After months of hard training and early mornings, I finally broke the 3:30 barrier — but not before battling a sleepless night, car revvers, and a tightening hamstring that nearly ended it all. From a ferry ride start to finding rhythm with the 3:30 pacer, the Auckland Marathon threw up every challenge imaginable. Here’s how I held it together, found my stride, and finished stronger than I thought possible.

After a long pause, Michael Eggins Coffee is back in action! From award-winning roasts to the joy of crafting and sharing coffee, the roastery is up and running again, bringing passion and flavor back to every batch.

I never thought watching planes could be thrilling—until I stumbled onto live streams of Heathrow and Sydney Airport. Giant A380s skimming overhead, crosswinds, go-arounds—it’s addictive. What started as curiosity turned into a full-blown hobby, family fun, and a new way to see airports. Here’s how plane spotting changed everything.

It started with a 4:30 a.m. alarm and a nervous train ride into the city. By the time the gun went off at the Sydney 10K, the crowd’s energy was electric — and my son Sebastian was already flying down the hill ahead of me. What followed was one of our best race days yet, full of pace, PBs, and plenty of smiles.

After missing my goal at Canberra, I gave myself 100 days to turn things around. The Sunshine Coast Marathon was my redemption shot — flat roads, sea breeze, and one simple mission: prove I could do better. What happened next surprised even me.

Greatness, it’s rare that we take the time to appreciate something in all of its greatness in the moment, we normally wait till time has passed and then reflect that based on what has occurred since, that the performance displayed greatness.