The Overly Excited Podcast

This episode is brought to you by Swash Clothing and Sugar Life.

Welcome to the overly excited podcast hosted by Jack Watts and Dale

Sidebottom. 2 friends with a passion for life, learning and all

things that get them jumping out of their seats.

Welcome back to the podcast episode number 41 with my great

mate and good host, the one and only Jack Watts. How are you, buddy? 41?

Yep. 41, mate. Now I have a stat for you. Now, we've got Tom

Ross in here. Now before I introduce Tom, I'm gonna be a little bit

vulnerable here, Tom, and I'll be completely honest. So, we're

both uncles, and our sisters have

had kids, and they've been in Nikku. And for those people who don't know about

Nikku, it's obviously, when you have a kid, I'm very fortunate. I

got a couple that it's not the place you want your kids to go,

because something's not right or they've come very

early. You we're gonna talk about the amazing work you've done and

everything like that. I've personally wanted to have you on

here for a while, just because the amazing run and

everything you've brought awareness to Nico when you raised over a $120,000.

But, my wife asked me, like, a while back. Why haven't you

got Tom on yet? And I said, I I actually

I I I don't even know how to describe it, but I feel really uncomfortable

about the whole situation. Obviously, your sister Zoe had,

Sylvie at I I did write this down. 23 weeks.

20 8 grams. My sister,

Han, and and Tim had Finn at 28 weeks. I think it was about 700

grams. They spent over a 100 days in Nikku

where I just can't even describe what that was

like for my family and what I went through. And then I know you're

exactly the same. And, obviously, I I wanted to bring you on and celebrate

everything you've done. But, personally, I just I found it really

hard, and I still sort of do in a way to express it and talk

about it. But then to see what you did running 50 marathons in

50 days, and as I said, raising over a $120,000 and bringing

such awareness to it, I yeah. I I just wanted to

get that and just be honest upfront that I think this is a really

important conversation to have and one that I found really

uncomfortable. We normally jack start by saying what gets you excited,

but, Tom, I was on the welcome to the podcast. And first of all, say,

man, a huge congratulations for what you did and have done, and I know you've

got things in the pipeline. But your selflessness

and putting so many other people

before you to and I could imagine the pain and, you know, the

dedication you went through. Mate, congratulations.

And from my family, I I just wanna say

thank you because I know you've met Han, Tim, and Finn, and,

I watched a lot of your runs. I didn't obviously get involved. I can't run.

I can't do anything. But, Yeah. I I just wanted to say, mate,

congratulations. Stoked to have you on here today. I know we're really excited to talk

to you. And yeah. Well done, buddy. No. Thank you.

Thanks boys for having me on as well. Like, it's, Yeah. I sort of

have known both of you in the, in the background and we've got a good

mutual friend as well. And, I think I dedicated

marathon number 1 or even met numb number 2 to your family. So Yeah.

Meeting them in person was like I remember meeting Finn and,

I nearly cried before I started my 2nd run because I just we just had

a moment. And that's really resonated with me with,

like, why I was doing what I was doing. Like, you know, I was lucky

enough that Sylvie and and Zoe were home months before I started these

runs, and then it's the other people you meet along the way.

So meeting Hannah and Tim and and little Finn, and it

just really instilled me that that far in my belly to to get up every

day and run the marathon and, you know, bring this community together

because it is so, as you know, you know and we only know

snippets. So we don't we don't know what it's like as as the parents.

So, you know, I only got to visit twice. I

don't know about you, but it was just such a fragile environment.

So, to see what my sister and and,

brother-in-law went through and and to see your little niece or nephew just

breathing in a chamber, like, you you can't do anything. So for me,

I I had that light bulb moment straight away. I knew I could do something.

And Yeah. So when like, when did that sorry, Jack. You you you probably knew

what you're gonna do. I thought it was going on here. When did you,

like, get that light bulb moment? Because they all have thoughts. So Yeah. But to

actually do something and do something on the extreme that you did to bring not

only awareness and funds, but I suppose shine a

light on families that are going through something that nobody else got any idea.

And they probably never will have any idea until they're in that situation. Yeah.

When did that occur? Like Pretty much the first visit I I went there.

Yep. So, driving into the into the city

from from out our way. I was I was so nervous. I was so scared.

I didn't know what to do, but I knew I had to be like a

brave face for my sister, who'd already spent a long time in

there. Like, I think they were four and a half months in total. So anyone

that whether it's a day or a week or months or whatever, like, you you

understand the experience. And I just remember being in the room and,

you know, when you probably visit as well, like I'd be honest. I I didn't

actually visit. Okay. Yeah. I I didn't

I understand that. Yeah. I couldn't I just could Yeah. Don't know. It's probably

like this podcast. So I feel I felt really nervous and uncomfortable about this.

It's it's a weird thing. I can't describe it. You know, I'll get up and

do a lot of different things. Not a problem. I've really struggled with this. Yeah.

It's a it's a really beautiful place, but not a place you ever

really wanna be in. Yeah. Because it's it's intensive care, but

it's it's not an elderly person. It's a baby. So it's really

hard to see a little human that you've dreamt about for so long,

many months, many years. It took 10 years for my sister to

have Sylvie. To see her like that

was just crushed me. So and then you're in a room with 3

other couples. So you're in a corner like this

with your, niece or nephew, consoling them, and then you

turn around and you've got baby there with their family, baby there, baby there. So

So you become really close with these people. But I just remember looking outside, and

I just went I went for, like, a little break and got a coffee and

stuff. And I'm like, people just walking on their phones. There's people

smoking darts. There's people doing this, and then I had to go back in there,

and I'm like, people got no idea what's happening in this place. Like,

there's these nurses and doctors working 24 hours a day to

keep our family members alive, with the hope that they

one day go home. You don't know if they're gonna go home. So

the unknown for me was quite unsettling, and probably that's the reason why you

didn't go in there because you you just don't wanna see your family in that

situation. And, yeah, like running has helped my

life so much. So I was already running lots and it's like my

medication for me, my meditation as well. And I thought,

alright. Well, I've always wanted to somewhat do something for a

good reason, with the running space. And

fortunately, unfortunately, it came at the right time because it it was something that I'm

so passionate about is my family. So I literally was just

brainstorming ideas in my head and then talking to the nurses. I'm like, alright. How

many how many kids come through here every single year? They're like 1500. I

was like, oh my god. Like, 1500. These are the ones.

And where you're situated in the unit, we're at the very start, which is

where probably Finn was as well. And the the further you get along the

corridor is that's the way out. Like, that's where you're you're making

milestones. Yeah. But we're at the very start.

So you knew you had a long long way to go. And I thought, jeez,

my sister's had cancer. She's had IVF for 5 years. She's

now got to have a baby at her water's broke at 20 weeks. I was

like, how can I make this positive? Like, how can I put a positive

spin on this and put a positive chapter to the end of this book?

I said, don't gonna there's a second time I went in. I said, I'm gonna

run 50 she don't even know what a marathon is. I was like, I'm gonna

run 50 marathon for you. I've heard of people do it. I reckon I can

do it. But the main thing is I wanna share

people's stories. I don't the running, I don't care about. I could run

every single day for years on years, but who cares about

that? Like, people wanna hear the Finn story. They wanna hear

Leo's story. They wanna hear Sylvie's story. They wanna hear what these parents

have gone through, and then they provide hope for other families coming through.

