Live, love, run

Tyler won the Aussie of the Month award today at school!

“For the mature and responsible manner he demonstrates in dealing with conflict situations. He is always willing to assist his peers in class and in the playground.”

Louie and I were there for the award preso and Marnie and Gangar also came along as the proud grandparents (below). He is a great little kid and has had a top year at school. And, as you can see he was a happy little camper!

This is the view from my local lookout, and the highest point of any of my local runs. It’s where I go to check out the beach, surf and have a break during my run.

I am in week four of nine weeks off between MF and Meerkats. I have spent the time relaxing, working around the house, going to the gym, running and cycling. It’s been restful and allowed me to get my head ready for the great challenge ahead.

I have met all of the key MK staff, and had a session with Mike and Ronnie where they outlined the history of the business and their expectations of me in the Managing Director role. What they have achieved is amazing in such a short period. What they have built is something quite special.

Leading into Christmas I am doing less work and more running and relaxing.  I haven’t been too much of a pain for Lou I don’t think and have helped with school runs and lunches and things.

I’ve been riding to school with Tyler a couple of times a week which has been great fun. Amy finishes this week and Tyler the next so looking forward to spending some time with them both.

The City Beach 8km is on Sunday. Looking forward to the run but it is sandwiched between a 37c day and a 38c day!! Could be painful. Achilles is OK without being great but hasn’t slowed me down. I feel like the gym work has helped my strength and core. Roll on Christmas.

So before I went to Bali I got a job offer……a great one!

I took the time in Nusa Dua to think about what I wanted, and what the potential could be. The answer? To big to ignore.

So we got back, and I accepted. Meet the the new Managing Director of Meerkats (www.meerkats.com.au) - Perth’s most exciting new agency with a philosophy that I think will see it go from strength to strength.

Mike and Ronnie who are the two founding partners are smart, professional and have built what I think is something clients are going to love more and more. And they do it from a philisophical perspective that is grounded in wanting to make a real difference in the world. For an ad agency, that’s not just new, that’s exciting, untested and fertile ground.

So, the family is in, I’m in and our world is about to change. In preparation I am concentrating on my fitness, and on my mental preparation. I am running more often, shorter distances mainly, but keeping the long run on the weekend for endurance. Running is, and will continue to be an important part of how I maintain top form.

Stay tuned for the exciting developments. I’ll be mixing in more work amongst the running as my new life unfolds. Hold on for fun…

I am sure this is common, but I haven’t experienced bruised toes before. Nasty. Both my big toes are really sore and going quite black. My mum walks trails and has done some quite long walks. She has had a number of toe nails removed and thought that mine were heading that way. Will see how it goes.

Haven’t run this week until today. I ran 10.5km today through Yellagonga National Park from home to Neil Hawkins Park then along the walk trails around Lake Joondalup to Ocean Reef Road where Lou and the kids collected me. Had a nice lunch at Mum and Dads with the family for Father’s Day.

Papa told a great story about how he has been in trouble at the retirement village for playing his music too loud. He’s been blasting out the original Green Door for everyone to enjoy and some of the residents are NOT happy. Funny.

Two weeks to Fremantle Half Marathon, just hope my toes can hang in there…

Yesterday we lost Nan after a long fight with pulmonary hypertension and old age. She was a beautiful person and so loved by all of us. Not much to say except that she will be missed.

Grand final day sausage rolls will never be the same, and Louise, the kids, her extended family and I will all miss her in our lives. Rest in peace Nan. We love you.

After a long and eventful life, Lou’s Mum is close to leaving us. She is a beautiful lady and is ready to go.

Grand final day will never be the same, sausage rolls will never taste as good and Christmas Day will have a bottle of sparkling red in the centre of the table from this point on.

She will be missed.

One week until Deepwater Point and I feel pretty good. Work has been hideous with lots of financial issues flying around, so running mid week was off the agenda. Got two runs in this weekend, for 8.5km and 11.5km today.

