Runbelievable: Real Runners, Unreal Stories

Ep 12: The 200m Treadmill Run That Changed Everything: Garry Jackson's Beautiful Life Renewal

• Josh Rischin • Season 1 • Episode 12

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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.

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Garry:

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:

Hello everybody and welcome to Run for Little, the podcast where everyday runners share their not-so-everyday stories. I'm your host, Josh Gritchen, and I'm here to bring you stories of grit, glory, and overcoming adversity. Each episode we'll dive deep into what first got people running and what keeps them lacing up day after day. From the lights and the left is to crazy humidity, we're here to share what makes running a truly human experience. And coming up in just a few moments, you'll meet a runner who's gone from counting smoke hose and tinnies, and we're talking epic proportions, to counting laps and kilometers. Trust me, you don't want to miss this one. Yeah, Gary's actually on the corner just to give you a big fist pump, so he's uh he's well and truly ready to go. Um so yes, Maddie, welcome back. Uh, this is the time of year that every run seems to feel like the hardest run of our lives. How are you doing?

Matty:

Yeah, I'm good, Joshy. Uh really good. Yeah, every run is the hardest of my life. Um, I'd probably do a weekly run that's the hardest of my life. Um, but yeah, add the heat and humidity, mate. It's it's tough going.

Joshie:

How are you faring in this heat? I mean, obviously we've got a couple of cooler days at the moment. It's still warm though.

Matty:

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 to take it easy and try to enjoy it. So yeah.

Joshie:

Yeah, that's awesome. Well, let's get stuck into the run of run believable rundown. Um, and just a reminder, this is where we share highlights, mishaps, misadventures, crazy sights and sounds, little wins, basically the sort of stuff that humanizes the running experience. Now, I recently posted a poll about long runs and whether or not folks pause their watch when they stop for a drink, a chat, a poo, or whatever. I can see Gary shaking his head there. Um, what about yourself, Maddie? Um, I don't even know if you responded to the poll. I mean, you stopped. No, I didn't. Um, but I do.

Matty:

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've considered it, but no, I do. Um, yeah. I mean, you can see it in the elapsed time anyway, so I'm not hiding anything.

Joshie:

That's true. We had a really good response to the poll, by the way. It's the most we've uh responses we've ever had. We had in the end, what do you reckon it would have been the uh yes, no split, those that uh stopped their watches versus don't I reckon 80% would have stopped their watch. I think that's probably the true number, Matt. We had officially 68% that said yes and 32% that said no, and I reckon there's a few in that 32% uh maybe from time to time would pause their watches. Um but yeah, I actually had a had a listener, uh someone called Natasha that um uh sent me a uh a DM afterwards and was like, you know, oh you know, perhaps a more controversial take would be to ask the question who pauses their watch during an event, during a race.

Matty:

I'd never do that. No? No. People do that. Because I mean, because you're gonna go off your chip time anyway, which has got your gun and your net. So I mean, that's what I really go off at the end of the day. The watch is just a guide as I'm going.

Joshie:

So let's not open a can of worms. Yeah, that's right. Um, yeah, maybe there's a there's a poll coming your way in the future, one that's a little bit more controversial. So look, if you've got something that you'd like to contribute to the Run Believable rundown, I've said it right that time, thankfully, then send it our way. Today's guest has lived two very different lives, one before running and one after. What started with a shaky 200 meter jog, I believe, on a treadmill, has since reshaped his mindset, his habits, and how he shows up in the world. His story is a sage reminder that big changes can often start with the smallest of steps. Can we please all welcome Gary Jackson? Gary, welcome.

Garry:

Welcome, Gary. Thanks for having me. What an intro.

Joshie:

What wasn't it? That was fantastic. Well, you're a rock star that's worthy of one, that's for sure.

Garry:

Thank you very much for having me. And just want to say before we start, yes, or two things. Go on. Love what you guys are doing with this podcast. Thank you. Sorry I'm not Kib Chuggy or bloody Ned Brockman. They approached us and we said no, it's only we've got Gary. So this is the real people doing real things. That's right, mate.

Matty:

Exactly.