So, yeah, we locked it in pretty quick and put it out there, and

then I had no other way but just get going. So,

yeah. So how how, like, over the 50

days, like how emotional did it get for you? Cause I can only

imagine like when you're that fatigued and then there's something that's

so close to your heart with your family and I can just hear, but the

way you're talking about your system, how much you love your family,

I I'd imagine it would have been so draining and, but

also I guess you've got this incredible reason to keep running.

Yeah. I, I, I really wanted to, like, I've

seen people do this sort of stuff, and I really wanted to do the polar

opposite of what other people were doing, like and the polar opposite to the experience

that families were having at the NICU. When you're at the NICU, you've got a

team of so many that are helping this little baby, and that they almost like

counselors for the parents. I wanted to run every marathon and every

single drink I got myself, every single gel I got myself, Every

single meal I made for myself, I I did this all by myself. So I

wanted it to be all, independently done by myself. I really wanted to

put myself through the most torture and pain I possibly drew. It sounds

quite sickening, but, No. But it like, it I think people can sort of

understand it a bit more. Like, anyone can sort of go out and run and

stop and rest and fuel and get back up and go again. But,

when you're hearing about these stories, what's yours, you're saying, like,

many nights I cried before I had to get up the next day and go

again. And, you know, many of these stories

probably die us. So I shared a a story every single day, so over the

50 days and dedicated marathon. And then it gets got so big that I

probably shared, like, 80 stories over that time.

And I would say probably half a dozen of those were, babies didn't

make it home. Mhmm. And it really puts things into

perspective. It's like, man, I'm just getting up and running here with this. Like, it's

something I love doing. I might be sore and stiff and sick and have a

few setbacks, but at least I get to go home, and at least I get

to get home to my family. These parents

that shared for the first time sometimes on my

platform. So hats off to them to be able to go.

We really appreciate the hospital and what they've done for us, but we're unfortunate

ones that didn't get to take our baby home, but it's putting a story out

there. It's bringing people together. They see the bigger purpose around it.

And it's not just me about the running. So yeah. And then when I started,

like, dedicating a marathon, like, the injuries started popping up and the sickness

and the the days where I just wouldn't wanna get out of bed, but I'd

always ride on my arms. I had my full mirror was all the names that

I'd was keeping a tally of, all the kids' names, and

messages on my arms and things that I wanna look down, I'd be like, okay.

Like, mate, you've only got a couple more hours in your day. You can do

whatever you want. Whereas, you know, these kids have gone through so much.

These and it's not just when you're at the NICU and the months as you

know, like, it's it's years years. It's gonna be a lifetime. Yeah. It doesn't

it doesn't end. And I suppose, do you look at what you've

done? And, obviously, raising all that money and everything, but from

what I look at, conversations you've started or

allowing people to not just grieve, but share and help

others. Yeah. Like that platform that you created,

that's obviously gotta be the the most proud

like, that's something that people you just can't create until

you you do create it. Mhmm. Did you realize, like, obviously, you set

out to do this and help everyone. Did you realize it was gonna

probably come back that way, like, from sharing the stories

and the impact that would have? In like some some

ways, like, I knew I would run a marathon every day. I

I knew that. I had a chat with a couple of

close friends of mine in the lead up and just brainstorming some

spitballing some ideas, and it's actually them and us, start coming up

with well, hey. Like, I actually I actually met a dad, at a

cafe that was doing some support for me in Chelsea and, at

tomboys canteen there. And he's like, oh, are you the

guy that's running 50 miles? I was like, yeah, mate. He's like and he had

his 2 boys with him that went through the NICU as identical twins.

And that conversation just went, why aren't I sharing these

stories? Like, that was off they got tingles hearing

that story, and just met him for, like, 2 minutes.

And then that's where we came up with the idea. Right? Every day, we're

gonna recognize a family, and we're gonna share their story. So, yeah,

that's that's the most pride and joy I get out of what I was doing.

I don't I don't care how far around. I don't care about any of that.

It's more about the community that's come together and now seeing the

after effect of that with the hospital as well and and meeting the

staff and them reaching out to me and saying, Tom, you don't understand how much

this has helped us. And, and also for

them to see where their families are at now, because they would have seen

Finn at his worst. They would have seen Sylvie at her worst.

They would have seen them when they'd left, but they haven't seen him a year

down the track when Tom's running marathons and promoting what they look like now

Yeah. And sharing stories of family saying, he's Finn now. And they

see that, and they met many of these babies on the last day, and they're

like, oh my god. You've grown so much. And look how far you've come and

all your compliments. So that that for me was, like, really

rewarding. Mhmm. Yeah. I mean, it's tearing me over that. I've got I've been

I watched it. And I was Yeah. Sitting back and watching it. And Yeah.

It was very emotional just being a bystander.

I could be hard to it'd be hard not to cry, mate. Yeah. Yeah. I

don't know anyone that I think most people were crying around just for what it

was. Yeah. I think that, you know, having it as

like babies with their entire lives ahead of them and

so much opportunity, like, I can't deal with, you know,

my dog getting sick, let alone like a little baby with a whole life ahead

of him. You know, like, I, I don't know how nurses and doctors, like, I

don't know how people and angels, mate. And then it's this other, you know, it's

this whole nother dynamic where it's a little baby. They haven't had any chance

or at life before, you know, this happens. And

yeah. Yeah, it's, I guess when you, when you

bring those stories to light, it brings such a personal touch to it. So

people who are following you become invested, don't you? And you become,

you know, even if you're not connected personally, when you see and read these

stories, it adds that sort of connection and gets that snowball effect

going where, all right. You know, this is a cause that everyone like

in their right mind wants to help. Yeah. But,

yes, it's, given given people the platform to do that. That's what you've sort

of done, really, isn't it? And it's whether, like, you've been through prematurity or not.

Most people have been through, or know of someone that's been through a

pregnancy, or has a child or a baby. So you can just

put yourself in that situation and go, I would never wanna be there. Thank

you to the nurses and doctors that have been

tried to save their life. This is something that I wanna be part of

because we never know. Like, you hear about your

your siblings or your or your or yourself getting pregnant, and then you

just think it's all gonna be okay. But Yeah. Like, a lot of these things

just come out of the blue. So it could be someone that you know or

yourself in that situation one day. So it's kinda thinking bigger, you

know, picture, like, how can I help this situation?

Whether it is coming for a run with me, whether it is doing something within

your business, whether it is just sharing a post or whether it is just

donating. Like, there's always ways that people can help, and it goes a long

way. Do you do you have a partner? Yeah. I'm seeing

someone. Okay. Yeah. I was just gonna ask, you know, in terms of

In terms of, like, the, the preparation and, like, I

know if my part if I was doing this, my part of, you know, you're

a maniac. Like, what do you, you know, people things that anyway. Yeah. That's true.

There's no doubt about that. But, you know, I'm I'm guessing,

like, you sort of said you pulled it together pretty quickly, but I'm sure they

would it would've taken a lot of prep and Yeah. You know, organization

and Yeah. Planning. And was it pretty solid or

Yeah. I think things like this, you think are it

just happens for some people, but it's years of training. Like, I've

been running obsessively for the last 4 years. Like, it's, as

I said, like, sort of like my medication and meditation through my

mental health and physical health as well. But there's so many elements of running

helps you with, socially and, and all those sort of things too. But,

yeah, I sort of got my body in a position where I knew I could

do it. Obviously with some training, but there's, there's only so much training you can

do. Like you don't wanna over train and like you sort of

get stronger as you go. That's the hope if you've done x, y, and z

beforehand. So all the strength training or the running training,

you know, I sort of wanted to do as much as I possibly could on

my own just to figure it out and do it the harder way,

like opposite to the NICU, where there's so many hands on deck. But

I think once you get a few people that back you in and go, yep.

