New Years again???

So, you have started the year off with the usual ‘New Years Resolutions’.  You had the best intentions in mind, set some big goals and really wanted to make 2013 different to previous years.  If you are one of the ones who are staying true to their resolutions, super, ripper work and keep it up!  However…we are now on the 21^st day of the month and you might be thinking…’where did it all go wrong?’ You’re not the only one! 

 

Not to try and make excuses, because that’s all they are, but I have had a stressful start to the year.  I have found myself with my first real injury since taking up running.  I have been waiting anxiously to find out about the big change in careers (yeah!) and we have a baby coming soon!  A combination of all these things and just being slack has seen my diet/training goals go to the dogs.

 

Well I am here to tell you that that is in the past!  The awesome thing about life, friends, is that once a moment has past, if it didn’t go as you planned, you have a brand new opportunity to change your ways going forward.  This is where I am right now.  There is 52weeks in the year and we have only got through a couple, so I plan on getting back on track with my goals and dreams for 2013 starting today. 

 

In a recent Podcast I listened to by Rich Roll (if you haven’t heard of him or listened to his Podcast, do yourself a favour and check it out!  Inspiring stuff!) he was talking about resolutions and how setting yourself life changing habits rather than ‘resolutions’ that can fall apart at the drop of a hat might be more productive.  If you have found your New Years resolutions have gone to the dogs, forget that, and set your self some life, habit, and future changing goals that you can stick to, one moment at a time!  The best thing is that no one can tell you now that your plans are destined to fail!  New Years is done with! 

 

What am I talking about?!  Well, while it is awesome to set a plan to aim to lose 10kg or run your first half marathon etc, once these goals area achieved, it is a bit ‘where to from here’.  Now I do understand these ambitions as I am also motivated by numbers (km run, kg’s lost etc).  I think though that something that may be more beneficial and future altering is setting life goals rather than focusing on short term accomplishments.  By this I mean something like eating two vegetarian meals a week, run at least 15min every day, go vegan for the first week of every month, read to your child at least every second night.  Goals like this are sustainable and don’t have an end date.  You still need to be specific and have a plan in place or they get lost in the wind, but maybe goals like this help us to become better, healthier humans in this life.  And remember, if you slip up, jump back on track the next moment, don’t let things linger on and on.

 

To clarify with my own example, I have set a weight goal that I want to achieve, over time, but my overall life plan going forward is to eat a healthy, plant based diet (vegan).  I also want to focus on the quantity of food I am eating as at times it is far too much.  So there is still a short term numbers ‘resolution’ if you will, but the greater focus and desire is to live healthier, longer, leaner, fitter and stronger by staying plant strong long term.  This is an on-going, no ‘end date’ goal that I can focus on moment by moment and see my life transform over a week, month, year and life.

 

As far as training goes at the moment, it is a day by day, week by week thing to assess how my Achilles goes.  I am swimming, biking and doing core/stretching work as always.  At this point I am hoping to start running again next week and then start a eight week program the following week for Wild Horse 70k…we’ll see how things go!  Really though, the main focus is to get injury free and get back to running consistently.  Please Jesus make that SOON!!

 

So, my friends, the overall message in this is DON’T GIVE UP!  There are 365days in the year and only 20 have gone!  If you focus on making the rest of the 345days amazingly awesome you have only lost like 5.5% of the year to your not so good choices!  Keep your head up, write your new goals down, keep a journal, smile and RIP IN!  Much love to you all, and here’s to achieving, day by day our new goals!

You only live once! PLEASE READ!

This life is special.  We are only given one and need to make the most of it.  Too often I have heard stories of people that have strolled through their existence, got to the end of their life and had a lengthy list of 'I wish I had done's'.  I do not want to be one of these people...

