Episode Details

Garry Jackson has lived two lives: one before running… and one after.

At ~120kg, smoking up to 70 cigarettes a day and drinking hard, Garry never imagined he’d become a runner. But between his father’s terminal illness and the birth of his second child, life forced a reckoning. One day (whilst mixing tunes) he stepped onto a treadmill, ran 200 metres, and everything changed.

What followed wasn’t just weight loss or fitness, it was a complete mindset shift. A new confidence. A new identity. A belief that he could show up better for his kids, his partner, and himself.

In this raw and uplifting episode, Joshie and Matty sit down with Garry to talk about grief, fatherhood, habit changes, Strava love–hate chaos, and how a nerve issue in his foot isn’t stopping him from chasing his dreams.

In this episode:

• The life events that pushed Garry toward change in 2013–2015
• Going from a 200-metre jog to 5km in 30 days
• How running reshaped his confidence, mindset, and identity
• Navigating grief, fatherhood, and lifestyle transformation
• Staying motivated through nerve issues and setbacks

Runbelievable: real runners, unreal stories.

🌏 Episodes, community, and all things Runbelievable:

http://runbelievable.au

🎧 New episodes drop every Wednesday; hit follow so you don't miss a lap!

About Runbelievable

Runbelievable is the podcast for every runner. From your first parkrun to your 100th marathon, from walk-run intervals to dabbling in trail running, every runner has a story worth telling. Through honest conversations with runners from all walks of life, Runbelievable explores the challenges, achievements, setbacks, and experiences that connect us through running and shape who we become.