He's really passionate about what he's doing. Don't know if

he's gonna be able to run it. Who knows? But, yeah, I'm I'm not someone

who's just gonna do something and not finish it. Like, I already knew what I

wanna do secondly before I started this. So it's kinda like

you've gotta back yourself in. If you're not gonna back yourself in, then who's gonna.

So, yeah. And so as you, as you just mentioned, you

already knew what you wanted to do next before you'd finished this one. Can you

give us a little insight into the? Yeah. So, I'm gonna

be running from Melbourne to Adelaide and return. So

obviously the last challenge was hard, getting up to run a

marathon every day and, but I was quite lucky that was

quite local, and I could do that at around the same route, which some people

would be like, that's mad at yourself. Believe you. That's I I want

to talk about this. So I'm excited about your next trip. Yeah. Do you do

4 laps of the same thing every day? It was like 200

bridge climbs or something in the Rio Paddo River. Oh. Would

it just be like, that's mindfulness 101. You would just be It's one of the

most beautiful running trainers. It is. It is. And I I

I took the listeners here. I'm guilty. The amount of

times I was running around and Tommy boy just kept doing laps around me.

And I was just I was literally too scared to go and run with you

because I wouldn't be able to keep up, but, I didn't wanna drag you back,

but it was, it was about incredibly,

inspirational seeing you every single like, I'd go for 1 or 2 runs

a week. And every time you're just there doing laps and,

you know, the the dedication I think is is incredible. And as as you

said, the same running track over and over and over for 50 days.

Yeah. Did you ever get a little bit pissed off of that bridge or at

that Oh, look. There was moments, but that again, like,

they didn't have they didn't have the, road works. No. There's no road works

or or stuff like that. Because that killed that killed me for a month. It

is a beautiful, beautiful brand new outfit. It is. It's a great idea. A

few times and, you sort of start me and that's probably the

other big rewarding thing for me. It's not just the the NICU community.

Like, people know me by first name around this. It's bizarre, and you

become friends with them, and you go for coffees with them, and you go for

a run with them, and they want you to coach them and all this sort

of stuff. And you just see the same people all the time, and it's so

beautiful. And that's the other element that I wanted to add to it.

It was like I just wanted to do something that was mentally crazy. Like, I

knew I could run, wanna do the same thing every day, like, around all the

hog day. Like, Christmas day, I was up there. New Year's day, there was no

days off. It was just and that time of year was meant to be summer,

but it was like raining one day, windy the next. Pedal gets really

windy, super hot one day. It was just like on

rotation, but yeah. So this day this time I'll be on the road,

during summer again. So towards the end of December through January for 3

weeks, about 70 k's a day plus, running out

to a few contacts that really helped me in my last one. They're actually,

based in Adelaide. So gonna get them heavily involved more this time

and and then finish back at the hospital, which we, which would be awesome.

So it's gonna be bigger and better. Bang. That's pretty cool. That'd be

amazing. So I know from watching on from afar

that, you got pretty bad shin splints. Yeah. Yeah.

Anyone's had shin splints. The last thing you wanna do is run a marathon every

day on concrete where 4 times your body weight's going

through. Yeah. What was that like? Or how how did you get rid of them?

Like or you didn't. You just they just got numb because they heard so much.

Or what happened? I'd I'd never had shin splints before, and, I

didn't go see anyone. So I didn't wanna go sort of self diagnose,

I guess. Like, you sort of know I'm a PA teacher by trade

and sort of pick up these things as you're running, but, you know, you sort

of see the signs and symptoms and, yeah, never really experienced

anything like that before. And the first it sounds funny, but the first 35 days,

I was just flying. Like, I was every day was the same, every pace pace

was the same, time was the same. Just get ahead of yourself in a way,

like, you thought, this is easy. Oh, not too too bad because every day was

different. I had different people wanna run with me for the different parts. So it

sort of broke up that morning really well. Yeah. So I had

sort of 2 things had shin splints was pretty much from the knee to the

ankle, was pain. And then I had what was called I found out

later, which called pitting edema, which is, severe swelling. So

I could squeeze my shin like that, it would be like Play Doh. I

could leave my hand prints yeah. Hand prints in my shin,

and then it would slowly bounce back.

So every day was it was excruciating. Like, it was

really bad. Yeah. But I was doing, yeah, I

was doing your 5 degree ice baths every day. Yeah. I was doing everything to

get up for the next day. Like, I think people think, oh, you just get

up and run a marathon, but, like And that was it's not as if you're

going out and having a few beers at night, going and seeing all your friends

and doing this. It's pretty much full commitment to getting up. It's like 8 or

9 hours a day that you you run your marathon. You wanna get it done

as quickly as possible so you can recover quickly. So I'd get home and sleep,

fuel. I'll do my recovery first, so that was, like, 2 hours at a

recovery lab in Frankston, and then that every day was the same.

And then my social media, I did all myself. So

Wow. So you did all this so you did all the stories and did all

the sharing. I did everything. So my screen time was like, I've a I was

a I was a one error a day phone user, for

years to 8 to 9 hours a day. It just, that was probably

the mental side that really stuffed me up because,

when you're running the same loop every day and then you're doing 42 k's every

day and then you're on your phone for 8 or 9 hours a day. I

was on my phone running too. Like Just, like, replying to people and Yeah.

You're just getting stuff out. Like, you just really had to get stuff out

because people needed to hear and people need to see.

And I didn't have someone helping me. So, but, yeah, the shin

splints, I had a friend who,

sort of suggested a few ideas. Like, obviously, you didn't wanna go get an expert

opinion because they might just say no. That's done. And I just sort of think

about what could I do, like, could I run-in a pool for a

marathon? Could I get on the elliptical? I was like, no.

That that is cheating. That's cheating. That's I said I'm gonna run a marathon. I'm

gonna run a marathon. Alright. If I have to walk, jog, run a

marathon, that's the last resort. I was

gonna do really strong pain killers, and they took

about 7 days to kick in, 5 to 7 days.

And that 5 to 7 days was, like, the worst time of my life. Like,

I think my pace, average pace is, like, 5 minutes, slow 5 minutes for every

marathon, and then I went out to 6 thirties, and that was painful.

Like, I couldn't I couldn't flex or extend my ankles, and then that'd

get to a point where they'd fully seize up, and I couldn't move. Like, my

thumb and my ankles are gonna, like, break, like you're doing the the

moonwalk. And then I just look at machines and

had taping a lot machines with, kids' names that have passed

away. I look at machines and I go, look at

the sky, and then I'll move forward. So I did that for, yeah, about 7

days, and then they just came good. Mhmm. The swelling was still there, but the

painting the pain went away. And then I finished how I

wanted to finish, which was great. So I was really fortunate.

It is sort of amazing what your body can endure, you know, like, I'm

sure. I mean, obviously there's a hell of a lot of training and stuff that's

gone into it, but throughout the 50 to 50 days, you know,

like as you said, you hadn't, you hadn't done that before. You didn't know whether

you're going to be able to do it, but, and even when you got it

to your worst parts with your shins and your injuries and stuff, you

can still manage to get through it. You know? It's like it's amazing

what you can do when you've got the right motivation. Yeah.