Garry:

Uh and the next thing is the the stopping the watch thing. I did hear that. The biggest reason I don't is because I've forgotten to start it again about 400,000 times.

Joshie:

We've got a mate that uh yeah has uh done. I think he missed almost all of the long run because he'd paused for a drink early on and forgot to consume it. So I did 16Ks once. I'm not looking at my watch today.

Garry:

I'm not doing it.

Joshie:

Well, coming up a bit later on, Gary, we'll actually explore your love-hate relationship with Strava a bit. But uh to kick us off, look, those years between 2013 to 2015 were massive for you to say the least. Um, what can you tell us about what was happening in your world around that time?

Garry:

Alright, so I think what you're alluding to is my dad. Um, he was diagnosed with a terminal brain cancer, which really at the time I was I just took it for, you know, as it was, this is what happens. And it wasn't really until I had my firstborn. I I do have another son, a stepson, but until I had my firstborn in 2015, and my dad was literally about to die a couple of months later. Uh it really sort of took a hold of me. I was like, oh shit, I don't want this to happen to my son, because it was obviously really shit. I don't know. You know, it's uh it's sorry, can I swear? Isn't it?

Joshie:

Uh yeah, I'll just make don't worry about that. Uh but it's just a bit of admin for me.

Garry:

Yeah, um, yeah, it was really shit, and um so I think those were literally life-changing years for me. And uh as you alluded, my just after my son was born, we were doing like a night shift, day shift with my with my wife, and it was like that night after she went to bed and Jack was in bed at like maybe a couple of weeks old. I was like, I gotta change this shit because like I was doing the Siggies and the Durries and all the things, and oh Siggies and Durries, same thing. Yeah, uh what do you say, Siggy's and the Tinnies? Yep. And uh yeah, it wasn't really it wasn't really conducive for a great life for both my kids and myself and my wife. So I went out and had a moment, I can vividly remember it right now, sitting in front of the computer. I was mixing a song on the computer, and I walked out to the treadmill and I just went for a run, didn't do warm-up or anything, just put my old shitty shoes on, and went 200 metres and I was gassed. Like, legit gassed. I was like, yep, it's like I gotta I gotta change some stuff now.

Joshie:

Can I ask Gary, what was the treadmill doing in the house to begin with?

Garry:

The treadmill, I I couldn't tell you to be honest. I think my wife, um well, it was my dad's treadmill. That was another thing, which and like uh he was like uh you know, with he was living back with my mum at that stage, they had separated, but he was back with my mum and had to move all the stuff out of his house, and we 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 literally it collected dust out the at the at the back patio, yeah. Yeah, and it all started from that one 200 meter run. I think it was about 205, but uh two, sorry, two 2.1 rather. Um and yeah, I I literally got on the next day and I did 2.2 Ks, and then I went to 2.5 the next day, and then I went to three K's the next day, and then within a week I had already hit 5Ks, not running the whole thing, yeah. Yeah, but I just really saw the progression, and yeah, like um I'd look back at that that one 200 meter run, I think that was the the moment that changed everything for me.

Matty:

That's awesome.

Joshie:

But what you're saying is that it was nothing I mean, obviously you'd had uh huge stuff happening in your in your personal life around that time with your you know dad being ill, and um, I mean what is it you think that made that switch flick in that moment?

Garry:

Well, I I think it was just like I didn't want my son to go through this the same shit that was happening to me. There's this real dichotomy of like um a new child coming into the world, and then my actual dad was literally about to die. I didn't know how long it was going to be at that stage, it turned out to be about eight weeks-ish, off the top of my head. Um you know, it was just that real dichotomy of this like losing someone and gaining someone, and I was like, I just it was yeah, I just didn't want that to happen to my son. So it was a real health decision. Um and like in that moment, I like it wasn't just the run, it was like a full cleanup of gave up smoking, I gave up drinking for a year. Um was a mild drug taker back then, but back in my um early 20s, like a big drug taker and huge risk taker. And so yeah, like I was that in that moment specifically, I I really cleaned my life up.

