And I'm happy to like co-host if Matt's on holidays or
something sometime, Josh.
I'll I'll just step in.
We could, yeah.
Joshie (00:29):
Hello everybody and welcome to Run for Little, the
podcast where everyday runnersshare their not-so-everyday
stories.
I'm your host, Josh Gritchen,and I'm here to bring you
stories of grit, glory, andovercoming adversity.
Each episode we'll dive deepinto what first got people
running and what keeps themlacing up day after day.
From the lights and the left isto crazy humidity, we're here
(00:50):
to share what makes running atruly human experience.
And coming up in just a fewmoments, you'll meet a runner
who's gone from counting smokehose and tinnies, and we're
talking epic proportions, tocounting laps and kilometers.
Trust me, you don't want tomiss this one.
Yeah, Gary's actually on thecorner just to give you a big
fist pump, so he's uh he's welland truly ready to go.
(01:11):
Um so yes, Maddie, welcomeback.
Uh, this is the time of yearthat every run seems to feel
like the hardest run of ourlives.
How are you doing?
Matty (01:19):
Yeah, I'm good, Joshy.
Uh really good.
Yeah, every run is the hardestof my life.
Um, I'd probably do a weeklyrun that's the hardest of my
life.
Um, but yeah, add the heat andhumidity, mate.
It's it's tough going.
Joshie (01:32):
How are you faring in this heat?
I mean, obviously we've got acouple of cooler days at the
moment.
It's still warm though.
Matty (01:37):
Um this week I've been all right, but going sort of end
of last week, no, not good.
Um it knocks me around a lot,and it has done for the last
couple of years.
So um, you know, just got totake it easy and try to enjoy
it.
So yeah.
Joshie (01:51):
Yeah, that's awesome.
Well, let's get stuck into therun of run believable rundown.
Um, and just a reminder, thisis where we share highlights,
mishaps, misadventures, crazysights and sounds, little wins,
basically the sort of stuff thathumanizes the running
experience.
Now, I recently posted a pollabout long runs and whether or
(02:13):
not folks pause their watch whenthey stop for a drink, a chat,
a poo, or whatever.
I can see Gary shaking his headthere.
Um, what about yourself,Maddie?
Um, I don't even know if youresponded to the poll.
I mean, you stopped.
No, I didn't.
Um, but I do.
Matty (02:27):
I do stop my watch.
Um, I know that you don't,Joshy, and um, you know, you've
told me why, and I I'veconsidered it, but no, I do.
Um, yeah.
I mean, you can see it in theelapsed time anyway, so I'm not
hiding anything.
Joshie (02:41):
That's true.
We had a really good responseto the poll, by the way.
It's the most we've uhresponses we've ever had.
We had in the end, what do youreckon it would have been the uh
yes, no split, those that uhstopped their watches versus
don't I reckon 80% would havestopped their watch.
I think that's probably thetrue number, Matt.
We had officially 68% that saidyes and 32% that said no, and I
(03:02):
reckon there's a few in that32% uh maybe from time to time
would pause their watches.
Um but yeah, I actually had ahad a listener, uh someone
called Natasha that um uh sentme a uh a DM afterwards and was
like, you know, oh you know,perhaps a more controversial
take would be to ask thequestion who pauses their watch
during an event, during a race.
Matty (03:23):
I'd never do that.
No?
No.
People do that.
Because I mean, because you'regonna go off your chip time
anyway, which has got your gunand your net.
So I mean, that's what I reallygo off at the end of the day.
The watch is just a guide asI'm going.
Joshie (03:36):
So let's not open a can of worms.
Yeah, that's right.
Um, yeah, maybe there's athere's a poll coming your way
in the future, one that's alittle bit more controversial.
So look, if you've gotsomething that you'd like to
contribute to the Run Believablerundown, I've said it right
that time, thankfully, then sendit our way.
Today's guest has lived twovery different lives, one before
(03:59):
running and one after.
What started with a shaky 200meter jog, I believe, on a
treadmill, has since reshapedhis mindset, his habits, and how
he shows up in the world.
His story is a sage reminderthat big changes can often start
with the smallest of steps.
Can we please all welcome GaryJackson?
(04:21):
Gary, welcome.
Garry (04:22):
Welcome, Gary.
Thanks for having me.
What an intro.
Joshie (04:26):
What wasn't it?
That was fantastic.
Well, you're a rock star that'sworthy of one, that's for sure.
Garry (04:34):
Thank you very much for having me.
And just want to say before westart, yes, or two things.
Go on.
Love what you guys are doingwith this podcast.
Thank you.
Sorry I'm not Kib Chuggy orbloody Ned Brockman.
They approached us and we saidno, it's only we've got Gary.
So this is the real peopledoing real things.
(04:56):
That's right, mate.
Matty (04:58):
Exactly.
Garry (04:58):
Uh and the next thing is the the stopping the watch
thing.
I did hear that.
The biggest reason I don't isbecause I've forgotten to start
it again about 400,000 times.
Joshie (05:10):
We've got a mate that uh yeah has uh done.
I think he missed almost all ofthe long run because he'd
paused for a drink early on andforgot to consume it.
So I did 16Ks once.
I'm not looking at my watchtoday.
Garry (05:23):
I'm not doing it.
Joshie (05:25):
Well, coming up a bit later on, Gary, we'll actually
explore your love-haterelationship with Strava a bit.
But uh to kick us off, look,those years between 2013 to 2015
were massive for you to say theleast.
Um, what can you tell us aboutwhat was happening in your world
around that time?
Garry (05:42):
Alright, so I think what you're alluding to is my dad.
Um, he was diagnosed with aterminal brain cancer, which
really at the time I was I justtook it for, you know, as it
was, this is what happens.
And it wasn't really until Ihad my firstborn.
(06:05):
I I do have another son, astepson, but until I had my
firstborn in 2015, and my dadwas literally about to die a
couple of months later.
Uh it really sort of took ahold of me.
I was like, oh shit, I don'twant this to happen to my son,
(06:26):
because it was obviously reallyshit.
I don't know.
You know, it's uh it's sorry,can I swear?
Isn't it?
Joshie (06:34):
Uh yeah, I'll just make don't worry about that.
Uh but it's just a bit of adminfor me.
Garry (06:39):
Yeah, um, yeah, it was really shit, and um so I think
those were literallylife-changing years for me.
And uh as you alluded, my justafter my son was born, we were
doing like a night shift, dayshift with my with my wife, and
(07:04):
it was like that night after shewent to bed and Jack was in bed
at like maybe a couple of weeksold.
I was like, I gotta change thisshit because like I was doing
the Siggies and the Durries andall the things, and oh Siggies
and Durries, same thing.
Yeah, uh what do you say,Siggy's and the Tinnies?
Yep.
(07:24):
And uh yeah, it wasn't reallyit wasn't really conducive for a
great life for both my kids andmyself and my wife.
So I went out and had a moment,I can vividly remember it right
now, sitting in front of thecomputer.
I was mixing a song on thecomputer, and I walked out to
(07:49):
the treadmill and I just wentfor a run, didn't do warm-up or
anything, just put my old shittyshoes on, and went 200 metres
and I was gassed.
Like, legit gassed.
I was like, yep, it's like Igotta I gotta change some stuff
now.
Joshie (08:09):
Can I ask Gary, what was the treadmill doing in the
house to begin with?
Garry (08:13):
The treadmill, I I couldn't tell you to be honest.
I think my wife, um well, itwas my dad's treadmill.
That was another thing, whichand like uh he was like uh you
(08:36):
know, with he was living backwith my mum at that stage, they
had separated, but he was backwith my mum and had to move all
the stuff out of his house, andwe were like, oh, we'll take the
treadmill.
I think that's why it happened,and um Gemma used it a few
times, I'm sure, but literallyit collected dust out the at the
(08:56):
at the back patio, yeah.
Yeah, and it all started fromthat one 200 meter run.
I think it was about 205, butuh two, sorry, two 2.1 rather.
Um and yeah, I I literally goton the next day and I did 2.2
(09:16):
Ks, and then I went to 2.5 thenext day, and then I went to
three K's the next day, and thenwithin a week I had already hit
5Ks, not running the wholething, yeah.
Yeah, but I just really saw theprogression, and yeah, like um
(09:39):
I'd look back at that that one200 meter run, I think that was
the the moment that changedeverything for me.
Matty (09:48):
That's awesome.
Joshie (09:51):
But what you're saying is that it was nothing I mean,
obviously you'd had uh hugestuff happening in your in your
personal life around that timewith your you know dad being
ill, and um, I mean what is ityou think that made that switch
flick in that moment?
Garry (10:08):
Well, I I think it was just like I didn't want my son
to go through this the same shitthat was happening to me.
There's this real dichotomy oflike um a new child coming into
the world, and then my actualdad was literally about to die.
I didn't know how long it wasgoing to be at that stage, it
(10:29):
turned out to be about eightweeks-ish, off the top of my
head.
Um you know, it was just thatreal dichotomy of this like
losing someone and gainingsomeone, and I was like, I just
it was yeah, I just didn't wantthat to happen to my son.
So it was a real healthdecision.
(10:51):
Um and like in that moment, Ilike it wasn't just the run, it
was like a full cleanup of gaveup smoking, I gave up drinking
for a year.
Um was a mild drug taker backthen, but back in my um early
(11:12):
20s, like a big drug taker andhuge risk taker.
And so yeah, like I was that inthat moment specifically, I I
really cleaned my life up.
Joshie (11:29):
Does that answer your question?
Uh I can't remember what Iasked.
I think I think it can't havebeen that good.
Um, you and I had a chat beforetoday.
Uh gosh, it was a while agonow.
It was probably a month, maybeclose to six weeks now.
Um and yeah, still don't know,you still don't know what I look
like because my webcam's notworking.
No.
(11:49):
Um you but you describedyourself as having lived, I
think it was the first thing yousaid to me, you is you've had
got had two lives, a life beforerunning and a life since taking
up running.
Um can you take us back brieflyto that before version of you?
What did that look like?
Garry (12:08):
I mean, I look back at it now and think, you know, what a
waste.
But at the time, I honestlydidn't, I can't say that I
didn't have fun.