And And it all comes back to your mindset. Like, anyone can do

it. It's just whether you wanna I secondly wanna

push through and see what my body can sort of do and, you know, you

haven't really heard of too many people that have died running. So why why

not just say what you can and then, yeah, as you said, the right motivation,

the right mindset. When you're thinking about babies that aren't here no longer than,

you know, what kind of mindset that and I always put the pressure on myself

to go, if you get through this today, see if he's gonna get better tomorrow.

Get through this today. Little Finney is gonna be better tomorrow. If you get through

this today, Leo is gonna get out of, the NICU and graduate

today. And these things started happening. It was bizarre. Like, got through a

run where I was like, I think this is I think I'm done. Like, got

to, like, 30 k's in and machines have started moving. Powder was,

like, 40 k headwinds. I'm like, this is I was, like, pouring down

rain, coming sideways. I was the only one out there. I'm like,

what do I do? Like, I gotta walk 12 k's. Like,

okay. It's 12 k's. Whatever. Get through it. And then I'm like, alright. If I

get through this, a little girl named Alina, she's gonna go home for

Christmas. And the next day, she went home for Christmas. Like, she was touch

and go, and then, she just came out. So all these things started happening. I'm

like, alright, Tom. Just tick off the days. Like, it's gonna go by so

quick. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Fire out. Do you find,

obviously, when you share your story and and that mindset that no

one's died running or it it is true.

But sometimes people don't wanna hear that because it's easy to say

I'm gonna do something or talk about something then than to actually do it.

Yeah. Like, do you find that you're a

unicorn in that element because a lot of people can't relate to that? Like

Possibly. Yeah. I guess it's what you've been through as a person

as well. Like, I'm a chronic pain sufferer. So I've had chronic pain

for 12 years, and chronic pain is worse than running 50 marathons.

So, in my neck and shoulder, I've had heaps of

surgeries and nothing's fixed it, through, like, footy injuries and

stuff like that. So, like, I have to stand up at work and the stand

up desk and all that sort of stuff just to get through the day. And

running allows me to feel pain that I don't normally

feel the rest of the day, if that makes sense. Like, my legs hurt.

My respiratory rate's going up. My heart rate's through the roof. My I'm sweating.

I feel sick. Like, I don't think about neck pain, shoulder pain, back pain.

Mhmm. And that's what I'd if I could run all day, I would

because I wouldn't feel all the other shit that I feel every day. That makes

sense. It's not a reality. It's like it's it's like what you've, you know, it's

like what we always talk about perspective. Yeah. Yeah. If you've never, you know, if

you've grown up in this beautiful place and you've never seen anything bad in the

world, like you've never seen poverty. Yeah. Yeah. Totally naive to that.

It's like if you've never experienced physical pain at all or

if you've never pushed your body to any, like, they look at what you do

and go, it's impossible. Like, you can't do that. But, you know,

obviously it's, it is possible. And, yeah,

and, but you've just got to, you know, there is a certain

element in your head that's different to probably a lot of the rest of

the population that says, I wanna do this for a good cause

regardless. You can call it whatever you want, but

it's a very powerful thing you've done. Yeah. It is. It is goes back to

your experiences. Like, I remember, like, I I

reckon I hit rock bottom in my life, many years

ago and lost my long time partner, my first house, my

job, because of chronic pain. Like, living with someone with chronic pain

is not easy. Like, you ask anyone and and a lot of these people

go hidden because they're not out in public or

their chronic pain is almost like a,

can be an invisible thing. Mhmm. Because you wouldn't know

right now that I've got shoulder pain or neck pain, just

sitting here unless I've told you I'm walking around, you know, showing it.

And I hit rock bottom, and then I then went to,

Thailand. My other sister, lives in Thailand. So I'm lucky enough to go

over there every year. And, but with that too, you see a lot of things.

And I remember I went there. It was really touch and go where I get

on the flight at, like, by doctors. I said, look, you're probably not in a

good situation with your life. We don't really want you going. And I build

up the courage to go because I just had another, nephew at the time

and went over there and, walked the streets. And when you

walk in the streets of Tallinn, you you can see everything. Yeah.

I saw a guy with, one arm and he was blind, And

he's smiling and stuff like that and and just happy. Mhmm. And I'm so like,

mate, you've got a sore neck, a sore shoulder. You've got 2

beautiful nephews at home just around the corner. You've got a lovely sister

here at home. You got a lovely mom. Got a good job.

You're an active healthy person to some degree, not as what you used to be.

So this is a new you now. What can you do with your

life? This guy's lost a lot of things. Most

people would have given up at that point. So sort of changed my mindset

then. And so when I'm out running, like, I don't remain running, and when you

hit that barrier or that threshold or that pain like that. That's not

that stuff. I love it because you grow from that. Yeah. I think, like, I

don't know. I find it like it's, I find it

easy to have that motivation when you're looking at this guy and you see him

right there and then and you go, fuck, I'm pretty lucky. But then you come

home and it's maintaining that

perspective and that appreciation and gratitude for what you've got

is the, is that key little thing I reckon like, you know, we've

all watched the motivational gym videos and the Goggins

this and the all this stuff. And all of a sudden I want to run

through a brick wall and go to the gym and punch out in our session,

but it fights, but it fades. So how did, how did you sort of keep

that motivation high? You know, obviously through this 50

days, but throughout your chronic pain, like I'd love to hear more about that

as well. To be honest, I don't, I don't really understand that,

but, Yeah. Keeping keeping your spirits

high, your gratitude high, mode, you know? Yeah.

Yeah. One thing I had was, I had a 50

days chart on my mirror. So every time you brush your teeth or you're getting

up in the morning, splash your face with water, like, it was 50 photos of

Sylvia. So all photos when she was in the NICU and

then when she was at home. So I was crossing her face

out every day and just seeing the start line and the finish

line. Mhmm. And that really instilled with me my purpose and what I was

doing. I think, you know, Goggan speaks about it well. It's like the

accountability mirror. Alright. So my mirror at home is always

got stuff on it, to motivate me every time I fall

backwards, on something, whether it is through running or work or friendships

or, you know, with a partner or whatever it is, that

writing something so simple in there keeps me accountable for what I need to

do. It's it's like it's a it's it's practice, isn't it? It's you're

actually it's an active thing that you have to Well, it's like learning. It's like

learning new skills. Some people do journaling. Some people do, some other

things, but when it's physically in your face, like, I've I can't really rub it

off unless I've achieved it or changed it. And then some people

get tattoos. Like, I've done that in the past, and I'm like, shit, why did

I get that tattoo? I forgot a Lance Armstrong quote on my son.

No. That's probably not good now, but No. He's come back.

He's just a birogged. But now I changed it because it says pain is temporary.

Couldn't last forever. So when I'm running, I'm like, pain is temporary. Couldn't last forever.

I can quit now, but you know what I mean? So you're just gonna yeah.

Words are matter. Yeah. Words are where it comes from. That's still true. I mean,

words are words are powerful at the end of the day, but then, I don't

know if you got that you can envision that memory that you saw

that it will last or whether you do simply print off a photo. Like, I

have photos everywhere as well. So a montage of things that were keeping me

accountable, the words on my body keeping me accountable. Yeah. When times

got tough during the marathons, I'd pull out my phone, Sylvia was my background.