Joshie:

Does that answer your question? Uh I can't remember what I asked. I think I think it can't have been that good. Um, you and I had a chat before today. Uh gosh, it was a while ago now. It was probably a month, maybe close to six weeks now. Um and yeah, still don't know, you still don't know what I look like because my webcam's not working. No. Um you but you described yourself as having lived, I think it was the first thing you said to me, you is you've had got had two lives, a life before running and a life since taking up running. Um can you take us back briefly to that before version of you? What did that look like?

Garry:

I mean, I look back at it now and think, you know, what a waste. But at the time, I honestly didn't, I can't say that I didn't have fun. Like I had lots and lots of fun.

Matty:

But but can I just can I just say just very quickly, Gary, I think the other thing too is is when you have that life before, it leads you to the life that you're living now. So if you didn't have that life, you wouldn't be the man you are now.

Garry:

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 you know, I'm all about the whole journey thing, like looking rather than the destination, looking at every day as the journey, and to never, you know, through that that time, that first before I'll say before running and after running. Um you know, and I I'll talk about running as like this whole encompassing thing, as like health and fitness, but for me it actually really is like the running aspect of it.

Matty:

Like I totally, I totally understand what you're saying. It's almost like uh it's not an exercise or a sport, it's it's a thing you do that it's almost therapy.

Garry:

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 legitimately for meditation. I don't use earphones, um anything like that, just focus on my breathing the whole time. And you know, sometimes, as you guys would know, sometimes you could just run 10Ks and you're like, oh shit, how did I get here? Like, I hope I didn't like cross any cars on the way here because I have no clue how I got here.

Joshie:

Meanwhile, there's probably you're featuring a whole bunch of CCTV running fails or near missing.

Garry:

Yeah, so um I can't remember your original question, but yeah, that there really was a before and after that that first run. Yeah, I just yeah, a complete lifestyle change.

Matty:

And I think the other thing too with running, um, it's and I've mentioned this before on um previous episodes, is running is not an easy thing to do, it's not an easy sport. And I think you learn a lot about yourself when you are running, um, in terms of your ability, your drive, your you know how far you can push your body, um, that it actually educates you to become I think more aware of the positive aspects of yourself, um, which is really important when you're going through that sort of before and after. Yeah, 100%.

Joshie:

Yeah, you hear stories of people that almost go through this transcendence when they run, and it's like this subconscious um, you know, uh processing of things that have happened either, you know, life traumas or even just with the workday, um, this stuff that you don't even need to necessarily be conscious of, but there's this yeah, subconscious um you know almost defragmentation that can be happening of your of your life without even realizing it. I don't know if that's been your your experience.

Garry:

Mate, and that's exactly what happens. Like before, you know, before you know it, um, and I know I talked to you about this, Josh. Before I even really thought about it, you know, I'd started running, gave up all the the bad shit in my life. I mean, I still love a good feed, take it any wrong. If I didn't run, it'd be the size of a town ounce. That's why we run, isn't it?

Joshie:

That's a hundred percent right. Allows me to eat more. Well, one thing we can do, uh Gary, because I'm curious after that first run on the on the treadmill. I mean, you said that you were gassed. What made you turn up again the next day and then the next day? I mean, if you've if you've got your body telling you that that was fucking awful for you, go, I'm actually gonna come back for some more punishment. What is it that made you go, I'm not giving up, I'm gonna keep going?

Garry:

Well, I think the fact of like I did it and I didn't die, so now I can challenge myself to do it again and do it better. So it's you know, it's that simple, we love those little wins in life, right? And you know that every time going back to what you said before, Matt, it's you know, like you know when you say to someone like, Oh, I love I like running, and I go, Oh, I don't like running. Just be like, no one effing likes running. No, it's not like and then that's that's why you end up loving it. Yeah, because it's the suck and the hurt that you know you can conquer, and then it turns into back around to this thing that you start to love. Which I I don't know anyone who loved 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 just know when you have that discussion with that person, you're like, Oh, if only you just got through that initial period, yeah, and you worked to it. And look, I'll be straight up with you, Matt. You probably won't remember it. But um please don't know that Matt and I used to work together many moons ago. Okay. Um Matt was out there smoking darts. Yeah. Having a dart out outside. Yeah. And uh we used to talk about running a little bit, and I could tell that you were like you were interested in it. I'd never done it. And you no, you'd never done it. And you were one of those people that said to me, I nah, I don't really like running. I mean, I've been for runs, but I don't really like you know, and I tried to convince you a couple of times, I'm like, just give it a go, mate. You know, but it turns out many moons later you did. Yeah. Actually, just after we we didn't work together. I remember seeing on Facebook and I was like, yes, he did it.

