Runbelievable: Real Runners, Unreal Stories

Ep 4: What Happens When Running Becomes Your Lifeline

• Josh Rischin • Season 1 • Episode 4

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Episode Description:

After years of addiction, poor mental health, and tough life choices, Mighty Mark found running almost by accident... and it changed everything.

In this powerful episode of Runbelievable, Joshie and Matty sit down with a man who went from rock bottom to becoming his parkrun community’s “Runner of the Year.” From his first tentative jog to his 100th parkrun, Mighty Mark’s story is one of redemption, resilience, and rediscovering joy through running.

From the dark days that sparked his transformation to the finish lines that now fill his weekends, this is a story about how running can rebuild far more than just fitness.

In this episode:

  • How Mark turned his life around through running
  • The parkrun community that lifted him up
  • What his 100th parkrun meant
  • The agony of a premature celebration
  • The small daily wins that keep him moving forward

Runbelievable — real runners, unreal stories.

Follow us on Instagram @rnblv_official

Got a Runbelievable story or interested in being a guest on the show? Hit us up on socials or email us at joshua@runbelievable.au

🎧 New episodes drop fortnightly; hit follow so you don’t miss a lap!

Josh:

Adrian mentioned that he had uh quite the mishap, I think, last year, where he was at the start line, noticed that the shoelace was undone, and why you would pick this particular moment to do up your shoelace as everyone starts moving. And yeah, apparently he he got completely rear-ended. Hello everybody, and welcome to Run Believable, the podcast where everyday runners share their not-so everyday stories. I'm your host, Josh Rishan, 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 laughs and the lessons to eating deep heat, we're here to share what makes running a truly human experience. And later in this episode, you'll meet a runner who's working through an incredible life transformation. From parties to park runs and endless PBs, his story is nothing short of remarkable. Maddie, welcome back. Just like the cat that you are, you've sprung back into the studio for some more fun. How are you?

Matt:

Great, mate, great. Happy to be here. Um, quite excited um to talk to our guests later on. Um but yeah, yeah, um, things have been really good. So yeah, thanks for having me.

Josh:

Yeah, so look, let's get stuck into the Run Believable rundown, Maddie. And as you know, this is where we share highlights, mishaps, and those little wins, the kind of stuff that Strava simply can't capture.

Matt:

Yeah.

Josh:

Now we actually have had something submitted from one of our lovely followers. Um, Adrian mentioned that he had uh quite the mishap, I think, last year where he was at the start line, noticed that the shoelace was undone, and why you would pick this particular moment to up your shoelace as everyone starts moving off. Oh what? And yeah, apparently he he got completely rear-ended. Um I'm not not exactly sure what the outcome was, but uh yeah, I'll tell you what, shoelace mishaps um they can be the end of you.

Matt:

Okay, that that that would have been like running to the balls, like he would have gone down and bang, and gee, yeah, not not the ideal moment to choose to action that.

Josh:

Yeah. Yeah, you wouldn't find me at Pamplona. I'd well, if I was there, I'd be running for the nearest fence and jumping before those balls came along. Um yeah, look, I'm lucky that I haven't had any major mishaps with when it comes to shoelaces when running. I mean, I've had the shoelaces come undone plenty of times before. Once when pacing at parkrun, that wasn't ideal because I had to kind of allow for well, what do you reckon it takes? 15, 20 seconds by the time you stop, do up the shoelace and keep going. Yeah. Uh perhaps the worst I've had though, when I was a kid and I was cycling, my shoelaces came undone. Yeah, and around the pedal. Yeah, exactly right. And it was uh it was a fixie. And so if you stop pedaling, um well, you can't try and backpedal. But I was going down a hill and I had this movement, and I just felt the shoelace get tighter and tighter around my foot as it got caught in the pedal, and it eventually ground me to a hole and kind of looked like uh you know, cow tipping. I felt like I was a cow that just suddenly got tipped onto my side. The kids are a bit older, just happened to be walking past at the time. And do you think they stopped to lend me assistance? Of course not. Absolutely not. No, they just pointed their fingers and laughed as as any older kid would do.

Matt:

That's right.

Josh:

So look, we better keep moving, Maddie. We've got our guest patiently waiting for us. So if you've got something that you'd like to contribute to the unbelievable rundown, then send it our way. And Maddie, you won't believe it. Over and under is back.

Matt:

Ah, okay.

Josh:

Now this I got three out of three on this, didn't I? Well, you did get three out of three, and then the last time you got two out of three. And I'll be honest, it's only because you got one wrong that I am continuing with this segment. I really, really do want to keep trying to trip you up if I can. And just a quick reminder about what this segment is all about. I'm going to throw out some running related stat or trivia, and Maddie has to guess if the real number is over or under. Feel free to play along at home. Today's questions are all about Parkrun Australia.

Matt:

Ooh, okay.

Josh:

Are you ready?

Matt:

Yes, I am.

Josh:

Question number one. As at now, there are 487 parkrun events in Australia. Is the real number higher or lower?

Matt:

It's actually higher, I think. I think it's uh did they hit 500?

Josh:

You are correct. 523 at last count.

Matt:

There we go. There we go. Okay.

Josh:

Well, for someone that doesn't do a lot of park runs, I'm truly impressed.

Matt:

Slightly covered at the same time. I asked the question to someone the other day or the other week. Um, so that's yeah.

