03/03/2025
{ MMFM 2017 }
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Running Western Australia and what I learnt ⬇️
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I remember way back in the early 2000’s when I was boxing in Christchurch with the most incredible boxing coach a young fighter could ever wish for Kevin Barry Snr. He was not just a coach, mentor, and positive influencer, he taught me how to protect myself in the ring and outside of the ring. Interestingly enough these training methods given to me, provide the financial and educational tools that still bring massive value to my life almost twenty years on. Until the day I take my last breath I will always be grateful to KB Snr, and his wife Moira.
At the time, I was on a bit of a boxing winning streak, and really embracing the sport, I would get taken to other neighbouring gyms for sparring, train twice a day, help coach the little kids, and also give time to the Salvation Army boxing academy in Christchurch.
I remember a fight night one evening and totally out classing my opponent, I ran around some of the local lads, friends and assistant coaches gloating how I had touched up the other fighter, and I certainly wasn’t taking a backwards step going forward giving my little caramel trumpet a toot. “F**k you should have seen me, started with jab ended with the jab, stepped to the side big right hannnnnnnd boom! Should have seen AHHHH!” KB wrenched my shoulder mid sentence.
Kevin Barry “Hey Jamie, don’t do that, don’t ever do that!”
Arrogant Jamie “Do what? What? What did I do?
Kevin “big note yourself, don’t do that! Keep your skylarking to yourself.”
Kevin went on to say “ the first test of a great fighter, or a great man for that matter is in his humility.”
Fast forward to 2017 I started to sense the swelling of my ego, not a lot, but enough. Hints of arrogance, not a lot but enough, almost like a quiet confidence because in 2016 we made ripples with my 2000km run. My business had been operating for a couple of years, and we had come out of the fitness and health blocks thick and fierce. I had been awarded a number of accolades, roles, and spent a heavy amount of time in the local and national media.
Dementia Australia had named me as a state ambassador and The memory Walk and jog had me pinned as their poster boy ambassador and MC for the Queensland Memory Walk and Jog events. JMT and MMFM were in the media spotlight monthly for various things and events. The Just Be Nice Project in Melbourne had also announced me as a JBN ambassador and I was to be sponsored left right and centre from various large chain brands such as Rebel Sport Australia, Mizuno, Barefoot inc, and a number of other small companies.
Whether it was because during this momentary lapse of reason I wasn’t engaged present enough, or perhaps I just let my world of responsibility run away on me and overwhelm take over me. But I distinctly recall the shift towards that little cocky s**t re-emerge in 2017, and it just didn’t feel right.
I was gearing up to run from Perth and all up and around the Western State of Australia for MMFM and Dementia Australia … however at the same time I was auditioning for a TV Series in Australia called Australian Ninja Warrior.
In the early stages of recruiting I had done really well, blitzed the fitness test and first few interviews, and made it through to head to Sydney. Problem was the timing was universally perfect, perfect to test me.
MMFM was scheduled at exactly the same time as a lot of the Ninja Warrior requirements. There was a clash! I was spellbound, star cast, and could smell the big time. My ego loved it, but my heart wept. I was conflicted initially, chase the publicity and dance with my flirtatious ego, or follow my mission, my journey. It was a blessing and a curse. As the saying goes, if you focus on two rabbits they will both get away!
I firmly believe that running is my gift to the world, and I had to remember I accepted that as my journey. So 28 marathons in 14 days it was. It was a big task, a daunting one at that, and I humbly accepted it with a committed and full heart. It didn’t take me long to decide. I knew I needed to make a shift, cut away the consistently growing ego, the rising of the arrogant little prick, and focus intently on the task at hand and remind myself that life is about the giving and not the getting.
In Western Australia, I needed to get out of my own head, out of my own way, and get myself in line and stay in line. I will say there is something f**ken magical about the prolonged levels of fatigue, and physiological and psychological suffering. My mind body and spirit seem to tangle and forge together, and test the very limits of my soul, it's a sensation difficult to verbalise.
WA Was desolate, barren, empty and rugged. I felt very dialled in and in tune running through WA, there were true moments of freedom, where I felt wild, living my best life, and a soul of fire burning bright. One day I found myself singing aloud Jim Reeves song “I love you because” whilst running through a thick field of canola flowers.
I love you because you understand, dear
Every single thing I try to do
You're always there to lend a helping hand, dear
I love you most of all because you're you
No matter what the world may say about me
I know your love will always see me through
I love you for the way you never doubt me
But most of all I love you 'cause you're you
I love you because my heart is lighter
Every time I'm walking by your side
I love you because the future's brighter
The door to happiness, you open wide
No matter what the world may say about me
I know your love will always see me through
I love you for a hundred thousand reasons
But most of all I love you 'cause you're you
It was a bright yellow paddock on both sides, yellow roses were my Nanny’s favourite flower, these were obviously not yellow roses, but after running for 8 days at 80km a day it was all yellow roses to me.I had happy tears as I sang my Nanny’s funeral song by Jim Reeves steady through the canola fields, and thought I really did make the right decision. F**k stardom, wasn’t born to be a bloody ninja anyway.
Sometimes in life I feel we don't always know what the right thing is to do, it's confusing sometimes at best. But trust me when I tell you, if we listen to ourselves carefully enough we will know what the wrong thing to do is.
I had chosen the right journey. Just like Howard Thurman said “don’t worry about what the world needs, ask yourself what makes you come alive and do that, because what the world really needs is people who have come alive.”
In 2017 I was now certain running really was my gift to the world, it was my vessel to do good, to be useful, to contribute, like service.
Have you ever found your gift? Your life’s journey? Your purpose?
Like running for me, what sets your soul on fire? It’s taken me so long to get to this point so I’m not surprised at all if you’re unsure, hell I was very f**ken unsure. Maybe start a curious pathway, move towards some destination of interest, and just f**ken go for it. Small steps just like in an Ultra Marathon, not giant leaps, f**ken go for it. You have nothing to lose, one life, and to my best knowledge that’s all we have.