We had an extended family picnic at Rotary Park which was great. My Papa was there and he continues to amaze me. Noni, my grandma passed away a year or so ago, and he has just soldiered on getting it done. He had some photos of his younger days with him today, and it reminded me how much I respected, or maybe feared him, when I was younger. He was a pretty intimidating bloke. Strong and fearless, the guy who went to war, adventure man who shoots wild boar and kangaroos, and although suffering from sea sickness never came home without a catch. Tough bugger!

Saw all my cousins and my sisters plus the gaggle of nieces and nephews. Really nice day.

Anyway, I ran home from the picnic which I think I’ll try and do more of when we are out. It’s a good way to get a long run and makes for a change in scenery.

Starting some hill training this week at a spot called Mount Street near Jacob’s Ladder in Kings Park. It is a 600m steep incline hill. I am thinking I will do shuttle runs and see how that goes. I’m also starting to incorporate some core work to add some strength.

The plan post Deepwater is shorter races for a few months, gradually building to a half and then my first marathon. I’m just waiting for the 2009 WAMC Programme to schedule it in.

Ok, so you’re turning 40. It’s a big deal. So why just have a birthday when you can have…… a festival!

The Festival of Bainy began on September 5th, four days before my 40th. A 1pm  kick off at The Brisbane Hotel with the MF Management team closely followed by the creative lads, then my mates, colleagues, clients and others. What happened? I’d love to tell you, but unfortunately I was not in any state to remember. All I know was that it was long and VERY painful the next day. From what I hear I had a great time!

Second came the family lunch on Father’s Day. The immediate family came, and Lou’s Mum. It was a nice barbecue and drinks afternoon. Mum and Dad gave me a great photographic history of life up to 40, plus all my school history which got a bit scarey in Years 11 and 12 where I really played up. Good times.

Third was my actual birthday, 9th September. Much love lavished on me at home, then a surprise morning tea at work followed by an hour long swedish massage in my office. Now I can say I have been in my undies only in my office. It was a lovely day and great fun. I felt very spolit.

Event four was dinner at Soda Cafe in Trigg with all my closest mates. That morning Muzza picked me up and whisked me away for a helicopter flight over Perth’s beaches, complete with a home made sign he had done on his block in North Beach. What a great surprise, and what a great bloke. I think I bought him cufflinks for his 40th! Disgraceful.

The final session was lunch with Kelly at The Wild Fig. Unfortunately, Marita couldn’t make it which was sad, but OK. We’re mates regardless of what or where we see each other.

Best birthday ever. Exactly what I wanted.

This is my little mate Tyler. He’s 7 years old and as you can see from his picture he suits his current nickname- Windows.

He’s a sensitive and considered little fellow, and as he grows becomes cheekier, but in that cute kind of “oh he doesn’t mean it” kind of way. He loves horses, stationary (as in whiteboard markers, pens, sticky notes!) and Gladiators!

School Camp week with Amy’s Year 7 class. Four days in Point Peron with 100 twelve year olds. I thought I worked hard in the ad game, but sheesh, these kids work you harder.

I was responsible for one of the boys dorms, and after night 1 was wondering what I had let myself in for! Once I had worked out who the trouble makers were, and got some assistance from the teachers it was all good, but not before 1 boy went home and 3 more were excluded from all activities and from my dorm!!

It was wonderful to spend time with Amy at the camp and see how she interacts with all of her friends. She is a lovely little girl and well liked by everyone. We went to circus school, Penguin Island, a couple of museums, the beach and did a heap of activities. Plus, more dishwashing than is normal for any human being!

So running was second priority, but we had a great walk for 4 kms, I did 4.2km on Saturday and 15km long run today which was tough but good.

I’ve got 3 weeks until the Challenge Fun Run 10km and 6 until my first half marathon.

I was really worried about my ITB during the week, but I had my old Kayanos on and they are WELL past it. My back was really sore with all the standing up during the week, but only because I am not used to it.

There’s no hint of ITB soreness after today, so will wait and see how it goes. I listened to Steve Runner’s (www.steverunner.com) 112th Boston Marathon podcast on Phedippidations today. It gave me great inspiration to run my first half marathon. I’m looking forward to it in a masochistic kind of way!