Life is all about risks too.  Some of us only take calculated ones, within our safety zones and are content with this.  Not that there is anything wrong with that but I am not one of these people...I want to be someone who lives on the edge, a soppy old cliche but a good one.  I want to strangle life for all it is worth, live with a healthy fear, chase my dreams, inspire people to do what they really want to do.  I don't want to live a life where I am 'ho-hum' happy.  I want to do what I am passionate about, learn, expand my knowledge beyond my brains current existence, seek out the unknown....knowledge is power.

A number of athletes have created a spark in me over the years, leaving their 'amazing careers' and chasing their dreams.  Rich Roll, Dean Karnezes etc.  He probably doesn't realise it but I have also been greatly inspired by my friend Dave who was a School Teacher and had a dream to quit and go have better, more fulfilling life managing a skate shop.  Quality of life...Thanks Dave for being a leader, you are an amazing man and you inspire me to be a better person!    

This also all ties in with my running and my sense of adventure and exploring my limits and unknowns.  Toady's blog however is not about running.  It is about a significant day in my, and my beautiful little families lives. 

For those reading this that don't know all about me, I am currently a Police Officer and have been in this stable, steady career, a good career, for the last four and a half years.  While I do like policing, it has not for sometime been where my passion is.  For the last year to two years I have wanted to change careers but have felt really stuck and felt like there was no way out.  This has really got me down at times and the sense of my responsibility as a father and husband (money earning, job etc) sometimes felt overbearing.  It is a big commitment having a family, mortgage and becoming used to a certain way of living.  But I wanted more.  I wanted to chase my dreams and get out of the comfortable.  Mundane was killing me...

My wife, friends and family are the most amazing people ever.  Some special friends have been incredible and for their support and encouragement I can not thank them enough.  Lori, Jodie, Tanya, Nix, Andrew, Tylana and an array of others, I love you all and thank you!  My family have also encouraged me to go after what I have wanted and we would make it work.  The love and support that Tegan (my wife) has shown over the last year has been above words.  Her support, pushing, care and 'go with the flow' attitude has boggled my mind!  She has sent me beautiful bible verses, encouraging texts and been so cruisy with it all...incredible.  Without her by my side I would never have been able to follow through on my ideas and wouldn't be able to embark on the massive journey that is ahead.  She is my rock and my best friend....thank you Tegan for letting me chase my dreams and live a wild free existence.

So, with this said, today, the 17th of January, 2013, I quit my stable, steady, good job.  I have been accepted into CQU Uni as a full time student in Physiotherapy!  I have a dream of completing my degree, majoring in Sports Rehab and in the future starting my own practise in Sports Rehab with alternative therapy (ie. barefoot practises and combining nutrition programs with rehab). 

This decision and acceptance petrifies the life out of me!  Will I be able to handle the study?  Who knows.  But you know what?  I would rather take the risk and fail spectacularly than not take the risk and wonder 'what if?!  I feel alive!  Á bit of healthy fear is what makes life blip off the constant hum that is mediocrity.  I feel like my swagger is back and I am ready to run forward with my beautiful family on this amazing new journey!  I know there will be haters and people that think I am stupid for doing this, but you know what, I don't care!  Keep your negativity to yourself!  My life's goal is to surround myself with positive inspiring people and I have no time for the haters!  Forks to them!  HA! 

So that is it peeps!  What a day it has been.  I feel a lightness, a smile without a frown of stress and concern.  Life feels free again and I am ready to embark on this incredible freaky adventure!  So, I end with this....if you want to pursue something or chase a dream...DO IT!  Life is too short and full of too many gap fillers to not live the way you want to and chase a vision!  Take a risk, scare yourself and live free!  Life is beautiful, run free!  Love to you all and CAN'T WAIT!!!  

Down and not so out

What up homies?! Well, I apologise for my AWOLness the last couple of weeks. I am however now back and will fill ya’ll in on the going-ons lately.