Like I had lots and lots offun.
Matty (12:21):
But but can I just can I just say just very quickly,
Gary, I think the other thingtoo is is when you have that
life before, it leads you to thelife that you're living now.
So if you didn't have thatlife, you wouldn't be the man
you are now.
Garry (12:33):
Yeah, exactly.
Yeah, mate, that's perfect.
Yeah, that's fantastic.
Uh and you're 100% right.
Like it's um it really I've youknow, I'm all about the whole
journey thing, like lookingrather than the destination,
looking at every day as thejourney, and to never, you know,
through that that time, thatfirst before I'll say before
(12:57):
running and after running.
Um you know, and I I'll talkabout running as like this whole
encompassing thing, as likehealth and fitness, but for me
it actually really is like therunning aspect of it.
Matty (13:15):
Like I totally, I totally understand what you're saying.
It's almost like uh it's not anexercise or a sport, it's it's
a thing you do that it's almosttherapy.
Garry (13:27):
Yeah, well, it 100% is.
I've always said that yeah,like I I use I'm a you know
part-time meditator.
Um I use it like l legitimatelyfor meditation.
I don't use earphones, umanything like that, just focus
(13:47):
on my breathing the whole time.
And you know, sometimes, as youguys would know, sometimes you
could just run 10Ks and you'relike, oh shit, how did I get
here?
Like, I hope I didn't likecross any cars on the way here
because I have no clue how I gothere.
Joshie (14:06):
Meanwhile, there's probably you're featuring a
whole bunch of CCTV runningfails or near missing.
Garry (14:15):
Yeah, so um I can't remember your original question,
but yeah, that there really wasa before and after that that
first run.
Yeah, I just yeah, a completelifestyle change.
Matty (14:28):
And I think the other thing too with running, um, it's
and I've mentioned this beforeon um previous episodes, is
running is not an easy thing todo, it's not an easy sport.
And I think you learn a lotabout yourself when you are
running, um, in terms of yourability, your drive, your you
know how far you can push yourbody, um, that it actually
educates you to become I thinkmore aware of the positive
(14:53):
aspects of yourself, um, whichis really important when you're
going through that sort ofbefore and after.
Yeah, 100%.
Joshie (15:01):
Yeah, you hear stories of people that almost go through
this transcendence when theyrun, and it's like this
subconscious um, you know, uhprocessing of things that have
happened either, you know, lifetraumas or even just with the
workday, um, this stuff that youdon't even need to necessarily
(15:21):
be conscious of, but there'sthis yeah, subconscious um you
know almost defragmentation thatcan be happening of your of
your life without even realizingit.
I don't know if that's beenyour your experience.
Garry (15:32):
Mate, and that's exactly what happens.
Like before, you know, beforeyou know it, um, and I know I
talked to you about this, Josh.
Before I even really thoughtabout it, you know, I'd started
running, gave up all the the badshit in my life.
I mean, I still love a goodfeed, take it any wrong.
(15:53):
If I didn't run, it'd be thesize of a town ounce.
That's why we run, isn't it?
Joshie (15:59):
That's a hundred percent right.
Allows me to eat more.
Well, one thing we can do, uhGary, because I'm curious after
that first run on the on thetreadmill.
I mean, you said that you weregassed.
What made you turn up again thenext day and then the next day?
I mean, if you've if you've gotyour body telling you that that
was fucking awful for you, go,I'm actually gonna come back for
(16:21):
some more punishment.
What is it that made you go,I'm not giving up, I'm gonna
keep going?
Garry (16:25):
Well, I think the fact of like I did it and I didn't die,
so now I can challenge myselfto do it again and do it better.
So it's you know, it's thatsimple, we love those little
wins in life, right?
And you know that every timegoing back to what you said
(16:49):
before, Matt, it's you know,like you know when you say to
someone like, Oh, I love I likerunning, and I go, Oh, I don't
like running.
Just be like, no one effinglikes running.
No, it's not like and thenthat's that's why you end up
loving it.
Yeah, because it's the suck andthe hurt that you know you can
(17:11):
conquer, and then it turns intoback around to this thing that
you start to love.
Which I I don't know anyone wholoved running at the start and
was like, Yeah good's this,yeah, it's the best shit I've
ever done in my life.
But you just know, you justknow when you have that
discussion with that person,you're like, Oh, if only you
(17:32):
just got through that initialperiod, yeah, and you worked to
it.
And look, I'll be straight upwith you, Matt.
You probably won't remember it.
But um please don't know thatMatt and I used to work together
many moons ago.
Okay.
Um Matt was out there smokingdarts.
Yeah.
Having a dart out outside.
(17:54):
Yeah.
And uh we used to talk aboutrunning a little bit, and I
could tell that you were likeyou were interested in it.
I'd never done it.
And you no, you'd never doneit.
And you were one of thosepeople that said to me, I nah, I
don't really like running.
I mean, I've been for runs, butI don't really like you know,
(18:15):
and I tried to convince you acouple of times, I'm like, just
give it a go, mate.
You know, but it turns out manymoons later you did.
Yeah.
Actually, just after we wedidn't work together.
I remember seeing on Facebookand I was like, yes, he did it.
Joshie (18:32):
It's it's little wonder when we jumped on this call that
you guys didn't recognize eachother.
Like, it sounds like you'veboth made some through some huge
changes uh in that sort of10-year period, which is oh
yeah, fantastic.
Um Gary, one thing I'm keen toexplore with you is um you know,
you've you haven't actuallyspoken much about the physical
(18:52):
benefit, like the physical sideof running, you've spoken a lot
about you know how it makes youum you know show up as a better
version of yourself and the youknow mental health um benefits.
Uh so what can you tell usabout how those early runs
started to shift your confidenceand your mindset, you know, and
how you see yourself?
Garry (19:12):
Hmm.
Alright, so I guess obviouslythe the big one was the weight.
Um regarding the physicality ofit.
Um one thing I neglected to sayat the start, yeah.
I was probably about, I thinkat my heaviest, about 119 kilos.
We'll call it 120.
And like now I'm about 87, 88.
(19:35):
Oh, it's probably 89 thismorning, sorry.
Had a big feed yesterday.
Um still carrying like a littlebit of weight.
I'm quite a small bloke, sothat's still quite heavy for but
as I said, I love the food.
Um, but it it's you know,walking around at 120.
(19:56):
I did, you know, I thought Iwas happy.
I probably did, um, but I Ididn't really, you know, when I
saw the physical changes andjust you know, the I just
remember remember going overseasum with Brando, my youngest.
And we'll we was we're at um inSan Francisco Bay run walking
(20:21):
around the park, and all I couldthink about was like, I mean, I
just want to go back to the carand just like and there's all
this beautiful scenery toexplore.
Okay.
And all I wanted to do was goback to the car, and uh, you
know, I I I ended up when I goton the um treadmill that day, it
(20:42):
might have been that day or thenext, I'm not sure.
But I remember thinking back tothat moment, and that moment
always plays back in my head,like um, and I actually did.
I was like, I'm gonna sit inthe car, and Gemma and Brando
just walked up and I went andhad a smoke, and then sat back
in the car, and I was like, youknow, I look back at moments
(21:03):
like that, and now I'm racing toget out, you know, because I
can physically do it, numberone.
And I'm 15 years older now.
So yeah, as far as thephysicality goes, it's it's made
life so much easier, you know.
Yeah, and my dad was much likeme as well.
(21:25):
He was um my earlier my earlierself.
He's a smoker, drinker, didn'tdo any exercise.
Joshie (21:34):
So, Gary, did your dad get to see the start?
It sounds like he did, he gotto see the start of your I guess
transformation.
Garry (21:43):
I would say like right at the infancy, but he probably
wasn't coherent enough to makesense of it.
I don't I don't know eitherway.
I wasn't really doing it forhim.
Okay.
Um I didn't mean it like that,but yeah, yeah.
It was your it was your job.
It was your job.
Yeah, I was just gonna do it.
Yeah, yeah.
Joshie (22:03):
Yeah, yeah.
Um when you and I spoke uh uh amonth ago or so, you mentioned
how running has helped you feellike a better person, a better
version of yourself.
Um so in what way would you saythat running has helped you
change your perception ofyourself as a uh as a dad, as a
(22:24):
I guess a partner, and even justyourself?
Garry (22:27):
I think um I think the biggest change is probably the
growth mindset.
Okay.
Like it really unlocked likeall of my growth mindset.
Um I was completely happy andcontent, really just living my
(22:48):
life.
I call it now um uh uh likejust living in limp mode or
idle, yeah, floating.
Yeah, I was just autopilot,just doing the thing until I
die.
Um and I think that runningreally challenged myself, like
(23:08):
those those mini challenges thatyou get, whether it's like um,
you know, doing that interval 30seconds faster, or whether it's
even doing a slow run at youknow 630, whatever slow is for
you, seven minutes, yeah.
Um, doing a 10k at seven minutepace, achieving that as the
(23:32):
slow run or as a threshold orthe um speed work, having those
little wins, like it reallyunlocks that growth mindset.
Um I think you know I reallynoticed that my life started to
change as soon as I did startrunning and unlocked that growth
(23:53):
mindset.
Like within four months or so,I quit my I not didn't quit my
job, but I started working withum with Matt.
Yeah.
Um and and I I feel like thatgrowth mindset has propelled me
in each position in my um in mywork life, uh also in my home
(24:20):
life.
I reckon I'm a heaps better dadand a heaps better father,
yeah, sorry, husband, um, aheaps better workmate, a heaps
better friend.
Yeah, like in in every singleaspect of my life.
Um I know it's it's oh like I'mso passionate about running.
(24:42):
Yeah, yeah.
You know, it's hard for toreally gauge that a simple run
can do that for someone, butevery time I look back at like
what changed it, like if I wentout and lifted weights, I I
don't know if that would havehappened.
Or if I went doing something,I'm not sure anything would have
(25:06):
happened, but I I know for afact that it was the simple act
of running, it's like a youknow, yeah, that simple act of
running is what changedeverything.
It just it it just unlocked thegrowth mindset, I'm sure of it.
