Maybe This Wasn’t a Great Idea… When Ultramarathon Confidence Gets Tested!
F$&k around and find out.
It’s becoming a mantra. Not polished. Not pretty. But brutally effective.
We live in a world obsessed with outcomes. Finish lines. Likes. Applause. But real transformation doesn’t happen in the spotlight.
It happens in the dark.
In repetition.
In the lonely decision to keep showing up when no one’s watching.
That’s where discipline is built.
And discipline isn’t sexy. It’s boring. It’s lonely. And it’s the only thing that actually builds power.
Not fake confidence. Not an image.
Real power.
The kind that carries you through kilometre after kilometre of brutal bush terrain…or 90 days of getting your life back on track.
Your results will never out-pace your discipline. Consistency beats white-hot intensity. Every single time. And if you always need applause to take action, you’ll never do anything meaningful.
Why I Use Ultramarathons as a Mindset Proving Ground
Running has never been just about distance for me.
It’s a proving ground for mental toughness.
Running forces you to show up when your body wants comfort. It teaches you to stay when quitting feels reasonable.
In past years, I used running as a way to test endurance both physical and mental.
But 2025 shifted.
The year became about rediscovering joy.
The adventure.
The reason I fell in love with the sport in the first place.
I’ve written before about why endurance sports shape mindset so powerfully, and that “why” matters more than ever.
Two Ultramarathons. Fourteen Days Apart.
I locked in two ultra-distance events to close out 2025:
46km
60km
Just 14 days apart
On paper, it looked ambitious.
In reality, it was a deliberate test. Not just of recovery…but of mindset.
Could I say yes again when the memory of suffering was still loud?
These events aren’t just races.
They’re mirrors.
They show you how you respond under pressure.
How honest your habits are.
How strong your discipline really is.
And importantly, they keep me walking the talk.
When I talk about habits, mindset, discipline, and pushing comfort zones, it’s not theory.
It’s lived.
I’m not an elite runner.
But I don’t quit.
And that matters.
The Dandenong “Rollercoaster” 46km Ultra-marathon event
Knowing Yourself Builds Real Confidence
Over time, I’ve learned something important about myself.
I’m a confidence-through-evidence person.
That doesn’t mean arrogance.
It means I build belief by stacking proof.
I’d never run 100km before…until I did.
I’d never built a coaching business…until Dawn of Legacy became the highest-rated life and leadership coaching brand in Australia.
I’d never worked in luxury goods…until I spent seven years at LVMH.
I’d never worked in professional basketball…until I did.
The pattern matters.
Confidence isn’t magic.
It’s memory.
When it comes to running, training gives me evidence.
In other areas of life, a clear next step and not forgetting my past is enough.
So here’s the real question for you:
What do you need right now to make progress?
Information?
Inspiration?
Or just a little courage?
“Maybe This Wasn’t a Great Idea”
The first race, the Dandenong “Rollercoaster” was brutal.
46km of relentless climbing and descending on trails that punish tired legs.
With 10km to go, I smashed my toes badly. Recovery became compromised. Training dropped.
Every idle day tested my confidence.
But I kept one rule:
“Get to the start line.”
And one mantra:
“My mind won’t break.”
What Happened at the Portland Ultra (60km)
The plan was simple:
0–10km: sub 6:00/km
10–20km: 6:30/km
20–40km: 7:00/km
Final 20km: keep moving
All was going well…Until 40km and then it wasn’t.
Cramps hit. Rhythm broke.
But the process held.
“My mind won’t break.”
So I ran.
Jogged.
Walked.
Complained.
Laughed..to myself
I thanked every volunteer.
I stayed present.
13th overall.
Not a personal best time at all but a perfect ultramarathon. Flawed but fulfilling
Why the 40km Mark Breaks So Many People
This isn’t weakness. It’s physiology and psychology.
What’s happening:
Glycogen depletion — fuel drops, effort spikes
Muscle damage — repeated impact, inflammation, fatigue
Central fatigue — the brain starts negotiating an exit
This is where mental toughness becomes decisive.
Perceived effort, not fitness becomes the limiter.
That’s true in running.
And it’s true in life.
What I Want You to Take From This
Life will feel hard at times.
Pointless, even.
But most breakthroughs require one thing:
You showing up when it’s inconvenient.
A legacy isn’t built in applause.
It’s built when no one’s clapping.
That’s where real change begins.
Insights & Actions to Carry during 2026
Insight 1: Discipline builds capacity.
Mental toughness is trainable.
Action:
Choose one boring, foundational habit.
Do it daily for 30 days. Track consistency , not only the results.
Insight 2: Transformation happens before the finish line.
Action:
Schedule a “dark kilometre” in your work or training.
Do the work unseen. Reflect on how you showed up.
Insight 3: Your mind will test you before your body fails.
Action:
At 75% of any goal, push deliberately.
Notice the thoughts. Choose the behaviour anyway.
Your Legacy Starts Quietly
Before checking your phone each morning, take one minute.
Say:
I build discipline
I build a worthy legacy
I choose an amazing life
Then ask:
What will I do today to make progress?
Do it for 14 days.
That’s how momentum starts.
Let’s take the first step together. Book your free 30-minute exploratory call with me today and discover how the right mindset can transform your life.
