Runbelievable: Real Runners, Unreal Stories

Ep 9: From Worksite to Start Line: Craig Parsons on Mental Health, Societal Norms, and Running for Balance

• Josh Rischin • Season 1 • Episode 9

Share episode

Running doesn’t just build fitness; sometimes, it rebuilds a sense of self.

For carpenter and father of three Craig Parsons, running began in a rather unique way. Balancing long hours, physical work, and family life, Craig has faced anxiety, alcohol, and self-doubt head-on... proving that strength isn’t about muscle, it’s about mindset.

In this raw and honest episode of Runbelievable, Joshie and Matty talk with Craig about the challenges of opening up in a tough, masculine industry, the lessons learned through injury and recovery, and how running helped him find focus, purpose, and community.

In this episode:

  • How running entered and transformed Craig’s life
  • The shift from casual jogs to marathon milestones
  • Overcoming injury during Ned’s Uncomfortable Challenge
  • Managing anxiety and alcohol for long-term wellbeing
  • Redefining strength and balance in work, family, and running

Runbelievable: real runners, unreal stories.

Follow us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/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!

Craig:

I've always struggled with anxiety, but then with kids, with my own kids and realizing it affects my life and their life. I didn't want them to, you know see me like that, or I wanted to enjoy my life more with my kids, so I decided to yeah, get help. Um and uh better for it.

Joshie:

Hello everybody and welcome to Run Political Everyday Running and not so everyday story. So I think running uploads where what makes money a truly human experience. Later in this episode, you'll meet a runner who's challenging spike norms and showing unwavering resolve in the process. I really can't wait to chat with him, Maddie. Welcome back. Black Friday Hotels are well and truly upon us. What is on your shopping list?

Matty:

Been going through them. Um very dangerous, but no, there's nothing on the list. Um there may be purchases, who knows? But yeah, I'm trying to avoid them as much as I can.

Joshie:

Yeah, look, I know you quite well, and I think you'll struggle to avoid the shops. Um price up there right now.

Matty:

So who knows?

Joshie:

Yeah, well, let us know what you end up getting. Um, and let's get stuck into the unbelievable rundown. And just a reminder, this is where we share highlights, mishaps, and little wins, the kind of stuff that Strava simply can't capture. Although, having said that, uh, this actually is the kind of stuff that Strava can capture. In fact, it is about Strava. So um a couple of weeks ago, Maddie, I put a poll up on Instagram asking what people would do if they get to the end of a park run. So let's say you go out there and smash a park run for argument's sake, let's say it's a PB, either an overall PB or a coarse PB, and the watch is on 4.98 Ks. Now I'll put three options, and we had a good response to this one. 50% of folks said that they would leave it, so they wouldn't touch like the watch, they wouldn't make any adjustments, 4.98 Ks. 42% said that they would run the extras to get to the 5Ks. And 8%, and I fall into this boat, would edit the distance. Now let's explore this a little bit. What would you do, Maddie? So you've just run a PB. Let's say it's your first sub-20. I know that that's on your agenda at some point. Yeah. And the watch says 4.98 Ks. What do you do? I'd leave it.

Matty:

Um, yes, it's not going to show up on Strava, and yes, you can alter it, which I I haven't before. Um, I've never done that, but I would probably just leave it um and call it a PB. Call it a PB, you know.

Joshie:

But then someone looks into Strava and and you've and your 5k PB is let's say half a minute or a minute um uh more.

Matty:

Yeah, um doesn't matter, doesn't matter. I know I know it's a PB. I know it's a PB.

Joshie:

Yeah, I don't know. I'd edit the distance personally. 42% of people said that they would run the extras to get that watch to tick over. But I wonder if we were to challenge those people, you run the extras, what if that actually takes you over your PB?

Matty:

Yeah, it could do. Same with editing the distance as well, because it it adds time on. Um doesn't edit the distance. No, I think it does. I think it takes it off your average pace. I'm sure it does. Maybe I'm wrong.

Joshie:

If that's the case, there's no way I'd be touching it then.

Matty:

Um yeah, I wouldn't touch it. It is what it is.

Joshie:

Yeah, it is indeed. But look, um, hopefully for the listeners that wasn't too excruciating. Now, Maddie, I feel like I'm onto a winning formula with changing the quiz every episode. So, guess what? Today, I'm bringing back over or under.

Matty:

Oh, nice, I like this one.

