Monday, May 24, 2010

Reply

Hey, I got a reply from Mitch Albom, the author that I emailed to tell him how good his books are - it was short and sharp, though, but a reply is a reply. Shows he is interested enough in the feedback to respond.

Here is his response:

Hi Anton,

Thanks for the kind words.

A reply is a reply, though.

Now I have added to my 101 things to do in life to meet him. That would be just outstanding. He is the man - if you have not read his books, don't wait another minute

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Update

So, how am I going for the year, so far, now. Here is an update.

1. Travel overseas - Planned for August 13, 14 and 15 to Thailand (and December) - all good
2. Learn how to do something new (surf) - No plans as yet
3. Do an endurance sporting event - Done on May 15 and 16 - Yee Hah - What an effort
4. Do an extreme sport (parachute) - Nothing planned - very scared
5. Achieve an unrealistic goal (buy a General Lee Dukes of Hazard Car) - Nothing planned
6. Meet someone famous Done on May 20 - Gordon Tallis (Go the Maroons)
7. Put something on You Tube - Nothing planned as yet
8. Change someones life - Nothing planned as yet
9. Have sex every day for a week - Can't wait
10. Give up alcohol for at least one month - Done - twice, leading up to the Mooloolaba Triathlon and leading up to The North Face 100 - easy peasy

So, 3 down, 7 to go.
I might have to book in a parachute jump now, to make it happen, then some surfing lessons.

Will keep you posted.

Live the dream

Anton

Another one down

Well, that is another one done. And, thank god it is over. I have completed an endurance event - my first 100k ultra marathon.

In the end, it turned out to be a 30k run and a 70k walk, as I cramped up at the 30k mark. That was never going to stop me, and even if I had to crawl, I was going to get to the finish line in 24 hours. The North Face 100 has been conquered.

I highly recommend, at some stage in your life (or every year), that you do an ultra marathon. It is a rewarding experience, and it is one of those; ‘if I can do that, I can do anything’ things that you achieve along your journey of life.

The other thing that I can tick off my list for this year is the meeting someone famous. And, surprisingly enough, it did not happen at the North Face 100, which I thought it might (thought it might have been a famous ultra runner), but it happened on a plane trip from Sydney to Brisbane in the week following the event.

If you are Australian, you will know very well that Gordon Tallis is a hero for many Queensland rugby league fans. He is the epitome of being ‘as tough as teak’, he struck fear into opposition sides and we loved to watch him take the ball up, and through, opposition defensive lines. He was a state of origin hero (if you are reading this outside of Australia, state of origin is one of the biggest events on the sporting calendar in Queensland and New South Wales, as the two states play 3 games to win the title of state of origin champion for the year). Gordon Tallis was one of Queensland's best.

With the first state of origin match less than one week away, it was timely to meet Gordon, who was a wonderful bloke.

We chatted briefly, and the conversation went something like this:

Me: Gordon, would you mind signing something for my two boys, please?

GT: Mate, I would love to, you should have asked me on the plane, as I would have signed my boarding pass for them!

Me: Are you looking forward to next Wednesday night (Game 1, 2010)?

GT: Shit yeah!

Me: Do you get involved, and get the boys all stirred up before the games?

GT: Mate, they don;t need me, they can get themselves stirred up for games like these!

Me: Go the Maroons (Queensland)!

GT: Go the Maroons!

Gordon was quite a big unit. He was tall, not hugely built, though he appears to have kept in shape since he retired.

I haven't told the kids yet, that I got his signature for each of them, but they will be wrapped.

So, there you go, in 7 days, two things ticked off the list. Bring that on.

Oh, and also, in May, I am going to go to an Entertainment Centre and write out a huge cheque, like Jim Carey did. I will be putting it out there into my future.

As well as that, for May, I have contacted my favourite author, Mitch Albom.

Here was my message to Mitch:'

Hi Mitch,

I am an Aussie who picked up one of your books in a second hand shop in Perth (Tuesdays with Morrie). I read it in a day, as I have all of your other books, which I purchased as soon as I had read the first one. I have loved all your books, and I just wanted to say thank you for all of the stories, for the challenges, for the stimulation and for the tears.


You are an amazing author, and you have some great stories to tell. Keep up the great work, and I wish you all the best.

PS, I just finished reading Have a Little Faith, and like the others, it was a great read. It has prompted me to spend more time with my parish priest and to discuss the finer points of the teachings of my faith.
Thanks again. Love your work.

I hope to receive a reply, and will let you know if I get one.


For more information on either the ultra marathon or the book reading that I do, go to www.antonguinea.com.au

Saturday, May 1, 2010

Update

So, how am I going for the year, so far. Here is an update.

1. Travel overseas - Planned for August 13, 14 and 15 to Thailand (and December) - all good
2. Learn how to do something new (surf) - No plans as yet
3. Do an endurance sporting event - The North Face 100 Run - Planned for May 15 - all good
4. Do an extreme sport (parachute) - Nothing planned - very scared
5. Achieve an unrealistic goal (buy a General Lee Dukes of Hazard Car) - Nothing planned
6. Meet someone famous (was Dean Karnazes - long distance runner - now Diane Van Deren, another famous ultra marathoner) - Planned for May 15
7. Put something on You Tube - Nothing planned as yet
8. Change someones life - Nothing planned as yet
9. Have sex every day for a week - Can't wait
10. Give up alcohol for at least one month - Done, and doing it again now

So, one down, 9 to go. Of those 9, 3 are planned - it is May already - gee, I have got some work to do.

I might have to book in a parachute jump now, to make it happen, then some surfing lessons.

Will keep you posted.

