Tag: running

Marketing a Marathon

At 34 kilometres I stopped at Okahu Bay for three drinks and my last carbo squeezie. The ‘Why?’ question. It always comes up at some point on a marathon, and this time, having been prescribed steroids to get me through a throat infection and the run, it was later than I thought. People refer to it as the wall. It’s real and it hurts. But 34 soon becomes 37 and suddenly it’s 40 and I’m smok’n to the finish line. I remembered to tell a few people “Marathons hurt”.  To be honest, I’ve kinda forgotten already.

We’ve got our 4th Authentic Leadership Course coming up and we’re near the finish line – or is that the starting line? Feels a bit like the finish line as the intensive marketing comes to a close and we can get ready for the really good stuff.  It will have been a year almost to the day since our first course and each one is special. They are big weeks and the start of a journey for the participants.

I enjoy marketing strategy – aligning the products, the pricing, the promotion, our processes and so on with our authenticity. Selling I’m not so keen on, I prefer buying! Well someone buying anyway. I really enjoy meeting our clients on the way – I consider myself fortunate to get the rich texture of life from so many really neat people up and down the country. But sometimes promoting a course is hard.

Just like 34 ks on the Auckland Marathon.  Next year I’ll have my permanent unique number for having completed five Auckland marathons. I’ll have it for life. Not sure how many punters sign up for the first one thinking “now that’s one hell of a good incentive to start!”. Just like I’m not sure that all our clients start off on the Authentic Leadership Course thinking that a year down the track they will be noticing the impact. But they have and they do. We’ll have participants from the previous courses check in on this anniversary course and we’ll find out how their journey in authenticity is going.

Bet they’ve hit the wall occasionally, some even on the course. But they’ll have their permanent unique number.

Like we all do. Can’t be copied. You’ve got it for life. But you need to find it, your authenticiy.  And that can take work. Will you ask why? Maybe, but once you’re up and running again, you’ll never look back. Any hurt will be subsumed by delight.

Can you market that do you reckon?

Stephen

ps check out one of my photos on the promotional banner for our course on www.aut.ac.nz

Is it a good fit?

With three days remaining until the Rotorua Marathon all the anxieties and sore bits of my body suddenly appear as if by design, in that last week when very little running is actually done, prior to the big day.  The best thing to do in the last week is, well, not much at all. Turn the legs over a couple of times for 30 or 40 minutes my coach and running colleagues all confirm.

Someone told me recently that the paradox of authentic leadership – being yourself and being there for others – can actually be more demanding than the command and control manager.  It seems that authenticity is for me, a place I’m in my groove and it’s not that hard.  But the demanding bit can sometimes be being there for everyone else.  In fact, the whole scenario is a bit of a paradox isn’t it:  I’m authentic, but I need to be there for you, even if that’s not me at that moment. More energy is exerted by the authentic leader because he or she genuinely walks in others shoes to nuture, grow and develop them.

Leadership is not for everyone and everyone is not fit for leadership.  But if you’re going to do it, I reckon you better get yourself resilient to look after your team and supporters by being physically fit. For me that’s running (did you guess?!) and some days, like today when I went for that last 30 minute run, it not only formed part of an overall training regime, it gave me the headspace to sort out a few things and come back refreshed.  Ask my PA Raewyn.  She’ll confirm it I’m sure!

We have a special resilience session on our AUTCIL Authentic Leadership Course – and it’s got a special new component on this upcoming course (can’t say or it would spoil the surprise). It’s important stuff for authentic leaders.

As leaders you’re got to be fit, otherwise it won’t be a good fit.

As for Saturday, can’t wait.


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Offside with Hillary

“You won’t be needing that much” were the words that began my adventures on the Hillary Trail several weeks ago. What followed was a dumping of half of the contents of my newly acquired camel pack on the advice of a trusted running colleague, Froste. I had to trust Froste, he had claimed after all to be at school in the same year as my father. If he didn’t know what he was talking about, who would?

The Hillary Trail is a spectacular 74km “tramp” stretching from the Arataki Visitors Centre near Titirangi through the Waitakere Ranges and follows the coastline from Whatipu near the Manukau Heads north to Muriwai. The first attempt at the trail started with a group of about seven – three determined to run the entire length in one day, me with a “50ks or five hours – whatever comes first – hoping to get to Piha” and a group who were doing 11 out and then back.

