BIOGRAPHY

Previous Marathon Man Events:

 

I previously played rugby union during the school and university days and initially started running to keep active and help to keep off the weight. The issue was that running had never become addictive for me before and it was always something of a major effort. I had completed a number of smaller events in the past with primarily 10km fun runs in Sydney, Brisbane and London.

I like to set goals and most recently I made the decision to get some balance back in my life after work had taken on too much importance and I had stacked on the weight. At the end of 2006 it was time to focus and I commenced the journey towards dropping some 30kg. I was very conscious that the pressure placed on my body due to the excess weight and started a strict diet and intensive cardio programme in the gym to achieve this goal. Following the successful journey during 2007 I was looking for the next challenge and had always dreamed of running a marathon.

It was not until September 2007 that I started my very first half marathon in Sydney and although I struggled to walk for the next week the fact that I had completed this goal now provided the belief that I could take the next step towards taking on the marathon. This was to turn into the next steps towards the toughest footrace on earth and there could be no bigger or better challenge ... Running has always been a great leveller and it is the personal challenge to improve myself that now makes running a major part of my life to achieve personal goals and search to make a difference!

The major purpose is to continue raising global awareness and support for the UK based charity Facing Africa. I am extremely motivated so as to support the "Facing Africa" organisation and help raise awareness across Australia and the world of the devastating impact the disease of poverty known as 'Noma' is creating throughout Africa. Having recovered following jaw surgery myself in 2007, I have a little appreciation of the trauma and the medical process required to make a difference to those suffering from the disease. Noma occurs in young children between the ages of 1-6 years who are malnourished and debilitated by diseases like measles and malaria. It spreads very quickly and after a few days a facial gangrene develops in the mouth and within a few weeks the lips, cheek, nose and jaw are eaten away, leaving unsightly gaping holes in the face of the victims. Without treatment in the early stages with relatively simple and inexpensive antibiotics, it is estimated that 90 per cent of patients die. The 10 per cent who survive are the true victims - facially disfigured, unable to eat and speak satisfactorily, ostracised by society, school and friends. I am extremely passionate about raising support for the Facing Africa cause by providing valuable financial assistance and also highlighting the need for leading medical professionals to volunteer time and expertise to those less fortunate. Further information is available at http://www.facingafrica.org

The 2008 Marathon des Sables experience was out of this world ... Now I was a little out of my depth here in stepping up to take on “the toughest footrace on earth” through the Sahara Desert having never started a marathon though there was never a moment that I contemplated not seeing it through to the end. The event started with 801 competitors from around the world and was a personal mission for each and every person. The event pushes you to your limit and challenges you to do better. There is a great amount of respect and appreciation that you have for each other at the end of each stage and the event itself. The Marathon des Sables was an incredible test over 245.3km! The event is considered as one of the toughest footraces on earth not only due to the conditions though also the fact that each competitor must carry all supplies on their back with up to 15kg weight limit and the only provisions provided were 9 litres of water per day... While this was one of the most challenging events of all time with up to 55 degree temperatures across salt flats on Day 2 and then one of the toughest days ever on Day 4 with the 75.5km stretch amongst the most intense physical, mental and emotional journeys ever. This stage of the race had me crossing the Sahara over the final 30km in the pitch black night of the desert, finally crossing the finish line in a little under 19 hours. The event certainly did change me for the better and pushed me to the limits.

The world of ultra endurance and marathon sports is one that really brings out the best in people. It is not so much about racing the clock - in many ways it is about racing against yourself to survive and make it through to the end! There are a number of events that have my interest at the moment with the Comrades Marathon in South Africa and the Badwater Marathon in the USA on the list. Following the successful completion of the Marathon des Sables, I have plans to return to the Sahara Desert again in the future. The short term goal is to continue to run in the major marathons throughout the world and take on one major ultra marathon event per year.

There is no greater pursuit than the marathon and the journey to conquer the distance is a personal triumph for all to be proud! The power of the mind cannot be underestimated in competing over the marathon and ultra marathon distance as all the training in the world can sometimes not make up for strength of character. It would be awesome if just a fraction of those people I meet who mention the stories of thinking about a running marathon would take up the challenge as I know they would do it well and it would change the way they look at the world. It is not so much about racing against the clock as the numbers are simply a way to measure ourselves over the distance. It is more about the significance of the achievement on completion of the journey! There are too many people interested in talking about failures or finding reasons why not to do something as opposed to celebrating the success stories and looking to raise the bar to that next level. The challenge for me is not to settle and to step up for the next exciting adventure by simply moving one foot in front of the other each and every time getting a little closer to the ultimate target.
It is very common to be told what you can’t do as opposed to what is possible. If more people took the leap of faith the world would be a better place. So go on take that leap with me and let the adventures for 2010 and beyond begin.

“DARE TO DREAM, START TO BELIEVE AND YOU WILL ACHIEVE – ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE!”

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