My sister holding Sylvia with the hooked up to the machine, that was my back

that was something that I just drew on to go her up. Like, this is

this day will be done. Just sort of constant reminders and and why you're

doing what you're doing. You have to because as you said, like, moments are fleeting.

So you could be motivated for 2 minutes watching a a

video, and then before you know it, you're like back in your face and scrolling

and filming, like, eating junk food and whatever. But Yeah.

Yeah. What, what did you learn about yourself? Like

and I know we've spoken about a lot of things around mindset and pushing through

different things and being accountable and but from

where you started from where you are now and being able to achieve that, is

there anything you didn't know about yourself that you learned

or that you figured out, like,

that you're a different person than the person who said they were gonna do something,

but actually did it. Yeah. Is there any, like, any any moment or

thing changing yourself, like, realization? Yeah. It's probably

probably a few things. Not so much in the running space. Like, you do

think about things and in reflection, you do like, oh, that was pretty cool.

Like, got through those hard times. Probably more like

I'm very much a introverted extroverted kind of personality. Like, I

really love my own time, but I really love hanging out with my friends and

making them laugh or whatever it is. It really gives me a big, you know,

kick to the day and stuff like that. And probably I learned the

biggest thing was, like, I do really care for my family. I probably

don't show it as much as I probably should. Growing up with

3 females my whole life, like, I found it really challenging.

But now I've felt like I've really repaid the favor through

other ways that I wanted to do by showing my care and appreciation for

them and and standing up for women and showing that for the women's hospital and

things like that and giving back to my family that way, if that makes sense,

as I've become more of a mature adult. Yeah. And I've always

been a lone wolf when it comes to running. Like, I'll get up early and

run before work or quite happy being in my own head.

And through running those marathons around, like, you can't,

like, be by yourself. Like, because you just look like an idiot. So,

I really it really changed my aspect of how have you

running and what the benefits of it are, not just physically,

mentally, spiritually. It's like, alright. This is a

massive social thing that Connection. Connects connects

people. And, the best runs I've had in my life

was during those 50 days. Like, we had, a

dad who I've become close mates with now and his

daughter, I actually teach at school. So I didn't

know her dad before that. He reached out to me and

said, hey. I'd love to come for a run with you, during one of

your days. Like, my daughter actually goes to your school. Like, you know her.

Reached out, went for a rum, and he and he spoke about his other daughter.

I didn't know too much about his other daughter, but she, passed away when she

was 2. So she went through the NICU. I had

3 other guys. 2 of them I only met

that day as well. So it's 3 guys I never met, plus 2 mates that

had come on a couple runs. It was the most powerful run I've

ever been on. Like, we were crying every, like, 5 minutes

of what he was telling us, and we just pushed him through this

half marathon that he wanted to do for Ava. So then

yeah. Fast forward, probably

a month after I finished my marathon. So I set up a day where we

actually honored her on her 12th anniversary, and we all run 10

we were on 12 ks around Paddo. And we all I got him to

invite his closest family friends. I filmed it all, did a video for him

and, bought 3 balloons from him, helium balloons, and got them

to write a message to Ava. So mom, dad, and, the girl

attached to their daughter. And they sent it up to heaven, and it was the

most powerful thing I've ever been part of. But just for him to be vulnerable

in that moment to share his story, it was like, this is what it's all

about. Like, running can bring people together, whether it's prematurity or

mental health or divorce or whatever it is, financial

setback, like, going for a run with a mate for half an hour an

hour is, like, one of the best things you can do in life. Yeah. But

you created that space where he felt safe. Like, and and I

bet I I I can't say for sure, but I don't reckon he would've probably

shared that story with many people, let alone Yeah. Someone that he didn't know that

when he reached out. But Yeah. Because he created the space, made him feel

safe, he was, like, the most vulnerable. Mhmm. And

then to experience and share that, like, part yeah. That's

tingling that. Like, that's And we all started doing stuff and it was kind of

like, oh my god. I've just run with this other guy for 6 or 7

runs. And he's telling me about his past life and all this stuff that went

on and what his parents are going through right now with the elderly age and,

you know, ones on the outer and stuff like that. It's just like it just

opened up this whole new realm that I guess many people

don't really get to experience unless you've sort of started that conversation in the

first place. Yeah. And you gotta as you said, you gotta create that environment

and you've created this space where people like, and

it's what we always talk about. Like, and over bees, not over bees. And

it's like, we all want to talk about

a lot of this stuff, but it's so hard to get

that right moment and the right environment with the right people.

Yeah. But as soon as I, I feel like in my life, what I've

sort of seen is as soon as someone else shows a bit of vulnerability

and puts themselves out there and it's hard, like to be that person's

hard to, you know, you're doing the 50 runs, like 50 marathons.

It's fucking hard. Mhmm. But people see that and they go, this

guy, he's doing this for a reason. He he'll listen to my

story and I can Yeah. You know, I can relate with him on a level

which, you know, at at, yeah, at a, at a pub over a beer, you

don't get that, that depth and that care and, and, you know,

genuine conversation is funny. Like I've my best night, he had

a kid couple of years ago and, you know, we sort of fell apart a

bit and then we started going for these runs and it's like brought us

closer than ever. Yeah. And it's so interesting that just from

that, you know, just from setting aside an hour and a half every

Saturday, you know, where you're actually, it's not just, Hey, how's your,

how's your week going? You know, how's work good day. Isn't it like it's you

going into what your life actually is what's actually going on.

I think they were sort sort of feel the benefits of running when you're running.

Like, it sounds quite stupid, but it really brings down these layers.

And then when you start to feel that dopamine kick and that,

oh, this is this is hard, but it's enjoyable. You

feel more relaxed. And then I think that's where the conversation starts.

It's a great thing. That's a good point. I hadn't really thought about that. But,

yeah, you're you're in a physically sort of compromised position as you say.

We're together. Together. And then you, you know, your heart rate's probably up. You're out

in fresh air. You're out in nature. And then you probably feel yeah. You've

it's a different feeling to sitting down inside and Yeah. Well, one of the

things with that as well, it's like having a conversation in the car or when

you're walking or running. You're not directly looking at each other. Yeah. There's a lot

of power in that. Yes. Yeah. You're moving your body, getting all these other benefits,

but it's not as threatening. Yeah. You know, it's when you're just being

sitting across from someone, you got nowhere to look but in their eyes. Yeah. And

it's kinda one of those things, like, you're out there doing it together. So you're

going from start to finish together. So why not? I think

that really brings people to start thinking, okay, we're we're in this round together. Let's

talk about things together. Yeah. So whereas when you're talking as

mates at a bit, having a beer or whatever, like, there's so much going on

around you such whereas when you're running, you're going past those conversations and stuff like

that, and you sort of pick up on other people's conversations and you're sort of

start to notice they're talking about relationships. They're talking

about this conflict that's happened that and they're all starting to whether you're walking

or running or riding, the even the cyclists, you hear them going, like, it's like

You hear them? Like, you know what I mean? It's just

exercise. The exercise is so powerful that it it does bring people to

give it together, but it also brings about those vulnerabilities and those

conversations that are so lifelong. Like, they they

change things. So that's something that I do wanna get into. Like, there's so

many running clubs and stuff like that, but it'd be great to be, like,

alright. Bring this NICU community together. It might be the start,

and we share stories. Alright. Everyone's gonna talk to

someone or just whatever happens, but Mhmm. You're just there for each

other, and you start connecting and and things like that, instead of just

going out for a run. That's beautiful. I'm interested. You said

earlier, growing up with 3 women. So Yeah. Sisters and a

mama. So I had 2 older sisters and,

yeah, I find it, I found it interesting what you said, like you've realized you

did really care about your family, but you felt, you know, it was hard to

show it maybe, or you didn't show it, maybe you didn't show it as like,

I really sort of. I don't know. I got 2 sisters

too. Yeah. I like to really relate to that. And it's, it's almost like,

it's funny cause they grow up and you know, they're best friends. Yeah. And so

they're off, you know, and you sort of get like I was the youngest boy,

so you sort of get dressed up. Yeah. Oh, yeah. I was

I'm still dressing up as a girl. You know, that I love my future.