Joshie:

It's it's little wonder when we jumped on this call that you guys didn't recognize each other. Like, it sounds like you've both made some through some huge changes uh in that sort of 10-year period, which is oh yeah, fantastic. Um Gary, one thing I'm keen to explore with you is um you know, you've you haven't actually spoken much about the physical benefit, like the physical side of running, you've spoken a lot about you know how it makes you um you know show up as a better version of yourself and the you know mental health um benefits. Uh so what can you tell us about how those early runs started to shift your confidence and your mindset, you know, and how you see yourself?

Garry:

Hmm. Alright, so I guess obviously the the big one was the weight. Um regarding the physicality of it. Um one thing I neglected to say at the start, yeah. I was probably about, I think at my heaviest, about 119 kilos. We'll call it 120. And like now I'm about 87, 88. Oh, it's probably 89 this morning, sorry. Had a big feed yesterday. Um still carrying like a little bit of weight. I'm quite a small bloke, so that's still quite heavy for but as I said, I love the food. Um, but it it's you know, walking around at 120. I did, you know, I thought I was happy. I probably did, um, but I I didn't really, you know, when I saw the physical changes and just you know, the I just remember remember going overseas um with Brando, my youngest. And we'll we was we're at um in San Francisco Bay run walking around the park, and all I could think about was like, I mean, I just want to go back to the car and just like and there's all this beautiful scenery to explore. Okay. And all I wanted to do was go back to the car, and uh, you know, I I I ended up when I got on the um treadmill that day, it might have been that day or the next, I'm not sure. But I remember thinking back to that moment, and that moment always plays back in my head, like um, and I actually did. I was like, I'm gonna sit in the car, and Gemma and Brando just walked up and I went and had a smoke, and then sat back in the car, and I was like, you know, I look back at moments like that, and now I'm racing to get out, you know, because I can physically do it, number one. And I'm 15 years older now. So yeah, as far as the physicality goes, it's it's made life so much easier, you know. Yeah, and my dad was much like me as well. He was um my earlier my earlier self. He's a smoker, drinker, didn't do any exercise.

Joshie:

So, Gary, did your dad get to see the start? It sounds like he did, he got to see the start of your I guess transformation.

Garry:

I would say like right at the infancy, but he probably wasn't coherent enough to make sense of it. I don't I don't know either way. I wasn't really doing it for him. 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:

Yeah, yeah. Um when you and I spoke uh uh a month ago or so, you mentioned how running has helped you feel like a better person, a better version of yourself. Um so in what way would you say that running has helped you change your perception of yourself as a uh as a dad, as a I guess a partner, and even just yourself?

Garry:

I think um I think the biggest change is probably the growth mindset. Okay. Like it really unlocked like all of my growth mindset. Um I was completely happy and content, really just living my life. I call it now um uh uh like just 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 running really challenged myself, like those those mini challenges that you get, whether it's like um, you know, doing that interval 30 seconds faster, or whether it's even doing a slow run at you know 630, whatever slow is for you, seven minutes, yeah. Um, doing a 10k at seven minute pace, achieving that as the slow run or as a threshold or the um speed work, having those little wins, like it really unlocks that growth mindset. Um I think you know I really noticed that my life started to change as soon as I did start running and unlocked that growth mindset. Like within four months or so, I quit my I not didn't quit my job, but I started working with um with Matt. Yeah. Um and and I I feel like that growth mindset has propelled me in each position in my um in my work life, uh also in my home life. I reckon I'm a heaps better dad and a heaps better father, yeah, sorry, husband, um, a heaps better workmate, a heaps better friend. Yeah, like in in every single aspect of my life. Um I know it's it's oh like I'm so passionate about running. Yeah, yeah. You know, it's hard for to really gauge that a simple run can do that for someone, but every time I look back at like what changed it, like if I went out and lifted weights, I I don't know if that would have happened. Or if I went doing something, I'm not sure anything would have happened, but I I know for a fact that it was the simple act of running, it's like a you know, yeah, that simple act of running is what changed everything. It just it it just unlocked the growth mindset, I'm sure of it.

