Macca Ryan | Running Through Life. Mental Health, Marathon Mindsets, and No Bad Days | Lead with Courage

In this insightful and heartwarming episode of the Lead with Courage podcast, host Cherie Canning and guest host Andy Canning sit down with Macca (Macaulay Ryan) from LSKD, a passionate runner and Movember ambassador. They dive into Macca's incredible journey of personal growth, mental health awareness, and the power of running.

Macca shares how his love for running transformed his life, from pushing through the tough moments to becoming an advocate for mental wellness. He discusses the symbolism behind his "Just Keep Running" tattoo and how it applies to both running and life’s challenges. Macca also opens up about his own struggles with mental health after a difficult breakup and how his dog, Kendrick, became his emotional support and life-changer.

The conversation explores Macca's journey to becoming a Movember ambassador, his commitment to raising mental health awareness, and the inspiring events he's spearheaded, including running 100km around a 1.8km loop as part of Movember’s fundraising efforts. The team also touches on Macca's unique approach to ultra-marathon running, where discipline and mental strength take centre stage.

This episode covers the intersection of running, mental health, and resilience, and hear how Macca embodies the LSKD values of moving fast, learning from mistakes, and always striving for one percent better.

Links & Resources:

• Follow Macca on Instagram: @macauleyryan_ and Linkedin 
• Learn more about LSKD and their Run Club: LSKD
• Support Movember: Movember Australia
• Furball 2024 Event: Furball Tickets

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Thanks for joining us on the Lead with Courage podcast, bought to you by Luminate Leadership. We trust this episode has given you some insights and joy to empower you live your biggest, best life.

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Until the next episode, we hope you live and Lead with Courage!
Cherie and Andy x
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Luminate Leadership is not a licensed mental health service and is not a substitute for professional mental health advice, treatment or assessment. The advice given in this episode is general in nature, but if you’re struggling, please see a healthcare professional, or call lifeline on 13 11 14.

Transcript

Cherie Canning: Welcome to the Lead with Courage podcast. Today we have one of our favorite people from LSKD. He does have some titles and some actual job descriptions, but I would best describe this guy as Macca, the guy who loves running from LSKD. So huge welcome to Macaulay Ryan or Macca as we all know him. Welcome Macca.

Macauley Ryan: Thanks team, it's good to pop on in and, and be a part of this. So I'm excited to hear what, you know, what we get to speak about today. 

Cherie Canning: Beautiful. We're excited to have you. And, um, you know, in prep chatting, having known you for almost two years now, I think there's so much rich stories and, um, takeaways for the listeners around mental health, recovery.

Cherie Canning: goal setting around discipline and pushing yourself to the limits. Um, we really want it. And especially my, my guest host. Are you the guest host today? 

Andy Canning: Yeah, absolutely. Guest host today. G'day, I'm Andy. Um, might've been, thank you for inviting me to your podcast today. Yeah. You're 

Cherie Canning: a past episode guest talking about your marathon.

Cherie Canning: So you're You've got a, um, a keen eye on what we want to chat to Macca about with the running. 

Andy Canning: Yeah, some would say invested interest, I guess, um, to, yeah. 

Cherie Canning: Beautiful. Well, we're going to get into why, you know, you've got a tattoo on your leg there that says just keep running. And same as your shirt for those who can't see the visuals.

Cherie Canning: And we want to get into what all that, what all that means. Um, what it matters to you and yeah, have a huge chat here today. So huge welcome. Um, one of the first or the first question we always ask anyone on this podcast is what does lead with courage mean to you? 

Macauley Ryan: Yeah, well, I've been thinking about this a lot since you sent over my prep questions yesterday.

Macauley Ryan: Boom. 

Andy Canning: Love that. Love that dig. And I never got asked that question actually. 

Cherie Canning: Alright, alright, let's ease up on the shizzy bagging out today. Um, and I think 

Macauley Ryan: the thing that kept on coming back to me when I was, when I was thinking about this was, you know, if you want to lead with courage, you have to be confident.

Macauley Ryan: Um, I think that's the biggest thing. Um, I think if you are a courageous person, um, at heart, then I think that confidence comes from within. Um, so I think that's really like. Yeah, I think that's what I kept on coming back to is like, you know, you have to be confident within yourself and you have to be confident in, you know, leading, um, leading the pack.

Macauley Ryan: Yeah. That's what I kept on coming back to. Yeah. Beautiful. Is 

Cherie Canning: inner confidence something you've always had or been aware of in your own life? 

Macauley Ryan: Um, I wouldn't say I've always had, um, definitely developed, um, over the years and I would say that just becomes with, you know, that comes with like life lessons, really, um, you know, and you know, I still probably, there's probably parts of my role now that I probably don't feel as confident in.

Macauley Ryan: Which would then become my weaknesses as, you know, who, you know, who I am and how I show up. I only know this right now because we had this conversation not long ago, Alex and I. Yes. Um, but yeah, so I think that's where it comes into, um, you know, identifying where you're confident and then the areas that you aren't, then they're obviously, you know, I guess your weaknesses, um, that you need to work on.

Cherie Canning: Yeah, beautiful, beautiful. So tell us a little bit about who is MACA then, um, up until this point, career highlights, big moments, a little bit of background on you. 

Macauley Ryan: Um, it depends how far we want to go back 

Andy Canning: all 

Macauley Ryan: the way back. Okay. Um, so I grew up in Maribyron, which is about three hours North of Brisbane. Um, so a little small town and then also across, um, in Townsville as well.

Macauley Ryan: Spent about seven years in Townsville. Dad traveled a fair bit for work, so we moved around the country a fair bit with Telstra and then left school, joined the defense force, went into the Navy. Um was there for just under four years. It wasn't my cup of tea. Okay Not a huge fan of being told what to do all the time Um, but you know, like I said before life lesson, um taught me a lot of great things Also taught me not some not so great things So yeah moved on from the navy and went and worked in the mines with my old men Um, so worked for a mining company out there doing powerline construction At the end of that or towards the end of that I was sort of like what am I doing like I wasn't You know, it was just manual labor 13 14 hour days out in the Sun.

Macauley Ryan: Um, I was working away It was 11 days on three days off so it wasn't really much of a lifestyle was just all work and I always had like a passion for you know throughout school and just out of school. I was very heavily involved in sport played a lot of team sports and then I I I I just found a love for the gym when I couldn't play my team sport.

Macauley Ryan: Um, I sort of filled that void with, you know, turning into a gym junkie pretty much. And that's all I did. I lifted weights and I worked and I sort of packed all my things up and I moved from Maribor to Brisbane in the end of 2013, started 2014. 