Josh:

Yeah, oh how I wish uh I was a party to that conversation. I wouldn't want to put this one in. He's on fire. Question number two A total of 158,564 people have volunteered at Parkrun. And that's a unique number of individuals, and that's Parkrun Australia, by the way.

Matt:

I'd say it's way higher than that.

Josh:

I wouldn't say way higher, but you are correct. 187,165.

Matt:

Okay. That's a lot of people.

Josh:

It is. Yeah. Gosh, he's on fire. Question number three. The average parkrun finish time in Australia is 34 minutes and 12 seconds, is the real number. Higher or lower. And in fact, I'll say either faster or slower, just so that there's no confusion.

Matt:

Okay, well, that's going to confuse me because okay, so it's going to be faster.

Josh:

You are correct. Not much faster though. 33 minutes and 25 seconds is the average.

Matt:

I read that on the weekend.

Josh:

Oh, this is ridiculous. When you get inside your mind or hack your computer or something, that is truly incredible. How did you go at home? Feel free to let us know. Today's guest has turned his life around one brutal session at a time. After years of battling substance abuse, addiction, and poor mental health, he found running at the end of 2023, and his transformation has been nothing short of remarkable. From smashing out sub-19 parkruns to donning the volunteers vest, often at the same event, Mark's journey is equal parts grit, gratitude, and grace. He's Chermside Parkruns 2025 Parkrunner of the Year, a sub 330 marathoner, and a firm believer that running is for everyone, no matter how you do it. Please let's all welcome Mighty Mark.

Matt:

Hey, how are you, mate?

Josh:

Thanks so much for joining us. And dude, fresh and fresh from his latest incredible PB, a sub 4010K, which I know you've truly been working really hard towards, man. You know the vibes, what a massive achievement. Congratulations, dude.

Mark:

Congratulations. Yeah, thanks, guy. Yeah, that 10k, mate. What a run. Talk about um everything like a lining in one at one time. Like my training on my watch. I was on the on the way on the bus on the way into the bridge to Brisbane and um I checked my training status. I didn't realize it on the watch, and it says peeking, and I'm like, oh, this is awesome. And then a week before that, my VO2 match chopped off. I said I said to myself, mate, I think I'm on track here. I think the training's paid off. Had a little mini taper, you know. Um, yeah, and what a run. Yeah.

Josh:

Well, one thing I've noticed is you've really sort of that, you know, you you backed off your um, yeah, you you sort of really backed off your volume in the last few months, which looks like it was a really good stepping stone to set you up for success for this one.

Mark:

Yeah, I did.

Matt:

I agree, yeah.

Mark:

Well, I mean, I finished all my marathon, I finished all my my big runs, and um, I really like this year, I really wanted to concentrate on getting that 316 at the Gold Coast. So, like, that's what I trained so hard for. And once that was kind of done, once I finished the sunny half, once that was done, I'm like, you know, I don't need to be running this much anymore because I had so I had some crazy weeks during that build. Um, I was up to 150Ks at one stage, it was ridiculous.

Matt:

You did, yeah, you did.

Mark:

Yeah, yeah. And after that, I've been I took my first week off, almost a full week. I think I ran a couple of days, but I took a pretty much a whole week off after the sunny coast, and I was like, okay, reset. And then I knew I had to breach the prison. I said, okay, I've got five weeks now after that week off. I said, let's go. And I just I just cut my volume down. So I did what 60 to 70k's a week in training. Um, it's probably too much people were saying for a 10K, but like I need to run a lot, um, regardless whether or not training. I need to run. So to me, it wasn't much. Um, and but I just focused in on my my key sessions really, and the rest was pretty much easy. Well, a tempo park run, but yeah, yeah, yeah.

Matt:

I agree, like everyone's different. Um, like you need to run a lot. I'm someone as well. I don't do that volume that you've been doing, but I'm someone that has to run a lot as well. Um, it's it's yeah, it it's it's part of part of your life, and it actually the benefit you get from it. Um, there's so many different benefits um apart from fitness and you know training.

Josh:

Uh Mark, you've been quite uh quite open about your journey before running. Um what would you say was the turning point for you? That led me into running.

Mark:

That that turned me to runner. Um it was mental health, it was mental health battles and struggle. I was struggling with my mental health. Um Yeah, it was like it it didn't it didn't just well it kind of just happened, but it was over, it was gradual. Like it's yeah, I was dealing with mental health issues. I I used to get panic attacks a lot. Um and that's how I started running. So I think it was end of 22, start 23, somewhere around there. And I got diagnosed with a couple, a few mental health issues, um, which was good because that helped me to manage things better. Prior to that, I was I was doing it myself with drugs and alcohol. So um, yeah, so sort of knowing what I was dealing with helps a lot. Um, and then and then yeah, that sort of led into running because yeah, I was I was I I wasn't good mentally, so um, I was getting panic attacks a lot. That's what sort of started it, and uh and just the anxiety. So I started going out for walks. Um, and then that that was all hours in the morning sometimes. It depends when it happened, you know. You'd sort of you're not in control of when they have when they then they come to you, but um, yeah. So yeah, I just started running walks, just little walks first. Um, and gradually that turned into something bigger. That's sort of how I got into the how I sort of ended up running. Yep.