Matty:

And the beauty of it, I think, as well is that when you start running, because I'm a bit the same, Gary, um, and when you start running, that's not why you start. That's what happens. Um and it's yeah, it's quite unique in that way, I I think.

Joshie:

You know, the growth growth mindset is something that gets spoken about a lot with with running, and I think it manifests in a in uh a positive way, I should add, with uh I guess with events and following a plan. Like it's um yeah, so it might be good good time to turn our attention to uh I guess and goals, Gary, because yeah, that growth mindset, I'm sure, has found its way into uh goal setting for you. Um what what can you tell us about some of your running experiences and the goals that you've set for yourself?

Garry:

Um you actually might be surprised. I have I haven't done many events. All my goals have been running related, do you mean? Yeah. Um I mean I've done the odd half marathon, I've never completed a full marathon. Um although I did sign up, I was just talking to Matt before the call. Did you get your ticket, Josh?

Joshie:

I'm I don't know if I've mentioned this on any other episode. Completely and utterly burnt myself out with running um the last sort of 18 months or so. I've got a I've got a ticket to do the 10k at Goldie, so that's what I'll be what I'll be doing.

Matty:

Yeah, yeah.

Joshie:

It seems like you've got something a bit more exciting uh on the horizon.

Garry:

No, yeah, well I um yeah, and until I was gonna say until this year, I actually wasn't much an event person, and I don't I've been trying to rattle my head as to why. I actually just really just never felt the I did my oh yeah, I've never felt the need. I did my first um half marathon in 2015. That was the year I started.

Joshie:

Um can you tell us what event was that at an event? Was that just in your own?

Garry:

No, no, no, that was the GC half. Yep, okay. Um and I think honestly, until this year, I'm just trying to think back, there might have been one or two little things on the way. I think until uh this year, 2025, it was ten years on, and I was like, I think I'm gonna do the half marathon again.

Joshie:

Um you you ran the half in the same year that you hang on, so you started running in what the April or something, and then four months later you're tackling a half marathon.

Garry:

No, I started running in fair uh uh March. Yeah, and then did the half in whenever it was, start of July, I think. Wow, it's quite incredible from a cast. Yeah, and I was still you know, I was 120 kilos when I started running. I was probably maybe 105 by then. It was it was a it was a tough slog. Yeah, yeah. Um, and I don't it wasn't very fast either, it was like two maybe 220 or something.

Joshie:

Yeah, that's tough, honestly. Yeah, I wouldn't be downplaying what you're able to achieve in these gosh four months. I mean, yeah, just sort of thinking a bit more about what was happening in your personal life. I mean, your father would have passed away in that time as well, and um yeah, that was that was just after.

Garry:

Yeah, wow. So it was it was actually very emotional. I remember finishing that and like I started weeping, and I was just I was thinking about my dad, and I was like, alright, this is my new life. This is my you know, had my kids and my wife there, and then I never did another, I did never did another event, but um I just I soon realized that you know I didn't want to have to have the pressure of training for an event, don't think. So I'd always do little, you know, I'd do a half marathon at home or a 10k time trial at just around my house. I never really I didn't want to do it um for the for the medal or the certificate or the bib. I just really wanted to do running for myself.

Matty:

That's pretty cool.