Joshie:

Yeah, yeah. Well, let's hope you don't like it after this. So these questions are all about the New York marathon, which was run and won earlier this month. Now, the men's marathon featured the closest ever finish at the New York marathon. End up being have you seen it, Maddie?

Matty:

A nice sprint finish what's none of New York? I have no idea.

Joshie:

Yeah, that's good for me. Now, there was a sprint finish between um Benson Kipperuto and Alexander Matiso, and I think it was like 0.2, 0.3. It was so unbelievable. It was beautiful to watch, and I'm so pleased that you aren't all over it because that means the chances of you getting three from three, and I'm gonna live to regret saying this, your chances are quite low. Question number one Are you ready? I'm ready. The goat, Eliud Kipchogi, he took part. It was his seventh world major. He finished in a time of two hours fourteen and thirty-six seconds. Was his finishing position over or under 15th? It was under.

Matty:

I think he came in. I think he came eighth. Eighth and ninth, maybe maybe 11th. He was under 15.

Joshie:

Ha, he was 17th, my friend. Can you believe that? And I looked at that one. Oh, this is fantastic. Question number two. Um, Helena Beery won the women's marathon. It was actually her fourth major title. Did she pocket over or under 130,000 US dollars for her efforts? I'd say over. Well done, my friend. She pocketed 150,000.

Matty:

I was thinking 150. Yeah.

Joshie:

Well, the reason for that, the purse for winning was 100 grand, but she got an extra 50,000. Can you believe that 50k bonus for breaking the course record, which I think is sensational? Good to see that there's some good money out there for that. Yeah, definitely. Um, question number three, and look, Maddie, everyone loves a sub-three hour marathon, don't they? Now, I'll give you a little bit of a clue. I think there was 55,000 um participants in the in the marathon. Did over or under 2,423 run a sub-three hour marathon? Over or under? We'd go over. Uh-uh. It was under 2,396. And you got me on that one. You got me. I got you on two out of three, which is absolutely fantastic. Now, how did you go at home? Feel free to let us know. Now, today's guest knows a thing or two about hard work, both on the tools and on the track. His running journey is one that needs to be delicately navigated. Being self-employed in a vocation where maintaining physical strength and focus is imperative. Between long hours, fatigue, and major lifestyle changes, his story is one of honesty and strength in an industry that doesn't necessarily always make it that easy. So, can we please all welcome Craig Parsons? Craig, thanks so much for joining us.

Craig:

Hey guys, how are you?

Joshie:

Hey, yeah, good Craig. How are you, mate? Yeah, good. Yeah. What would you do? I know you're tuning in for the uh the uh the Strava thing. I mean, if you ran a PB, what would you do if the watch is stuck on 4.98?

Craig:

Well, I don't think I knew you could do that because I've done a few of those where um it ended up being a PB, but then yeah, it didn't come up in my best 5k time, so I didn't realise you could actually adjust the distance. Um I guess yeah, what Maddie said it's there, but it's not official.

Joshie:

Um now look uh Craig, running came into your life in a rather unique way. What can you tell us about that?

Craig:

Um so yeah, to do with um like mental health issues, um, challenges. Um I was I've heard that running can help to sort of burn off any excess um I don't know, adrenaline in your body, and it can clear your mind. So um just just started doing that on my own 3K runs, um but didn't really know what I was doing, so I'd get to 3Ks and sort of be like, oh that'll do, I'm tired. And uh it wasn't until yeah, some friends introduced me to a run club, some good friends, and they sort of said, Oh, you know, we'll do 5K's, and I'm like, I've never done that, but before I knew it, I could, you know, you just push yourself a bit further each time and get better and better at it.

Joshie:

Yeah, what was the run club that you joined?

Craig:

Um uh run club 24, shout out. Um, just some good friends around the area, um based down Strath Pine. Um so we're all affiliated with the Pine River Swans, uh good footy club. Um all our kids play footy down there, and um yeah, I was actually at the men's training just trying to get fitter, and someone one of my good friends sort of said, Oh, you should come join us, we're training for a marathon. Um just join in whenever you like, and I sort of said, Yeah, okay. And yeah, just every week I'd every week the K's went up. Um and then as my legs got less and less sore, I could run a few more times each week. Um and before before I knew it, they're sort of like, oh, you should, you know, sign up for a half marathon. I'm like, oh, don't know about that. Like it seems like um we're only running 10k or something. I thought I said, I'll do a 10k, and they went, No, no, you've already done 10k, like have it a half marathon, and alright, and that was you know quite a seemed scary, a big distance, but um signed up for that. Um and yeah, slowly made it way up to that distance with training and everything, and got to that point pretty easily. Um did the half marathon pretty well, the jetty to jetty. Um really enjoyed it, and leading up to that, one of my friends she hurt herself and she sort of said, Do you wanna do the marathon? 'Cause I can't do it anymore. And that was, you know, seemed a bridge a bridge too far. But they all they all kind of said, Well, you're doing what we're doing, you may as well give it a go.