Matty (25:22):
And the beauty of it, I think, as well is that when you
start running, because I'm a bitthe same, Gary, um, and when
you start running, that's notwhy you start.
That's what happens.
Um and it's yeah, it's quiteunique in that way, I I think.
Joshie (25:39):
You know, the growth growth mindset is something that
gets spoken about a lot withwith running, and I think it
manifests in a in uh a positiveway, I should add, with uh I
guess with events and followinga plan.
Like it's um yeah, so it mightbe good good time to turn our
attention to uh I guess andgoals, Gary, because yeah, that
(26:02):
growth mindset, I'm sure, hasfound its way into uh goal
setting for you.
Um what what can you tell usabout some of your running
experiences and the goals thatyou've set for yourself?
Garry (26:14):
Um you actually might be surprised.
I have I haven't done manyevents.
All my goals have been runningrelated, do you mean?
Yeah.
Um I mean I've done the oddhalf marathon, I've never
completed a full marathon.
(26:34):
Um although I did sign up, Iwas just talking to Matt before
the call.
Did you get your ticket, Josh?
Joshie (26:41):
I'm I don't know if I've mentioned this on any other
episode.
Completely and utterly burntmyself out with running um the
last sort of 18 months or so.
I've got a I've got a ticket todo the 10k at Goldie, so that's
what I'll be what I'll bedoing.
Matty (26:58):
Yeah, yeah.
Joshie (26:59):
It seems like you've got something a bit more exciting
uh on the horizon.
Garry (27:03):
No, yeah, well I um yeah, and until I was gonna say until
this year, I actually wasn'tmuch an event person, and I
don't I've been trying to rattlemy head as to why.
I actually just really justnever felt the I did my oh yeah,
I've never felt the need.
I did my first um half marathonin 2015.
(27:26):
That was the year I started.
Joshie (27:29):
Um can you tell us what event was that at an event?
Was that just in your own?
Garry (27:34):
No, no, no, that was the GC half.
Yep, okay.
Um and I think honestly, untilthis year, I'm just trying to
think back, there might havebeen one or two little things on
the way.
I think until uh this year,2025, it was ten years on, and I
(27:56):
was like, I think I'm gonna dothe half marathon again.
Joshie (27:59):
Um you you ran the half in the same year that you hang
on, so you started running inwhat the April or something, and
then four months later you'retackling a half marathon.
Garry (28:11):
No, I started running in fair uh uh March.
Yeah, and then did the half inwhenever it was, start of July,
I think.
Wow, it's quite incredible froma cast.
Yeah, and I was still you know,I was 120 kilos when I started
running.
I was probably maybe 105 bythen.
(28:33):
It was it was a it was a toughslog.
Yeah, yeah.
Um, and I don't it wasn't veryfast either, it was like two
maybe 220 or something.
Joshie (28:44):
Yeah, that's tough, honestly.
Yeah, I wouldn't be downplayingwhat you're able to achieve in
these gosh four months.
I mean, yeah, just sort ofthinking a bit more about what
was happening in your personallife.
I mean, your father would havepassed away in that time as
well, and um yeah, that was thatwas just after.
Garry (29:03):
Yeah, wow.
So it was it was actually veryemotional.
I remember finishing that andlike I started weeping, and I
was just I was thinking about mydad, and I was like, alright,
this is my new life.
This is my you know, had mykids and my wife there, and then
(29:26):
I never did another, I didnever did another event, but um
I just I soon realized that youknow I didn't want to have to
have the pressure of trainingfor an event, don't think.
So I'd always do little, youknow, I'd do a half marathon at
home or a 10k time trial at justaround my house.
(29:48):
I never really I didn't want todo it um for the for the medal
or the certificate or the bib.
I just really wanted to dorunning for myself.
Matty (30:01):
That's pretty cool.
Garry (30:03):
Um yeah, so until it literally was until this year,
the G C half this year, it hadbeen ten years, and I think I'm
almost certain that they were my
Joshie (30:14):
the two events uh but recently i've I've changed that
as of the last few months forwhatever reason I've gotten into
trail running so I was it isgood it is good fun it is good
fun oh it's fantastic I was justdoing a I was doing a maybe a
(30:35):
15k run uh down near my houseand then I saw a fire break and
I went up this fire break and itwas all dirt I was like and
previously I was like I saw dirtor grass I was like nah yeah
not in my wheelhouse mate notdoing it not risking rolling an
ankle and I did it and itchanged it for me so yeah so
(30:57):
that's that's has been anotherjourney now as to hitting the
trails and hiking and doing allthat so I did I I did sign up
for the um GC marathon next yearum as a lead up to the scenic
rim ultra which is 104 eight wowwow okay Gary that's awesome
(31:22):
well I haven't done it yet don'tsay it's awesome awesome if
you've got the entry you'redoing it you're doing it yeah
geez yeah I guess you had tohave something to like bring to
the podcast with you know whatto look forward to the next 12
months to two years and um yeahyou've you've gone above and
(31:43):
beyond what I yeah what Ithought that's yeah good good
luck with your training becauseI know that that's you know for
for people that have gonethrough marathons and beyond
it's the the training that'sperhaps the hardest part just
finding the time um managingaround work and family
commitments um you know the thethe ten years that you're in
(32:03):
between your first and or nearlyten years between your first
and your second event um there'sa bit of a gap there I know
that you you've told me that youyou set a goal of I think one
and a half thousand fifteenhundred kilometres a year I
think you set is your sort ofloose target to run.
What this year?
Yeah I wasn't sure if that wasan air every year.
Garry (32:23):
Yeah no no it I didn't do it every year.
I did um um a thousand the Lordof the uh a few of the years
not every year um but I never asyou know going back to the
Strava thing I've I've neverhundred percent tracked my runs
but in the last year and or twoyears I've I've literally
tracked every run just to tryand hit those targets.
(32:45):
This is my first year that I'veonly done fifty I've done
fifteen hundred that's good.
Joshie (32:53):
Does the number like 1500 represent anything to you
or just an arbitrary it was justthe next one after a thousand
you know what next year's gonnabe simplicity and the complexity
there's a yeah a bit of apattern emerging unless it's a
Fibonacci sequence then you'veprobably tripped me up so that's
(33:17):
a that's a huge undertakingthat you've put on the um on the
horizon for next year I guessum from what you've you told me
when we spoke not long ago uh umyou you're having to sort of
navigate a very complex nerveissue I think in your foot.
Um what can you tell us aboutthat?
Garry (33:37):
Uh yeah so literally a few months after I started
running I've had an issue withnerve entrapment in my right
foot my forefoot so my forefootgets inflamed and it just starts
to trap the nerve and it it canhappen depending on how my
training's going or how muchmany miles I've done um anywhere
(34:01):
between five to wherever K isand it basically sends my foot
numb um like the all my my toesstart to tingle and that happens
and okay actually you actuallycan't run on it because my foot
won't work.
(34:22):
So it's I've I've been to manymany many professionals to try
and help fix it.
It's actually but this year umthis year I I've tried some new
strategies which helped uh Itried a strategy of running
every day and then I had like astreak of 160 something days
(34:46):
straight doing I I think Iaveraged about six or seven K's
a day.
That was working really reallywell until it didn't when one
day I got like a bursitis um andthen I couldn't run for two
weeks so that's a pretty easydecision to not start doing that
(35:07):
again.
So I'm trying to my my mylatest thing and I'm you know
I've never really solved theissue but it's working really
good right now is I've I'veslowed down my running like a
lot uh so I don't think I'vedone many you know many sessions
(35:29):
over more than six minute Ksfor the last few months.
Yeah has that made a differenceit's it's actually made a big
difference because I read someresearch that like uh a 30
second increase in your this wasin miles um miles per uh sorry
(35:52):
uh miles per minute minutesminutes per miles per minutes
per miles per minute yeah yeahum 30 second difference in miles
per minute can give double thedown force on the foot okay
because you're running likeyou're you're running faster
you're hitting the ground harderyeah um and I just and uh like
(36:17):
a physio I went to a few yearsago he's like you've got to slow
down you've got to put lesspressure on the feet and I did
not want to hear that you knowno runner wants to hear you've
got to slow right down.
No but it turns out he may havebeen right I'm not 100% sure
just yet but I'm a few months inuh so I like I've signed up to
(36:41):
these bigger races that I'venever really been able to do
because of my nerve issue in myfoot um in the hope of just
keeping a positive mindset thatI can be able to train enough to
do it and complete it.
I'm also open to the fact thatit might not happen and I'm
(37:02):
completely fine with that.
Joshie (37:04):
Yeah yeah that's good so yeah you'll get there mate yeah
I'm very hopeful yeah yeah whatare you up to in terms of um uh
I guess long runs that you'rerunning pain free or before the
nerve issue sets in that you'resort of making it past ten 10k
(37:24):
at the moment yeah um well I diduh I did a 27k on the weekend
but it was a lot of like uphillhiking but it was very it was a
like a four and a half hour 27kbecause there was uh a thousand
meters of elevation in it and umit it was completely fine I've
(37:46):
also found that the the trailsseem to work better because um
it's working the foot left andright and up and down and it's
not just boom boom boom boomboom boom it's not that
repetitive over and over for twohours.
Yeah right on the same same bitof the foot.
Yeah my physio was telling methat when nursing I guess it
(38:09):
doesn't really matter what theinjury is I'm carrying this uh
Achilles complaint at the momentbut he recommends wearing
different shoes even if you'rejust a roadrunner like me um
just every time you run becausethey just he he reckons that
they just it works very subtlydifferent muscle groups and it
can really help to sort of taketake the load off like you say
(38:30):
that one that one spot um yeahI'm a big advocate for that too.
Yeah many shoes to be if itmeans buying more shoes I'm I'm
an advocate for yeah that'sright tools are the trade I need
them Josh said to rotate youvery subtly dropped into the
call early on I can't rememberif we were recording or not at
(38:53):
the time um that you're a you'rea musician um does running feed
into the creative side of youwith your musical pursuits or
are they completely separateoutlets um I think for me oh
look I I was a musician a longtime ago 20 plus years ago but
(39:14):
um I think it sort of holds likeI was very similar to the
running thing I didn't reallyrun for the the accolades and
signing up to events so thatpeople say hey good job um I
write music and play music justfor me now I still record the
(39:38):
occasional song um as to if itas a I don't know if it feeds
into the creativity I probablycouldn't answer that um I never
really thought about it but Iknow that it it definitely
clears my head when I come backand I I might play the guitar
and come up with a tune.