Garry:

Um yeah, so until it literally was until this year, the G C half this year, it had been ten years, and I think I'm almost certain that they were my

Joshie:

the two events uh but recently i've I've changed that as of the last few months for whatever reason I've gotten into trail running so I was it is good it is good fun it is good fun oh it's fantastic I was just doing a I was doing a maybe a 15k run uh down near my house and then I saw a fire break and I went up this fire break and it was all dirt I was like and previously I was like I saw dirt or grass I was like nah yeah not in my wheelhouse mate not doing it not risking rolling an ankle and I did it and it changed it for me so yeah so that's that's has been another journey now as to hitting the trails and hiking and doing all that so I did I I did sign up for the um GC marathon next year um as a lead up to the scenic rim ultra which is 104 eight wow wow okay Gary that's awesome well I haven't done it yet don't say it's awesome awesome if you've got the entry you're doing it you're doing it yeah geez yeah I guess you had to have something to like bring to the podcast with you know what to look forward to the next 12 months to two years and um yeah you've you've gone above and beyond what I yeah what I thought that's yeah good good luck with your training because I know that that's you know for for people that have gone through marathons and beyond it's the the training that's perhaps the hardest part just finding the time um managing around work and family commitments um you know the the the ten years that you're in between your first and or nearly ten years between your first and your second event um there's a bit of a gap there I know that you you've told me that you you set a goal of I think one and a half thousand fifteen hundred kilometres a year I think you set is your sort of loose target to run. What this year? Yeah I wasn't sure if that was an air every year.

Garry:

Yeah no no it I didn't do it every year. I did um um a thousand the Lord of the uh a few of the years not every year um but I never as you know going back to the Strava thing I've I've never hundred percent tracked my runs but in the last year and or two years I've I've literally tracked every run just to try and hit those targets. This is my first year that I've only done fifty I've done fifteen hundred that's good.

Joshie:

Does the number like 1500 represent anything to you or just an arbitrary it was just the next one after a thousand you know what next year's gonna be simplicity and the complexity there's a yeah a bit of a pattern emerging unless it's a Fibonacci sequence then you've probably tripped me up so that's a that's a huge undertaking that you've put on the um on the horizon for next year I guess um from what you've you told me when we spoke not long ago uh um you you're having to sort of navigate a very complex nerve issue I think in your foot. Um what can you tell us about that?

Garry:

Uh yeah so literally a few months after I started running I've had an issue with nerve entrapment in my right foot my forefoot so my forefoot gets inflamed and it just starts to trap the nerve and it it can happen depending on how my training's going or how much many miles I've done um anywhere between five to wherever K is and it basically sends my foot numb um like the all my my toes start to tingle and that happens and okay actually you actually can't run on it because my foot won't work. So it's I've I've been to many many many professionals to try and help fix it. It's actually but this year um this year I I've tried some new strategies which helped uh I tried a strategy of running every day and then I had like a streak of 160 something days straight doing I I think I averaged about six or seven K's a day. That was working really really well until it didn't when one day I got like a bursitis um and then I couldn't run for two weeks so that's a pretty easy decision to not start doing that again. So I'm trying to my my my latest thing and I'm you know I've never really solved the issue but it's working really good right now is I've I've slowed down my running like a lot uh so I don't think I've done many you know many sessions over more than six minute Ks for the last few months. Yeah has that made a difference it's it's actually made a big difference because I read some research that like uh a 30 second increase in your this was in miles um miles per uh sorry uh miles per minute minutes minutes per miles per minutes per miles per minute yeah yeah um 30 second difference in miles per minute can give double the down force on the foot okay because you're running like you're you're running faster you're hitting the ground harder yeah um and I just and uh like a physio I went to a few years ago he's like you've got to slow down you've got to put less pressure on the feet and I did not want to hear that you know no runner wants to hear you've got to slow right down. No but it turns out he may have been right I'm not 100% sure just yet but I'm a few months in uh so I like I've signed up to these bigger races that I've never really been able to do because of my nerve issue in my foot um in the hope of just keeping a positive mindset that I can be able to train enough to do it and complete it. I'm also open to the fact that it might not happen and I'm completely fine with that.