But, but, yeah, you sort

of, in my experience, I, you know, you get you get

dropped off a little bit as they get to 15, 16 and they start going

off doing their thing. And, you know, then I guess, yeah, being the boy

I did lit it. I, I feel exactly

the same that they probably don't know or I haven't been able

to show them as much as I can try and say so or whatever, but

show them how much they mean to me. Yeah. And,

yeah. So it's interesting, like how you've, you know,

doing this gave you that sense of, okay, now

hopefully they do understand what, because I've made a huge commitment

to help, you know, from an experience that my sister's gone through.

Yeah. Yeah. I found that very, very interesting. And and did

they did they say anything to you, like, after the runs or did did you

have a Yeah. Obviously, you're, like, very appreciative, and very proud

and things like that. I think it really, for me, the probably the

biggest thing that I got from it, what we're speaking about before is that

my sister has now spread her wings,

and been able to share her story. Like, so just a bit of a snapshot

shows she had cervical cancer when she was in her thirties, and that

meant that she had to have alternate roots to become a mom. It's never

guaranteed that once you sort of alter a reproductive system that you can.

They did 5 years of IVF, which is, as anyone knows, it's like up and

down, up and down the unknown. And, just to see her become a

mom and then get through that four and a half months in the NICU,

she's now feels really comfortable sharing her story, whereas

in the past, she didn't. It was quite private. Even the NICU

experience was quite private, as many families would.

They're a bit unsure of what to tell and how much to tell

and things like that, which is quite understandable. As I said, that sorry to cut

you off going to me. That's exactly how I felt. And I wasn't even

wasn't even met. I was my sister and partner. Person. Yeah. And like

but that's yeah. I think that's And and what do you and that feeling like

is it? It's off like you probably tell, like, I still find it

really, like, you want I just find it really uncomfortable. Talking about

the children. No. Like, I I could talk about it. It's something that you just,

you've got no control whatsoever. You wanna help. I wanna I'd do

anything, but you can't do anything. Like, it's you're sort of helpless.

Mhmm. And then you you don't know what to do. You know? Like, I like

to fix things. I like to help and You don't wanna be annoying. You don't

wanna be overbearing. You know? And then you'd like you think about it, and you

don't then you don't do anything, and it's And then you feel bad for not

doing anything. And then So fucked. Like, I'll be honest. I yeah. The whole

experience, and it's selfish, I found it really hard. Yeah. And I haven't

even gone through anything. I think I think the biggest thing for people that are

going through this experience right now is, like, you don't have to be mean. So

you're gonna run this, this, and this. Like, obviously, that's gonna be once in a

blue moon that someone's gonna do that and give back that way or support their

family that way. But if you can just be there and it might be constantly

saying to your sister or brother or whoever it is, like, what can I do?

Like, what can I do to support you? Like, I love you.

I want to be there for my niece or nephew. Like, do you need

meals or just do those things without thinking? Think if this was me in this

situation, what would I've want my siblings to do or my family to do?

Because you're right. Like, I only got to visit twice and you're literally

sitting there for as long as you want watching your name from

nephew, their their breath. Like, they're just going up and down. They're hooked

up to machine that their heart rate's in the 2 100. Their heart

is working overtime to keep them alive. Respiratory rate beeping

alarms. You're like, is that a bad alarm? Is that a good alarm? It's something

you can't unhear. My sister had moments where doctors

would come in, take Sylvia out. She'd be like, what Is

that it? Where's she gone? Come back. She's fine again.

Other moments that were quite scary, and I'm sure Finn and, Hannah and Tim went

through similar things. And the other thing too is that I want to mention is,

like, when you're in the room with 3 other families, so

4 of you in total, like, Sylvia could have a really good day

and have a a milestone over there. Actually, it's

funny. Like, I walked in the first time, and I saw a guy I went

to school with, in the room having his child. I was like, mate,

I haven't seen him since, 10 years. I

haven't seen him in 10 years, since high school. And

what do you say? Like like, condolences or

like congratulations? Like, I said, mate, I'm I'm just so sorry. Like,

this is I that was the first time meeting Sylvia. I'm like, mate, I'd just

let me know if there's something I can do. He's like, no, mate. It's all

good. And he's in the kangaroo chair, which is one of the things we raise

money for. He's just laying back with your child and,

having skin to skin contact, which is such a beautiful moment.

And yeah, seeing my sister and all these

notes that nurses are creating from Sylvie. So it's like

messages like, hey, mommy, blah blah blah. Hey, daddy, blah blah

blah. You know, the nurses and doctors, and, mate, they are they are calling

miracle workers. And and now since I've done my run, we've set up a NICU

Warriors Fund. So it's the first time that they've ever had a fund where you

can actually donate to the NICU. Yeah. This was all unknown for them.

Like, no one's ever done something for the NICU. So they didn't know what to

expect. They didn't know how it was gonna go. And now they're coming back for

the second time. We're like, alright, Tom. That's we're giving you this. We're giving you

that. We got Jayco on board. They're doing this. Like, they're gonna give me

what I need to be able to get what they need, because

it was all unknown. Like, you could donate to the women's, but you couldn't donate

to the NICU. So all these little warriors out there now are gonna get

what they need. There is government funding,

but, just to give you an idea, one of the chambers for the babies

upwards of $350,000 plus, I'm not gonna raise

that. Like, how am I gonna raise that in 50 days running? Like and that's

one. There's 60 of them in the room, in the hospital. So

1,000,000 of dollars. Yep. Are we gonna stop prematurity?

No. Can we make the family stay there more comfortable?

100% we can. Can we make the doctors and nurses time more

specialized so they can treat these babies sooner? Yes. We can. Can we

invest in research to stop babies being born at 23

weeks and now be born at 20 or potentially be born at

21 weeks and still survive? Potentially, like, we had a baby that was,

in the 22 week range, last year. She just turned 1, I

think, and she survived. Mhmm. So 10 years ago, Sylvia wouldn't have

survived. Yeah. She was 40% chance of survival

when she was born, and they give you the paperwork and say, here's the stats.

That's it. We don't know. So That's a like,

it's it's it's a hard like, as you said, you met you see you made

from school that you haven't seen for 10 years. Like, what do you say?

