Ever thought about running a marathon? What about 14 in a single year? That’s exactly what Scottie Eastburn is doing next year when he embarks on the 20:14 in 2014 Challenge, aiming to raise much needed money for the Australian Cancer Research Foundation. I’ve known Scottie for many years – we lived in student accommodation together back in our uni days. He’s always been a quiet achiever and an incredibly driven guy. But this… this takes the cake. Crazy? Inspirational? Maybe a little bit of both.
Check out my interview with him and make up your own mind. Details on how you can follow his journey and support this awesome cause are at the bottom of the page.
Tell us a little bit about where you’re from
I was born in a small country town in north-west NSW called Baradine, attended boarding school in Sydney and have been in Canberra for the past 11 years.
And what’s your exercise background?
Up until the age of 21 I played competitive Rugby League. As a teenager I coupled this with swimming, but after leaving high school I chose to focus on League. After an injury I turned to touch football and represented my state for the next 10 years.
I’m a Physical Education teacher and distance running has always been a passion; getting out on the road or trail helps clear the mind and allows me to be in the moment.
What is the 20:14 in 2014 Challenge?
Basically, it’s a fundraiser for the Australian Cancer Research Foundation. In 2014 I will be running in 20 endurance events – 14 of which are marathons – across four countries (Australia, New Zealand, France and England). The other six events are two 10km runs, three half marathons and one half ironman (this is the one that I am a little worried about!).
[Check out Scottie’s full calendar of events here.]
Why the 20:14 in 2014 Challenge?
Like so many families, we have been touched by cancer. I guess I really struggle with being helpless – sitting in a chair, listening to doctors talk about percentages and the strategies they believe to be the best option for your loved one. A number of years ago I made a promise to myself that I would do a fundraiser for cancer research… but things come up. You start fulltime work, get promoted, buy a house, meet a beautiful girl, get married, buy a dog and start a family – life just happens!
In 2012, I completed a fundraiser for a refugee student at my school. He lost his legs after a landmine explosion in Afghanistan and my aim was to raise money for prosthetic legs to be fitted. I completed 100 burpees every day for 100 Days, finishing on Day 101 where I set a challenge to perform 1,000 burpees. The burpee challenge re-ignited a fire in me to continue giving and helped me to refocus on fulfilling that promise I made many years ago.
Over the next six months, ‘life just happened’ again. I continued to go to work, but I wanted more. Finally, I sat down with my wife and explained that I needed a new challenge. We decided to run an international marathon together, Paris! I discovered that the Paris and London marathons were only a week apart, but then discovered that the ballot for London was closed. Not taking ‘no’ for an answer (character trait) I found that the Australian Cancer Research Foundation (an organisation that I have admired for a number of years) had ‘charity tickets’.
I know this isn’t going to make much sense to many people but this is how my brain works: If I am doing one marathon, then I should just do two. And if I’m doing two, how many more can I do? Fast forward a couple of months to July 2013 and the ’20:14 in 2014’ was born.
So, how does one train for 14 marathons?
Currently my training involves:
Three running sessions per week – one threshold session, one hill session and one long run (30 – 42.2km)
Two weights sessions – focusing on full-body exercises and core work
One cross-training session – normally involves a bike ride with my wife and little man.
To tell the truth I am not even sure if this program will be right for what I am doing. Very few people have set themselves a challenge like this, hence there’s very little information about running multiple marathons in one year.
[Check out Scottie’s full training program here]
And what does your diet look like?
Our family has always eaten extremely well. We eat fish and lean meat a few times per week, steamed veggies with most meals, brown rice, you know the deal. I have never been one for massively strict diets – balanced is best, I believe! My wife is currently experimenting with ‘sugar-free’ recipes but we are not looking to go solely down that path, especially with my love for chocolate!
Which event are you most looking forward to on the 20:14 in 2014 calendar?
I am looking forward to a number of the events, all for different reasons:
Paris and London are high on the list; running through the streets of Paris and London and sharing the experience with 50,000 others… additionally, my wife is running the Paris event with me.
Cadbury Marathon in Hobart – Event Number One – to get the challenge underway.
Barossa Valley in May, my sister lives in Adelaide, so it will be nice to catch up over the weekend, and she has set the goal to run her first half marathon there.
Dubbo Stampede, a half marathon held on Father’s Day. It’s not far from Baradine and I will have my parents and grandparents there to share the event.
Melbourne Marathon in October – Melbourne was my first ever marathon and I have unfinished business on that course!
Finally, the Canberra Half Ironman in December. This is the final event, in my home town, so hopefully I will have lots of friends and family to support me over a distance I have never done. Exciting challenge to finish the year with. Also, the after party should be fun.
What keeps you going during a marathon?
A marathon takes from three to four hours (a little longer for some) so you have loads of time to think about life. The last 100m is amazing and normally a motivating factor throughout but there isn’t really one thing that keeps me going…. my family, my personal experiences and the random people I meet on the course, all of these things are motivating factors to get through the 42.2km.
Finally, failing doesn’t sit well with me. If I walk or crawl across the finish line, great, mission complete! But not reaching a goal that I’ve set for myself is not an option!
Tell us about your mini-challenges
This is something that I hope everyone will get involved in via the website and my social media pages – the aim is to help everyone to make positive choices in their own life. I was once told that it takes two weeks to form a habit and each mini-challenge goes for a month, so hopefully if everyone joins in they’ll start to notice an improvement in the way they feel, and then making healthy choices will become part of their everyday life.
Plus, prizes will be awarded at the end of end month for the best entries!
[Check out the mini-challenges here – take part and then let Scottie know about it!]
What is the ultimate aim with ‘20:14 in 2014’:
The aim for ‘20:14 in 2014’ is simple – raise money and awareness for cancer research. Fulfill my promise, enjoy the ride and help people make positive lifestyle choices.
livefitlivelife.com.au – my ultimate aim is a little larger, but what that aim is exactly I am still unsure.
I strongly believe that everyone should aim to do one great thing per year; whether it’s a week away with your loved ones, lose 20kg or run a marathon. The personal growth that you experience from setting yourself a challenge, working hard and finally achieving the goal is like a legal drug. Everyone should experience it! So to answer your question, I don’t know. Ask me again at the end of 2014.
What has been your favourite moment since starting your training for the 20:14 in 2014?
My first donation via my ‘Everyday Hero’ site was great; a number of beautiful sunrises on my runs have been breathtaking; reaching 450 ‘likes’ on Facebook was cool; but I hope the best is still to come!
And finally, but very importantly, how can we support you?
Donations
Visit my Everyday Hero site and donate whatever you can. Every dollar donated goes directly to the Australian Cancer Research Foundation which in turn will be passed on by grants to world class research into the prevention, treatment and cure of cancer. https://give.everydayhero.com/au/2014in2014
Follow, Like and Share
Facebook
Live Fit. Live Life. website
Twitter
Instagram – search @scottieeastburn [plus tag #livefitlivelifeaus or #2014in2014 to connect]
Run one of the events with me
Email me and let me know you’re doing it and if possible we can meet up before or after the event.
If you could teach LGF followers the most important things you’ve learnt about goal-setting, what would it be:
First, set goals; so many people choose not to!
Once you’ve set the goal, plan and organise how you’re going to achieve it.
And finally, if you fail, go again. I really like this saying from Confucius: “Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall”.
So there you have it Team. 14 marathons in 12 months is a rockstar effort, so get out there and support Scottie in any way you can. He’s doing all the hard work, I reckon it’s the least we can do!
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