Cherie Canning: How old are you around this time? 

Macauley Ryan: Uh, maybe 20, oh my God, 24.

Cherie Canning: Yeah. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. So that mid twenties. Yeah. 

Macauley Ryan: Yeah, 23 24 it would have been. Yeah, I did my, uh, PT course here in Brisbane. Um, so I set myself up in Brisbane, was able to do my PT course full time, so I knocked that over within, I think it was like three months or something. And then went into personal training.

Macauley Ryan: So personal trainer for two and a half years. And then moved into, uh, gym management around Anytime Fitness. And then that led me to moving, I always PT'd at some degree, whether it was, you know, just a few clients here and there throughout the week. Um, And then in the end, it was like five clients that I still trained all the way up until when I started with LSKD two years ago, who'd been with me for like six years.

Macauley Ryan: Yeah, wow. Um, and then, yeah, so moved on from managing gyms into working for Fit As, or Fit As Fuck, it is called. Um, so moved into their, in their e com side of the business. And started in just like a customer service logistics type role. Um, and then over the, over the five years, five and a half years I was there, I went from, you know, in that role all the way through to operations manager of Fit As, um, across online and, um, across e com and the gym.

Cherie Canning: Yeah, wow. Yeah. Wow. 

Macauley Ryan: So, I did a lot of growing there. Yeah. Um. Didn't like I went, you know, I did stuff in influencer marketing ambassador management logistics, um You could probably say people in culture as well. Like there was a whole different array of you know, I guess Um, just you know role responsibilities that I took on board.

Macauley Ryan: Um, how awesome And didn't really have any training to do any of it I just sort of learned as I went and I you know, and then eventually, um You After two and a half years of Keith and I catching up for beers at the Oxford, we um, I got the call to come over to LSKD. 

Cherie Canning: Keith, the CEO of LSKD, Oh, COO, COO, um, yes, CEO's taken, yeah, yeah, definitely taken by the founder, maybe, yeah, yeah, um, sorry, Jase, um, yeah, of course, COO, he, he's very good at that, he's very good at like keeping someone on ice and just making sure, I call it like a bit of dating, right, and then you're like, okay, you're in, we're ready.

Cherie Canning: We're ready for you now. Did he 

Andy Canning: start to plant the seed early on? 

Macauley Ryan: Oh, yeah. We had a conversation. Yeah. Within that two year, two and a half year period about, you know, coming to join LSKD, but there was just never the right role. Um, and to be honest when I joined that it probably still wasn't the exact right role, but it was, you know, a foot in the door.

Macauley Ryan: Um, so yeah, I joined as, um, an omni channel specialist working across multiple channels at LSKD. It was quite funny. Keith was like, Oh, I just need a little bit of help with, um, you know, we're starting to roll out in retail. And I joined at store number four. And, you know, we'll, you know, as this, when this goes live, we'll be at, I think, 15.

Macauley Ryan: So, you know, um, there's been a lot of growth. And I remember him just like, I just need a bit of a hand for this one. You know, you side saddle with me and, you know, we'll be okay. And I'm like, yeah, too easy. Like, I'll get involved. And, uh, yeah, I did one. And then he was like, you did such a great job, Macca.

Macauley Ryan: Here you go. They're all yours So, uh, yeah, it took a little bit of time for my Role to morph into where I am now with store development. Um, but It needed, you know, it needed someone's full attention with the rate We were rolling out retail locations and and you know going into the future as well So, um, yeah, super exciting once again didn't have any experience.

Macauley Ryan: I don't think i've ever worked You in retail, let alone a week in retail in my life before LSKD. Um, so yeah, that was super exciting. Um, and sort of just learnt as I've, you know, surrounded myself with and lent on, you know, the right people to be able to learn more about. You know what I need to know and how can I further my skills?

Cherie Canning: Yeah, and it's so true to the values of lskd like a few are springing to mind for me now Move fast and break shit like that easy. Okay, maca get in there get it done and we'll learn for each I've even seen I think maybe melbourne. There's one of them's having a refurb already and it's like two years in so it's You know, how do we keep learning and making it better the one percent better every day?

Cherie Canning: So yeah, it's just true to the values, isn't it? So true. Yeah. Um, amazing. And so one of the things that I've noticed, um, well, and I just love how LSKD are just so nimble and quick to just pick up on whatever's really going to benefit the community, genuinely aligned to the values. And that's one of the things I really, we really want to talk to you about today is, you know, your shirt right now, just keep running.

Cherie Canning: There's the Run Club with LSKD. There's a whole focus, obviously, functional fitness and, you know, different things people have been in all the time, but specifically around running. And I have a, I'm feeling that a lot of that's come, um, with your influence and, and other people's passion for running, of course, but yeah, as we said before, you've got a tattoo and it feels weird, like just talking about your body parts right now, but just above your knee on those very nice legs of yours that look very well waxed, probably smoother than mine.

Cherie Canning: Race ready. Race ready. Race ready. My husband's giving me the look. Really? You're going there? I feel like I'm in the wrong 

Andy Canning: podcast. 

Cherie Canning: No, but all jokes aside, there's a tattoo there saying, just keep running as, as your shirt, which is merch that people can purchase. Um, can you tell us about that? What is this tattoo all about?

Cherie Canning: Where's the story come from? 

Macauley Ryan: Yeah. Um, so. Two years ago now, um, I was doing a, before I became an ambassador for Movember, I was, I always did some sort of physical challenge each year to, Raise awareness, raise funds. But, um, for me, it was just about getting people around me and, you know, that's the, that's the greatest way to have conversations and to have people there with you.

Macauley Ryan: So for this challenge, I ran a calendar month. So it was day one, one kilometer, day two, two kilometers, all the way through to day 30, 30 kilometers. And my idea was to like, just get as many people to join me every single day. Um, and I think across the month I had just over 250 different people join me. Um, for the month of running and just during that, I actually got the tattoo afterwards.

Macauley Ryan: I got a few tattoos after that challenge, um, that I relate back to quite strongly. And yeah, just through that, I, I can't even remember where I saw it or how it came to me, but it was like, just keep running. And that's like every day, day after day. I didn't split up the kilometers either. I didn't, you know, for day 20, I didn't do 10 in the morning, 10 I always did full amount that morning or that night.

Macauley Ryan: Um, And so yeah, just keep running sort of just came to me and it was like, it wasn't just about running, it was about life as well. Um, and I think it just relates back to like, You know, no matter any uphill that you come to when you're running along a course or any uphill battle that you, uh, are faced with in life, that there's always a downhill mm-Hmm.