But I have a busy uh sorry avery busy life at the moment so
(40:05):
my music uh um taking a littlebit of a back seat I still play
the guitar a lot but yeah I Iguess uh some people have yeah
revelations when they run and Iwasn't sure whether or not any
of them are sort of musicalrevelations where you go oh
that's it you know whether it'sa a chord progression of lick or
a riff or something you gothat's it um I actually have
(40:27):
them in my sleep.
Garry (40:29):
Oh wow yeah so I'll wake up a lot of the time and I'll
just see something and I'll justI'll see it like how I've
played it.
Um yeah I don't know why I'vealways always happened I'll get
up first thing and or if I'm ifit's too late I'll just write it
down what it was and I'll getand play it in the morning.
(40:49):
I was like yeah that's cool.
Sometimes because that soundsridiculous it did not sound like
that in my dream in your dreamit was a number one hit.
Joshie (41:00):
Jeez I know retirement I have visions of have you guys
seen that movie yesterday it'soh it's a banger isn't it like
having those sort of musicalfantasies where you're like oh
imagine just being able to yeahcompose something like that.
Yeah now you've um made nosecret of this sort of love hate
(41:25):
relationship that you have withStrava and how you're not
you're not really into theaccolades or doing it for the
Kudos as they say um what's thesort of the story there?
I mean for a lot of runnersthere's this evolution that they
go from running for themselvesto running as you know part of a
community and the the um thefeedback that they get whether
it's comments or KDOS I guessadds fuel to their positive fuel
(41:48):
to their journeys but it canalso I guess serve as a bit of a
um to one's detrimentpotentially as well.
That's right.
Garry (41:55):
Yeah it's totally individual I think I honestly I
don't begrudge anyone who doesStrava their way like and I
legitimately mean that becauseyou know I totally understand
that when people get a keto sothey're like yes you know like
(42:16):
that might just be all they needto keep going and I'm all for
it.
Um I know that you know like asocial media it's it's literally
a social media platform likethere's no two ways about it.
Yeah um and I I I'm just alittle bit I'm not gonna say
(42:43):
anti-social media but I justdon't sort of engage in that
side of it.
I sometimes feel bad that youknow when people give me a kudos
um that I don't I try myhardest to get on but I I really
don't want to um have to get onto give people kudoses do you
(43:05):
know what I mean?
Like that whole like for likething.
Now now I know my Gary I don'tget no Jesus I'm actually
thinking about it because I knowMatt you give me kudos all the
time and uh and I but I do itbecause I feel I have to like
every as you said everyone'sdifferent.
Matty (43:26):
I not so much I like to give my friends kudos but then
you feel that if people give youkudos you have to give them do
you know what I mean like Iguess it depends um whether or
not you're setting thoseexpectations of yourself or of
other people.
Joshie (43:41):
And it's to me Strava's part of your your journey it's
no different to what yourpreference with shoes is or gels
it's you know the the extent towhich you adopt Strava into
your life it's uniquelyindividual and yeah I think good
on you for having like itsounds like you have a healthy
relationship with Strava whichYeah I really do.
Garry (43:59):
Now it just like I don't have notifications on it so some
people write me comments andI'll literally never see it and
that sucks but I just I um itworks for you.
Yeah it works for me um therethere was a long time where I
actually didn't maybe a year orlike a lot of periods over the
(44:20):
time where I haven't even usedStrava but I've still used the
Garmin I've always used Garmin.
So you get all the same datafrom Garmin Connect and I just
follow myself and do my do myown thing get all the same data.
I wanted to track the I feellike it's got a little bit
(44:46):
better data than just the Garminstuff.
Or the the paid version anyway.
So yeah I'm I'm back on it andum I do love the the you know
the program itself or theinterface itself but it's yeah I
(45:07):
just I've been there has beentimes where I'm like oh what I
even I don't need this shit.
And there's been times whereI'm like yeah this this is
awesome.
But um it's totally anindividualized thing and I don't
regret the way that anybodytreats Strava.
Joshie (45:26):
I think what you've done is great.
You still so you have Stravayou've turned off notifications
but it what that does is itintroduces friction.
So you you might be looking atyour phone for another purpose
but there's not this thingthat's sort of trying to draw
your attention to the top of thescreen to go click on what
what's what's someone you knowtelling me or giving me feedback
on um yeah yeah so it'sproviding a bit of space which I
(45:47):
think's awesome.
Refresh my memory what's theultra that you've signed up to
Scenic Rim Ultra.
Yeah so that what that's herein Queensland then yeah it's
yeah Bow Desert is it?
Garry (46:00):
Yeah out at um yeah just past Bow Desert.
Yeah so it's one that I cansleep at my own house and
because I'm not that far I'monly half an hour from there.
Okay.
Matty (46:12):
It's very hard though by the looks of it's like a
gazillion metres of elevationand it's 105 kilometers like
even with no elevation Jesus butit sounds as though and correct
me if I'm wrong because I don'twant to put words in your mouth
Gary but you've signed up tothis event without necessarily
(46:36):
knowing that you're ready now.
Joshie (46:39):
You're putting the intentions out there and going
this is the goal and I'll workout the rest later later.
Yeah yep you're uh you're bangon Josh that's very different to
uh a lot of other people myselfincluded like I when I've
signed up to events it's I'vehad belief that I I like I'm
(47:00):
almost ready that I can be readypretty quickly not you know a
massive undertaking like that Ithink it's awesome yeah hats off
to you yeah what an achievementthough mate like it wouldn't
matter if it took you 10 20hours like you know as long as
you finish it that's that'sawesome if I do it in ten hours
(47:22):
mate I'll be I'll be headingover to bloody Moab and doing
UTMB I don't think I don't thinkthe winners are gonna do it in
ten hours.
Garry (47:32):
That's my understanding of that mate I've got no idea
who knows you might yeah um anyfinal thoughts Gary before we
finish up um we've had a ballspeaking with you no but just if
you're if you're not a runner Idon't know if there's many
non-runners that listen justthey're probably just give it a
(47:52):
bloody go because the the thewords I don't really like
running like the it's just theythey have this mindset of like
they love running and I don't soit's not gonna be for me.
It's not for anyone and that'swhy it's for everyone that's
beautiful if you have theability you should do it.
Joshie (48:14):
Yeah I honestly believe it.
Totally agree with that look umGary thanks so much for joining
us on Unbelievable your lifetransformation has been truly
inspiring.
Thanks for taking the time tochat with us today it's really
been a joy speaking with you.
Matty (48:30):
Yeah thanks Gary and you guys no problems yeah it was
absolutely awesome and thanksheaps you're doing a banger of a
job wow that was sensationalMaddie how cool is Gary yeah
Gary's a great guy um I think uhrunning through what he he did
today in terms of that lifechanging um decision to start
(48:52):
running um I think there's a lotof people out there that um can
relate to that exactly and itall started with a 200 meter jog
on a treadmill how did youthink how do you think you'd go
on a treaddy I've never run onone um after Sunday in the
humidity I've been looking upgyms to find out um how much
they are so but I don't know Idon't know if I could do it
(49:15):
because part of my um enjoymentof running is outdoors fresh air
nature like that that's what Ilove so yeah you know it'd be
cheaper to get a treadmill thanto a gym membership I think you
know I nearly had a treadmill Idon't know if I've told you this
story we um managed to get itit was off marketplace to the
back of the car and it wouldn'tfit so I had to leave it and
that was the closest I I got tobe a thread there look if you've
(49:40):
got a unbelievable story ofyour own we'd truly love to hear
it and if you'd like to be aguest on the show then please
hit us up and finally thispodcast relies on your continued
support so if you can pleasetake the time to follow Ray and
edit podcast with your runningmate we'd really appreciate it
and we'll see you to the nextunbelievable and we'll see you
(50:03):
to the next unpolished thanksmate that was cool
And I'm happy to like co-host if Matt's on holidays or
something sometime, Josh.
I'll I'll just step in.
We could, yeah.
Joshie (00:29):
Hello everybody and welcome to Run for Little, the
podcast where everyday runnersshare their not-so-everyday
stories.
I'm your host, Josh Gritchen,and I'm here to bring you
stories of grit, glory, andovercoming adversity.
Each episode we'll dive deepinto what first got people
running and what keeps themlacing up day after day.
From the lights and the left isto crazy humidity, we're here
(00:50):
to share what makes running atruly human experience.
And coming up in just a fewmoments, you'll meet a runner
who's gone from counting smokehose and tinnies, and we're
talking epic proportions, tocounting laps and kilometers.
Trust me, you don't want tomiss this one.
Yeah, Gary's actually on thecorner just to give you a big
fist pump, so he's uh he's welland truly ready to go.
(01:11):
Um so yes, Maddie, welcomeback.
Uh, this is the time of yearthat every run seems to feel
like the hardest run of ourlives.
How are you doing?
Matty (01:19):
Yeah, I'm good, Joshy.
Uh really good.
Yeah, every run is the hardestof my life.
Um, I'd probably do a weeklyrun that's the hardest of my
life.
Um, but yeah, add the heat andhumidity, mate.
It's it's tough going.
Joshie (01:32):
How are you faring in this heat?
I mean, obviously we've got acouple of cooler days at the
moment.
It's still warm though.
Matty (01:37):
Um this week I've been all right, but going sort of end
of last week, no, not good.
Um it knocks me around a lot,and it has done for the last
couple of years.
So um, you know, just got totake it easy and try to enjoy
it.
So yeah.
Joshie (01:51):
Yeah, that's awesome.
Well, let's get stuck into therun of run believable rundown.
Um, and just a reminder, thisis where we share highlights,
mishaps, misadventures, crazysights and sounds, little wins,
basically the sort of stuff thathumanizes the running
experience.