Like, I imagine that would be the same, like, with you and your sister and

you and your brother-in-law, like, fuck. Is it is

it all? You know, I'm so sorry. But then do they maybe not want to

hear that because then it's negative. You don't want to turn it to a negative

thing. Like, you know, oh, it's going to be okay, but they don't want to

hear that because they keep, you know, it's, it's such a hard, you know, like

hard conversation to know what, how to do the right thing. And I guess as

you said, just, just being there and, and being there for them and ask them

whatever they, whatever they need. You know? Those really strong people like your

sister and brother-in-law and my, my sister. And,

they're just strong people. Like, do you think that, do you

think you just have to be if when you're in that You're kind of thrown

into that environment, like You can't sing or swim, I'd say. Like, you you

don't have a choice. No. And one thing that I wanna change

from doing this mission this year, and I'm

gonna be doing it for as long as I possibly can. Like, this is just

the beginning, but there is no way for parents to actually stay

in the hospital. So, Hannah would have to go home every night.

Well, she she was lucky that my parents have a place in Melbourne. Yeah. Otherwise,

she would have to go my sister lives in Geelong. Geelong. Like, what would they

do? Although, they'd have to rent an apartment in Park Parkdale

or North Melbourne or something like And then there's People just can't afford that. Money

out. You know? Like So we can have at least a couple of rooms within

the hospital where vulnerable parents or parents that are traveling from

Geelong or, you know, rural Victoria, whatever it is, can actually stay there for

2 weeks. Yeah. How good would that be? Even 2 weeks is, like,

massive. Because the last thing they need to worry about is where am I gonna

stay? Yep. That's the last thing on your mind. You know, you'd rather sleep in

a chair, but then you don't wanna do that. No. You're not. Like, that's a

massive concern. Like, you can't get in the car and drive when

you're an emotional wreck every day. No. And some people have like, just to give

you a snapshot, what's he like? Some people have another 3 year old

home so that dad or mom is at home in Geelong

looking after them. Mom or dad is at the hospital going back and

forth every day for a 134 days or a 100 days.

Like, I met I met a a a lady that it was her 4th time

in the NICU. Four babies in a row. Like like, you hear

about 1. Like, you think I think that puts things in perspective.

Like, there's always gonna be some more worse ways to do that. Story

in Thailand. Do you know what I mean? Like Yeah. So, like, my niece

went through 4 and a half months. Finn went through a 100 days. Like, some

babies go through 2 months. They could probably cancel as lucky

then. A mother has had a 4th child in there in a row. I just

had another mom mess me the other night hearing that I'm doing it again. She

said, we just had our second one. We're going through the NICU again.

You think you leave, you never leave. You're always going back for appointments,

visitations, physio appointments, whatever it is, learning stuff.

And if you wanna have kids again, there's a very high chance that you may

be back in that situation again. And then you think the other end,

parents have lost their child. So there's always, like, a

timeline, I guess, a spectrum like low level. And it's

all about it's all very, you know,

justified and validated and you can't, you know, and one's not worse than the

other is or one's not, but it's relative. Yeah. It's just insane.

But you know, and, and I guess,

yeah, having such a personal connection for you and, and, you know,

to have done something about it is, is such a special thing. Like, I think

that's what you always speak about. Saudi is like action. Yeah.

So important. And just like Tom from what you've done

and the lives that you've, you've been out of touch and the difference that you've

made and I can see you're going to keep making going forward.

You know, let's get on board and help help you out. And Yeah. Appreciate that.

Yes. As you said, there's, you've set up the NICU warriors, which is

amazing. And obviously, you've got the big run coming up from Adelaide

to Melbourne to Adelaide and back. Yep. People listening along

now, where where's the best place to go and donate? Because I

don't just have to donate when you're doing the run. Like, this is bringing

awareness to us obviously now, and, people can donate. Yeah.

Where where's the best place to go? Probably through my Instagram, which is the price

of running, but on the the rural women's website as well. So

there'll be heaps of promotional stuff about this. But, yeah, I think it now that

we have, like, a centralized place where NICU funds are going to

go, with the run that I'm going to be doing, we're obviously gonna target

certain things that we need because we can raise funds. That's that's fine. But

if we as a community and the parents are going through there now and the

parents that have just gone through, that was the feedback that I got straight

away was like, alright. So you've been in here or Hannah, you've been in there.

What did you need that could have made your stay better? It's the first time

that Nicky has been able to, house,

kangaroo chairs chairs in every single room. First time ever, they had less than 10

chairs. So these are a reclining chair that is

anywhere from 3 to $7,000 each. It's the first time

since we've done the run that they've every single parent can

have cuddle time. So imagine having a child. I don't know what

it's like, but to not be able to hold your child. Oh,

couldn't couldn't I I like, I couldn't imagine what that would be like.

And that was the hardest thing, I suppose, for me and where I sort of

felt guilty is that I've got 2 children that, you know, I haven't

had to go through that. Mhmm. I was able to take them home with my

wife whereas Yeah. You know, Zoe and Hannah would each night leave Sylvia

or Finn there, then go home and have to pump

or, like, I just just

it's you just and that's where you feel guilty. Yeah. Like, there's so many things

we can talk about, but to have that opportunity to just have skin on

skin when when you're there Yeah. That's incredible. Yeah. Like, that's something

you just can't you couldn't pay for. Like, that's No.

And they're encouraged to have an error day, but you might be sitting on a

chair like this. You can't sit on a chair like this when they hooked up

to a machine that's saving their life. Like, there's so like, if you you haven't

seen it, to sort of understand it, you can't physically

hold them. There's that many cords. Yeah. So, to be in a relaxed position where

you can actually go skin on skin to contact is is beautiful now that and

that was a big thing that got me through. It's like, Tom, today, if you

do this, there's gonna be 5 more chairs there tomorrow. And I I'll get

messages from moms that I was talking to saying, Tom, there's just been

delivery of chairs today. I can see him. Yeah. I see him in the corridor

and things like that, and that just pump me up. So I guess the biggest

thing for me moving forward is, like, if you have been through the NICU

experience as a family member or been through in the past or know

someone who has, this is a chance to give back through what I'm doing. It's

not about me and my family. This is about anytime you've thought

about helping someone in the NICU at the rural women's, you can give back

to what we're trying to achieve as a community. So, I think a

lot of families will go through and go, I wish I had done a fundraiser

or a barbecue barbecue sale or something like and given back or

donated, but financially for you. They they couldn't at the time

or they're fighting for survival every day. They're trying to keep their head above

water, just keeping this little premature baby alive and juggle

work and sport and whatever it is. But this is now their chance to get

back to what I'm doing, and they can do that. How how do you juggle

work and life and with these things? And chronic

pain. Yeah. There's a lot going on, man. Yeah.

I I I like to be busy. So I'm a full time

PE teacher, secondary, and that's that's pretty

chaotic, but I absolutely love it. It's I'm very passionate about it. And then

yeah. Running, as I said, it's very therapeutic for me, but

I just don't feel right if I haven't done a long run every day. And

whether that's a workout or just an easy run or whatever it is, it just

fills me with such it's it's a hard one. Like, I I've

done the gym. I've done the gym classes. I've done the footy. I've done sport,

and I don't get the same feeling that I get from running. It's just it's

hard to explain unless you do it routinely. Mhmm. It's it's a it's

addictive. It's a drug. It's, yeah. It's a good drug. It's a great drug.

It's, it's something that's gonna, you know, keep you going for a very long time.