Macauley Ryan: Um, so there's always reprieve. There's always like, you know, that big deep breath in and a ugh. You know, like, okay, I'm, I'm the downhill now. Yes. I'm, I'm, you know, I'm, I'm, I'm making moves. Yeah. Um, so yeah, that was sort of just, it sort of got that, that double meaning Yes. Um, around it really. 

Cherie Canning: I love it. And can you, is there a particular moment or experience that led you into being so supportive when it comes to mental health and creating the conversation?

Macauley Ryan: Uh, yeah, probably just off the back of my own experiences. Um, probably. What can you share with us? Yeah. Um, so I might grab a quick drink of water before this one. 

Cherie Canning: Yes, of course. 

Macauley Ryan: Um, so probably around, I would say it was 20, uh, must be around 2016, I would say. Um, yeah, 2016. Cause that was the year Kendrick was born.

Macauley Ryan: Um, so, 

Cherie Canning: um, 

Macauley Ryan: so yeah, just lived experiences, um, went through a pretty crappy breakup, um, and post that I just wasn't in a great place. At the time I was living with my dad here in Brisbane and he was working away still in the mines And so I was just by myself not the greatest time to obviously be on my own so yeah, I just went through a period where I You know, it was pretty shit breakup.

Macauley Ryan: And then from that I sort of just found myself in a bit of a rut I didn't really know I guess who I You know who I really was what I really wanted You know, I had great group of friends around me, but back in those days, it was more so around partying and I definitely wasn't living the life that I do now back then.

Macauley Ryan: So yeah, it was just, you know, there was a lot of partying and there was, you know, um, a lot of days spent probably, you know, caught up by myself at home and, and with my hands in my head and my hands crying, just, you know, depressed, to be honest. And yeah, I had always wanted a dog. And that was like That was the moment where I decided, you know, this is where I want my mate and um, I had committed to Um buying my first property back in 2017 And I was like, this is the perfect time i'm moving into my own home I don't have to abide by any, you know, I had, there was body corporate because it was in a complex, but like, you know, I could have my own space renting exactly.

Macauley Ryan: Um, so I committed to finding, and I saw this red toy poodle on Instagram and he used to get dressed up and all these like cool costumes and stuff like that. And, um, yeah, I was like, yeah, that's the dog I want. Um, and so I. Found a breeder from Tully, um, up in far North Queensland. And I didn't even get a chance to like look at him because it was all the way out there.

Macauley Ryan: I was like, I'm not going to really fly all the way out there just to be like, yep, you're the one. And so the breeders sent me the, like the most blurred photo you've ever seen. And all you could see was like the color of each collar. And she's like, you've got red collar, blue collar. Or purple collar. That was his name on his birth certificate.

Macauley Ryan: Red collar, red collar. So I went with red collar, um, the blurry red collar and then yeah, eight weeks later, um, so he was born on the 23rd of December and eight weeks later he arrived at Brisbane airport in a little puppy cage and he'd vomited like everywhere through his cage and everything. And he got out and he was just like trembling and yeah.

Macauley Ryan: And, um, literally from that day onwards, my life changed. Like that. Instantly. 

Cherie Canning: Wow. Wow. Yeah. 

Macauley Ryan: And he's just been my sidekick. Literally from day dot. He um, yeah. He, I'm quite lucky that In the jobs that I've had, you know with fit as I he came to work every day He was literally part of the furniture and very much.

Macauley Ryan: So now at LSKD, he's he's no he's quite well known 

Cherie Canning: Yes, he was in the meeting. I was in on Monday. You weren't there Everyone 

Macauley Ryan: knows his name too and not mine. Yeah You're Kenny's dad. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Cool. What a wife. What a yes 

Andy Canning: for Kenny. 

Macauley Ryan: Yeah, cool And he's just always been kind Like, I take him literally everywhere I can, to be honest.

Macauley Ryan: Um, so yeah. And then since that day, he's just completely changed my life. And he's just, yeah, he is an emotional support dog. Um, not a verified one. We tried to do that. But, um, part of that process, you have to be able to walk the dog, uh, with a collar and a lead. And. He will only walk in a harness if he's lucky he actually walks better with nothing And yeah, um, and so I put this collar on him We went through the process and there was like a training day coming up And I put the collar on him and he just like dug all four paws into the This is not legs straight stiff and just sat down.

Macauley Ryan: He's like nah, man I tried coercing with treats and everything and he just like never like there was no way 

Cherie Canning: A bit like you, not wanting to be told what to do. Yeah, pretty much. 

Macauley Ryan: Yeah. That's awesome. Yeah. 

Cherie Canning: Oh, that's incredible. It's um, yeah, that's an incredible bond. Yeah, I love that so much. 

Andy Canning: Yeah, you guys are lucky to have each other.

Andy Canning: It's 

Macauley Ryan: very yeah I'm, glad the uh average age is around 15 to 16 years for toy poodles 

Andy Canning: Yeah, no kidding. There's some miles in those legs. Yeah. Yeah 50 percent of the way through man. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, it's awesome Yeah, 

Cherie Canning: yeah. Yeah. Yeah, that's incredible and so from there life got better and different and so then You Um, the, I guess the desire or the draw card to then be a spokesperson now, uh, an ambassador for Movember, which is a huge event in Australia.

Cherie Canning: Um, and even as we record this podcast, it's mental health awareness month. You've got the big event coming up at the end of November. So if people want to check it out, we'll put in all the links to be involved, raise awareness, raise funds. What was the, I guess, where's the gap between. I'm feeling depressed.

Cherie Canning: I'm really not in a good place, um, to now being an ambassador. 

Macauley Ryan: What I do as an ambassador isn't about what I've been through. It's about what's possible on the other side. 

Cherie Canning: Yes. 

Macauley Ryan: So as much as I talk about, you know, I can talk about a personal story or, or, you know, the reason, you know, why, um, it's more about like showing people that, Hey, you know, there, there isn't the other side to mental health and that's the really good side.

Macauley Ryan: Yeah. Um, cause there is a way through it. Um, you just need to find what that is. And for me, it was Kendrick, who was a dog, you know? Um, so yeah, there's a lot of, you know, there's obviously other, other stuff in there too. Um, my joy for, you know, exercise and running was a big part of it as well. But, um, yeah, my, my, my, my experiences now are just about, you know, how good it is to be.

Macauley Ryan: To have a great, you know, mental health. Um, and it, and it's not all bad and gloomy and not everything you see on, you know, social media has to be that way. Um, it's about, you know, being, being on the other side of it and what you can do to get there. 