Joshie:

Yeah yeah that's good so yeah you'll get there mate yeah I'm very hopeful yeah yeah what are you up to in terms of um uh I guess long runs that you're running pain free or before the nerve issue sets in that you're sort of making it past ten 10k at the moment yeah um well I did uh I did a 27k on the weekend but it was a lot of like uphill hiking but it was very it was a like a four and a half hour 27k because there was uh a thousand meters of elevation in it and um it it was completely fine I've also found that the the trails seem to work better because um it's working the foot left and right and up and down and it's not just boom boom boom boom boom boom it's not that repetitive over and over for two hours. Yeah right on the same same bit of the foot. Yeah my physio was telling me that when nursing I guess it doesn't really matter what the injury is I'm carrying this uh Achilles complaint at the moment but he recommends wearing different shoes even if you're just a roadrunner like me um just every time you run because they just he he reckons that they just it works very subtly different muscle groups and it can really help to sort of take take the load off like you say that one that one spot um yeah I'm a big advocate for that too. Yeah many shoes to be if it means buying more shoes I'm I'm an advocate for yeah that's right tools are the trade I need them Josh said to rotate you very subtly dropped into the call early on I can't remember if we were recording or not at the time um that you're a you're a musician um does running feed into the creative side of you with your musical pursuits or are they completely separate outlets um I think for me oh look I I was a musician a long time ago 20 plus years ago but um I think it sort of holds like I was very similar to the running thing I didn't really run for the the accolades and signing up to events so that people say hey good job um I write music and play music just for me now I still record the occasional song um as to if it as a I don't know if it feeds into the creativity I probably couldn't answer that um I never really thought about it but I know that it it definitely clears my head when I come back and I I might play the guitar and come up with a tune. But I have a busy uh sorry a very busy life at the moment so my music uh um taking a little bit of a back seat I still play the guitar a lot but yeah I I guess uh some people have yeah revelations when they run and I wasn't sure whether or not any of them are sort of musical revelations where you go oh that's it you know whether it's a a chord progression of lick or a riff or something you go that's it um I actually have them in my sleep.

Garry:

Oh wow yeah so I'll wake up a lot of the time and I'll just see something and I'll just I'll see it like how I've played it. Um yeah I don't know why I've always always happened I'll get up first thing and or if I'm if it's too late I'll just write it down what it was and I'll get and play it in the morning. I was like yeah that's cool. Sometimes because that sounds ridiculous it did not sound like that in my dream in your dream it was a number one hit.

Joshie:

Jeez I know retirement I have visions of have you guys seen that movie yesterday it's oh it's a banger isn't it like having those sort of musical fantasies where you're like oh imagine just being able to yeah compose something like that. Yeah now you've um made no secret of this sort of love hate relationship that you have with Strava and how you're not you're not really into the accolades or doing it for the Kudos as they say um what's the sort of the story there? I mean for a lot of runners there's this evolution that they go from running for themselves to running as you know part of a community and the the um the feedback that they get whether it's comments or KDOS I guess adds fuel to their positive fuel to their journeys but it can also I guess serve as a bit of a um to one's detriment potentially as well. That's right.

Garry:

Yeah it's totally individual I think I honestly I don't begrudge anyone who does Strava their way like and I legitimately mean that because you know I totally understand that when people get a keto so they're like yes you know like that might just be all they need to keep going and I'm all for it. Um I know that you know like a social media it's it's literally a social media platform like there's no two ways about it. Yeah um and I I I'm just a little bit I'm not gonna say anti-social media but I just don't sort of engage in that side of it. I sometimes feel bad that you know when people give me a kudos um that I don't I try my hardest to get on but I I really don't want to um have to get on to give people kudoses do you know what I mean? Like that whole like for like thing. Now now I know my Gary I don't get no Jesus I'm actually thinking about it because I know Matt you give me kudos all the time and uh and I but I do it because I feel I have to like every as you said everyone's different.

Matty:

I not so much I like to give my friends kudos but then you feel that if people give you kudos you have to give them do you know what I mean like I guess it depends um whether or not you're setting those expectations of yourself or of other people.

Joshie:

And it's to me Strava's part of your your journey it's no different to what your preference with shoes is or gels it's you know the the extent to which you adopt Strava into your life it's uniquely individual and yeah I think good on you for having like it sounds like you have a healthy relationship with Strava which Yeah I really do.

