Medal Monday
Body is feeling it today now that the buzz, adrenaline, and excitement of race day has waned.
My left knee is in a world of hurt after 24hrs of finishing my first marathon.
The plan was going smoothly until I heard and felt a loud pop/crack in my left knee around the 17-18km mark. I kept going, but things didn't feel quite right. At the 21-22km mark I just collapsed as it was painful to put weight on my left leg.
Having only just crossed the halfway point and the initial thought of not finishing swirling in my head, I sat down and just cried.
This training block was so long for me...
and although I knew I wasn't going to have the "dream race" I had planned for, I absolutely did not want to DNF my first marathon.
The sacrifices my wife had made
The mornings away from my children
The support from family members
The support from friends and the community
The countless people who donated to Starship
The kids, who I was running for
A DNF was not going to happen
So I accepted to walk the remaining half of the race. Until Dad, the MVP, who was enjoying cruising around the city's closed roads on a scooter 🤣 found me struggling. He gave me his knee strap and it was enough for me to run and hobble from time to time.
A gentleman who was also running for Starship, encouraged me to stay in the fight. Reminded me about the shirt I was wearing, and how proud I should be to have raised funds for New Zealand's children's hospital.
So many people shared the same sentiment as they passed me throughout the last half and it was enough to keep going.
Shout out to the fellow @cbk.ltd brother @woody_takz who brought me home in the last 3km. Love you brother.
I'm proud to have completed my first marathon.
I'm proud of the many friends, brothers, and sisters who I've had the pleasure of sharing the pavement with too. Having also run their first races, or clocked PBs.
Next for me? Sorting this knee out, and giving my undivided attention to my wife and kids.
Thank you all so much for following my journey and supporting @starshipfoundation
This isn't the end for me.
This kid will be back.
And the comeback will be so sweet.
Run it back in 2026
Not bad for someone who,
- Started running training at the end of May
- Carries 95kg
- Works a full-time job
- Is constantly learning to be a better engineer
- Strives to stay present as a dad, husband, and family man
- Aims to be of service in the community
This journey has been far from perfect, but it’s mine.
What began as a way to raise funds for @starshipfoundation has become a cornerstone of my physical and mental well-being.
I'm grateful for,
- How far I’ve come
- The new friendships forged along the way
- The running community
- My close friends and family
- And most importantly, my wife @palomapoliko for holding it down while I'm out on the roads chasing doubt out of my head.
There's still a long way to go.
Not just with running, but with living in coherence.
The learning never ends, and that's what keeps it exciting.
Have a blessed week 🙏🏽
-
-
-
-
-
#stridesforstarship #aucklandmarathon #marathon #marathontrainning #halfmarathoner #halfmarathon #halfmarathontraining #running #runwithme #runningjourney #runningreels #runningmotivation #lskd #lskdrunning #runna #stravarun #strava #coherence #balance
24hrs post-op
Called out to my daughter to setup the camera and leave me be. She wanted to help me up, but not today my love ♥️
I needed this one to be on me 🙏🏽
Loading... ⏳
Surgery done 🙏🏽
To my wife, family, friends, and everyone who has reached out with prayers, encouragement, kindness, or simply a message to check in over these last 6 months, thank you.
Your love and support have meant more than I can adequately express.
~
Moments like these have a funny way of reminding us that life is not always lived at full pace. Sometimes we are invited (or forced 😅) to slow down. To rebuild, and to begin again with deeper perspective, humility, and gratitude.
I’m also deeply aware that what I’m experiencing is small in comparison to the burdens many others quietly carry each day. That perspective alone cultivates immense gratitude.
~
More than anything, this experience has been another reminder to never take our health for granted. We are each entrusted with one body through which we experience this life. To serve, to love, to work, to strive, and to be present for those around us.
So strengthen it. Care for it. Listen to it, and rest when needed.
Nurture it physically, mentally, and spiritually 🙏🏽
~
The road to recovery has already tested my patience, discipline, and trust in the process. Now it asks even more of those things.
But even this chapter carries its own purpose.
Like I said after my post marathon update,
"This kid will be back. And the comeback will be so sweet."
God is good ☝🏽♥️
85 clicks.
It's been almost two weeks since I ran this, and since then, that big scary goal later down the road doesn’t feel... toooooo out of reach anymore (it's still going to be hard 😅).
Majority of what we see online in this space is extraordinary. The volume, the capacity, the pace, the achievements. It’s not the norm.
But it’s easy to forget that.
I’m not elite.
Not a professional.
And I never will be.
But we don't have to be.