Cherie Canning: Yeah, I absolutely adore what you've just said because it reminds me of the mental health continuum and how at one end we've got like mental illness and the other mental wellness.

Cherie Canning: And so, so often we talk about mental, like mental illness all the time, and maybe the conversation needs to be more around Not even mental health awareness, but mental health practices. I heard someone say that recently I think actually he's coming out with a collab with you guys a gratitude. Oh, yeah conversation and Just around having you know, let's bring it into mental health practices rather than just awareness It's doing and I love that you're saying.

Cherie Canning: Okay, let's focus on What's on the other side. Um, not ignoring what some of those symptoms or issues can be, but how do we get people to the other side that it is possible and yeah, I, I've, I absolutely love the thought that sometimes if someone's not in a great space, We know that exercise is going to be really helpful always, but if you're not feeling motivated to exercise, and then it's another entry point when you're talking about Kendrick, that's a different entry point to access that emotional wellbeing.

Cherie Canning: And then from that, it's almost like an upward spiral, isn't it? Like instead of the downward where you go, okay, well, I'm feeling more that emotional support. So maybe now I'm feeling a level of motivation to get out and run a bit more. I imagine at that time running wasn't a big deal. You weren't doing a lot of it.

Macauley Ryan: No, no, it wasn't running for me. And he started probably about more seriously, probably about three or so years ago, but I guess just more on what you just said, then like the other tattoo on me is no bad days. And that is a reminder to be like, I know for a fact that if I am having, if the day is not going well, I know that there is certain things that I can lean on to ensure that that bad day finishes great.

Cherie Canning: What are some of those for you? 

Macauley Ryan: It could be running, it could be running, it could be exercising, you know, just in general, um, it could be time to myself just going for a walk. Um, it could be, you know, it's going to see my God kids and my God daughter and God son, um, going to hang out with my mates, going for a beer.

Macauley Ryan: Like there's so many things that I know it could be spending time with my partner, like, You know just something that's spontaneous and doing something like that. Um, yeah, I just know that you know If I am having not such a great day, um that there's certain things that I know That I can do to ensure that my day does finish great.

Macauley Ryan: Um, I don't think it's very often. I don't know, maybe Sammy might say something different, but there's, you know, I, there's rarely a day where I'm like, you know, I've really hated that. Like, I don't think, I really can't remember the last day I was like, wow, that was a shit day. Um, I, I, I just, I just, I've always got something that I can reach into, I guess, my toolbox to be able to use and ensure that I finished the day on a high.

Cherie Canning: I don't know how many people speak about that. I absolutely love that. 

Andy Canning: Is there like a reflection point each day that you kind of go to, I guess, take stock on the success of the day or how you measure the day or like at what point do you sit there and. And kind of being like, yeah, you know what, it's another good day, you know, 13, 000 in a row, whatever that may be.

Andy Canning: Or would you 

Cherie Canning: go, Oh, this isn't a great day. I've got to shift the gears a little. Yeah. 

Andy Canning: Just, just maybe like, maybe you could talk to kind of like those bookmark moments through the day or how you catch yourself out if you're just not quite in the right frequency. 

Macauley Ryan: Yeah. I, and you know, that's. Um, I, I personally, I operate at such a high frequency because I know that, you know, the moment I start to dip or there's something not quite right, then I sort of, it throws me off the rails a little bit.

Macauley Ryan: Um, but I think it's more for me, it's how I feel. Um, if I'm feeling like super overwhelmed and like highly stressed and not to say that I don't feel those emotions, but if I'm feeling that way, then I know that I can, you know, I know that. Okay, well I'm feeling overwhelmed, I'm feeling super stressed, alright, I'm just gonna, I'm gonna finish up work and I'm gonna, you know, ring my best mate or ring my partner or, you know, go see, go see my godkids and know that I'm, you know, I'm gonna feel great when I get there.

Macauley Ryan: Um, and forget about that feeling of feeling stressed and overwhelmed and for that moment in time I'll, I'll be okay and I'll finish the day strong and then I'll get a good night's sleep and, You know do it on to the next 

Cherie Canning: and so that it's just a conscious awareness of your feelings and your physical body And then your emotional mind.

Yeah, 

Cherie Canning: what um, What have you done practice wise because I know you've done a lot of personal development over the years as well so are there things that have really got you aware of how you feel because I think you know, that's For some people, they're still developing the self inner awareness of what those feelings might look like.

Macauley Ryan: Yeah, absolutely. And to be honest, like a lot of this has come over the last two, two and a bit years. Mm. You know, since being involved with LSKD Mm. And doing stuff with, with Usha. Um, and I think it's a product of being surrounded by the right people as well. Yes. Who also have those tools. Yeah. Um, and the understanding, um, I think it becomes much easier to.

Macauley Ryan: Either speak about it or be open about it when you're surrounded by people like that You can access 

Andy Canning: like that level of vulnerability straight away, right? Because you already have that trust You have that frequency, you operate on that level, so you don't have to go into an education piece or, you know, feel totally raw that you're about to, you know, kind of show a part of yourself that someone hasn't seen before and then they, and then they kind of don't know what to do.

Cherie Canning: Yeah, there's no shame in it. Yeah, there's no shame. Because I think people are like, oh, let's just talk about it. Yeah, because you live that. Because we know how to get through it. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, that's powerful. 

Macauley Ryan: So I think that's probably, you know, that's been a massive credit and I've learned probably more about Myself and my emotions over the last two and a half years and I probably have in my entire life.

Macauley Ryan: Yeah, that's so yeah I think that's and you know that comes from you know, personal development and also just I think being encouraged by the people around me as well to You know, show vulnerability and to have those conversations. 

Cherie Canning: Yeah. And yeah, that's, that's really magic. And. Also, you're leaning into it, right?

Cherie Canning: Like sometimes the environment can present itself, but people don't lean into it. So the fact that you've put your hand up to be on the mentor squad and shout out to Sean Martin, his mentor, um, but you know, mentor squads. That's a 

Andy Canning: good, that's a good mentor. I walked past him yesterday. He's a good human.

Andy Canning: Oh yeah. That's cool. 

Cherie Canning: Yeah. Awesome human being. Um, and so, yeah, I think turning up to the programs, the, the books, all the learnings, the different people you have access to, powerful, powerful. 

Andy Canning: The, kind of keen to, to know, I guess with the mental health and, and how that you've mentioned that you've started running, you know, prior to today, I guess what I knew about you is you're the guy that goes for really, really, really, really long runs.