Josh:

That's incredible. And from you and I met before we uh before we sat down to talk today, and you you you mentioned it was almost an accidental discovery that I think you were in the in the in the midst of a panic attack and you had to get out of the house and got on the phone to you. I think you said your brother or something. You went, Oh, I'm actually starting to feel really good. Has he got your heart rate up walking around the block?

Mark:

Yeah, yeah, that's exactly right. Yeah, so that's right, yeah. Although I think it was my brother on my mate, yeah. I rang him and I said, mate, I think I'm dying. And um, but yeah, it was I started walking and then walking and talking, and um that I just got relief from that. And I just that's when I realized this is helping. And the next time it happened, I did the same thing again, you know, didn't always ring everyone at three in the morning, but I sort of just started going out by myself, and um yeah, that that that's how that helped me. That started helping, and that yeah, that eventually turned into into a run. Um, I started sort of just run walking, just the benefit I was getting from it. I was like, what if I keep doing more of this, you know? And yeah, and it wasn't easy at the start, but it got it got better.

Matt:

Yeah.

Josh:

And I guess along the way, Mark, you've um you know you've told me that you've had a few people that have you know either either doubted you or doubted that you'd ever be a a runner, um, which you know it sounds like you've been able to use for for for inspiration. I mean, what's helped you, I guess, stay the course and stay focused on on achieving your goals when you know you've had so so many other factors that would potentially be you know trying to derail you.

Mark:

Um just just self doing better for myself. Um and and then when you like when I discovered Park Ryan, um that really that really changed changed my um attitude as well because I wanted to get better. Um I wanted to be a better runner. Um and then just wanting to just self just self-improvement, like because for those years prior to all that, I had been feeling like absolute crap. Like I don't know how you can explain it, but I wasn't good, you know?

Matt:

And um it's yeah, it's it's destructive rather than rather than positive, um, healthy um achievement or purpose or um you know aspiring to be a better person um through running. I think they're very aligned. Running and um, you know, trying to better yourself are very, very much aligned.

Mark:

Yeah, definitely. Well, that's right. And I used to like back back in those early, those dark days, I call them all when it was when I was bad. Like I used to pride myself on how long I was like, oh, you've been awake for three days, and then acting like a hero and write my mental health out the window, and just you know what I mean. But now I'm just like yo, I'm running five days a week. Like I've I've flipped everything around. Um and it's better, it's 150 times better for me. So um, and I just focus on that. I focus on just getting better. Um, and I feel good doing it. That's that's the good thing. Like, and the more I keep doing, like, the better, like I'm getting like like I'm seeing results, it makes me feel better. And um, that's what that's what that's my drive, I guess. That's the drive, just to keep improving. And and and I look back and I see how do you ever sorry, do you ever look back?

Matt:

And I know you and I have had this conversation, but do you ever look back to where you were in those dark times? And if someone said to you, this is who you were going to be in three, four years' time, do you ever think to yourself, oh my god, like look where I am, look where I was, I could never imagine.

Mark:

Yeah, mate. Do you ever think back? Do you ever think back to that though? Um, like I've had thoughts like back then, like now, thinking back, like, yeah, there's no way in the world that I thought I'd be running. Like, there's yeah, you got there's no chance, mate. Like, there's no chance, but I could barely like it.

Matt:

That's the last thing you can think of.

Mark:

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, you would never think running. I I actually I remember I used to be at the casino a lot, but I remember sitting on the verandas and seeing people running around in the morning, like I'd still be awake the next morning. And I just these guys are crazy as if you'd be doing that. You know what I mean? I remember heckling them, thinking that's just stupidity. Not knowing, like, you know, five, four or five years later or whatever, that um that that's that's me. It's me doing it now. So it's crazy. Yeah, it is crazy.

Matt:

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Josh:

Your your um transformation's been truly incredible. I remember, you know, when I first met you a couple of years ago, maybe two and a half years ago, you were sort of I think running around the 22-ish minute mark and always knew that you're much you know more capable than that. You you had speed. I think it was only uh maybe a year ago that you finally got yourself a watch as well, like for a lot of that time running without a watch and sort of working it all out to for yourself. Um what you've been able to achieve in just uh in such a short period of time has been incredible. Um one thing I did want to sort of check in with you about is you know, with what you've been through, um a lot of people probably don't appreciate the the journey, and so they'd see Mighty Mark now and think, you know, oh yeah, he he's done, you know, he's he's got his his life in in in order. But it sounds like you know, for you uh that your your journey is very much that. There's no destination that there you're on this um ongoing transformation that's a continued process.

Mark:

Yeah, I've definitely I don't know about yeah, I don't know if there's a destination, but I know that I'm not going back to what I how it used to be, that's for sure. Um I just gotta keep moving forwards um and just keep doing better. Like that's why running is so good, right? It's because you can always set a new goal. Like, you know what I mean? Like I'm I'm gonna like like a goal's out of track. I want to run a sub three hour marathon, like that's on my to-do list. Um like I might get that next year, it might take me two years, but like that's something I want to achieve. So I'm gonna keep working towards that, and then once I hit that, then let's let's look at the next goal. But running just keeps that's like if you want to give a destination, that's my destination, it's just self-improvement, keep getting better, keep managing mental health, and um and just yeah, move forward, you know, not stay not stay stuck. Because when you get stuck, you sort of you don't go anywhere.