Live the dream

Anton

Looking to May

Well, as a recap, I have got a list of things to do this year, as part of a 101 things to do list, which I am blogging about.

As well as that, I am choosing something each month to do, as something different, generally that I haven't done before. The last few months have included a Jazz concert, an expensive bottle of red wine and romantic time with my wife, amongst others (I spent one month alcohol free, also, and am doing the same right now - another month alcohol free leading up to a 100km run). So, what is May going to be.

Well, here is an idea. Being an energetic, goal driven individual, I was inspired by Jim Carey's story of when we was a struggling comedian. He was living on the bones of his bum, and not getting anywhere, He had an idea - he went and sat under the Hollywood sign, and wrote himself out a cheque for $10M, and said, I am going to earn that money in this place doing what I love (the story might be marginally different, but just get the jist of what he did). So, with that in mind, could it be possible for me to do that same, and get the same results as Jim has. Heck yes, I say.

So, in May, and given that I am a motivational speaker and author, I am going to find a Convention Centre in a capital city (or more than one - a big stage anyway), and write myself a cheque for $1M dollars, trying to imprint on my subconscious what is achievable. Then, I will do the same at a major bookstore, to cover the authoring. I know this all sounds corny, but it is something that I have never tried, and who knows, it might just work. Bring it on, I say. So, in May , that will be the challenge. As well, as ticking other things off the list, of course.

Go to www.antonguinea.com.au for more motivation stuff, or products.

Anyway, that is what this is about - keep setting goals, challenges and achieving things.

Bring that on.

Anton

Another one off the list

Well, it is only two weeks until I tick the next one for this year off the list.
It is an endurance event, where I am going to run 100ks in a day, actually, hopefully 20 hours. It is called the North Face 100.
Here is some information from the web site for the event:
The highly-anticipated 100km endurance running test-piece, staged in heart of the rugged and spectacular Blue Mountains National Park, is set to return. Lock it in the calendar, lace-up your running shoes, it’s time to start training!

For the third consecutive year, The North Face invites runners of all kinds to step up and take on one of the toughest running events of the year, The North Face 100. An event that is certainly not for the faint hearted, or only elite runners, but is open to all those brave and willing enough to submit their selves to the ultimate endurance running challenge.

A glance over the starting line of The North Face 100 reveals a mixed bag of runners from ultra-marathon aficionados in search of the ultimate test-piece, to seasoned road marathoners making the transition to off-road trails, and probably the biggest bunch of all - recreational runners with an adventurous spirit, a desire to explore their personal limits, and achieve something incredible.
It is a really exciting event, and one that I can't wait to get through. Pumped.
To save me blogging too much about it here, see below the information from another blog that I write about the endurance events that I am completing.
Go to www.antonguinea.com.au for more blogs, or more motivational products.
Here it is:
Well, yesterday, it is only 14 days until we will be running 100 kms as part of the North Face 100 trail running event on May 15 and 16. So, the big question is, am I ready. I think the answer to this question is very philosophical. Are you ever ready to run 100 kms (and walk some, of course)?

I think the answer lies in - well, what are you trying to achieve? See, there is no way, that I would be ready to win the race - 5 weeks training probably is not enough time for that. The next goal that the organisers set is a 14 hour mark. So, if you win, you get a gold belt buckle, if you finish within 14 hours, you get a silver belt buckle. Then, the clincher, if you finish within 20 hours, you get a bronze belt buckle. Apparently, they are a sought after item, these things.

So, the question really is not whether you can finish or not, but what time you can finish in. It might take you 28 hours (the cut off time) - but you have still finished.

To be even more specific, my question is - am I ready to finish this thing in 20 hours and get a bronze belt buckle. I think yes. Actually, it is a big yes. I am quite confident that the work I have done will get me over the line. Also, Marc is going to run all the way with me, to make sure I don't die trying. That will be very handy, for sure.

This week, working at a remote mine site, restricts the training time. Last week involved a 35km run on Sunday, in 3.38 (not too bad), then 5 x 10 km runs from Wednesday to Sunday at average pace. I had one ride with Julie (wife) which was fun, but then, two mornings on the exercise bike was very uncomfortable, and tightened up my legs. I regret then, now, but hey, you can't look back.

Next week will be some 15 km runs, and 10 km runs, through to Sunday, where I will do 40 kms and test my nutrition plan for the North Face 100, to make sure it will work.

Overall, how is my body travelling:

1. Mentally, yep, all good, very positive, and ready for the challenge
2. Physically, average, not as good. Hammies are tight, but that can be fixed with stretching. Knee is playing up, under the knee cap - more stretching required. Slight blistering from my inserts last night. Nothing major. Overall, nothing physical to stop the run, that is for sure. NO EXCUSES.

By the way, Marc did a 110 km run overnight, as part of a Relay for Life event in Kiama, NSW. He is a machine (and 50 years old by the way). Go the boy. Very impressive.

So, what happens after the North Face 100 - well it is about 9 weeks then until a 96km walk, as part of the Kokoda Challenge on the Gold Coast. That will be a little bit of running, also, so the training will help there, too. Two weeks later, it is up for an 18 run as part of the Gladstone, QLD, Relay for Life. This year, I aim to run 100k as part of that race. Last year, I ran/walked 80 kms, so want to go 20 km better this year. Bring that on.

Then it is triathlon season, with a half ironman and ironman down for later in the year, with an Olympic Distance triathlon in between them. Pumped. Bring all that on. It is certainly panning out to be a big year of endurance.

Marc and I are actually looking at the Racing the Planet series over the next four year. Pumped about that too. That involved 5 x 50 km runs in 5 days at different places around the world. Very excited.


Anyway, until next time, keep ticking them off the list.