Andy Canning: So, um, and enjoys it and, and enjoys it. And usually there's a, and usually there's like a, um, a motive there or a big cause there that you're running towards. It was Movember or whatever. So I'd love to know. Kind of you, you mentioned it started maybe three years ago or so and then which ties in to A lot of the learnings that you've had about yourself.

Andy Canning: Yeah along the way So maybe you could talk to just what the marriage looks like in terms of the learning about yourself and then pushing yourself meeting your edge Through running or whatever. Yes, I 

Macauley Ryan: started I ran my first marathon at Gold Coast Marathon in 2020 2020 One, I think it was, um, and I'd ran the half marathon or it was in COVID.

Macauley Ryan: So I did it virtually and then yeah, uh, signed up to do the full marathon and got into that and I was doing triathlons and, and stuff as well. And, but I hated swimming. Um, so I gave that away and I was like, well, am I doing something I do not like? 

Cherie Canning: Yeah. There's a, there's a fine line of like, I'm pushing myself and I just detest this.

Cherie Canning: Yeah. 

Macauley Ryan: And then I finished Gold Coast marathon. I was like, oh yeah, that was cool. Like got it tightened. Didn't. What kind 

Cherie Canning: of time did you do? Were you 

Macauley Ryan: It was my first marathon. It was 3 35 or something like that. Um, that's pretty solid . I, but I didn't really en like I finished, but I didn't really enjoy it as much as what I thought I would.

Macauley Ryan: Okay. Um, and then my coach, who still coaches me now, Jamie, um, he's like, oh, why don't you try a trail running and get into trail running? And I started trail running and then that's when I really unlocked like. You know, that marriage between running and mindfulness and learning more about myself because I don't run with music for anything.

Macauley Ryan: Um, even for ultras and stuff like that. I just prefer to listen to my breath, listen to my thoughts, problem solve, bring in new ideas, you know, like whatever it may be. And yeah, I started trial running and I just being in nature and running through the bush. Like I just felt so. At peace and that I could just be so in tune with my thoughts and what was going on around me Um, and a lot of the running I do, you know do by myself apart from you know, the run club and stuff um but yeah, it was just it was time where I could just have by myself and You know with you know the pace and what life goes at um to be able to have two three hours by myself in the middle of nowhere with Sometimes no phone reception, which is even better, um, and the phone goes on, do not disturb.

Macauley Ryan: It's, you know, it's great. Um, and I think that's where it really took off for me and I got into trial running and And then I just started running longer and longer distances and then I never looked back. 

Cherie Canning: And so the one that really sticks in my mind, you've probably got a heap that you can refer to, but I think it was last year and you did the, the, uh, where the building of LSKD is on the block of LSKD.

Cherie Canning: You decided to run around the block. Tell us about this one. 

Macauley Ryan: So once again, another Movember challenge and the whole idea was to get as many people to join me as possible. Um, once again, I think we had close to 300 people join me over the 11 hours. Um, so yeah, I started at midnight at LSKD HQ and the block is 1.

Macauley Ryan: 8 kilometers, um, long or short. Um, and I ran 100k around a 1. 8 kilometer loop. Um, and the whole idea was for people to come and join me, um, to, to join me, you had to donate Movember Foundation. Um, so yeah, I think last year we raised, I think last year, um, was, you know, I think around 15K, um, in total, which was awesome.

Macauley Ryan: Um, but yeah, that was the whole, you know, I started at midnight. I had probably like, I think I had about 15 people join me at midnight to start, including my brother who drove from the Sunshine Coast. Oh, wow. So he drove up and started with me. Um, so yeah, it was, it was really fun, um, actually, um, the funniest part was actually when people started to be like, Oh, this way is, you know, this way is not as good, you know, let's run back the other way.

Macauley Ryan: And I was like, yeah, you're telling me, but like, I've ran this a few more times today. 

Cherie Canning: Yeah. How many laps was it in total? 

Macauley Ryan: I think it was around between 55 to 60 plus laps or something. Um, I think when I mapped it out on Strava, yeah, it was around that. Um, but in the end I, I didn't end up counting. I just went by how many kilometers.

Macauley Ryan: Were 

Cherie Canning: there any laps where you were solo or through the middle of like crazy hours of the night, the two, the three, someone was with you the whole time? 

Macauley Ryan: I had a group of people with me at all, all times. Yeah. Was that helpful? Yeah, absolutely just for conversation The monotony of 

Cherie Canning: that same block you need to be yeah 

Macauley Ryan: And I think the best part was like you had new people joining every you know Every hour or whatever it may be so like the morale was kept really high You got new energy that came in, you know, there's some of the people there like ran I think um, there was a couple of um, sophin and and dimitri from who are great friends of mine ran like 40 or 50k With me.

Macauley Ryan: Wow. Wow. Yeah, so, you know like there's You And then you get new people come on board every hour and they bring new energy and then there was people who couldn't run and we, we actually teamed up with, um, Trek bikes and they brought out e bikes. And, um, so we had e bikes for people who didn't want to run.

Cherie Canning: Like me. Yeah, which was 

Macauley Ryan: great. So like, you know, he for the, he for the crew from work. Can still be 

Cherie Canning: part of the event. Yeah, came out and 

Macauley Ryan: jumped on the e bikes and, you know, carried my water or we had, um, a few speakers in the baskets on the bike. So you have music cranking and stuff. So 

Cherie Canning: that's a lot of fun.

Cherie Canning: Yeah, that's brilliant 

Andy Canning: Yeah keen to know with the with the long runs You mentioned like those anchoring techniques that that you have like when you're in the bush You you have the you can hear the sounds you can hear your breath. You don't have music as a distraction Uh or anything like that and so then it's just about being totally present and you can focus on what you're doing but i'd imagine when when There's a cliff that comes with pain and discomfort or whatever and conversations you have to have with yourself to, to move through that.

Andy Canning: Similar to what you said before, you, you're either on the up or you're on the down and that's just kind of all part of it. So, I'd love to hear from you a little bit about what the, uh, In those longer runs, what does the anchoring I mean i've i've only merely just Recently done a full marathon, but but nothing more than that Um, yeah, we'd love to hear whatever you have to share on that 

Macauley Ryan: Yeah, well, there's probably three tattoos that I look at on my body to start with Um, just keep running and no bad days and then the other one on my wrist, which is rtq which is I refuse to quit um, which was a A little saying, um, from my hockey coach from under, I think it was under 16s.