Matt:

Yeah. Yeah, that's right.

Josh:

Now, one thing, Mark, is you haven't just jumped into the the running side, and you know, you're you're you're well deserving of all the the running accolades that you have, but I think no sooner had you started running um you also immersed yourself in the in giving back and being part of the run truly being part of the the running community. And you know, I don't think I've seen anyone that has so been so quickly and w willingly taking up a volunteer opportunity. Um you know, you're you're you're certainly well and truly deserving of the uh Chernside Parkruns Park Runner of the Year. Well, what can you tell us about that that day? Because it sounds as though you weren't exactly prepared for that acknowledgement.

Mark:

No, I wasn't at all. Um I'm not surprised. I'm just like I'm so happy that like the day the the run directors and that nominated me and they recognized me. That was so cool. Um yeah, I was just recording that day. I was making it I was making a video for my YouTube channel for the 10th birthday. Um yeah, and then Rodney, the run director that day, was giving the the the speech, you know, on the 10th birthday, they always pick someone every year um for whatever reasons, you know, and he he he listed a few. And um, I didn't know it was gonna be me. And um because this person gives back to running, and you know, he's going on about things, and you might see him zoom past you, and then you know you'll be barcoding or you know, whatever. There's a few things he was saying that were nice, and then when he said, You know the vibes, I was like, Oh no, it's me. And then, you know, and then he quickly at me and he goes, Papa, you know, mighty my and I was like, Wow! So yeah, caught me by surprise. Um, but it felt good that I was like recognized by the community, you know. And it is true, like I do volley when I can. Um, yeah, and I get I give back to running. I like like running's done so much for me, so I love to like give back wherever I can. And um, yeah, and I show a lot of interest in people's running. Like, I like to hear their stories, I'm always keen on their times, how you how should we be running? And like I find it interesting. And um, I'm a runner, so I I understand when they when they tell me things, I'm like, Yep, I I I relate to that. So, and um, I think you build a good connection with people through through running. Um, I know, I know I definitely have.

Matt:

You do.

Mark:

Yeah, yeah.

Josh:

For you know, for a relatively new runner, you're incredibly durable. I mean, uh and I'm speaking here from personal experience as well. When I first took up running, my body didn't respond very well, and I spent uh a lot of time on the sidelines and wondering if I'd ever be able to, you know, run a 5k, let alone a marathon. And yeah, it sounds as though you you worked really hard on the the stuff that's complementary to running with strength and conditioning. Um, I think you you swear by foam rolling before every run. I mean, what can you tell us about your regime that sort of has um led you to be probably the the envy of my running peers uh being such a durable runner?

Mark:

Well, yeah, I mean, as like let me say this what it's it's been it's a lot of hard work. Like you see me turn up now, and like I'm sort of running sub-20s pretty consistently now, like which is was one of my goals. So I'm really happy about that. But like prior to all that, like this is before I had Strava and everything. So when I first started, and after you know, getting off the drugs and alcohol and that it was tough. It was like a solid six months where I was in in pain, and I was like, I'm talking vomiting when I was running, um, headaches, yeah. I just aches, pains. Um, I just I went through all that stuff. People didn't see that. I've got some video footage of it somewhere, it might be early in my YouTube channel somewhere, but um, but I went through all that, and then I discovered parkrun, and then that's where I still got my appetite or my like comp uh compulsiveness to get better, and then I started from there, and then I started working on my times, you know. I think my first park run actually was around 25 minutes, something like that, 20 25 to 36 minutes when I first started, and I got that time over the two-year period or two and a half years down to down to down to the 20 minute under a 20-minute time. But it was just all the training, it was the hard work getting there. And running's running's a journey, and you learn stuff. And I know when I started, lots of people tell you stuff because you know everyone runs and they've got their own ideas. You gotta run slower, mate, to run faster, and the you know, the 80-20 rule, and there's like you've got to do your long runs and this and that. Like, I was hearing so much stuff left, right, and center, and you've got to keep your heart rate low. I was like, yo, what are you all talking about? So I I learned and I used to watch YouTube, yeah, yeah. And I take in stuff from other runners and I go and watch what they're saying. Like, I remember I didn't even know what half the terminology meant. I didn't had no idea. Um, but I just taught myself everything and um watched watched heaps of running videos, um, YouTube runners and like Olympic runners, and yeah, that's how I sort of got to work, like I sort of taught myself from those things. Um, and then like lessons like read, like stuff I do now, because I taught my meniscus in the first six months um when I started, and that was just from wrong shoes and probably not you know strength training or anything like that. So they all that all taught me lessons. Um yeah, and then I remember watching, I think it was Matt Matt Hansen. He had a video one day about doing the one doing the 1% stuff, you know. And um, because I didn't really do much warm-up before runs, sort of thing, you know. Um, and I was getting I for the first probably year, I had this pain. I ran through this like sciatica pain or down my left calf. It was tight, but I just kept running through it. Hey, I just like but I was in a lot of pain all the time. Um, and then one day I watched Matt and he's like, You get all these 1% stuff. He and he said he phone rolls before and after every run. I was like, you know what?

Matt:

I can't, yeah.