Matty:

And um don't think about it, take the ticket and run it.

Craig:

Yeah, which which is what I s well, which is what I've started doing, just um yeah, when someone offers you something just to take it, because you're always gonna be afraid, but um so yeah, that was a sunny coast marathon. Um did that, it hurt a lot, but got through it. Yeah. Um yeah, that's the basic starting story of my running career, I guess, last year.

Joshie:

When you were younger, did you run much, like was running a feature of your youth at all, whether through you know, little athletics or school sport or anything like that?

Craig:

Yeah, well, I used to play AFL as a a kid up into my mid-teenage years. Um so I used to like I did used to like running around, like running laps around the field to get you, you know, better better football game. Um and I did like cross countries, did did quite well at cross countries at school. Um so yeah, we'll always fit, but when you know, when work comes along, as I'm a carpenter, you don't, you know, you don't have time before or after work to do anything because you're too tired quite often. And that would sort of be the reason I wouldn't pursue any, I guess, sports or sports because you don't want to injure yourself to not be able to work, I guess. Um then yeah, you'd think about running and then you get home and just want to, you know, relax and get ready for the next day of work, which makes it hard.

Matty:

But do you find and I know I do this as well, and I um always made excuses about exercise prior to prior to running, but when it's um for your own mental health, um and you know that there's gonna be benefit to that, I think and and what you know what a lot of people run for mental health, and you seem to find the time um to actually do it because it becomes like not so much about exercise, but it's almost a function to um have that better or good mental health each day. Is that what you f you found?

Craig:

Yeah, definitely. And I didn't like I didn't know that until I didn't know it had those effects, I guess, running until I knew about it, like you say, and then you know if you don't you sort of have that later in the week, you're like, Oh, I'm a bit off, I'm a bit you know, down or a bit stressed. You're like, okay, well maybe I need a few more runs this week, or and I definitely notice that now. Yeah. Um so for that reason, that's that's definitely my why when you get up early and you don't want to because you're tired, but you know, you know the after effects when you're when you've done it, you feel good about it. Yep.

Joshie:

Yeah. So how long did it take, Craig, before you started to notice those positive effects, like the physical health things aside? I mean, you probably knew what the benefits would be in terms of physiological change, but the impact on mental health. Is that something that you noticed uh early on when you started running, or did that take a bit of time before you sort of reflected and went, actually, I can see some um you know productive changes that are happening here?

Craig:

Yeah, I think it it did, I think it did take a while. Um almost like creating a habit, I guess. You have to you're sort of questioning, oh, is it worth it? Is it you know, I hurt, I hurt, I'm tired. Um yeah, it's definitely something after a while you feel it and you you do notice you've got more time like in for your family, for your kids, you're not getting as frustrated easily, um, not as stressed easily at work. Um but yeah, probably would have taken a couple of months, I think, to actually realise.

Joshie:

Um but and was it something that you've found just um through your own research or um you know just the the mental health benefits, or was that something that you um found through you know professional support or help?

Craig:

Yeah, um through professional help. Um I've always struggled with anxiety as a kid and as getting as an adult. Um but then with kids with my own kids and realizing it affects my life and their life, I didn't want them to, you know, see me like that, or I wanted to enjoy my life more with my kids, so I decided to yeah, get help. Um and yeah, better for it. Um but yeah, definitely was one of the big things was running um and all the other things you're supposed to do mentally and physically. Um the other one was yeah, giving up drinking, which I didn't believe at the time, but um definitely makes sense that that causes something in your brain. They say different people have different triggers, but my brain apparently triggers with alcohol for more anxious thoughts and feelings.