Well, I was cruising along very nicely for my ‘500km in three weeks challenge’. Now, I should also state that leading up to the three weeks and during it is probably the fittest I have felt in my whole life. An awesome quote from the great Anton on his DVD Indulgence is ‘When you are at your fittest you are probably your most vulnerable.’ Well it sucks to say but that was me (and him at one point). I started to get a bit of a niggle in my left Achilles mid last week and just thought it was a niggle, these things happen. Last Friday I wanted to do a long run and set off. I got about four to five k in and my Achilles was quite sore. I thought I would have to turn around but it didn’t really get any worse so I kept on going. I managed to finish 40k and although I was sore it wasn’t too bad….but then it just kept getting worse. Things kept going down hill and I unfortunately had to resign myself to the fact that my 500k was not going to get completed. Although I was disappointed, I still managed to cover 460km in three weeks. That’s an average of just over 153km per week. Pretty happy overall with that, even though I fell short.

The main concern then was running at all. I tried 3k on Monday and it was horrible. Very sore and hurt for the whole day. I rested, iced, TEN’s and eventually had to have a MRI on Friday to make sure no permanent damage was done (thanks Elane!). This revealed inflammation between the Achilles and tibia/fibula (from my understanding) and I have been ordered by the doctor and my physio hook ups (bless your hearts Nix and Tylana) to rest, ice and ibuprofen (much to my disgust). I have had this week completely off training and intend to start again tomorrow with some swimming with a pool boy as I have been told not to kick (aggravation of the Achilles is likely if I do). I will do this for a week, then re-assess. I may need to have another light week of training with maybe some bike riding but its pretty much a ‘play it as it comes’ situation.

Anyone who knows me, knows that this is devastating news. Not being able to run is like not being able to eat to me! If anyone has spoken to me for two seconds or been reading my blog knows how passionate I am about running so to not do it is so difficult. I have had a tough week with my diet and generally being down and ‘lost’ without my daily habit of waking early and pumping out some k’s. I just don’t feel myself. I know I must be showing my stress and worry when Tegan says something. A couple of times this week she has shown real concern for how I am. Bless her heart, she knows me well!

Me being me though, I have been processing this info and now looking to things I can do and enjoy until I am back running. I am hoping to do some swimming, as mentioned, maybe some kayaking and maybe some biking. I am also planning on pouring a whole heap of energy and focus into getting my eating and diet back on track so the healing process will be sped up and I will be primed and ready to go when I am fit again.

This speed bump may affect some of my New Years goals (km’s in this year etc) and it has had an impact mentally and physically on my diet, however the beauty of goals, be they New Years ones or just general ones, is that they can be re-assessed and re-
focused. I have put quite a bit of thought into what I am now wanting to achieve over the next couple of months, so be prepared for some big results and challenges ahead.

So, that’s pretty much been my last two weeks. It has been a little rocky (not in the good way necessarily) but I am here, I am alive and I can make ripper good decisions about how I move forward from here. Life is all about adapting and moving with what cards we are dealt so that is what I am planning on doing from here on in. I am not sure when I will be back running (I pray it will be VERY soon) but if not, I will be pouring my heart into what I CAN do! Thanks to everyone for the lovely messages and support I have got over this time. I know it probably seems insignificant to a lot of you, but it means the world to me and getting your well wishes is such a blessing!

As a side point, I am hoping and praying for some big news this Thursday so stay tuned for a potentially life changing blog forthcoming! Love to you all my friends. Live free, run free for me and Ill catch ya soon!

The New Years resolution Im gonna keep!

Week 2 of 500km Challenge...

24/12 - AM - 15.1km, 15min stepper.  PM - 6.1km
25/12 - AM - 15.3km
26/12 - AM - 27.3km.  PM - 15min stepper.
27/12 - AM - 33.2km
28/12 - AM - 33.2km
29/12 - AM - 16km.  PM - 6.1km
30/12 - AM - 18km

Total - 170.2km.  30min stepper.

So, a quick catch up on my ''End of year, 500km challenge''...all is on track!  It has been a big week but a super fun one!  I have really enjoyed my runs and the k's are ticking over nicely!  If I stick to my projected distances this week I will own 500km in three weeks!  YES!

The point however for this blog, as you would expect is an end of year wrap up and 2013 outlook! 