The trail has incredible views and it is not easy! It is steep – so much so that language not used in polite society was heard on occasion. The trail takes in the peak of every mountain between Arataki and Piha. There is gorse and more gorse north of Bethells. At times the gorse gives way to Thistle. Lovely relief. Michael Simons knows that if you scratch your legs after gorse all hell breaks loose.

And the fluids? Well I ran out at about 15km. Amazing how all the usual hygiene rules go out the window when you’re dehydrated and you’ll happily slurp on anyone’s camel pack.

Arriving at Whatipu (22km) in 6 hours it was pretty clear that all ambitions for the day were seriously in doubt. I vaguely recall assaulting Michael in my dehydrated delirium. Sorry Michael.

I seriously considered pulling out – having met my pre-conditions for the day but after drinking about 3 litres of water and filling my camel pack, I decided to do another 10k to make it to Karekare.

Karekare took another two hours and I called it a day. The remaining pack continued on for another two hours to Piha.

The following weekend we ran the Piha to Muriwai leg (32km) in a total time of six hours. Again, we ran out of water – there is a horrendous climb out of the forest supposedly near Muriwai, but fortunately Froste and Michael found a friendly resident who offered her scarce, so I found out later, tank water. With Froste and Michael having replenished (or so I thought) their camel packs I proceeded to rinse my cap thoroughly and fill my pack. Little did I know that with the tank water at low levels they had taken a quick slurp, which explained why they waited 700 metres up the road to share on mine. Bad luck boys, I’d drunk the whole lot by then!

Michael declared it was 2km to Muriwai but the GPS proved otherwise – 7 in fact – and on arrival we were met by Julie M and Mrs Froste with drinks, muffins and good cheer.

For reasons that escaped me at the time, I agreed to go and do the last 32km again today, with an anticipated 6.00am start – “be at Froste’s at 5.30am sharp” was the command (news has got out that I’m not always on time). Sunrise is much later guys! Get with the programme – but we got started by 6.40am.

Rolled my right ankle twice and my left five times going off the trail today – fell over 3 times (though others say it was at least 5).

Would I do it again? You bet. The views are stunning – rainforest, black sand-dunes, waterfalls, surf, bulls, sheep, other runners looking even worse, trampers, babbling creeks, rivers to run in (with roads parallel that “you can’t use – that’s not on the map”). It’s a lot of fun. Plus there’s the 10ks I haven’t yet covered in the middle.

And it builds resilience – reslience that stays with us beyond running, whether that be in managing a family, running a business, leading others or caring for someone.

Thanks to Michael Simons, Mike Frost, Julie McMillin, Mike Dickie, Danny Baker, Michelle Garrett, Carol Bielby, Simon Clendon, Penny Kirkwood and Liz Frost for being part of my journeys on the Hillary Trail. I have a feeling I haven’t got everyone’s name here so forgive me – you have your own stories too so feel free to share.

Kodak moment? Running next to Froste on a wide stretch of track. Suddenly without warning he appears to be sliding in for a try next to me. Picks himself up. No ball. Offside Froste it’s clearly a penalty. Don’t bother bringing out the drink bottles mate – you won’t be needing that.

Stephen

Lucky 13

If you’re born on the 13th every now and again you’ll have a birthday on Friday 13th – infamous because of the Pope’s order to kill the Knights Templar (nothing to do with black cats actually!). I am sure Mum was happy to have me on the 13th – probably happy just to have me out!  I don’t remember the start now, but I’ve learned to be happy, including when it’s 13.

I headed off yesterday afternoon on a run from Titirangi shops through Exhibition Drive, Pipeline track to the Arataki Visitors Centre. Cruising through Exhibition Drive (flat!) my GPS watch told me I was sitting on 5.25 min/km.  Okay I thought, not bad, could improve but let’s see how we go.  The Waitakere forest is beautiful. Summer, Winter, sunny, rainy, misty it’s perfect I reckon.

But today was sunny and hot.  As I rounded the 7k mark deep into the forest, the GPS reports suddenly deteriorated and the average approached 6. My legs pumping I began the climb to the visitors centre through the new section of the Hillary Trail. It’s steep, windy and an ideal blowout for me prior to our Authentic Leadership Course today. But when you’re happy the hills are fine – and the run feels all the better for it.

Passing back into Titirangi, the GPS told me I’d done a little over 13km – 5.51 average.  Needs to improve but the legs have had a workout.

13.  We’ll start off cruising and happy today with our new cohort and we’ll do some uphill. It will be happy and rich with life like the forest. Welcome everyone, it’s going to be a great week. We’re ready. Let our reflection begin.


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