Garry:

Now it just like I don't have notifications on it so some people write me comments and I'll literally never see it and that sucks but I just I um it works for you. Yeah it works for me um there there was a long time where I actually didn't maybe a year or like a lot of periods over the time where I haven't even used Strava but I've still used the Garmin I've always used Garmin. So you get all the same data from Garmin Connect and I just follow myself and do my do my own thing get all the same data. I wanted to track the I feel like it's got a little bit better data than just the Garmin stuff. Or the the paid version anyway. So yeah I'm I'm back on it and um I do love the the you know the program itself or the interface itself but it's yeah I just I've been there has been times where I'm like oh what I even I don't need this shit. And there's been times where I'm like yeah this this is awesome. But um it's totally an individualized thing and I don't regret the way that anybody treats Strava.

Joshie:

I think what you've done is great. You still so you have Strava you've turned off notifications but it what that does is it introduces friction. So you you might be looking at your phone for another purpose but there's not this thing that's sort of trying to draw your attention to the top of the screen to go click on what what's what's someone you know telling me or giving me feedback on um yeah yeah so it's providing a bit of space which I think's awesome. Refresh my memory what's the ultra that you've signed up to Scenic Rim Ultra. Yeah so that what that's here in Queensland then yeah it's yeah Bow Desert is it?

Garry:

Yeah out at um yeah just past Bow Desert. Yeah so it's one that I can sleep at my own house and because I'm not that far I'm only half an hour from there. Okay.

Matty:

It's very hard though by the looks of it's like a gazillion metres of elevation and it's 105 kilometers like even with no elevation Jesus but it sounds as though and correct me if I'm wrong because I don't want to put words in your mouth Gary but you've signed up to this event without necessarily knowing that you're ready now.

Joshie:

You're putting the intentions out there and going this is the goal and I'll work out the rest later later. Yeah yep you're uh you're bang on Josh that's very different to uh a lot of other people myself included like I when I've signed up to events it's I've had belief that I I like I'm almost ready that I can be ready pretty quickly not you know a massive undertaking like that I think it's awesome yeah hats off to you yeah what an achievement though mate like it wouldn't matter if it took you 10 20 hours like you know as long as you finish it that's that's awesome if I do it in ten hours mate I'll be I'll be heading over to bloody Moab and doing UTMB I don't think I don't think the winners are gonna do it in ten hours.

Garry:

That's my understanding of that mate I've got no idea who knows you might yeah um any final thoughts Gary before we finish up um we've had a ball speaking with you no but just if you're if you're not a runner I don't know if there's many non-runners that listen just they're probably just give it a bloody go because the the the words I don't really like running like the it's just they they have this mindset of like they love running and I don't so it's not gonna be for me. It's not for anyone and that's why it's for everyone that's beautiful if you have the ability you should do it.

Joshie:

Yeah I honestly believe it. Totally agree with that look um Gary thanks so much for joining us on Unbelievable your life transformation has been truly inspiring. Thanks for taking the time to chat with us today it's really been a joy speaking with you.

Matty:

Yeah thanks Gary and you guys no problems yeah it was absolutely awesome and thanks heaps you're doing a banger of a job wow that was sensational Maddie how cool is Gary yeah Gary's a great guy um I think uh running through what he he did today in terms of that life changing um decision to start running um I think there's a lot of people out there that um can relate to that exactly and it all started with a 200 meter jog on a treadmill how did you think how do you think you'd go on a treaddy I've never run on one um after Sunday in the humidity I've been looking up gyms to find out um how much they are so but I don't know I don't know if I could do it because part of my um enjoyment of running is outdoors fresh air nature like that that's what I love so yeah you know it'd be cheaper to get a treadmill than to a gym membership I think you know I nearly had a treadmill I don't know if I've told you this story we um managed to get it it was off marketplace to the back of the car and it wouldn't fit so I had to leave it and that was the closest I I got to be a thread there look if you've got a unbelievable story of your own we'd truly love to hear it and if you'd like to be a guest on the show then please hit us up and finally this podcast relies on your continued support so if you can please take the time to follow Ray and edit podcast with your running mate we'd really appreciate it and we'll see you to the next unbelievable and we'll see you to the next unpolished thanks mate that was cool