This year has been a super year and by far my best running wise.  I have completed a half marathon on trail, a marathon completely barefoot, three ultras on trail (50km-50miles), my first DNF (but still did 59km) at Glasshouse 100, a road run to Childers (ultra distance), and a road ultra.  Appart from a few very minor hiccups, I have been very consistent and absolutlly loving my running!  As Killian says, 'More k's equals more fun!

At the end of last year, I also set myself a goal of running 5200km which is an average of 100km per week.  Now that scared the heck out of me!  100km in a week is not alot for me now, but to AVERAGE it for a whole year...WO!  Well I am pleased, and very proud to announce that...drum roll please...I ran a total of 5465.9km in 2012!  STOKED!  And only 15.4km of that was in shoes.  The rest was in huarache sandals or completely barefoot!  Good times!  I am very proud of my efforts and forks to those who say 'New Years Resolutions' can't be kept!  (Not that it was really one of those but you know!)

So....that is a little of the year that has gone, but what about the year ahead?  Well I have some potential life changing things happening in 2013 (our second baby and another potentially massive change...stay tuned for that one!), but I am still going to set myself some lofty goals, stick them on the wall and smash through them the best I can!  I may fall short on some, but you know what, I am going to give it my all to achieve them all!  I have never really set concrete New Years goals, but this year, I am writing them down and going to give them all a bloody good crack!  So, to make myself completely accountable and transparent, I am going to make them public and hope that any and all of you, when I catch up with you along the way, might feel compelled to encourage me and maybe even set some lofty, specific goals yourself!?  Please share!  Do it, you will not regret it!  So...here they are.

- To draw closer to God by remaining true to my daily devotions and be more regular at church (this is hard at times with my job)
- To be a better husband and father.  More loving, more patient and slower to anger.
- Build better and stronger friendships and be more giving in all areas of my life.
- Commit 100% to the Engine 2 lifestyle for ONE WHOLE YEAR!!!  Transform my body, mind and spirit into a new being through this beautiful way of eating.  (That's right, a WHOLE YEAR!  BRING IT!)
- Run everyday for pure joy.  Aim to run 7000km in the calender year.

RUNNING GOALS...
Two 100mile plus runs
Three 100km plus runs
Hares and Hounds (55km)
Mt Mee Marathon
Cooks Tour (80km)
Fat Ass 50mile (an event Ï am organising)
Flinders Tour (50km)
Cane to Coral Half Marathon
Glasshouse 100miler or Surf Coast Century 100km

Possible events...
Great North Walk 100miles
Three marathons in three days Cairns
Coast to Kosi 240km
Any others that might pop up along the way!

So there it is...in black and white!  Some of it scares the heck out of me (especially the Engine 2 eating for a whole year and the 7000km of running!), but hay, life is pretty boring without a bit of fear!  I can not wait to do my very best to achieve and blow my goals out of the water.

I just want to end by thanking each and everyone of you for taking the time to read my blog.  I really love doing it and I am always taken aback a little when people say they have been reading it and how much they have been enjoying it.  THANK YOU!  I hope and pray that this means of communication will inspire you, encourage you and make you push for bigger and better things in your own lives.  Thanks again friends, run free and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Week one...

Week One of 500k challenge… 

17/12 – AM – 15.05km sandals and 15min stepper.  PM – 6.07km sandals.

Felt a bit ordinary in the morning but got through ok.  Afternoon run was very hot and windy.  Started to get a twinge in my left knee.  Not sure what that is about?

 

Vegan wolf crew represent!

18/12 – AM – 25.07km sandals.

Ran 15k with Jodie.  About half way through the run I thought I was going to have to stop as my knee was so sore but I battled through and started some serious self treatment (TENS, ice and Loris magic potion!  Drove to Brisbane in the morning and got tattooed in the arvo.  Wolf is DONE and got a little love heart done as well. 

19/12 – AM – 16.03km sandals.  PM – 6.06km sandals and 15min stepper.