Matty:

Yeah, too. Got a fair fair amount of insight into you know um cause and and also you know how you can combat that. And I think one of the things as well that that you don't always realize um when you go on this journey is when you've got young kids, role modelling is so huge, and uh like you don't think about it. Um and you know, then the kids want to come for a run, and it's all positive, positive activity, positive habits, um exercise, like like it's the role modelling I found um was huge.

Craig:

Yeah, yeah, definitely. Um yeah, I don't want them to, you know, if you don't want to live that way, you shouldn't want to watch your kids live that way as well, is how I feel. Yeah. Um yeah, it definitely helps them to get out amongst it with me and keep them going. Um also coach coach at the local footy club down at the Swans, and that's another rewarding rewarding thing. So yeah. Helping all the kids to get fit for footy, try to try and integrate my running into the footy training as well and show them you know I can still do it even though I'm an old fella. But um you're far from an old fella.

Joshie:

Don't feel it. You know, um, so Craig, you said it took a little while before you noticed the um some of the changes, in particular the positive impacts on your mental health. I mean, can you recall a moment where you sort of noticed that running shifted from being a a part of your life to sort of being very tightly coupled with your day-to-day routine and lifestyle? I mean, there for for most of us when we're new to running, especially if we take it up a bit later in life when we're, you know, into our 30s or 40s, at first it just feels like something we're dabbling with, and then there comes a point where it it's actually we almost you know build our weeks around it, or it's so um uh tightly intertwined with our routines that it's just there. Can you sort of remember a moment where running sort of became uh a feature, a permanent fixture in your life?

Craig:

Um I can't think of an exact moment, but I guess I can sort of recall your, you know, where in the past, you know, say being out drinking all weekend and you just sit around the house all day doing nothing just because you physically can't do anything else because you're hung over and all that. But um similar thing, like you might be at home doing nothing and you don't you almost don't want to sit down and do nothing, you're like, okay, well this is a good time to go for a run, or you know, it's it sort of changes the way you think. You think of what you do as I guess the returns you get out of it if you're sitting around just watching TV all day, you're not getting anything out of it. Yeah. Sort of changes your little growth mindset. Um every time you go for a run, it is it is hard, like it's always a bit of a thought of oh do I need to put myself through that now? Or but you know the end result is um yeah, you're always thankful you did it, and it's always helping you be a better runner, better person.

Joshie:

Yeah. What what can you remember about your first event? Um, you know, a lot of people describe the sort of almost this pit of anxiety, which is probably just a bit of or almost healthy, healthy nerves going into a first event. I mean, can you remember much about your first event?

Craig:

Yeah, yeah, definitely nerves. Um my first event was actually I wanted to do a 10k before the half marathon just to I guess make it easy, not such a big event. Um so it was uh 10k at Woody Point that went across the Hornybrook and back. Um that was actually quite good because it wasn't it was like an afternoon thing, and it was yeah, I went with a friend and she sort of said, Yeah, this this is nothing, or there's a hundred people here or something. So um so that was quite good. I was quite anxious for that, but um, but yeah, like you say, good nerves. Um that was quite good. But then yeah, the Jetty to Jetty, which was a you know decent size event, definitely very nervous as there's a lot of hype and people everywhere and buzz and it being such a big distance as well. Um but yeah, you're sort of thinking, you know, when you get up early to go and you're thinking, what am I doing? Why am I doing this?

Matty:

I can get out of this, I don't have to do it.

Craig:

It's so early, can I even do it? And um but yeah, once once the gun goes and you're out, you're yeah, you're loving it. Um and it went it went better than I thought. I sort of went a slower pace at the start, thinking, oh yeah, I'll just do an easy pace, but um towards the end I was yeah, feeling good and actually sped up and probably one of my best races for that reason that I had fuel left in the tank, almost felt like I didn't run to my potential, but yeah.

Matty:

And you kind of get, I guess, when you run events like that, and you know they feel so good, and you run a really good time, probably better than you expected. That's when you get hooked. Yeah, that's when you get that feeling, like that runner's high at the end where you go, This is my thing. Yeah. Do you feel did you feel that?

Craig:

Yeah, definitely. The whole the whole atmosphere, um, and yeah, just the whole build-up, had a great build-up to it, training and everything. Um so yeah, the fact that it takes such a long time to get there, it's yeah, you gotta invest yourself into it. And yeah, yeah, it's really really good, really enjoyed it, definitely got me hooked after that that first half marathon.

Matty:

Yeah, yeah, definitely.