Now, I recently posted a pollabout long runs and whether or
(02:13):
not folks pause their watch whenthey stop for a drink, a chat,
a poo, or whatever.
I can see Gary shaking his headthere.
Um, what about yourself,Maddie?
Um, I don't even know if youresponded to the poll.
I mean, you stopped.
No, I didn't.
Um, but I do.
Matty (02:27):
I do stop my watch.
Um, I know that you don't,Joshy, and um, you know, you've
told me why, and I I'veconsidered it, but no, I do.
Um, yeah.
I mean, you can see it in theelapsed time anyway, so I'm not
hiding anything.
Joshie (02:41):
That's true.
We had a really good responseto the poll, by the way.
It's the most we've uhresponses we've ever had.
We had in the end, what do youreckon it would have been the uh
yes, no split, those that uhstopped their watches versus
don't I reckon 80% would havestopped their watch.
I think that's probably thetrue number, Matt.
We had officially 68% that saidyes and 32% that said no, and I
(03:02):
reckon there's a few in that32% uh maybe from time to time
would pause their watches.
Um but yeah, I actually had ahad a listener, uh someone
called Natasha that um uh sentme a uh a DM afterwards and was
like, you know, oh you know,perhaps a more controversial
take would be to ask thequestion who pauses their watch
during an event, during a race.
Matty (03:23):
I'd never do that.
No?
No.
People do that.
Because I mean, because you'regonna go off your chip time
anyway, which has got your gunand your net.
So I mean, that's what I reallygo off at the end of the day.
The watch is just a guide asI'm going.
Joshie (03:36):
So let's not open a can of worms.
Yeah, that's right.
Um, yeah, maybe there's athere's a poll coming your way
in the future, one that's alittle bit more controversial.
So look, if you've gotsomething that you'd like to
contribute to the Run Believablerundown, I've said it right
that time, thankfully, then sendit our way.
Today's guest has lived twovery different lives, one before
(03:59):
running and one after.
What started with a shaky 200meter jog, I believe, on a
treadmill, has since reshapedhis mindset, his habits, and how
he shows up in the world.
His story is a sage reminderthat big changes can often start
with the smallest of steps.
Can we please all welcome GaryJackson?
(04:21):
Gary, welcome.
Garry (04:22):
Welcome, Gary.
Thanks for having me.
What an intro.
Joshie (04:26):
What wasn't it?
That was fantastic.
Well, you're a rock star that'sworthy of one, that's for sure.
Garry (04:34):
Thank you very much for having me.
And just want to say before westart, yes, or two things.
Go on.
Love what you guys are doingwith this podcast.
Thank you.
Sorry I'm not Kib Chuggy orbloody Ned Brockman.
They approached us and we saidno, it's only we've got Gary.
So this is the real peopledoing real things.
(04:56):
That's right, mate.
Matty (04:58):
Exactly.
Garry (04:58):
Uh and the next thing is the the stopping the watch
thing.
I did hear that.
The biggest reason I don't isbecause I've forgotten to start
it again about 400,000 times.
Joshie (05:10):
We've got a mate that uh yeah has uh done.
I think he missed almost all ofthe long run because he'd
paused for a drink early on andforgot to consume it.
So I did 16Ks once.
I'm not looking at my watchtoday.
Garry (05:23):
I'm not doing it.
Joshie (05:25):
Well, coming up a bit later on, Gary, we'll actually
explore your love-haterelationship with Strava a bit.
But uh to kick us off, look,those years between 2013 to 2015
were massive for you to say theleast.
Um, what can you tell us aboutwhat was happening in your world
around that time?
Garry (05:42):
Alright, so I think what you're alluding to is my dad.
Um, he was diagnosed with aterminal brain cancer, which
really at the time I was I justtook it for, you know, as it
was, this is what happens.
And it wasn't really until Ihad my firstborn.
(06:05):
I I do have another son, astepson, but until I had my
firstborn in 2015, and my dadwas literally about to die a
couple of months later.
Uh it really sort of took ahold of me.
I was like, oh shit, I don'twant this to happen to my son,
(06:26):
because it was obviously reallyshit.
I don't know.
You know, it's uh it's sorry,can I swear?
Isn't it?
Joshie (06:34):
Uh yeah, I'll just make don't worry about that.
Uh but it's just a bit of adminfor me.
Garry (06:39):
Yeah, um, yeah, it was really shit, and um so I think
those were literallylife-changing years for me.
And uh as you alluded, my justafter my son was born, we were
doing like a night shift, dayshift with my with my wife, and
(07:04):
it was like that night after shewent to bed and Jack was in bed
at like maybe a couple of weeksold.
I was like, I gotta change thisshit because like I was doing
the Siggies and the Durries andall the things, and oh Siggies
and Durries, same thing.
Yeah, uh what do you say,Siggy's and the Tinnies?
Yep.
(07:24):
And uh yeah, it wasn't reallyit wasn't really conducive for a
great life for both my kids andmyself and my wife.
So I went out and had a moment,I can vividly remember it right
now, sitting in front of thecomputer.
I was mixing a song on thecomputer, and I walked out to
(07:49):
the treadmill and I just wentfor a run, didn't do warm-up or
anything, just put my old shittyshoes on, and went 200 metres
and I was gassed.
Like, legit gassed.
I was like, yep, it's like Igotta I gotta change some stuff
now.
Joshie (08:09):
Can I ask Gary, what was the treadmill doing in the
house to begin with?
Garry (08:13):
The treadmill, I I couldn't tell you to be honest.
I think my wife, um well, itwas my dad's treadmill.
That was another thing, whichand like uh he was like uh you
(08:36):
know, with he was living backwith my mum at that stage, they
had separated, but he was backwith my mum and had to move all
the stuff out of his house, andwe were like, oh, we'll take the
treadmill.
I think that's why it happened,and um Gemma used it a few
times, I'm sure, but literallyit collected dust out the at the
(08:56):
at the back patio, yeah.
Yeah, and it all started fromthat one 200 meter run.
I think it was about 205, butuh two, sorry, two 2.1 rather.
Um and yeah, I I literally goton the next day and I did 2.2
(09:16):
Ks, and then I went to 2.5 thenext day, and then I went to
three K's the next day, and thenwithin a week I had already hit
5Ks, not running the wholething, yeah.
Yeah, but I just really saw theprogression, and yeah, like um
(09:39):
I'd look back at that that one200 meter run, I think that was
the the moment that changedeverything for me.
Matty (09:48):
That's awesome.
Joshie (09:51):
But what you're saying is that it was nothing I mean,
obviously you'd had uh hugestuff happening in your in your
personal life around that timewith your you know dad being
ill, and um, I mean what is ityou think that made that switch
flick in that moment?
Garry (10:08):
Well, I I think it was just like I didn't want my son
to go through this the same shitthat was happening to me.
There's this real dichotomy oflike um a new child coming into
the world, and then my actualdad was literally about to die.
I didn't know how long it wasgoing to be at that stage, it
(10:29):
turned out to be about eightweeks-ish, off the top of my
head.
Um you know, it was just thatreal dichotomy of this like
losing someone and gainingsomeone, and I was like, I just
it was yeah, I just didn't wantthat to happen to my son.
So it was a real healthdecision.
(10:51):
Um and like in that moment, Ilike it wasn't just the run, it
was like a full cleanup of gaveup smoking, I gave up drinking
for a year.
Um was a mild drug taker backthen, but back in my um early
(11:12):
20s, like a big drug taker andhuge risk taker.
And so yeah, like I was that inthat moment specifically, I I
really cleaned my life up.
Joshie (11:29):
Does that answer your question?
Uh I can't remember what Iasked.
I think I think it can't havebeen that good.
Um, you and I had a chat beforetoday.
Uh gosh, it was a while agonow.
It was probably a month, maybeclose to six weeks now.
Um and yeah, still don't know,you still don't know what I look
like because my webcam's notworking.
No.
(11:49):
Um you but you describedyourself as having lived, I
think it was the first thing yousaid to me, you is you've had
got had two lives, a life beforerunning and a life since taking
up running.
Um can you take us back brieflyto that before version of you?
What did that look like?
Garry (12:08):
I mean, I look back at it now and think, you know, what a
waste.
But at the time, I honestlydidn't, I can't say that I
didn't have fun.
Like I had lots and lots offun.
Matty (12:21):
But but can I just can I just say just very quickly,
Gary, I think the other thingtoo is is when you have that
life before, it leads you to thelife that you're living now.
So if you didn't have thatlife, you wouldn't be the man
you are now.
Garry (12:33):
Yeah, exactly.
Yeah, mate, that's perfect.
Yeah, that's fantastic.
Uh and you're 100% right.
Like it's um it really I've youknow, I'm all about the whole
journey thing, like lookingrather than the destination,
looking at every day as thejourney, and to never, you know,
through that that time, thatfirst before I'll say before
(12:57):
running and after running.
Um you know, and I I'll talkabout running as like this whole
encompassing thing, as likehealth and fitness, but for me
it actually really is like therunning aspect of it.
Matty (13:15):
Like I totally, I totally understand what you're saying.
It's almost like uh it's not anexercise or a sport, it's it's
a thing you do that it's almosttherapy.
Garry (13:27):
Yeah, well, it 100% is.
I've always said that yeah,like I I use I'm a you know
part-time meditator.
Um I use it like l legitimatelyfor meditation.
I don't use earphones, umanything like that, just focus
(13:47):
on my breathing the whole time.
And you know, sometimes, as youguys would know, sometimes you
could just run 10Ks and you'relike, oh shit, how did I get
here?
Like, I hope I didn't likecross any cars on the way here
because I have no clue how I gothere.
Joshie (14:06):
Meanwhile, there's probably you're featuring a
whole bunch of CCTV runningfails or near missing.
Garry (14:15):
Yeah, so um I can't remember your original question,
but yeah, that there really wasa before and after that that
first run.
Yeah, I just yeah, a completelifestyle change.
Matty (14:28):
And I think the other thing too with running, um, it's
and I've mentioned this beforeon um previous episodes, is
running is not an easy thing todo, it's not an easy sport.