Ran at Kippa Ring/Redcliffe with Jeff from The Running Podcast.  It was humid but he pushed me along nicely and we had some ripper convo.  Great to catch up with him.  Knee was a little better once warmed up.  Drove back from Brizzy and then arvo run was hot and legs were a little heavy but was good fun. 

Oh cute!

20/12 – AM – 25.03km sandals.

Did 11km with Jodie, Bec and their mate they had met on a previous run.  Finished off on my own and did it a little tough due to the increase in k’s but got there.  The humidity has been roaring this week and been knocking me a bit! 

21/12 – AM – 12.15km new sandals.

Went well and smooth.  No drama.

 

22/12 – AM – 35.1km sandals.

Again did it a little tough through the middle k’s due to only having four hours sleep but finished strong which was great. 

23/12 – AM – 25.01km sandals.

Ran after finishing work at 4am.  Was an enjoyable stint with Dad and ploughed through.

 

Total – 165.6km running and 45min stepper.

 

Well, week one has been a success!  I thought on day one that I was going to have to pull out because of a sore knee but it came good and is now about 90%!  Thank God for that!  It has been a bit tough jumping up the k’s so much and also with the high humidity but I have battled through and proud of my first weeks efforts.

 

Since finishing my initial 28day Engine 2 program, I have been a little up and down with my eating.  I have still been vegan and am not swaying from that but just had a few things and overeaten a couple of times that have made me realise I do not want to live like that and the true Engine 2 way is supreme!   

For this reason, I have decided to set myself a new goal (along with my running goals!).  100 days of Engine 2 eating and living.  I felt that the 28days were good and set some good habits for my new way of life, but just needed a little longer to set them in concrete and live long term the best way possible.  So starting today, I am going to do 100days E2 living.  I will be keeping my journal again and at the end of the 100days, re-assess with the very high likelihood that I will continue to live that way as I feel SO awesome when I do.  I am also really looking forward to a couple of friends joining me along the way that have shown some keen interest in the plan.  Can not wait to have you on board Jeff, Benny and Lori!  You WILL achieve and see results you never thought possible on this plan, trust me!  Anyone else keen to give the 28day Engine 2 plan a go, I can not recommend it enough and I would love to support you in your journey if you want to give it a crack!  You wont regret it, trust me!  Drop me a line and we can be accountable to each other as it is recommended that you do it with someone else for support.  Great idea. 

I have also got some super feedback from Jeff about the Podcast!  He has said that over 2600 people have downloaded it and he is getting some really good emails etc about it.  Lots of interest!  So much so, that he wants me back on the show next year!  Bring it!  If you missed out on hearing it, I would love you to have a listen.  Click on the below link and download Episode 70.  Good times! 

http://www.therunningpodcast.com/  

So, apart from that, everything is ticking along nicely.  I have a big week of training ahead and can’t wait to get stuck in with my nutrition spot on.  Christmas is nearly here also and it will be a super time with family, celebrating Jesus Birthday and hanging out together.  I hope and pray that the time for you is a blessed one and that you can remember the real reason for the season.   

My next blog will be the last day of the year which is ridiculous!  Where has the year gone?!  I hope that you are all achieving your goals this week and that you are being blessed beyond measure!  Much love to you all and I will catch you next week!  Live long, run on, PLANT STRONG!


http://www.lunasandals.com/?aid=4c7p5f3p

Set a goal.

What up friends!?  Hope this post finds you all well and excited to be alive! 

Well, not too much out of the ordinary to report on the running front this week.  My k's looked like this...72.7km running and 30min on the stepper.  It was a recovery week after my race last weekend and I managed to run every day which was good to shake out the soreness and keep me moving.  Going forward however...

So...I have decided to set myself a little goal.  I am aiming to run 500km in the next three weeks...whilst remaining on my clean E2 diet.  For those who are good at math (not me) that will look like: 165km this week, 170km the following week and 165km the last week.  I will then have an easier week before my next race, the first one for 2013, Hares and Hounds 53km trail run.