Mark:

And I mean, I said I can start doing that. So I just started doing it, and at first you miss a few times, you know. I do it religiously now. Like that I I've barely missed before now. I'll do a like I'm not going, I'm not doing a heavy phone roll, but I'll I'll do enough to get like blood flow to the areas. Um, and I do that sort of, I have a little routine. So I'll do that before every run, whether it's a just a casual jog, like a tempo run, whatever I'm doing, I'll do a like this morning. I'll got up early. Before Bridge to Brisbane, I got up early. So I'll do that foam roll technique. Um and I'll just do some basic stretches. Um just activate the muscles before I do it, and then then obviously then you do a warm-up run and all that stuff once you're going. But yeah, that's what I always do before every run. Um and I find, and you know what, I've been I've been injury free. I like touch wood, but I've been injury free. I've had no problems like during that whole build. Um, all those mileage that I was doing, like so. I don't know, I'm not saying it's gonna work for everyone, but it's definitely working for me doing these little things.

Josh:

So yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah. Well, I certainly uh admire your your discipline, Mark. The the regime that you have uh is is truly incredible. And it's pro you have proven success as well in the in in the process and well well deserving of all those achievements. And yeah, one thing I did want to check in with you is uh yeah, you you you've achieved a hell of a lot, uh you know, sub 330 marathon, which I think you've done a couple of times now. I mean you you did that once and you went, oh no, no, no, 330, sorry, 327, I think 328, and you're like, ah no, I'm not happy with that. I'm gonna go and smash that by you know 10 minutes or something like that. Um wow, what what keeps you motivated to to back up uh you know again and again? Because for some people, even just the idea of a marathon is way too extreme a thought to even contemplate putting in the work towards. I mean, what what keeps you motivated to back up again and again?

Mark:

Um what keeps me it's a pretty good question. I just I just want to get better. I want more and I want those times. I want to prove to myself that I can physically like I can do this. Like, because when I started, I didn't think I could. I even I remember like it was a couple of the boys from from the park run and they said you gotta just enter me into the Brisbane fall. I was like, man, shouldn't I do like a half first? Or just do a bone? I'm like, okay, mate.

Matt:

You did a fall before a half, yeah.

Mark:

You know, and then and I ran three, I ran a 335 on the on the on my first one. And after I did it, like it was such an eye-opener. I've got that first video on my YouTube too, and it was such an emotional time because I just never thought I would even finish it like that time, you know. I I had a goal, I was like five minute patient. I was like, maybe I can get 330. But yeah, 335 was the first time um I did that marathon. And then after that, it taught me so much. And I'm like, you know, I can do this again, I can do this better. And I just wanted to prove to myself, you know, and that and that that's and that's what I kept doing. And that that's like a snowball effect, I guess. Okay, now I've done that. Yeah, let's do the next one. Let's try to better that time. And then so I did. So I did the uh 24, I did the Brisbane full first, three, and then I went, I can I want sub 330. And then I trained again between that and the sunny coast full, and I I got 327 for my um for my half. I mean for my full. So yeah, I was like, yes, and I proved to myself I did it again, you know. Um yeah, then then the year just part this year just gone. Uh I got a bit smarter. I went, you know, I'm not gonna do two marathons this year. I'll just choose one marathon and just concentrate all my energy into this one and just let's see what I can do. And yes, I went from 327 down to 316. So yeah, 11. That's crazy, right? Yeah, yeah. Um and that's just that's just well, yeah. I just kept pushing myself and I just wanted to see if I could what I can do, and um and I still feel I can do more. I really do.

Josh:

Yeah, that's cool. Well, correct me if I'm wrong, but I think you're sort of uh harbouring ambitions, and I think you're well and truly capable of this of one day running a a sub three-hour marathon, which would be a truly incredible achievement. Um is that something that is on the horizon uh next year or a couple of years? What's your sort of time horizon looking like? Because I know that that's a huge goal for you.

Mark:

Yeah, I've been thinking about it now after the 360. Like I've been thinking, I was like, no, this is this this is in reach, you know. Like I took 11 minutes off last year. So, you know, if I take another 11 off, it's very achievable. Um, picking the right course as well. So like Gold Coast is pretty flat. Um, I was even contemplating Belgium next year, somewhere, somewhere because if I go there, I really want to turn up. So um, but look, next year, I don't know. I'm not gonna say no, but I know I know what I've learned so far in these like last few and a half years, two and a half years or so of running that you need to have running economy. Like I need you need to be on, you need to have a lot of running under your belt, so to speak. You know what I mean? You need to be at have a lot of running.

Matt:

Yeah. Um I don't know if I've done enough to yeah, I don't know if I've done enough yet.

Mark:

That's that's my only takeaway. I'm not saying that I couldn't, but yeah, but I'm not gonna I'm gonna try, but I'm gonna get close to as close to as possible three three um hours next year for sure. Um, and if I go under would be awesome. But realistically, I think it's gonna take me two years, but let's see what happens, you know.

Matt:

Yeah, okay.

Mark:

Yeah.

Matt:

I mean, the the the beautiful thing with running is um it's continual teaching. Like it's you learn lessons um no matter how far you are into running, or no matter you know what sort of distances you can run. You learn lessons about yourself, about your character, um, about you know, pushing your body and and doing things that you I know for myself perceived impossible. Um and then you have those those events or races that you go in um that don't work out, that are horrible. And you can take so much out of that as well. Um it's yeah, it's such a great thing.