Joshie:

You very quickly ramped up from what you say started with 3k runs, then fives, then 10, half, and a full um it's quite a rapid progression. Um, aside from having friends that sort of goated you, um, what was it that sort of kept you motivated to keep sort of pushing the limits of your um potential and capabilities?

Craig:

Yeah, well, yeah, I sort of started. It was like January we started, and then obviously the half well the the full marathon was in August, I think. Um, but when I started, there was no yeah, there was no actual goal. So it's kind of funny when I think back now. Most people start with uh, you know, I've got 20 weeks to get to a marathon and they might put a lot of pressure on themselves, but um, I just sort of joined and took it each day and just did more and more. Um, I guess it was the yeah, definitely a friend's help running with friends, um, and then like on your own starting out seems to be quite difficult to motivate yourself to continually consistently do it, I guess. But if you've got friends and you're accountable, um, but then I guess the progression I could see happening, which was quite quick, I guess, coming from not a lot to doing a lot. Um, it seemed to you know, doing the odd park run here and there and seeing each time I went, I was quicker each time. So I think that kept me going to see that you can progress a lot if you just stick to it. Yeah. Um yeah, just yeah, really loved it and kept it kept it going all the time. Yeah.

Joshie:

Yeah. You've um been a carpenter for a while, um, self-employed if I recall correctly. Um how how do you go about balancing the the physical side of your work with um with exercise and training for events? I mean, do you find that a difficult balance?

Craig:

Yeah, it can be. Um so I've got my got my own business, and now that I've got guys working for me, that's why I actually like started going to footy training and stuff, because I did have a bit extra, like not on the tools all day every day, sort of managing more managing role and then on the tools some of the days. Yeah. Um, but yeah, if I was just on the tools eight hours a day every day, I probably wouldn't be able to do what I'd do, I guess. Um because even now, like I might have a a big day, um, and then next morning you'd go to get up to go, and you just say, nah, like if I if I get up and go, work's gonna suffer. So I can't really give my also that is a issue about yeah, physical labour.

Matty:

That is an issue, yeah. It's yeah, how do you how do you balance that? Yeah, you gotta you gotta make money, you gotta it's your own business, you've got to run the business. Yeah, running it's really a balancing act.

Craig:

Yeah, and I feel it's I say it's almost getting in the way of my running now, this work stuff, but yeah.

Matty:

Who invented employment?

Craig:

Yeah. Um but yeah, I definitely plan my days like running days on days. I know I won't be doing a big labour job, it might be like smaller sort of work, more fiddly stuff rather than heavy lifting, and um but yeah, and that and that goes into me thinking about how to go ahead with my business as well, because there's always a thought of you know going back on the tools on your own, depending on you know staffing issues, or but at the moment I've got a good crew of guys, yeah, and yeah. But you usually get a good guy and they don't last forever, that's the issue. They usually get on bigger and better things.

Matty:

Yeah, that's normal. Yeah.

Craig:

But yeah, that's interesting because I guess that's a reality that you Yeah.

Joshie:

Yeah, because you have to be prepared to jump back on the tools at a moment's notice.

Craig:

Um Yeah, that's right. You'll be you'll have your day planned and someone will call in sick and then all of a sudden your day's redone, you've got to waste another day doing something else, and well not waste a day, but obviously it changes your whole schedule and everything. Yeah.

Joshie:

Um Have you kind of accepted that that's just the r reality? Like I think I um I'll be honest, I'd struggle if something got in the way of a of a run for me. Um, like I'd struggle to be so philosophical to go, you know, oh, you know what, so so the hell what things change with work or whatever. But um, you know, have you found that you're philosophical about it if um things change with work or family, if it stops you going for a run, um, is that just something you accept, or is it you know, do you have this sort of burning desire to go, you know, dang it, it sort of costs me getting out for a run today kind of thing?

Craig:

No, I definitely accept. Um I've learned that life is very unpredictable. Um, anything could happen, you know, you could be working all you could have a good day plan, and then one of your kids might be sick and you have to go home and look after your kids, or yeah. There's always yeah, I find life you're never gonna get no problems. Life is all about overcoming issues and problems, and the more I guess I I look at it, the more problems you have, the more I guess, experience you have in overcoming them. So that's that's my way of looking at a lot of issues with work, like you know, things going wrong, or um, and you can't stop that so yeah, to to stop myself from losing it, or anything else, I'll just say, alright, that's alright, tomorrow will be a better day, and this will help next time something goes wrong.