And I think you learn a lotabout yourself when you are
running, um, in terms of yourability, your drive, your you
know how far you can push yourbody, um, that it actually
educates you to become I thinkmore aware of the positive
(14:53):
aspects of yourself, um, whichis really important when you're
going through that sort ofbefore and after.
Yeah, 100%.
Joshie (15:01):
Yeah, you hear stories of people that almost go through
this transcendence when theyrun, and it's like this
subconscious um, you know, uhprocessing of things that have
happened either, you know, lifetraumas or even just with the
workday, um, this stuff that youdon't even need to necessarily
(15:21):
be conscious of, but there'sthis yeah, subconscious um you
know almost defragmentation thatcan be happening of your of
your life without even realizingit.
I don't know if that's beenyour your experience.
Garry (15:32):
Mate, and that's exactly what happens.
Like before, you know, beforeyou know it, um, and I know I
talked to you about this, Josh.
Before I even really thoughtabout it, you know, I'd started
running, gave up all the the badshit in my life.
I mean, I still love a goodfeed, take it any wrong.
(15:53):
If I didn't run, it'd be thesize of a town ounce.
That's why we run, isn't it?
Joshie (15:59):
That's a hundred percent right.
Allows me to eat more.
Well, one thing we can do, uhGary, because I'm curious after
that first run on the on thetreadmill.
I mean, you said that you weregassed.
What made you turn up again thenext day and then the next day?
I mean, if you've if you've gotyour body telling you that that
was fucking awful for you, go,I'm actually gonna come back for
(16:21):
some more punishment.
What is it that made you go,I'm not giving up, I'm gonna
keep going?
Garry (16:25):
Well, I think the fact of like I did it and I didn't die,
so now I can challenge myselfto do it again and do it better.
So it's you know, it's thatsimple, we love those little
wins in life, right?
And you know that every timegoing back to what you said
(16:49):
before, Matt, it's you know,like you know when you say to
someone like, Oh, I love I likerunning, and I go, Oh, I don't
like running.
Just be like, no one effinglikes running.
No, it's not like and thenthat's that's why you end up
loving it.
Yeah, because it's the suck andthe hurt that you know you can
(17:11):
conquer, and then it turns intoback around to this thing that
you start to love.
Which I I don't know anyone wholoved running at the start and
was like, Yeah good's this,yeah, it's the best shit I've
ever done in my life.
But you just know, you justknow when you have that
discussion with that person,you're like, Oh, if only you
(17:32):
just got through that initialperiod, yeah, and you worked to
it.
And look, I'll be straight upwith you, Matt.
You probably won't remember it.
But um please don't know thatMatt and I used to work together
many moons ago.
Okay.
Um Matt was out there smokingdarts.
Yeah.
Having a dart out outside.
(17:54):
Yeah.
And uh we used to talk aboutrunning a little bit, and I
could tell that you were likeyou were interested in it.
I'd never done it.
And you no, you'd never doneit.
And you were one of thosepeople that said to me, I nah, I
don't really like running.
I mean, I've been for runs, butI don't really like you know,
(18:15):
and I tried to convince you acouple of times, I'm like, just
give it a go, mate.
You know, but it turns out manymoons later you did.
Yeah.
Actually, just after we wedidn't work together.
I remember seeing on Facebookand I was like, yes, he did it.
Joshie (18:32):
It's it's little wonder when we jumped on this call that
you guys didn't recognize eachother.
Like, it sounds like you'veboth made some through some huge
changes uh in that sort of10-year period, which is oh
yeah, fantastic.
Um Gary, one thing I'm keen toexplore with you is um you know,
you've you haven't actuallyspoken much about the physical
(18:52):
benefit, like the physical sideof running, you've spoken a lot
about you know how it makes youum you know show up as a better
version of yourself and the youknow mental health um benefits.
Uh so what can you tell usabout how those early runs
started to shift your confidenceand your mindset, you know, and
how you see yourself?
Garry (19:12):
Hmm.
Alright, so I guess obviouslythe the big one was the weight.
Um regarding the physicality ofit.
Um one thing I neglected to sayat the start, yeah.
I was probably about, I thinkat my heaviest, about 119 kilos.
We'll call it 120.
And like now I'm about 87, 88.
(19:35):
Oh, it's probably 89 thismorning, sorry.
Had a big feed yesterday.
Um still carrying like a littlebit of weight.
I'm quite a small bloke, sothat's still quite heavy for but
as I said, I love the food.
Um, but it it's you know,walking around at 120.
(19:56):
I did, you know, I thought Iwas happy.
I probably did, um, but I Ididn't really, you know, when I
saw the physical changes andjust you know, the I just
remember remember going overseasum with Brando, my youngest.
And we'll we was we're at um inSan Francisco Bay run walking
(20:21):
around the park, and all I couldthink about was like, I mean, I
just want to go back to the carand just like and there's all
this beautiful scenery toexplore.
Okay.
And all I wanted to do was goback to the car, and uh, you
know, I I I ended up when I goton the um treadmill that day, it
(20:42):
might have been that day or thenext, I'm not sure.
But I remember thinking back tothat moment, and that moment
always plays back in my head,like um, and I actually did.
I was like, I'm gonna sit inthe car, and Gemma and Brando
just walked up and I went andhad a smoke, and then sat back
in the car, and I was like, youknow, I look back at moments
(21:03):
like that, and now I'm racing toget out, you know, because I
can physically do it, numberone.
And I'm 15 years older now.
So yeah, as far as thephysicality goes, it's it's made
life so much easier, you know.
Yeah, and my dad was much likeme as well.
(21:25):
He was um my earlier my earlierself.
He's a smoker, drinker, didn'tdo any exercise.
Joshie (21:34):
So, Gary, did your dad get to see the start?
It sounds like he did, he gotto see the start of your I guess
transformation.
Garry (21:43):
I would say like right at the infancy, but he probably
wasn't coherent enough to makesense of it.
I don't I don't know eitherway.
I wasn't really doing it forhim.
Okay.
Um I didn't mean it like that,but yeah, yeah.
It was your it was your job.
It was your job.
Yeah, I was just gonna do it.
Yeah, yeah.
Joshie (22:03):
Yeah, yeah.
Um when you and I spoke uh uh amonth ago or so, you mentioned
how running has helped you feellike a better person, a better
version of yourself.
Um so in what way would you saythat running has helped you
change your perception ofyourself as a uh as a dad, as a
(22:24):
I guess a partner, and even justyourself?
Garry (22:27):
I think um I think the biggest change is probably the
growth mindset.
Okay.
Like it really unlocked likeall of my growth mindset.
Um I was completely happy andcontent, really just living my
(22:48):
life.
I call it now um uh uh likejust living in limp mode or
idle, yeah, floating.
Yeah, I was just autopilot,just doing the thing until I
die.
Um and I think that runningreally challenged myself, like
(23:08):
those those mini challenges thatyou get, whether it's like um,
you know, doing that interval 30seconds faster, or whether it's
even doing a slow run at youknow 630, whatever slow is for
you, seven minutes, yeah.
Um, doing a 10k at seven minutepace, achieving that as the
(23:32):
slow run or as a threshold orthe um speed work, having those
little wins, like it reallyunlocks that growth mindset.
Um I think you know I reallynoticed that my life started to
change as soon as I did startrunning and unlocked that growth
(23:53):
mindset.
Like within four months or so,I quit my I not didn't quit my
job, but I started working withum with Matt.
Yeah.
Um and and I I feel like thatgrowth mindset has propelled me
in each position in my um in mywork life, uh also in my home
(24:20):
life.
I reckon I'm a heaps better dadand a heaps better father,
yeah, sorry, husband, um, aheaps better workmate, a heaps
better friend.
Yeah, like in in every singleaspect of my life.
Um I know it's it's oh like I'mso passionate about running.
(24:42):
Yeah, yeah.
You know, it's hard for toreally gauge that a simple run
can do that for someone, butevery time I look back at like
what changed it, like if I wentout and lifted weights, I I
don't know if that would havehappened.
Or if I went doing something,I'm not sure anything would have
(25:06):
happened, but I I know for afact that it was the simple act
of running, it's like a youknow, yeah, that simple act of
running is what changedeverything.
It just it it just unlocked thegrowth mindset, I'm sure of it.
Matty (25:22):
And the beauty of it, I think, as well is that when you
start running, because I'm a bitthe same, Gary, um, and when
you start running, that's notwhy you start.
That's what happens.
Um and it's yeah, it's quiteunique in that way, I I think.
Joshie (25:39):
You know, the growth growth mindset is something that
gets spoken about a lot withwith running, and I think it
manifests in a in uh a positiveway, I should add, with uh I
guess with events and followinga plan.
Like it's um yeah, so it mightbe good good time to turn our
attention to uh I guess andgoals, Gary, because yeah, that
(26:02):
growth mindset, I'm sure, hasfound its way into uh goal
setting for you.
Um what what can you tell usabout some of your running
experiences and the goals thatyou've set for yourself?
Garry (26:14):
Um you actually might be surprised.
I have I haven't done manyevents.
All my goals have been runningrelated, do you mean?
Yeah.
Um I mean I've done the oddhalf marathon, I've never
completed a full marathon.
(26:34):
Um although I did sign up, Iwas just talking to Matt before
the call.
Did you get your ticket, Josh?
Joshie (26:41):
I'm I don't know if I've mentioned this on any other
episode.
Completely and utterly burntmyself out with running um the
last sort of 18 months or so.
I've got a I've got a ticket todo the 10k at Goldie, so that's
what I'll be what I'll bedoing.
Matty (26:58):
Yeah, yeah.
Joshie (26:59):
It seems like you've got something a bit more exciting
uh on the horizon.
Garry (27:03):
No, yeah, well I um yeah, and until I was gonna say until
this year, I actually wasn'tmuch an event person, and I
don't I've been trying to rattlemy head as to why.
I actually just really justnever felt the I did my oh yeah,
I've never felt the need.
I did my first um half marathonin 2015.
(27:26):
That was the year I started.
Joshie (27:29):
Um can you tell us what event was that at an event?
Was that just in your own?
Garry (27:34):
No, no, no, that was the GC half.
Yep, okay.