Mark:

Yeah, that's true. Um, you know what? Every time I've finished, every time I finished like a race or a run, um, when I've competed or whatever, I'm gone for a time, I've always taken something away at the end of it, whether whether it's been okay, I didn't do enough strength in that that that run, because it let me down. I I felt what you know, you look at your body, you go, what let me down then? You know, and uh it could be that I didn't do four runs. I needed to get, oh man, I should just got a couple more long runs in at 35ks, and I didn't, and then you sort of you'll tell as you as you run more, you start to learn your body. Well, that's what I I've been learning a lot, and that's what I take away.

Josh:

Yeah, yeah. Yeah, one thing that it's quite easy when we don't achieve what we set out to that we beat ourselves up, and obviously, I don't know whether or not you go through that same thought process. I mean, outwardly you're Seem to be quite reflective and take a lot of positives away from every experience, even if it's not achieving the goal that you want it to. But is that something that you've found easy, or have you found it challenging to take away those experiences and accept them from what they are? Um, or or have you had the propensity to you know be unkind to yourself?

Mark:

Um yeah, sometimes I try to stay positive these days. Like in all situations, I try to see the good thing because I never used to. Um, but like I'm a human, like everyone else. I beat myself up sometimes about things, um, and that just drives me to like want to do better. But I I try not to let it um like dictate how I am, if that makes sense. Like I don't yeah, okay. I was pretty I was pretty annoyed at myself um at the on the Brisbane half this year because I wanted to get closer to 130, and I beat my PB by 30 seconds, which is great, like it's a PB, but I just really thought I would have ran better, but um I didn't. So that kind of I got a little bit there, but then people were running on me, like dog bro, is it still a PB well done? But like me, I put so much hard work in, and I knew that I could have ran better, but it's just one of those days, like sometimes you just don't run well, you know, you your body's just not that's right, yeah, yeah. So, I mean, yeah, it's happened at park runs, it happens sometimes on my lot, just a normal casual jog of going out with full intention, and you just start running, and you're like, oh man, you know, but you can look, I'm gonna finish the run. I'm not gonna like just quit. I'm gonna finish it, and yeah, okay, it didn't wasn't how I felt when I started, but you know, it is what it is, and let's just run till I know you know what? Because I know the next day you wake up and mate, it just could you could just have the this the ultimate run, you know. Yeah, yeah, it that happens a lot too. Yeah.

Matt:

Yeah. Yeah.

Josh:

Yeah. I hope you give yourself enough credit for your for your journey, Mark, because even on those days where you're not necessarily hitting the goals that you you set for yourself, you you're still turning up and you're giving it your all, and you really should be truly proud of yourself for the for the journey and what you've been able to achieve, no matter whether or not you're hitting the goals that you that you set out to.

Mark:

Yeah, yeah, no, I'm definitely um yeah, I know I agree. Yeah, I definitely um I'm definitely proud of what I'm doing. Um and while I'm doing it, it's inspiring people. Like I was getting people telling me, yeah, and that's what I love that more too. Like I love hearing making someone happy. They're like, I'm just running. I'm just running, but like it makes people happy. That's right, yeah. Yeah. And they can see me doing it. And you know, I'm sharing my journey. Um, because everyone knows what it's like to run, and it's not easy for everybody. And I'm not saying it's easy for me either. Like, I I I have my hard days too, but it's something that we can all relate to, and um, I think sharing it with people is really good because you can take something out of it.

Matt:

Yeah, definitely. Running's not an easy sport.

Josh:

No, it's not. And you know, you hear a lot about the agony and the uh and the ecstasy, and you've had plenty of those those highs, Mark, but you've also had the um and look, we've all had these moments of the uh the the early celebration where we think we think we've crossed the finish line and we and we haven't. You're gonna are you happy to share that experience because uh um I haven't heard this.

Mark:

Yeah, so it was the um it was last year. It was in um the gold, the Gold Coast um half, I think it was. And um um I've come through and like still a bit of experience, and I wasn't paying attention either um in my running, but yeah, I come through and I I thought the finish line was the I thought the finish line was where it said 250 kilometers. He said 250 kilometers to go, but you know when you're in the zone, you're running, you're not really paying to catch it. And I got through that and I thought I listened, I thought I actually finished. And I go right down to pretty much just to stopping. I'm standing around, I've seen other people running past still, and they've got people in the crowd looking at me, and someone were laughing, and they're like, keep going, like this is not the finish line. I went, oh no, and then it's hit me, taken off. So yeah, I um I I I I thought I'd finished, but it wasn't the finish line. So that happened.

Josh:

So a mental note now of uh did it cost you did it cost you a PB that day?

Mark:

Um so did that cost you a PB? That was my first half that on in two that so on 2024 I did I did the uh sunny half. Uh sorry, I always get everything back to my so 2024. I did um Brisbane Fall, Gold Coast half, Sunny Fall, yeah, and and the half I did I just took on because um someone offered it to me. I wasn't even gonna do it to be honest. Um then someone goes, You want to do the half Gold Coast? I was oh yeah, I'd love to do it. So yeah, I didn't know didn't know much about the course then or anything, and I just took it, so yeah. Um and yeah, so I but I didn't have a I didn't have a half time then, a proper half uh marathon time until then, really. Yeah.