Matty:

Or do you ever um like uh with running? I know you probably start really early with your job, but yeah, before after work. Uh I I know I if I'm really busy in a day, I'll I'll run at night time. Um you know, but you know, I obviously have a family, so the family has to support that as well. Yes. Um, it can't just be, you know, me looking after me. Um so but do you do are you able to do that or is it more Yeah, yeah.

Craig:

So mate early mornings is better. Um because I find if you know, say I think I've got to get anyone in tonight, I might think well just go to bed earlier and then get up in the morning. Because yeah, quite often the afternoon you'll be tired from work, and then the next morning you'll judge how you're feeling the next day, but quite often if you're tired than up before you're just as tired the next day as well. That's the issue. But yeah, yeah, and then I sort of hope okay, well, hopefully today's not as physical, and I'll be able to fit one in next tomorrow morning or something.

Matty:

But be reassured we're all always tired.

Craig:

Yeah, I know. It's just the amount of tiredness.

Joshie:

Oh I know so Craig, the um the construction in industry, uh I know it's evolved somewhat in recent years, but it tends to still have that perception of being, you know, a a very you know, blokey, masculine kind of culture. Um how have you found people around you in in your work industry reacting to being reacting to you being so open about um you know mental health and being a non drinker?

Craig:

Um yeah, I think I've got you know my crew and all the traders you work with. With are pretty good guys and they Yeah, they if anything they'll say, Oh good on you for you know doing what you want to do. But yeah, you still get a bit of pushback from certain people, you know, saying, Oh come on, won't hurt, have a few beers or but um they respect that and I think it has changed. Like when I was an apprentice, like I remember every job we used to do, the owners would bring a beer at the end of the day and and you almost had to had to drink. You had to learn to drink, I guess. Like I I used to not like beer, I used to like spirits, rum and cokes and stuff, and I remember almost saying, Oh, I better learn to drink beer because I get so much free stuff I need to take advantage of this, but so much free beers on site. Um where now it's yeah, it's definitely changed a lot. Customers don't seem to give as much alcohol out anymore, or I think it's changed a lot.

Matty:

I think society's changed a lot in terms of their attitude towards it. Um you know, it's and I think as you as you get a little bit older as well, um you your social circle and the people you mix with um are very acceptable and you know it yeah, don't don't push that.

Craig:

So yeah, yeah. And if anything, I've actually had a few people come up to me and ask, you know, like, oh, how did you do it? I I know I drink too much and I'd like to cut back. Or um Oh wow. So yeah, I'm happy. I'd like to be there to help people if they need it, and yeah, yeah.

Joshie:

See they're they're conversations, like especially in the construction industry, that just wouldn't have happened even 10 years ago, I imagine.

Craig:

No, definitely not. Definitely not at all. It used to be uh the hard-nosed old bikes getting around.

Matty:

Yeah. Yeah.

Joshie:

You know, um looking back on your journey now, what would you say is the I guess the biggest lesson that you've taken a away from uh from running just in terms of either the the benefits that it's had to you um either you know physically or more psychologically?

Craig:

Um definitely like running's quite a hard sport. Um I feel it helps me to do do hard things. Like if like something might come up that's hard, I'm like, well, you know, today I just ran 10 kilometers that way and came back again. And three or four times in that ten kilometre run I thought I was gonna stop, but I didn't and I kept going. Um and you know, quite often life isn't that hard. Might be a bit uncomfortable, but it definitely helps me to yeah, do things I never thought I'd do, um, put myself in uncomfortable situations more often, I guess. Um yeah, just with just with the realization that I can do it.

Matty:

I think that's huge, and I think um I think the thing you learn so much about yourself in terms of your resilience and and your determination, and I think um the other thing as well, which you mentioned, Craig, is doing things that you didn't think you could do. Um that is like it's a huge impact in terms of like life at life lessons um and and pride as well. You finish something and you go, Wow, I did that.

Craig:

Yeah, that's right.

Matty:

I think that's important.

Craig:

Yeah, because quite often people say, Oh, what'd you do this morning? Like, oh, I just went for a 10k run, and they're like, What? 10k? You're like, Yeah, that's right. I remember when I couldn't run, you know, couldn't run 5k. Like I used to think 5k was a long way, and how quickly you knew nor you knew normal changes quite quite dramatically.

Matty:

You you you knew normal is the abnormal to the general public.