Macauley Ryan: Oh. Um, from back in Townsville, um, he wrote it all on our hands when we were going into the Grand final, um of our hockey grand final at state cup and uh, yeah He wrote it on the hands and rtq refused to quit never let you know Don't quit on your teammates and don't quit on yourself and that stuck with me for quite some time as well Um, but yeah in those long runs, I think it's just it's so hard.

Macauley Ryan: My mind is my biggest asset. My mind will push me Further than what my body can, um, well, my mind will help me push my bird body as well, obviously, but my body will shut down before my mind will that that's probably, and it's kind of sounds weird because you think, well, you know, your body's probably going to give way at some point.

Macauley Ryan: Um, but yeah, my mind is my biggest asset and I think that's why. You know when things do get hard and I think Also going into these races being in a in a great mindset Um plays a huge part and obviously on training runs and stuff like that There's probably times where I don't feel like getting out of bed and going and spending four hours running through the bush Um, but I know if I don't I miss out on that time to myself Um, and I miss out on time doing something that I love and something that I enjoy doing So Yeah, a lot of it comes back to discipline to be honest for me.

Macauley Ryan: Um, I'm just like I'm the sort of person who will just Get in and get shit done. Um, and if that means I have to get up at 2 33 AM to drive to MacArthur to be on the trails, to get in 40 K of running before I go to, you know, you know, go and spend the day with my partner or, you know, go see family or go to work or whatever it may be, then it just has to be done.

Macauley Ryan: Um, a discipline is, you know, probably this, you know, one of the biggest things that I pride myself on and what I always turn back to. Um, I don't think there's any sort of. Um, pivotal moment or, or, or, um, or tool that I potentially would lean into. Yeah. I think it's just grit and it's just getting it, getting it done.

Macauley Ryan: Where does that, 

Andy Canning: where does that discipline come from? 

Macauley Ryan: My dad. Yeah. My dad, um, hardest worker I don't, I think I've ever known in my life. Um, still to this day he's retired and he still finds a way to be the hardest worker in the room. Um, but yeah, he's just, yeah. He's the same and then that's where it comes from.

Macauley Ryan: Um, he's resilient. He's strong. He's a hard worker. His work ethic is like second to none. Um, So I think that's just being ingrained in me, um from like watching him through his work life, you know He worked for the same company for 31 years at Telstra. Um, that's a quite an achievement in itself And traveled the country You know, while, um, you know, we were young and, and still into, you know, into later years in school and stuff as well, but yeah, I've just, he's, yeah, like if there's any job, he will do it.

Macauley Ryan: It, whether it's for me or for someone else and, you know, I think that's where I get a lot of my, I guess my core values from is, is, is from, you know, watching him growing up and what he does. But yeah, that discipline and that work ethic comes from him. 

Andy Canning: And you mentioned, uh, before we started recording, um, that you have a.

Andy Canning: Run this weekend. Mm hmm, which I've written it down here. So it's six point seven kilometer loop It's called the backyard ultra. Mm hmm, and you basically just run until you decide to stop 

Macauley Ryan: Yep, 

Andy Canning: or you don't 

Macauley Ryan: make it back within the 

Andy Canning: hour. So you don't make it back So you have to run six point seven in an hour.

Andy Canning: Mm hmm Um, as many times as you can for an indefinite period of time. Correct. So if you don't 

Cherie Canning: hit it, like if you're an hour and two, then you're done. Yeah. Okay. 

Andy Canning: So what does the psychology look like? Do you have a, do you have a goal for that one? Like in terms of how long you aim to stay out there or how many loops that you're willing to share on it?

Andy Canning: Bearing in mind, this will probably get released after. Yeah, yeah. I know. 

Macauley Ryan: Bite my tongue. Um. So I did the same for so 6. 7 kilometers every hour on the hour until you either don't make it back within the hour or You you know physically mentally tap out and say that's me So I did this format last year and I did 15 hours, which was just over 100k and Which was to be honest is quite a small amount compared to like the I think the world record now is 112 hours So like the professionals who do this format day in day out are like they go for days Yeah within the same hour.

Macauley Ryan: So they're so good that they just Microsleep and like all that sort of stuff. So it's crazy. So Last year, I didn't really Train for that method of race because I was prepping for, um, another point to point ultra. And I sort of just went into it to be like, let me see how far my legs can take me. And what gave out last time was my body.

Macauley Ryan: Um, my hips just started to like lock up and I was getting to the start line of the next lap. And I, I look like I was. 80 years old, like keeled over with a walking stick to get going again. Um, I just couldn't straighten out. Like it was, my hips were just so sore and I knew I had this next race in five weeks, so I was like, I didn't want to push myself to the point where I was going to injure, um, So yeah, I guess for this 

Andy Canning: it's can I ask you a question on that?

Andy Canning: Do you know where that tipping point is in terms of kind of feeling that intense amount of discomfort? And then knowing that you're injuring yourself um 

Macauley Ryan: Yeah, i'm pretty in tune with my body and how I feel. Um After what we spoke about today. Um, but yeah, definitely when it comes to that sort of like I know like, okay That's pretty much it Um, I've just come back from a recent injury and when that started to flare up, I was like, Oh, that's, that's not, that's not like, just like, you know, your normal day to day soreness from running or from gym, 

Cherie Canning: just fatigue and yeah, you know, 

Macauley Ryan: um, that's like, that's not good.

Cherie Canning: That's where you and I have been hanging out at shitty open parties. Yeah, Pilates. Pilates 

Macauley Ryan: saved my running career. Um, so yeah, my goal, you shouldn't go into this type of event with a goal. 

Andy Canning: No, no, I was going to ask you that as well. And maybe goals are a bit of a loose word. Yeah. You know, is there a kind of like a target or an expectation maybe that you might have that you might want to share?

Macauley Ryan: I would love to make 24 hours. Yeah, um, which would be a hundred mile 160k roughly. Yeah. Um, that would be great but You just never know you never know what could happen. 

Andy Canning: Is that the further issue you've gone before? 

Macauley Ryan: Yeah. Yeah. Okay Yeah, that'll be in my furthest run. Yep We'll, we'll see. Stay tuned. I will.

Macauley Ryan: Starts on, yeah, it actually falls on my birthday, so for my birthday this year I've decided to run an ultra marathon and put myself into some very, very, I guess, dark places for a few hours. To deepen me out of discomfort. Yep. Oh, that's 

Cherie Canning: awesome. What date is your birthday? What's the date of the? 5th of October.

Cherie Canning: 5th of October. Oh, yeah, literally three days. How are you feeling now, three days out? 