Matt:

I still think it's funny and crazy that you ran a full marathon before a half marathon.

Mark:

Yeah, don't listen to your mates, bro. They're talking to anything, but yeah.

Josh:

I don't know if you remember telling me this, uh Mark, but it might have been a year or two ago. I think you you paced at uh Chernside. I can't remember if it was the 20-minute pacer or 2230, but uh I think you came a little bit under the uh the pace timer. You're like, what are people complaining about? They should be thanking me.

Mark:

Well you think so, right? No, no, yeah. A couple times I put my hand up. I think I think in my early stages, yeah, it was a 25-minute, they didn't have one that day. And they go, did anyone want to be the pace? I didn't like I still didn't know really what I was doing. I didn't even have a watch then. I was using my phone because I didn't have a watch. I was using my Strava map while I was running. Anyway, yeah, I said, Yeah, I'll do the 25-minute peso, and I just took off. And uh yeah, I got back. I think I got back in 23 minutes or something, and yeah, a few people went back in.

Matt:

It's like Oprah, everyone gets a PB.

Mark:

Exactly.

Josh:

Yeah, so how ungrateful were all those people were.

Mark:

Yeah, and then I talked, I said, look, I so I'm sorry, and then I did and I did it again um a while later, maybe I did another one. I don't know what time that was, and again I was going out too fast. And I had one, I think one of the guys go, just give me the vest, I'll do it. And I said, Oh, just slow down, and I still slowed down. So yeah, apologise guys for my um my um non-pacing skills, but I'm getting better. I should be able to pace a bit better now. I've come a come a long way since then, hopefully. Yeah, yeah.

Josh:

Oh, good on you. You're doing great now. Look, um Mark, I couldn't finish up without exploring a little bit about your uh your DJing days. Now I know you don't necessarily like to focus too much on your um on your life before running, but my goodness, you've lived quite the life. Um uh from what I know, you've rubbed shoulders with some of the biggest in the world.

Matt:

Really? Yeah, mate. Um tell us, Mark.

Mark:

Yeah, I had a um yeah, I've always DJed. Well, I haven't done any more, but I DJed through my all through from like 2000 up until 2016, and then I was still involved after that just with a few events and stuff, concerts. But um, yeah, I've always DJed, so I just made a name for myself in the local scene. Um, predominantly a hip hop and RB DJ, you know. So I was resident at some of the big nightclubs back then in the valley and that in the city. And um, yeah, I was just very fortunate. I think it was the right time at the right place coming up, you know. Um, and yeah, got to open up for some big names, um, just like hip-hop names, and there was festivals also I played at as well. Um, but yeah, like yeah, Naughty by Nature, um Ja Rule, T-Pain.

Matt:

Wow.

Mark:

Um, oh, there's there's there's there was heaps that I met him at the club. Sean Paul was another one. Um oh yeah, man. Yeah, it's been a bit of crazy, right? And then and then G Jang, something that I was really passionate about. So I like that creative side of things. Like, same with my YouTube. Like, I like making the thumbnails, I like the video editing side of it as well. Same with the with the music, same thing. I used to love doing mixtapes and and and and mixing music and and watching people's reactions, and yeah, that that that used to, I used to love doing that. So, but yeah, it took me a lot of places. I got to travel a lot. I traveled overseas, I played at a lot of clubs overseas. Um, yeah, like it's a beautiful thing, really. But just just the whole other side of it, um, because I had no self-control, you know, so that kind of ruined it a little bit for me. But but the whole music side of it and the DJing, yeah, I loved it. It was great. And yeah, and I'm I was so lucky to meet all these people, and um yeah, what an experience. Hey, it's crazy to think about it, actually.

Matt:

Yeah.

Josh:

So who would you say was the I guess of all the of all the the big names that you met, who would you say was the was was the the most genuine? Was were there any that you seemed to just connect with?

Mark:

Like yeah, like KG, the DJ from um from Naughty by Nature. So when he came, we we had to do a setup uh before the club opened, you know, do a sound test and all that. And he was cool. He was very like down to earth. He talked to me, even gave me a USB stick with some of his new tracks he'd be working. Yo, Mark, you know, we so that was cool. Like he kg was cool. Um T Payne was probably the most, out of everyone that I've met, was the most nicest to me, as in just as a human to human without all the celebrity status, you know. Um, he was cool, he was just yo. Because I was down the Gold Coast that night and he turned up and um and my friend was DJing from Sydney. And um he just goes, Yo, you guys want to come and like party, hang out with us? We're like, Yeah, for sure, mate, you know. Um, and then he picked us up from the hotel. We drove back with him from the Gold Coast, all the way back to Brisbane. He was staying in the Emporium then, and we hung up with him for like three days, you know, up in his uh up in the penthouse there and just chatting, talking, he was showing us two songs. He was yeah, like that was such a that was such a great moment. I'll never forget hanging out with him. And um Wow. Yeah, just getting, yeah, just and he and just as just forgetting all that. It was just a human, just like how we're talking now. Like, you know what I mean? Yeah, some of the I've been around other artists, and they're not like that. They're like, you know, you're beneath, well, I'm not saying you're beneath me, but you know what I mean. We're celebrities, you're not yeah, I know what you mean. I'm not trying to be rude, but yeah, yeah, but he he he's one person that was just so um just so down to earth and yeah, just treated treated treated me like someone I'm like a normal person, so yeah, I appreciated that. I'll never forget that. Yeah.