Craig:

Yeah, they think why yeah, why you're putting yourself through this torture, I guess, but yeah, definitely worth it.

Joshie:

Um Craig, I love how sort of philosophical you are about uh running. Not everyone has that uh that perspective. Uh I think it was last year, was it, that you took part in Ned's uncomfortable challenge and uh he got uh he had quite quite the setback. I mean, how did you go sort of um navigating that?

Craig:

Yeah, um so yeah, Ned's Uncomfortable Challenge. I was inspired by yeah, Ned Brockman doing the 1600K around a racetrack over 10 days. Um watching him do that and watching.

Joshie:

I love the guy, but he is completely insane.

Craig:

Yeah, watching him not being able to walk and then go out there and run 100 Ks every day. Like um and the fact that yeah, he didn't actually break the record, but he just kept going and when he probably shouldn't have finished, yeah. Yeah.

Joshie:

Yeah.

Craig:

So then he brought that brought that challenge out, and I thought, yeah, what the hell I've got to, you know, keep that was our that was after my marathon, so a couple months after, I think. So I thought, yeah, keep pushing the you know boundaries, see what else you can do. And so I went to sign up for it, and it's like, all right, make sure whatever you're doing is uncomfortable. So I said, okay, I will do 10k a day for 10 days. And I was about to press, you know, okay, accept accept this challenge, and then I went, no, that's not it's not uncomfortable. Like that feels doable. So then I went 15, and then I felt nervous, and like okay, that's definitely one. And you clicked you clicked. I clicked it and um and I wasn't sure because I never run you know consecutive days in a row, like even just running 5Ks a day for 10 days, you get you know, tired and sore legs, and um, but yeah, it was going well till about day day seven or something. Um I think I did a park run and then I think I ran a little bit too quick. I don't I didn't run fast, but just a little too quick, and then I went home and had a bit of a knee issue, like the tendon on the outside of the knee was seizing up and it was sort of hard to hard to do much of my leg at all. Um so I kept kept going, you know, that next day I walked and then um walked jogged. Um and then the last day, so it's probably two days of that, two or three days, and the font I was actually able to run again. So um, yeah, you're sort of thinking, oh, I don't want to do permanent damage here, but the fact that my body could somewhat recover even though I didn't stop using the leg. And yeah, the last day I was able to run not pain-free, but I was actually able to run again, so um quite a big achievement to push through that.

Matty:

Yeah, and we with that challenge as well, it was very similar to Ned Brockman, not in distance, but I think there were a number of people who were lining up to run with you each day from your run club, yeah. Which was awesome.

Craig:

Yeah, it was a you know, charity event for the homeless. So I sort of put a thing in and said if you run with me, I'll donate more money for each person to try to get more people, you know, maybe people who had run before to come along and join, and um and it was great, yeah, having someone to support me each day. Um yeah, um, shout out to yeah, Pete. He he put in a big 5k with me. He'd never done that before, I don't think, and he did it. He does I don't think he likes running anymore though, but the 5k killed him.

Joshie:

So you may not realize this, Craig, but clearly you've inspired others to take up running and to challenge themselves as well. Like that's really, really cool.

Craig:

Yeah, um that's what I feel. I want to yeah, you know, show other people if I can do it, you can do it. Yeah, my son, my older son Finn, he was um he joined me for a lot of the runs. Um I think he ran the furthest. He did a 10k run with me one day. Um yeah, he was quite fulfilled, but as you are with kids, he's sort of gone off. Kids are always up and down with what they like and what they do.

Matty:

But there's so much to choose from, yeah.

Craig:

Yeah, so many things you can do. But uh my daughter Ruby, she she likes to come for a run, she doesn't like it that much. She'll sort of run hard, far okay, and then say this sucks. Yeah, I want to get the biggest. But at least they're having a go. Yeah, yeah, they're having a go. And I'm just like, you know, you just gotta embrace the embrace the suck, but yeah.

Joshie:

Yeah. It sounds like you're not putting pressure on your kids in that sense. You're sort of giving them the opportunity if they want to have a go, that's great. If not, you know, and they may return to it again.

Craig:

Yeah. No, definitely. I know you can't you can't force someone to do something they don't want to do. You can just lead them in the direction you think might help them, and they've got to take from there, I guess.

Matty:

Yeah, expose it to them, and if they like it, they can continue. Or you know, later on in life, yeah, I might try that again. Yeah, I think it's it's really important. Yeah.