Um and I think honestly, untilthis year, I'm just trying to
think back, there might havebeen one or two little things on
the way.
I think until uh this year,2025, it was ten years on, and I
(27:56):
was like, I think I'm gonna dothe half marathon again.
Joshie (27:59):
Um you you ran the half in the same year that you hang
on, so you started running inwhat the April or something, and
then four months later you'retackling a half marathon.
Garry (28:11):
No, I started running in fair uh uh March.
Yeah, and then did the half inwhenever it was, start of July,
I think.
Wow, it's quite incredible froma cast.
Yeah, and I was still you know,I was 120 kilos when I started
running.
I was probably maybe 105 bythen.
(28:33):
It was it was a it was a toughslog.
Yeah, yeah.
Um, and I don't it wasn't veryfast either, it was like two
maybe 220 or something.
Joshie (28:44):
Yeah, that's tough, honestly.
Yeah, I wouldn't be downplayingwhat you're able to achieve in
these gosh four months.
I mean, yeah, just sort ofthinking a bit more about what
was happening in your personallife.
I mean, your father would havepassed away in that time as
well, and um yeah, that was thatwas just after.
Garry (29:03):
Yeah, wow.
So it was it was actually veryemotional.
I remember finishing that andlike I started weeping, and I
was just I was thinking about mydad, and I was like, alright,
this is my new life.
This is my you know, had mykids and my wife there, and then
(29:26):
I never did another, I didnever did another event, but um
I just I soon realized that youknow I didn't want to have to
have the pressure of trainingfor an event, don't think.
So I'd always do little, youknow, I'd do a half marathon at
home or a 10k time trial at justaround my house.
(29:48):
I never really I didn't want todo it um for the for the medal
or the certificate or the bib.
I just really wanted to dorunning for myself.
Matty (30:01):
That's pretty cool.
Garry (30:03):
Um yeah, so until it literally was until this year,
the G C half this year, it hadbeen ten years, and I think I'm
almost certain that they were my
Joshie (30:14):
the two events uh but recently i've I've changed that
as of the last few months forwhatever reason I've gotten into
trail running so I was it isgood it is good fun it is good
fun oh it's fantastic I was justdoing a I was doing a maybe a
(30:35):
15k run uh down near my houseand then I saw a fire break and
I went up this fire break and itwas all dirt I was like and
previously I was like I saw dirtor grass I was like nah yeah
not in my wheelhouse mate notdoing it not risking rolling an
ankle and I did it and itchanged it for me so yeah so
(30:57):
that's that's has been anotherjourney now as to hitting the
trails and hiking and doing allthat so I did I I did sign up
for the um GC marathon next yearum as a lead up to the scenic
rim ultra which is 104 eight wowwow okay Gary that's awesome
(31:22):
well I haven't done it yet don'tsay it's awesome awesome if
you've got the entry you'redoing it you're doing it yeah
geez yeah I guess you had tohave something to like bring to
the podcast with you know whatto look forward to the next 12
months to two years and um yeahyou've you've gone above and
(31:43):
beyond what I yeah what Ithought that's yeah good good
luck with your training becauseI know that that's you know for
for people that have gonethrough marathons and beyond
it's the the training that'sperhaps the hardest part just
finding the time um managingaround work and family
commitments um you know the thethe ten years that you're in
(32:03):
between your first and or nearlyten years between your first
and your second event um there'sa bit of a gap there I know
that you you've told me that youyou set a goal of I think one
and a half thousand fifteenhundred kilometres a year I
think you set is your sort ofloose target to run.
What this year?
Yeah I wasn't sure if that wasan air every year.
Garry (32:23):
Yeah no no it I didn't do it every year.
I did um um a thousand the Lordof the uh a few of the years
not every year um but I never asyou know going back to the
Strava thing I've I've neverhundred percent tracked my runs
but in the last year and or twoyears I've I've literally
tracked every run just to tryand hit those targets.
(32:45):
This is my first year that I'veonly done fifty I've done
fifteen hundred that's good.
Joshie (32:53):
Does the number like 1500 represent anything to you
or just an arbitrary it was justthe next one after a thousand
you know what next year's gonnabe simplicity and the complexity
there's a yeah a bit of apattern emerging unless it's a
Fibonacci sequence then you'veprobably tripped me up so that's
(33:17):
a that's a huge undertakingthat you've put on the um on the
horizon for next year I guessum from what you've you told me
when we spoke not long ago uh umyou you're having to sort of
navigate a very complex nerveissue I think in your foot.
Um what can you tell us aboutthat?
Garry (33:37):
Uh yeah so literally a few months after I started
running I've had an issue withnerve entrapment in my right
foot my forefoot so my forefootgets inflamed and it just starts
to trap the nerve and it it canhappen depending on how my
training's going or how muchmany miles I've done um anywhere
(34:01):
between five to wherever K isand it basically sends my foot
numb um like the all my my toesstart to tingle and that happens
and okay actually you actuallycan't run on it because my foot
won't work.
(34:22):
So it's I've I've been to manymany many professionals to try
and help fix it.
It's actually but this year umthis year I I've tried some new
strategies which helped uh Itried a strategy of running
every day and then I had like astreak of 160 something days
(34:46):
straight doing I I think Iaveraged about six or seven K's
a day.
That was working really reallywell until it didn't when one
day I got like a bursitis um andthen I couldn't run for two
weeks so that's a pretty easydecision to not start doing that
(35:07):
again.
So I'm trying to my my mylatest thing and I'm you know
I've never really solved theissue but it's working really
good right now is I've I'veslowed down my running like a
lot uh so I don't think I'vedone many you know many sessions
(35:29):
over more than six minute Ksfor the last few months.
Yeah has that made a differenceit's it's actually made a big
difference because I read someresearch that like uh a 30
second increase in your this wasin miles um miles per uh sorry
(35:52):
uh miles per minute minutesminutes per miles per minutes
per miles per minute yeah yeahum 30 second difference in miles
per minute can give double thedown force on the foot okay
because you're running likeyou're you're running faster
you're hitting the ground harderyeah um and I just and uh like
(36:17):
a physio I went to a few yearsago he's like you've got to slow
down you've got to put lesspressure on the feet and I did
not want to hear that you knowno runner wants to hear you've
got to slow right down.
No but it turns out he may havebeen right I'm not 100% sure
just yet but I'm a few months inuh so I like I've signed up to
(36:41):
these bigger races that I'venever really been able to do
because of my nerve issue in myfoot um in the hope of just
keeping a positive mindset thatI can be able to train enough to
do it and complete it.
I'm also open to the fact thatit might not happen and I'm
(37:02):
completely fine with that.
Joshie (37:04):
Yeah yeah that's good so yeah you'll get there mate yeah
I'm very hopeful yeah yeah whatare you up to in terms of um uh
I guess long runs that you'rerunning pain free or before the
nerve issue sets in that you'resort of making it past ten 10k
(37:24):
at the moment yeah um well I diduh I did a 27k on the weekend
but it was a lot of like uphillhiking but it was very it was a
like a four and a half hour 27kbecause there was uh a thousand
meters of elevation in it and umit it was completely fine I've
(37:46):
also found that the the trailsseem to work better because um
it's working the foot left andright and up and down and it's
not just boom boom boom boomboom boom it's not that
repetitive over and over for twohours.
Yeah right on the same same bitof the foot.
Yeah my physio was telling methat when nursing I guess it
(38:09):
doesn't really matter what theinjury is I'm carrying this uh
Achilles complaint at the momentbut he recommends wearing
different shoes even if you'rejust a roadrunner like me um
just every time you run becausethey just he he reckons that
they just it works very subtlydifferent muscle groups and it
can really help to sort of taketake the load off like you say
(38:30):
that one that one spot um yeahI'm a big advocate for that too.
Yeah many shoes to be if itmeans buying more shoes I'm I'm
an advocate for yeah that'sright tools are the trade I need
them Josh said to rotate youvery subtly dropped into the
call early on I can't rememberif we were recording or not at
(38:53):
the time um that you're a you'rea musician um does running feed
into the creative side of youwith your musical pursuits or
are they completely separateoutlets um I think for me oh
look I I was a musician a longtime ago 20 plus years ago but
(39:14):
um I think it sort of holds likeI was very similar to the
running thing I didn't reallyrun for the the accolades and
signing up to events so thatpeople say hey good job um I
write music and play music justfor me now I still record the
(39:38):
occasional song um as to if itas a I don't know if it feeds
into the creativity I probablycouldn't answer that um I never
really thought about it but Iknow that it it definitely
clears my head when I come backand I I might play the guitar
and come up with a tune.
But I have a busy uh sorry avery busy life at the moment so
(40:05):
my music uh um taking a littlebit of a back seat I still play
the guitar a lot but yeah I Iguess uh some people have yeah
revelations when they run and Iwasn't sure whether or not any
of them are sort of musicalrevelations where you go oh
that's it you know whether it'sa a chord progression of lick or
a riff or something you gothat's it um I actually have
(40:27):
them in my sleep.
Garry (40:29):
Oh wow yeah so I'll wake up a lot of the time and I'll
just see something and I'll justI'll see it like how I've
played it.
Um yeah I don't know why I'vealways always happened I'll get
up first thing and or if I'm ifit's too late I'll just write it
down what it was and I'll getand play it in the morning.
(40:49):
I was like yeah that's cool.
Sometimes because that soundsridiculous it did not sound like
that in my dream in your dreamit was a number one hit.
Joshie (41:00):
Jeez I know retirement I have visions of have you guys
seen that movie yesterday it'soh it's a banger isn't it like
having those sort of musicalfantasies where you're like oh
imagine just being able to yeahcompose something like that.
Yeah now you've um made nosecret of this sort of love hate
(41:25):
relationship that you have withStrava and how you're not
you're not really into theaccolades or doing it for the
Kudos as they say um what's thesort of the story there?
I mean for a lot of runnersthere's this evolution that they
go from running for themselvesto running as you know part of a
community and the the um thefeedback that they get whether
it's comments or KDOS I guessadds fuel to their positive fuel
(41:48):
to their journeys but it canalso I guess serve as a bit of a
um to one's detrimentpotentially as well.
That's right.
