Category Archives: Couple On The Run

New Book Release – Go Further Together

Go Further Together – 31 lessons from the road and the workplace

Description
Go Further Together by Andrew O’Brien, Sue O’Brien and illustrated by Jock MacNeish is a collection of lessons based on stories from Andrew and Sue running more than 50 marathons together and Andrew and Jock working with organisations.

Each lesson is accompanied by a conversation starting picture from Jock and either an insight from Andrew and Sue (lessons from the road) or a comment from people working in organisations (lessons from the workplace).

About The Authors
Andrew and Sue O’Brien are passionate about healthy relationships and creating desired futures. They combine this with a love of running together and a dedication to inspiring others to be active through their speeches, presentations, books, workshops, blog www.coupleontherun.info and websites www.coupleontherun.com and www.Partnerunning.com.

In 2008 Andrew and Sue ran 8 Marathons in 8 Countries in 8 weeks and became know as the “Couple on the Run.” Partnerunning combines Andrew’s “Desired Futures” framework and extensive CEO experience with Sue’s expertise in fitness and exercise.

Sue O’Brien is a tour de force. She is a recognised expert in the fitness industry with 25 years experience teaching, coaching and helping individuals meet their goals. Her achievements include having completed over 50 marathons and having represented Australia at the World triathlon championships.

Sue is the author of “Couple on the Run” and “Lessons from Running Relationships” and is already working on her next project “Partnerunning : How to go further together.”

A strong campaigner for the benefits of health and fitness for success in life, Sue is currently researching women’s health and teenage fitness. Topics that are of particular importance in her personal life, as a mother of two.

Andrew O’Brien is passionate about assisting people create “Desired Futures” and since experiencing a period without personal vision during his 20’s he has devoted himself to becoming an expert in developing personal and organisational vision so as to create desired futures for individuals and organisations. A gifted and sought after facilitator, together with Gary Ryan, Andrew founded the Organisations That Matter Group which oversees an increasing range of successful business activities. Andrew lives with Sue by the bay in Melbourne, Australia and spends as much time as possible in the warmth of South East Queensland and Arizona. After more than 20 years working as a CEO in the services, retail, food, fitness, sports, facility management and higher education services industries Andrew now devotes his time to working with individuals and organisations to create “Desired Futures”.

A former winner of a Customer Service Institute of Australia CEO of the year award Andrew has a bunch of masters degrees in business and management and a doctorate on shared vision which was the initial catalyst for the “Desired Futures” series of books.

Andrew is a Thought Leaders Mentor and works with CEOs and executive leaders to develop corporate thinking for commercial advantage.

Jock Macneish was born in Trinidad and went to school in Scotland. He studied Architecture in London and in Melbourne and has worked in many parts of the world, including two years in Papua New Guinea. His work covers Architecture, Acoustic Consultancy, Illustrations and Cartooning. Jock now runs a company that creates images designed to carry ideas. He calls them “Strategic Images”.

He lives in the hills near Melbourne where, if he heard a hooter, he’d assume there was a bushfire rather than the start of a marathon.

Book Details
Total length: 106 pages

Order information
Price $25 (Australian) plus postage and handling
Our secure checkout includes a currency converter.
Postage: $5 within Australia, $9 everywhere else

Order the book via our secure server here.

Gary Ryan enables individuals, teams and organisations to matter.
Visit Gary at http://garyryans.com

Seeking Inspiration! Yes, I’m requesting your help

Have you ever had a big goal and you were sailing along with your plan and everything was going well, when all of a sudden your plans were thrown into chaos? Yet your goal remained. Instead of looking like Mt Dandenong your goal now looks like Mt Everest!

I am in one of those situations. Today marks the 14th day since I had my appendix out. In 18 days I am due to run the Sri Chinmoy Marathon at Williamstown in Melbourne on Sunday 30th May.

My challenge is that my preparation has been severely interrupted by my hospitalisation. I normally have a training peak three to five weeks before a marathon, and then reduce my load over the last three weeks leading up to the run. Clearly I have not been able to do this as I was in hospital. So far I have managed two eight kilometre runs since leaving hospital and both times I have pulled up quite sore. D’OH!

I’m not an elite runner. My average time is just over 3hrs 50 mins for the eight marathons I have completed so far. Normally I am sore for two to three days after a marathon and I’m back running within five days. My personal plan includes completing at least two marathons per year. this is my first for this year so I’m keen to ‘chalk it up.’

Providing a person has done some training and has a reasonable level of fitness I have learnt that a marathon is by far and away a mental challenge. I use the Jeff Galloway method of running, so I use a combination of running with short walks throughout the marathon (that is what the ancient Greeks did). I know that physically I will be able to run this marathon. I know that this time I will most likely be sore for five days rather than two to three and I might not be able to go for my next run for seven days after the run. I also know that throughout this run my biggest challenge will be my mind.

It is for this reason that I am seeking inspiration from you. I am not asking you to run with me (for some of you that may be an option). Rather I’m seeking inspiration from you in multiple ways. Even if only one person takes up the challenge to run in the 5km event on Sunday May 30th, I’ll be inspired to push through my mental challenges to complete the run. You see, running is relative. If someone hasn’t run or walked 5kms for a long time, then that might seem like Mt Everest to them, just like this 42.2kms is looking like Mt Everest to me at the moment.

I’m already lucky that Andrew and Sue O’Brien from Couple On The Run and the inspiration for our Partnerunning brand will be running on the day. They are completing 10 marathons in 2010!

So, how can you provide inspiration?

  1. Sign up for one of the 5km, 10km, 21.1km or marathon events at the Sri Chinmoy Race at Williamstown on Sunday 30th May. Registration information is available here.
  2. If you are unavailable on Sunday 30th May, sign up for any event that may be a challenge for you.
  3. Come down to Williamstown and show your support for everyone running in all the events. I hope to cross the finish line between 11am and 11:30am. Location information is available here.
  4. Forward this request on to others you know who might be interested in helping.
  5. Send your best wishes by leaving a comment on this blog

If you do sign up for an event or if you plan to come along on the day, please let me know by emailing Gary@orgsthatmatter.com – because knowing that you are doing something will help to inspire me to overcome my mental demons on the day.

So, please inspire me and continue or commence your own personal fitness journey along the way!

Cheers,

Gary Ryan

PS The photo with this article includes my good friend Jim Poussard and myself completing the Sri Chinmoy Marathon last year. Jim is running the Great Ocean Road Marathon this weekend – it is 45 kms, ‘Go Jim!’

Gary Ryan enables individuals, teams and organisations to matter.
Visit Gary at http://garyryans.com

Abbott Frenzy Misses The Point – Couple On The Run

Today I refer you to one of my favourite blogs, Couple On The Run. Andrew’s article Abbott Frenzy Missess The Point focusses on the media and political peressure directed toward Australian Opposition Leader Tony Abbott. Politically I am not a fan of Abbott, but he has every right to stand for what he believes, just as I do. He also has every right to exercise 10 hours per week and compete in and complete an Ironman Triathlon (3.8km swim, 180km bike ride and 42.2km run). The suggestion that he has not focussed on his job to be able to do this is absurd.

Rather than continue I’d prefer to refer you to the Couple On The Run Blog where Andrew O’Brien has written and wonderful article that more than sums up my frustration and views on the topic.

Once you have read the article please feel free to post a comment.

Gary Ryan enables individuals, teams and organisations to matter.
Visit Gary at http://garyryans.com