And, so for me, yeah, I I get up really

early and, train twice a day and then go to work and,

juggle all that when, you know, if things get bigger in the future for me

with hopefully be a dad one day, then that's all gonna change, but I'll

I'll never I'll never stop running. Like, it's it's it's part of me. It's my

identity. So for my, you know, I'm branching out into

the marathon ranks. Oh, yeah. In It's like It's like

It's like in in October. Say in 58 minutes, you've done well. Let's

just talk about me for a second. So

what you're saying is my one my one sort of 15 kilometer

run a week, maybe maybe fortnightly,

probably isn't quite enough to, to really get the wheels in motion

for a good marathon. Well, be honest. Tom, be honest. Tell him the

truth. He needs to hear it. I think it all comes back to what you

want to get. Yeah. Well If if your goal is I just wanna run a

marathon, you'll be fine. Yeah. If your goal is to run at whatever

time, then you might struggle.

That was so nicely put. Yeah. Tell him exactly. Yeah. That's

so so big boy. So what do I need? Like So what you

got? What you got? Well You need to run more than once a toss. I

don't really have one, but more about running. What's pot like, so I could do

a run every day. I just feel like my body would break down Yeah.

If I did it. Like, I guess I've got this couple of

excuses, but, you know, like but but for people who

run, you you run every single day. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And your body holds up

and you're fit and you're healthy and Yeah. It's just, I guess,

conditioning, isn't it? It's conditioning. It's it's like back when you're playing footy,

like, it's like if you kicking a footy every day Yeah. Your body needs to

change over a certain amount of time to get better at doing something else. So

your body if you go to gym every day, eventually you start going 2

days, 3 days, you get hooked 4 days, 5 days. Yeah. Some people go 7

days. Some people go twice a day. Like Yeah. Your body needs to change every

so often that that's with running. Like, you get to a stage

where it sucks. Yeah. It sucks. It's hard. It's lethargic.

It's cold. It's this and this. But the more you bank those

k's and the stuff like and then you get to the end and you get

your goal of a marathon. Yeah. Most people come back and I'm gonna do another

one. Yeah. But they don't figure out Marathon's itself. Look. Yeah. Isn't it

crazy? Like Yeah. Since COVID, you can't book a marathon nearly. Yeah.

Not that I want to, but Yeah. I'm not I'm just hearing things.

Yeah. Yeah. Like, it's it's great to see and hear

that people are loving it. Yeah. It's running

is awesome. Yeah. It's a game changer. Yep. Definitely. Alright. Well,

after this, I'm gonna try and commit to so what like, if

I Your cogs are turned. I'm I'm

just trying sometimes I love podcasting. I know. Sometimes I love

podcasting because you can't see what's going on. I see. Your head is turning here.

I see. This is You were generally really contemplating all things here. This is what

I was saying before. Because right now, I'm ready to run 74

1,000 marathons in 74,000 days. And I'm that

motivated. But but tomorrow at 6 AM when

it's minus 4 degrees outside, and I've Yeah. Told myself I'm gonna get up

for a run Yeah. I might not be so motivated. Yeah. But I'll I'll tell

you this, you will always feel better after your run. Yeah. Yeah. Always.

I struggle I'll I'll get up maybe

3, 4 mornings a week. The rest I treat myself to sleeping, which is

awesome because it's a warm nice bed. Sucks having a nice bed.

But I always feel better after my run, and it

sets up my whole day. Like, I my conversations are better with people. I'm

more relaxed. Every job that comes my way, I'm like, I've just done a

hard run this morning, or I've I've got up when it's 3 degrees and done

this and this. That's where you gotta keep saying yourself like Yeah. I will feel

better after this. This will help me. It just sucks at the moment.

What about, like, social life, you know Yeah. Do you

does are you, you know, do you get out and about? Does it

affect if you have a night out with your mates, do you take the day

off? Yeah. You know? Yeah. Nah. No.

No. Nah. They called to tell you.

Yeah. Yeah. I'm so I know. No. No. I don't I don't really miss any

days. It's just compromising or shifting a few things around. Like, I'll

go to my mate with my mates to the NRL. I think it's next Wednesday.

So I'll do a track session that morning, so I don't have to do it

Thursday morning or whatever. So, just moving things around. So I'm not

I see my running week as a puzzle. And once I start filling it in

on Monday, I can't leave it on, like, unfilled in on

Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday. So, but that's just me. Like,

everyone's different. I've been coaching a few people since I've finished the

marathons, and I've got a vast variety of people that are either,

yeah, workaholics. Super committed. Yeah. Not Super committed

OCD. Don't do what I say

Yeah. At all. What's the other week? You know,

full time parents. At the end of the day, you

can't let a horse to water. Yeah. I can give you what you I can

give you the advice. Yeah. You will find out come race day, what's

going on. Yeah. Exactly. It comes down to what that person

wants. Like, you you know, if they wanted to run a really amazing time

and blah blah blah, then they'll do it. They have to put in They'll go

put in the They have a lot of time. Yeah. If they Which is not

what I wanna do, though. I'm just letting you all know. I think I'm

I'm looking at break. I think it was, I think, 4 hours. Yeah. I think

4 hours is a Yeah. Is what I'm I'd wanna break. Yeah. I think the

male average 4:20 or something like that. Yeah. So so let's make

an overachiever, Jacko. Yeah. You go 4 hours. I'll go I'll say 4 hours and

then I'll do it in 3. Yep. If I can get Close to 3:30.

That'll be cool. 3:30. But I better start putting some

miles in the way. Yeah. Yeah. I better start.

What's what's your quickest? Have you done a quick one? So in

about 3 weeks, I'm gonna just do one. I've done for

3 around an athletics track before. 3 flat?

No. So 3 I've run 3 marathons. Oh. Raced 3 around an athletes

track, so I run 235. Yeah. So I'm hoping they get

a 2:30 soon. 2:35. 2:30. And what's

the the record's just under 2 hours, isn't it? Yeah. But that's

Not legal. Not legal. Yeah. But the actual record's 2 a

2 hours and 25 seconds or something. Grand is.

So the Aussie's Aussie's run it. I think the Aussie record's 207,

208. Wow. That's what 22 minutes off that is what you're

trying to get. Yeah. I'll be there. Yeah. Yeah. That is

insane. 1 of my group, my Jack Trangov, his sister, Jess. Yeah,

I met Jess. Yeah. What a weapon. 2/28 or

2/26 or something there. She just ran, like, 6 months after having

She that's the one Jack's get asking for advice. 100%. I've asked her

for advice. Yeah. I know, but hey. Hey.

Hey. Hey. I'm not throwing stones. I just love this because Yeah. But who's

Let's get back in your box, young fella. She got me on the, rice bubbles.

So I used to have rice bubbles every Rice is good carbs. From

Cellwood. Really? And then I That crack will pop? Yeah. Just

hit her up for the, you know, Wednesday at the gels and when this is

early days, but Wednesday at the gels and electrolytes and all that sort of stuff.

But yeah. Yeah. She's a weapon. Yeah. I told her that I was doing one

one a week and she said, you're gonna have to up it up. You're gonna

have to up those numbers, young girl. Yeah. You're gonna have to

those numbers, sport, if you wanna do anything around the track, but Oh, I

love that. Just qualified for the Olympics and yeah. Sleep is

so cool. Yeah. Well, we are aware of the time.

That was amazing. That was funny. I could talk for days. I know. I know.

But, Tom, mate, thanks so much for not only coming on the podcast,

but sharing your story and more importantly, bringing light to families

like your own and mine that have probably, like myself, really

struggled to express it. Yeah. I think you gave a

platform and continue to do so, which is really important. So, mate, really

proud of you, and thanks for being on the show. No. Thanks.