Garry (41:55):
Yeah it's totally individual I think I honestly I
don't begrudge anyone who doesStrava their way like and I
legitimately mean that becauseyou know I totally understand
that when people get a keto sothey're like yes you know like
(42:16):
that might just be all they needto keep going and I'm all for
it.
Um I know that you know like asocial media it's it's literally
a social media platform likethere's no two ways about it.
Yeah um and I I I'm just alittle bit I'm not gonna say
(42:43):
anti-social media but I justdon't sort of engage in that
side of it.
I sometimes feel bad that youknow when people give me a kudos
um that I don't I try myhardest to get on but I I really
don't want to um have to get onto give people kudoses do you
(43:05):
know what I mean?
Like that whole like for likething.
Now now I know my Gary I don'tget no Jesus I'm actually
thinking about it because I knowMatt you give me kudos all the
time and uh and I but I do itbecause I feel I have to like
every as you said everyone'sdifferent.
Matty (43:26):
I not so much I like to give my friends kudos but then
you feel that if people give youkudos you have to give them do
you know what I mean like Iguess it depends um whether or
not you're setting thoseexpectations of yourself or of
other people.
Joshie (43:41):
And it's to me Strava's part of your your journey it's
no different to what yourpreference with shoes is or gels
it's you know the the extent towhich you adopt Strava into
your life it's uniquelyindividual and yeah I think good
on you for having like itsounds like you have a healthy
relationship with Strava whichYeah I really do.
Garry (43:59):
Now it just like I don't have notifications on it so some
people write me comments andI'll literally never see it and
that sucks but I just I um itworks for you.
Yeah it works for me um therethere was a long time where I
actually didn't maybe a year orlike a lot of periods over the
(44:20):
time where I haven't even usedStrava but I've still used the
Garmin I've always used Garmin.
So you get all the same datafrom Garmin Connect and I just
follow myself and do my do myown thing get all the same data.
I wanted to track the I feellike it's got a little bit
(44:46):
better data than just the Garminstuff.
Or the the paid version anyway.
So yeah I'm I'm back on it andum I do love the the you know
the program itself or theinterface itself but it's yeah I
(45:07):
just I've been there has beentimes where I'm like oh what I
even I don't need this shit.
And there's been times whereI'm like yeah this this is
awesome.
But um it's totally anindividualized thing and I don't
regret the way that anybodytreats Strava.
Joshie (45:26):
I think what you've done is great.
You still so you have Stravayou've turned off notifications
but it what that does is itintroduces friction.
So you you might be looking atyour phone for another purpose
but there's not this thingthat's sort of trying to draw
your attention to the top of thescreen to go click on what
what's what's someone you knowtelling me or giving me feedback
on um yeah yeah so it'sproviding a bit of space which I
(45:47):
think's awesome.
Refresh my memory what's theultra that you've signed up to
Scenic Rim Ultra.
Yeah so that what that's herein Queensland then yeah it's
yeah Bow Desert is it?
Garry (46:00):
Yeah out at um yeah just past Bow Desert.
Yeah so it's one that I cansleep at my own house and
because I'm not that far I'monly half an hour from there.
Okay.
Matty (46:12):
It's very hard though by the looks of it's like a
gazillion metres of elevationand it's 105 kilometers like
even with no elevation Jesus butit sounds as though and correct
me if I'm wrong because I don'twant to put words in your mouth
Gary but you've signed up tothis event without necessarily
(46:36):
knowing that you're ready now.
Joshie (46:39):
You're putting the intentions out there and going
this is the goal and I'll workout the rest later later.
Yeah yep you're uh you're bangon Josh that's very different to
uh a lot of other people myselfincluded like I when I've
signed up to events it's I'vehad belief that I I like I'm
(47:00):
almost ready that I can be readypretty quickly not you know a
massive undertaking like that Ithink it's awesome yeah hats off
to you yeah what an achievementthough mate like it wouldn't
matter if it took you 10 20hours like you know as long as
you finish it that's that'sawesome if I do it in ten hours
(47:22):
mate I'll be I'll be headingover to bloody Moab and doing
UTMB I don't think I don't thinkthe winners are gonna do it in
ten hours.
Garry (47:32):
That's my understanding of that mate I've got no idea
who knows you might yeah um anyfinal thoughts Gary before we
finish up um we've had a ballspeaking with you no but just if
you're if you're not a runner Idon't know if there's many
non-runners that listen justthey're probably just give it a
(47:52):
bloody go because the the thewords I don't really like
running like the it's just theythey have this mindset of like
they love running and I don't soit's not gonna be for me.
It's not for anyone and that'swhy it's for everyone that's
beautiful if you have theability you should do it.
Joshie (48:14):
Yeah I honestly believe it.
Totally agree with that look umGary thanks so much for joining
us on Unbelievable your lifetransformation has been truly
inspiring.
Thanks for taking the time tochat with us today it's really
been a joy speaking with you.
Matty (48:30):
Yeah thanks Gary and you guys no problems yeah it was
absolutely awesome and thanksheaps you're doing a banger of a
job wow that was sensationalMaddie how cool is Gary yeah
Gary's a great guy um I think uhrunning through what he he did
today in terms of that lifechanging um decision to start
(48:52):
running um I think there's a lotof people out there that um can
relate to that exactly and itall started with a 200 meter jog
on a treadmill how did youthink how do you think you'd go
on a treaddy I've never run onone um after Sunday in the
humidity I've been looking upgyms to find out um how much
they are so but I don't know Idon't know if I could do it
(49:15):
because part of my um enjoymentof running is outdoors fresh air
nature like that that's what Ilove so yeah you know it'd be
cheaper to get a treadmill thanto a gym membership I think you
know I nearly had a treadmill Idon't know if I've told you this
story we um managed to get itit was off marketplace to the
back of the car and it wouldn'tfit so I had to leave it and
that was the closest I I got tobe a thread there look if you've
(49:40):
got a unbelievable story ofyour own we'd truly love to hear
it and if you'd like to be aguest on the show then please
hit us up and finally thispodcast relies on your continued
support so if you can pleasetake the time to follow Ray and
edit podcast with your runningmate we'd really appreciate it
and we'll see you to the nextunbelievable and we'll see you
(50:03):
to the next unpolished thanksmate that was cool
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
The Burden
The Burden is a documentary series that takes listeners into the hidden places where justice is done (and undone). It dives deep into the lives of heroes and villains. And it focuses a spotlight on those who triumph even when the odds are against them. Season 5 - The Burden: Death & Deceit in Alliance On April Fools Day 1999, 26-year-old Yvonne Layne was found murdered in her Alliance, Ohio home. David Thorne, her ex-boyfriend and father of one of her children, was instantly a suspect. Another young man admitted to the murder, and David breathed a sigh of relief, until the confessed murderer fingered David; “He paid me to do it.” David was sentenced to life without parole. Two decades later, Pulitzer winner and podcast host, Maggie Freleng (Bone Valley Season 3: Graves County, Wrongful Conviction, Suave) launched a “live” investigation into David's conviction alongside Jason Baldwin (himself wrongfully convicted as a member of the West Memphis Three). Maggie had come to believe that the entire investigation of David was botched by the tiny local police department, or worse, covered up the real killer. Was Maggie correct? Was David’s claim of innocence credible? In Death and Deceit in Alliance, Maggie recounts the case that launched her career, and ultimately, “broke” her.” The results will shock the listener and reduce Maggie to tears and self-doubt. This is not your typical wrongful conviction story. In fact, it turns the genre on its head. It asks the question: What if our champions are foolish? Season 4 - The Burden: Get the Money and Run “Trying to murder my father, this was the thing that put me on the path.” That’s Joe Loya and that path was bank robbery. Bank, bank, bank, bank, bank. In season 4 of The Burden: Get the Money and Run, we hear from Joe who was once the most prolific bank robber in Southern California, and beyond. He used disguises, body doubles, proxies. He leaped over counters, grabbed the money and ran. Even as the FBI was closing in. It was a showdown between a daring bank robber, and a patient FBI agent. Joe was no ordinary bank robber. He was bright, articulate, charismatic, and driven by a dark rage that he summoned up at will. In seven episodes, Joe tells all: the what, the how… and the why. Including why he tried to murder his father. Season 3 - The Burden: Avenger Miriam Lewin is one of Argentina’s leading journalists today. At 19 years old, she was kidnapped off the streets of Buenos Aires for her political activism and thrown into a concentration camp. Thousands of her fellow inmates were executed, tossed alive from a cargo plane into the ocean. Miriam, along with a handful of others, will survive the camp. Then as a journalist, she will wage a decades long campaign to bring her tormentors to justice. Avenger is about one woman’s triumphant battle against unbelievable odds to survive torture, claim justice for the crimes done against her and others like her, and change the future of her country. Season 2 - The Burden: Empire on Blood Empire on Blood is set in the Bronx, NY, in the early 90s, when two young drug dealers ruled an intersection known as “The Corner on Blood.” The boss, Calvin Buari, lived large. He and a protege swore they would build an empire on blood. Then the relationship frayed and the protege accused Calvin of a double homicide which he claimed he didn’t do. But did he? Award-winning journalist Steve Fishman spent seven years to answer that question. This is the story of one man’s last chance to overturn his life sentence. He may prevail, but someone’s gotta pay. The Burden: Empire on Blood is the director’s cut of the true crime classic which reached #1 on the charts when it was first released half a dozen years ago. Season 1 - The Burden In the 1990s, Detective Louis N. Scarcella was legendary. In a city overrun by violent crime, he cracked the toughest cases and put away the worst criminals. “The Hulk” was his nickname. Then the story changed. Scarcella ran into a group of convicted murderers who all say they are innocent. They turned themselves into jailhouse-lawyers and in prison founded a lway firm. When they realized Scarcella helped put many of them away, they set their sights on taking him down. And with the help of a NY Times reporter they have a chance. For years, Scarcella insisted he did nothing wrong. But that’s all he’d say. Until we tracked Scarcella to a sauna in a Russian bathhouse, where he started to talk..and talk and talk. “The guilty have gone free,” he whispered. And then agreed to take us into the belly of the beast. Welcome to The Burden.