We can still chase things that seem out of reach, or outright impossible. Because honestly, I think more of us can than we realise.
~
So this is just a reminder. (At least for me anyway)
I'm a father.
A husband.
Working full-time.
Trying to show up where it matters.
Striving to live a coherent life.
There will never be perfect conditions.
There will never be a perfect time.
I don’t have to look like anyone else doing it.
Or feel like I need to catch up.
This will always be me 🤝🏽
Inevitably...
Limits will move when I do 🙏🏽
What's 85km?
A thought I carried with me over the last few weeks.
And the answer remained the same.
Compared to what the numerous sick or injured children and their families go through every day...
Absolutely nothing.
I chose 85km.
They didn't choose their circumstances.
That's the difference.
~
To every single person showing up for @starshipfoundation ’s Kilometers for Kids challenge this month, keep up the amazing work with putting in the effort and raising funds for something bigger than ourselves.
Respect to every single one of you 🤝🏽
~
To the amazing people and crew I was hoping to run this with on Sunday, wishing you all the very best this weekend!
I have no doubt that you'll all get it done, and the vibes, and mutual support will be second to none. Genuinely looking forward to following along with everyone's updates.
Bring it home @thecharityboys@southaucklandrunclub@capcbk3 🤝🏽🫡
For Starship 🚀
For the kids 🙏🏽
~
If you have the means, please consider donating and aiding with Starship's incredible work in caring for, and treating sick and injured children across New Zealand.
If you're not in a position to, please share the link in my bio with friends and family.
Malo lava 🙇🏽♂️🙏🏽
I got caught out last year Nov 2nd.
Fell short.
That ain't happening again.
It's interesting how an injury can completely strip you back.
This year I've accepted:
Not thinking about PBs.
Not thinking about pace.
Not thinking about splits.
All I'm thinking about is pain free movement.
Aiming for durability.
And trusting the knee again.
~
Last month I sat in a surgeon's office talking about knee surgery (it's still going ahead).
This morning, we banked 30kms.
With absolutely no knee pain.
The "boring stuff" works.
~
Comebacks are inevitable.
But this one won't be loud.
It’s building both patiently and quietly.
Get Up 🤝🏽🫡
Long run on the road
First run longer than 17km on the road since the injury
14km alone
8km with the L&D.rr brothers
All glory to God for keeping me safe this morning.
Knee pain - ZERO
~
- So what is happening with the knee? 🤔
I've got a tear in the lateral meniscus that requires surgery. A keyhole procedure where they'll trim a piece of the meniscus that's torn.
- How are you still running? 🤔
It doesn't affect me until I start running at a quicker pace, or up and down hills. I'm clear to run provided it's pain free, and all my current runs are focused around spending time on feet vs pace.
- When's the surgery happening? 🤔
Waiting on ACC to pay for the procedure. The turn around time for this is roughly 4 weeks. But I'm most likely going to chase them and try to speed things up.
- What I'm hoping for 🙏🏽
Procedure booked in for Feb/March.
Recover in April/May.
Start the @chimarathon training block end of May or beginning of June.
~
I am by no means "back".
The procedure is still necessary as leaving it can lead to the tear getting bigger and reaching the edge of the meniscus. Meaning... No more meniscus 😬 ~
This morning was a huge win for me.
Albeit,
I'm continuing with rehab/prehab work.
I'm continuing to cross train.
I'm not cutting any corners.
And I'm keeping my runs easy and pain free.
I want this procedure done asap, so I can get back to training asap.
Flights and accomodation booked.
No turning back now.
Bring on Chicago 🙏🏽
A new year can make it feel like you’re already behind.
Like you should be further along by now.
I used to feel that too.
What’s helped me over the last few years isn’t motivation or big resets. It’s coherence.
I try to give the same quality of energy to my training as I do to my work, my learning, my relationships, my family, and my service. When those things move in the same direction, life feels steadier, and progress takes care of itself.
I’m not chasing perfection.
I’m trying to live in a way that’s sustainable, honest, and aligned.
Looking back, I’ve hit every goal I set for myself each year for the last four years (some scary as F ones too). Not because I focused harder on outcomes, but because I focused on the kind of person I needed to be each day.
Almost every one of my journal entries reflects this.
And I thought I would share a bit of my process, or at least what I've learnt to be valuable when pursuing my goals.
~
If you haven’t started yet this year, that’s okay.
You don’t need a dramatic beginning.
Just a sincere one.
Here’s to effort, reflection, and trust.
And to building a life that makes sense across all the parts.
Be kind to others.
Be kind to yourself.
Much love 🙏🏽