Now this all got me thinking....it is all very well me setting myself some big goals, but the year is rounding out an as usual on the 31st of December, many of you will set yourself New Years goals....most of which unfortunately will not be kept!  I don't know why but that's the way it is!  I have been guilty of this in the past too don't worry.  So, come with me on a little adventure...

Tomorrow is Monday.  The 17th day of December, 2012.  Two weeks until the end of the year.  I am hoping and encouraging you all to set yourself a fitness/life goal.  Now don't be hatin, we can ALL get fitter and have more discipline in our lives!  I know I have a long way to go and am constantly trying to better myself and improve who I am and what my limitations are.  So, instead of waiting until New Years to 'get fitter', 'lose weight', 'get into running', blah blah blah...set your self a specific, little bit challenging goal for the next two weeks.  Lets go on a little 14day journey together.

Now, for you all, this will probably look completely different.  I know though with goals, you have to be specific.  To 'start running' just doesn't cut it.  So, commit with me.  This can be anything...but as I said BE SPECIFIC!  Wright it down, keep a little daily journal and stay focused.  So, what might this be?  Examples I hear you say...easy...for the next two weeks I will...

Run 5km a day
Start a marathon program
Go to the gym every afternoon
Ride 30min a day
Eat no junk food
Run 20km a day
Get up at 5am and walk for an hour every day
Lose 500g a week
Or anything you come up with!

What ever you like.  It doesn't have to be rocket science people!  I am a MASSIVE advocate for routine and am constantly drilling into my mates about it!  Set some discipline in your life.  Wake up early every day for the next two weeks, commit to your goal and I GUARANTEE that you will feel better for it. 

Whats the point of all this...WHY NOT!?  Why does everything in life have to have a reason!?  Why not just do something for the sake of achieving something!?  Also, when New Years comes around and people you know are setting their 'goals' and ask you what yours are, you can tell them that you have already started them and you are just going to keep on keeping on!  Trust me, it is MUCH easier to continue with something once you have been doing it regularly for two weeks than to start on a day where goals seem to be easily made and easily broken.

Life is about making each day better than the one before guys.  Think about it, if tomorrow is exactly the same as today, and you keep on this path, you will get 10years down the track and be in exactly the same spot you are now!  We all deserve better and should be aiming to make ourself and the world we live in better!

Now...a disclaimer...you may fall of the wagon a little...big deal!  I don't know about you but the thought of so much running over the next three weeks scares the ink right out of my skin! (you like that?  Just came up with it!)  If you do have a bad moment (that's right, moment, not day), snap yourself out of it, send me a message/facey/email message and I'll kick you back into line and get right back on the horse!  The most successful people that have ever lived failed time and time again however NEVER gave up!  You can do this, its only two weeks and I hope that will set a routine in your life that will see you sprint into the New Year, not limp with a busted knee and whinging voice!

So that's it crew!  I can not wait to get started on my little personal challenge and I can not wait to hear what you guys come up with and set yourself!  Let's rip as much guts out of this life we can and soak up every blessed moment!  Keep positive friends, laugh often and set those goals!  RIP IN! 
Live long, Run on, PLANT strong!

PODCAST IS OUT!!!

Gday all!  Just a quick post today to let you all know that my maiden Podcast is out!!!!!  VERY VERY exciting for me!  Thanks again to Jeff for having me on the show, it was super fun!  So, if your interested, kick back, relax and have a listen!  (Link below)

As a side point, if any of you are interested, please subscribe to my Blog.  You can also now leave comments on Blogger (you only used to be able to if you were a blogger yourself.)  If you dont mind, pass the word around about my Blog and if any of you think my writings/thoughts are worth sharing with others Id be stoked if you spread the TattooRunner word!

Thats it for the moment crew!  I will be posting Monday about a new short adventure I am challenging myself to but in the mean time, run free and enjoy the Podcast!  live long, PLANT STRONG!!!

If you go to http://www.therunningpodcast.com/ my Podcast is at the top avalible for download....