Macauley Ryan: Yeah, good. Um, um, yeah, I'm in a taper week at the moment. So, um, yeah, only two runs this week. Um, so yeah, taking it pretty easy. Rest is a big, big key this week. Um, rest and food. And then, um, yeah, starting a carb load at the moment and then, um, 

Cherie Canning: What's on the, what's on the menu?

Macauley Ryan: Oh, just heaps of potatoes and rice, really. Yeah. Yeah, uh, with every single meal. Um, and then, yeah, hydration, um, will take quite a big, um, part of that, um, coming into Thursday and most definitely Friday. Mm. Yep, being well hydrated, going into it, starting at 7am on Saturday. 

Cherie Canning: How many gels do you consume? 

Macauley Ryan: I don't actually take gels for that sort of stuff.

Macauley Ryan: Um, yeah Ultra running is a little bit different where if I had to have gels for 24 hours, one I'd get over it pretty quickly. And two, I think my stomach wouldn't enjoy it either. So are you eating? Like what are you 

Cherie Canning: doing then between, can you, do you eat? 

Macauley Ryan: Yeah. So my, the strategy, which is another big part of, um, running a backyard ultra is, um, Yeah, fueling.

Macauley Ryan: So I would probably do the laps in around 40 to 45 minutes, roughly. Um, so then I've got enough time to come in, eat, um, potentially sleep, if I'm getting to that point. Um, refuel, rehydrate, go to the toilet, whatever it may be, stretch, whatever. Um, and then, yeah, but for eating, I'm like, I think last year I started craving peanut butter and jam sandwiches.

Macauley Ryan: So Sammy was making me peanut butter and jam sandwiches. And I'd like, I'd had some laps, I'd have my phone with me and it wasn't the greatest reception, but I'd be like, Oh, I really want this. Or like, I really want that. So when I come back in, it's, you know, it's ready to go. Or if like something's on my mind, you know, the good thing about this one, it's out in Toowoomba.

Macauley Ryan: And it's a bit closer to town. The one last year was in the Nango and there was like, no, there was nothing nearby. Um, that was open. So at least if I feel like a big Mac or something, then you can send dad or Sammy down to the, down to the Mac is to grab me something. Um, but yeah, just eating solids that's until the point where.

Macauley Ryan: You know, there is like the, the potential that I'll lose my appetite as well. Yes. Um, and that just happens with the, you know, as you go on. So, um, yeah, there's, there's that as well, where I'll, you know, I have carb, um, drinks with like carbs and stuff in it too. Um, but yeah, it'll be like my, some of my go to's are like Smith's salt and vinegar chips, um, pretzels, um, snakes, red frogs.

Macauley Ryan: Um, Muesli bars that sort of thing. Um, yeah, that's cool. Now I feel a bit silly 

Cherie Canning: that I asked you about that. It makes sense. Like when you're running that long, you actually Yeah. 

Macauley Ryan: Gels I'll use, like the only gels I would use is for caffeine. Right. So caffeine during this event, I'll use either gels or no dose.

Macauley Ryan: Yeah. To um, push through. 

Cherie Canning: Yeah, wow. 

Andy Canning: So exciting. I imagine you need a pretty big support network when you're kind of not like just, you know, I'm just going to go for a run today, but you know, you need a definite period of time and there's a bit of prep to be done as well. Um, how many, what are the logistics look like for that?

Andy Canning: How many people do you need? Um, 

Macauley Ryan: yeah, um, this, um, I guess when I've done, I've You know, this, uh, format is great because you're, you're at the one, you start and finish at the same place every hour. Um, so we set up like a marquee table, got a camp bed, recline a camp chair to, you know, kick back if I need to.

Macauley Ryan: And, um, and then, yeah, um, Sammy and, uh, so my partner, Sam and my dad crew me for majority of my races. Um, so yeah, they'll have, you know, Well, you know, everything's all set up. We've got the pantry and changes of clothes. I, I have this like revival strategy that I do. So every five laps, I'll, um, change my clothes, um, wipe myself down, feel fresh, you know, um, Just to give me another, you know, 

Cherie Canning: boost of energy or injection of life.

Cherie Canning: Yeah. Yeah. 

Macauley Ryan: Um, but yeah, it's, it's massive. It like you were saying before about, um, you know, you re you rely a lot on like the change in, you know, day to night and night today as well. Um, you know, it's going to be quite hot. I think it's, it's predicted to be like 28, 30 degrees. So it's going to be warm. Um, so I know if I can get through the day, then I'll get some cool elapsing of a and then you get like that rebirth.

Macauley Ryan: As the sun comes up in the morning. So yeah, there's there's a bit of strategy behind it. Um, but yeah, my dad crewed me um for my first 100k ultra in The blue mountains, which was awesome Um, so you can have in those point to point races They've got like checkpoints and so you can have bags taken to those and you can collect them Um, which will have supplies and stuff in there for you.

Macauley Ryan: Um, but my dad decided that he would travel to every checkpoint, which is great because it was like, you saw a familiar face and you know, he, he loved it as well. Um, made heaps of friends along the way. Um, but yeah, so you rock in and sit down and dad, dad knows now, like. You know, when I need a talking to and when he knows to be, be quiet.

Macauley Ryan: Yeah. Um, can read the play. Yeah. Yeah. I still remember, um, I think it was. Yeah, it was um the backyard ultra last year and it was towards the end of you know I was maybe 13 or 14 laps in and I was like, oh like my hips were really starting to like, you know I was getting pretty sore and he could see that I was like I was just like a shell of a human to be honest Like my face was just blank and there's a photo of me afterwards like after you get eliminated you go and take your tag off the wall and There's a photo of me and I'm just standing there like, and I'm just like, my face is just like blank and I'm like, the lights are on, but nobody's home sort of style.

Macauley Ryan: And, um, yeah, I just remember he was like, all right, well, it was like 13 or 14 laps and I was just sitting there like looking at myself and, you know, looking, looking down and. I was like nodding off and stuff, and they blow the whistle with like three minutes to go to the next lap, and I remember him just going, Alright, well, off you go, on to the next one.

Cherie Canning: Just no empathy, just like, come on mate, kick you out, yeah, yeah, I love 

Macauley Ryan: it. And that's all I needed, and I was like, God dammit, like, now I do have to get up. Yeah. 

Cherie Canning: I'm not gonna, I'm not gonna sugarcoat this for you mate, get up there, yeah, that's awesome. 

Macauley Ryan: Yeah, lots of pre warning, um, crewing can be quite, um, intimidating in a way, um, if you don't know what to expect, um, yeah, it, you know, there's a lot of emotions that can go through it and, you know, even I can get like frustrated or, you know.