Josh:

So do you do you miss the the DJing at all, or do you feel as though you've been able to, I guess, release your creative side enough through the the YouTube videos you do? And I do want to explore a bit about your YouTube channel as well before we finish up. But yeah, do you do you miss the DJing, or do you feel as though you have enough creative pursuits through the amazing videos that you've worked on?

Mark:

Yeah, like yeah, I don't miss Djang anymore. Like I've I've I've I think I've had my run and I've like I like I've never I've still got my staff, but I never turn it on anymore. Um I think I've just grown out of it, so to speak. Like I probably would still mix if it was open and I had a shot to play somewhere, like not play somewhere, but just jam again, you know. Um but yeah, I don't really miss it. I guess because with the whole side of music now, and and because I believe in God as well, like for all those years, like I don't really agree with some of the songs I used to play anymore. Yeah like some of the lyrics and what it promotes, and um, yeah, so anyways, but yeah, no, I don't I don't really miss it to be honest. But with the creative side of things, yeah, I definitely found that within on with all the editing and other stuff that I'm doing. Like I find it it's the same mental um what do you call it? Like I need the same uh about I need the same amount of um mental effort as I would if I was doing a mix, you know what I mean? As though if I was editing a video. I I get that um reward from doing that, yeah. For making the videos. Wow.

Matt:

Yeah, that's that's really cool.

Josh:

And those videos that you make are a fan. I don't know how you how you're able to so quickly turn them around from a run. It's almost as if you're producing them as you're running. Um for those for those who who are listening, um certainly make sure you check out Mighty Mark's YouTube channel. And correct me if I'm wrong, it's at Mighty Mark Runner. Is that correct?

Mark:

Yeah, that's it, mate. Yeah, just one word, yeah. Mighty Mark Runner on YouTube, yeah. You'll see me there. Um yeah. Well, we thought about the videos.

Josh:

Yeah, go for it. Um we we'd love to hear about your your inspiration. I mean, we know that you're uh sort of really trying to get your your message out there and um you know get get people to sort of follow along your journey. So um, yeah, what what can you share with us about um uh about your channel and what that means to you?

Mark:

Yeah, so I started the channel because I had others, I had like Instagram and that first, but I got off all of that. I kind of find well for me personally, I find that stuff a bit toxic and Facebooks and all that, like I just I got away from all of it, and then I was like, yo, well, I still want to promote myself, so I was gonna try this YouTube avenue, you know. Um, and that's why I started making my little videos. And I when I first started, that was back when I was a very not a good runner, and I used to make these ones with just words coming up anyway. Got past all that, and then I was like, I want to share my journey more of where I'm coming from now because like running's helping me heaps, and yeah, I just started making other videos like park runs. That's how it all started and the creativity side of it. And I just used I just used oh my gosh, I can't talk. I used to use my phone to record because that's all I had, you know. Um, and it was just a learning process getting through all that. Um, so I used to put videos there, and then eventually I upgraded. I got gifted a um a GoPro for Christmas one year, and then yeah, that's changed everything since that. And I've been able to make some good quality sort of videos. Um, and it's just a learning journey, again, self-taught, like how I sort of learn how to run, like watching videos and learning a lot of stuff. I've watched a lot of editing videos on YouTube, how to make videos, and yeah, look, I'm getting better. Um, I'm I know that that could be a lot better, but I'm getting better at them. Um, and then denying what I'm gonna sort of promote. Yeah, so yeah, I'm yeah, I am getting quicker though.

Josh:

You're doing a great job. So yeah, certainly everyone, make sure that you check out Mighty Mark's YouTube channel at MightyMarkRunner. Mark, it's truly been a joy speaking with you today. Thanks so much for joining us on Run Believable. Your journey has been inspirational and we'll continue to follow follow you along for uh as as long as you're going to be running. Yeah, thank you guys.

Mark:

Thank you, Runbelievable, for having me on. Hey, such a privilege, guys. So I hope um people get something out of this. Yeah, hopefully, yeah, they get something out of this, take away something that that inspires them or helps them. Um yeah, yeah, check out my channel, guys. And hopefully there's something in there as well that might um that you know might hit home to you. So yeah.

Josh:

Fantastic.

Matt:

It's awesome.

Josh:

Thanks again, Mighty Mark, and yeah, look forward to seeing you out there.

Matt:

Yeah, cheers, boys. Thank you very much. Thanks, mate. See you soon.

Josh:

See ya. Wow, Maddie, I don't know about you, but Mighty Mark's story is perhaps the most inspirational I've I've heard.

Matt:

Yeah, yeah, same here. Yeah. Um, I was really looking forward to that to hear more about his journey. Um yeah, amazing.

Josh:

Yeah. I mean, it never ceases to amaze me that the amount of people that have incredible journeys and stories to share. I mean, mighty Mark, if I if I didn't know, for you know, if we didn't stop to have a chat with him, we'd be none the wiser about his his journey. And that's it for today. Got a run believable story of your own? We'd truly love to hear it. And if you'd like to be a guest on the show, feel free to hit us up. And finally, this podcast relies on your continued support. So please follow, rate, and share with your running mates, and we'll see you for the next run believable adventure.