What It's All About

In a nutshell, this blog is the unfolding story that I hope can inspire, or at the very least stimulate thought in people.

It started with some very simple ideas:

the idea that anyone can do whatever they set their mind on doing,
that I could prove this idea in a very practical and visible way,
that doing things the obvious/hard way is not the only way

This blog tells the story of a middle-aged, overweight, unfit computer geek seeking to turn it all around and ultimately complete a Marathon.

reasons this shouldn’t happen

I’ve been really efficient and effective at picking up handy excuses to not do things over the years – a few key reasons why I really shouldn’t be doing this are:

I hate running
I’ve never been particularly fit
I’m not built like a long distance runner; 6 foot 6 and currently a cross between a sumo wrestler and a rugby union 2nd row forward.
I have no stamina for the long-haul – I get bored with things easily
I REALLY hate running

personal reasons this should happen

At the top of the list of personal motivations is the fact that “getting fit” has been a long-term aim of mine. I just never get around to doing it. I’ve joined gyms, made some progress, and then wound up paying for gym membership for months and months before finally getting enough motivation to cancel the membership.

I have an awesome wife, lovely 16 year old daughter in the UK and a wonderful “mini me” almost-3-year-old son here in Australia. I want to be fit enough, “young” enough to run around with a football with my boy in 10 years from now. I want to be a positive role model to my kids, letting them see that they don’t have to “conform”, they can do and be whatever they set their hearts on.

the bigger picture

Aside from individual, personal reasons, there is a bigger picture here; Britt’s goal of empowering homeless and disadvantaged teens, my own desire to “make a difference” instead of plodding along, a shared vision of a “retreat” in the Swan Valley promoting and enabling wellness in mind, body and spirit…

The bigger picture really can be summed up as a desire to lead lives that make a difference, instead of being mere existences that had no real impact on the world.