Macauley Ryan: You know, sometimes I just want to be left alone. I just want to sit there or, you know, if I want something done my way, then I'll just do it. And, you know, credit to, you know, Sam and, and to had like, they know like, all right, well you just do you and, you know, if you leave anything, just, just tell us, you know?

Macauley Ryan: So yeah, it can be quite a, um, a daunting experience as well. 

Cherie Canning: Yeah, I guess it's that, um, realization not to take anything personally. And it's like the ultimate wing attack, like here if you need, here if you need, and just being there. I think I heard Ned Brockman speak a little bit about that, um, as well, with like, The way he'd treat his crew sometimes wasn't always something you'd be proud of, but it's, it's just all the emotions you're running through and they, they get it.

Cherie Canning: Well, they have to get it really. Yeah. Well, Macca, three days out, uh, best of luck for this event. I'm, we're going to be keenly following along and obviously this recording will have been released after, so people can come and check out your Insta and have a look how it all went. Um, and I know we'll also put some notes in for you big, um, um, Tell us about the furball event.

Cherie Canning: Is that right? Have I got the right words? Yeah 

Macauley Ryan: furball Um, so furball was started three years ago Yeah, three years ago now, um by a mate of mine cam who's also a movember ambassador Um, so it was just a way to bring people together without the whole we Between myself cam and rory. Who's the other the our third mate involved in furball?

Macauley Ryan: Um every year we've done some sort of um Um, physical challenge and, um, you know, Cam one year ran 60K in gumboots. Um, Rory, he ran 30 marathons in 30 days consecutively. Yeah, he's a, he's a lunatic. Um, so yeah, we decided to like, all right, well, there's probably like, you know, A nicer way to do things, um, and raise money and funds.

Macauley Ryan: So yeah, we've started Furball. This is going to be our third year. Um, just started in Brisbane and now we're in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne this year, which is great. Um, and now we've got a committee of like 15 people, um, on board, which is so cool. It's 

Cherie Canning: a big evening event, isn't it? Yeah. So I'll think, yeah.

Cherie Canning: So 

Macauley Ryan: the Brisbane events on the 30th of November or November. And, um, yeah, it's a, tickets are 150 or proceeds go to the Movember foundation. Um, and yeah, it's just a night of, we've, we have live bands, we've got DJs, um, we do giveaways, um, yeah, it's just a night to bring everyone together. And I think it's really special because it's at the end of the month.

Macauley Ryan: Um, and it really just brings together like that celebration of what the month's about as well. Um, That morning is actually the more than a run which is a is a massive. Um run held globally for movember Um by another two movember ambassadors, um, alex and ollie, so it's sort of like, you know, you do this You know, this awesome, awesome big run you can do to 10 K in the morning.

Macauley Ryan: And then the joke is you do 10 30 or 60 years of a night time. Um, so yeah, it's, it's such a great evening last year was, was super special. Um, Sydney's is actually on a boat, which is super cool. Um, and then Melbourne, is it a venue down there? Um, I can't remember the name of the venue off the top of my head now.

Macauley Ryan: And then, yeah, this one's at Cloudland in Brisbane. So November 30th, um, head over to Project You, it's called on Instagram. Um, or Google Furball 2024 and the tickets will pop up to be able to purchase. 

Cherie Canning: And we'll put some links in as well, which is brilliant. If it wasn't our daughter's birthday, the 30th of November, we'd be there, but I don't know how we'd go saying, sorry, darling, we won't be at your eighth birthday.

Cherie Canning: But yeah, we're, we're definitely here to support it. So that's awesome. That's awesome. Well, thank you so much for coming on here. It is always a joy. Uh, I, I'm going to speak on behalf of Andy, um, but I'm sure that this has inspired you to go, what's next for your next, uh, physical challenge? 

Andy Canning: Yeah, I've, I've been, I've been, thank you for speaking for me.

Andy Canning: Thank, I mean, thank God for that. The, I've been kind of tossing around a few things in my head and, and trail running is, is, um, He's high on the list to, to explore. I've got a, got a couple of friends who have done it before and, and, um, you know, talking to you as well. So I noticed that's how it works for me.

Andy Canning: You kind of get that curiosity piece and then go find out more information and then, and then commit and 

Macauley Ryan: execute. 

Andy Canning: So 

Macauley Ryan: it's a lot nicer on the body as well. As much as people think, you know, trail running, it's up and down hills and all this sort of stuff, but the ground is softer. Um, you know, you're not running, Hard on your legs the whole time, you know, there's definitely places where you have to hike up hills Oh or walk like you don't have to run everything and that's that's what I enjoy most about it as well There's no pressure to run the whole way or you know Like you're going out for a run in the trails like, you know, you could end up hiking 70 percent of it because of the terrain So yeah, it's a lot a lot nicer on the body, too 

Andy Canning: Yeah, I'd even the idea of it kind of just doing some some math attached to that like a 6.

Andy Canning: 7 kilometer loop in in an hour I mean that sounds like a breeze, you know for it a certain period of time until it becomes less breezy. Yeah Yeah, versus this is kind of what your three hour and 36 minute marathon that you did for example Which is that more what four minute case is that? 

Macauley Ryan: So long ago, I really can't remember the exact Yeah, probably you could have even been a little bit longer to be honest.

Macauley Ryan: Yeah, I don't think i've ever ran Well, sorry. I lie. I have ran a marathon since but not in Not in a race or anything. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. 

Cherie Canning: Awesome beauty. Awesome Well, thank you for inspiring my husband and no doubt some of the listeners here as well And I think you know, I love the message the no bad days.

Cherie Canning: It's not about toxic positivity It's not about saying things can't be challenging, but I love that. We've always got the opportunity to end the day Without it being a bad day. And yeah, absolutely love it. Thank you so much for coming Thanks for bringing Kenny in because Kenny's still sitting in my lap.

Cherie Canning: I'm going to have to put a photo in here so people can see. Kenny's definitely been part of this conversation and yeah, it's been an absolute pleasure, Macca. Thank you so much for joining us. 

Andy Canning: Thanks for having me. It was awesome. Awesome. Thanks Macca. Thanks for having me on your podcast as well. Appreciate it.

Andy Canning: Thanks for joining us. Thank you. 

Cherie Canning: Thanks for joining us on the lead with courage podcast. We illuminate leadership and it's our mission to inspire and grow the leaders of today to create a better tomorrow. We hope and trust that this episode has given you some insights and joy to empower you to live your biggest, best life.

Cherie Canning: If you did enjoy the episode, we'd be so grateful for you to rate and share wherever you listen to this podcast. And until next time, go and lead with courage.