Joshie:

So Ned's Uncomfortable Challenge, I think it's been happening around this time or it's been on recently. I noticed that it's October. Yeah. Oh, so it's yeah, it's been uh you didn't take it up this time around, I noticed.

Craig:

No, um because this year, yeah, with running, I tried playing Master's Footy the first year the club's done master's footy, so over 35s. So I was doing running plus that. It sort of every second week, but um I managed to get a I did the Brisbane half marathon this year without any issues. Um set of PB, but um then the next half marathon between the two, between the Brisbane and the Jetty to Jetty, I had a hamstring injury from footy.

Joshie:

Okay.

Craig:

Um which yeah made running out a bit of an issue, and then I ran the jetty to jetty the same pace as I did last year. But yeah, it was a bit of a bit of just shows not without the Ks in the legs, I guess you can't you know performate your best. Um and yeah, it was definitely a bit more painful towards the end of the race because I hadn't been doing as many Ks.

Joshie:

Um I didn't realise you're still playing footy. So if you had to make a call, does footy get in the way of running or the other way around? Which would it be?

Craig:

Yeah, footy definitely is in the way. Um because yeah, this is the first year I've come back to play. I used to train, but yeah, it's the whole running running with the ball, like kicking with one leg in the air, um stepping and getting tackled, all this un unpredicted movements that cause injury, I guess. Um and yeah, like the whole team is after the game, the whole team's iced up and takes them another couple of weeks to take them another couple of weeks to be able to play again, so it's definitely not a consistent um at our age anyway, consistent training thing. That's why they have two weeks between games, I guess. But um yeah, I think this year I might just stick to running because it definitely gives me the most um yeah, most benefits. And yeah, won't hurt won't hurt to do training. I enjoy training and catching up with the guys, that's the main part of playing, I think, is catching up with everyone and yeah, with uh playing on the weekend and getting injured, which would be nice.

Joshie:

Well before we um finish up, Craig, what's on the horizon for next year for 2026 and um does does running feature in your plans at all?

Craig:

Yeah, definitely. Um always looking ahead to the next race, I guess. Um definitely Jetty to Jetty, I think. Hopefully it'll be an annual thing for me. It's a great run. Um but yeah, looking possibly Gold Coast marathon or half marathon, I'm not not sure yet whether I want to go there yet, the marathon again. But um I know I can, that's the thing. Then I sort of tell myself I probably should then, but um but yeah, definitely. And if I can get a good solid training in up till then, I should be yeah well well prepared, better than previous years. So yeah, yeah.

Joshie:

That's awesome. Um look, Craig, thanks so much for joining us on Run Believable. You're an inspiration not just to the running community that you're part of, but also the industry that you represent. You're you're challenging a lot of norms, and honestly, uh we're we're we're super proud of you for what you're doing. It's um yeah, and it's really been a joy speaking with you today.

Craig:

Well, thank you so much, Josh and Matt, for inviting me on. It's been an honor.

Matty:

Uh yeah, it's been great to have you.

Craig:

It's been great, something new to do.

Joshie:

Yeah. Um, yeah, th thanks again, Craig. And uh yeah, we'll we'll let you uh get on with your with your day. And um, yeah, thanks again for joining us. Well, Maddie, what do you think? I truly think that Craig's an inspiration.

Matty:

Yeah, totally agree. Totally agree. I think um some positive life choices there um in order to um, you know, make his life more positive and um be a good role model for his kids. I think it's great.

Joshie:

Yeah. And you've done the same thing. I mean, you gave gave up drinking quite some time ago. Um can you relate to what Craig was talking about with people um go by the way? I'm probably one of those people in the past would have goaded those non-drinkers to have a drink. I do feel bad about that. Is that something you can relate to at all?

Matty:

Um, yeah, it is, definitely. It is. Um, it's not an easy thing to do. Um, but it's positive life choices again, in terms of um doing what's best for yourself, for your mental health, for your family, for your kids. Um, but yeah, it is it is a it is a very difficult thing to do because um parties and drinking and it is a normal thing in our society. Um, so to go against that as such, um you know, it can be difficult, but at the same time, um, I think people do accept it in this day and age. Um society's changed a lot.

Joshie:

So don't you imagine if we're gonna create the time to join it? It's all today. If you've got a rumble of Rum political story of your own, we would really five. We really appreciate it.