1 00:00:09,093 --> 00:00:11,972 Speaker 1: You're listening to a podcast from News Talk zed B. 2 00:00:12,373 --> 00:00:16,133 Speaker 1: Follow this and our Wide Ranger podcast now on iHeartRadio. 3 00:00:16,653 --> 00:00:20,133 Speaker 2: Christ Huge police Dog Handland Armed Defenders Squad member has 4 00:00:20,173 --> 00:00:22,572 Speaker 2: pushed himself to the limits of his physical and mental 5 00:00:22,613 --> 00:00:26,172 Speaker 2: endurance for a great cause. Constable Nick Johnston has been 6 00:00:26,213 --> 00:00:29,373 Speaker 2: completing a half marathon half iron Man, I should say, 7 00:00:29,373 --> 00:00:31,773 Speaker 2: every single day in his own time for the entire 8 00:00:31,773 --> 00:00:34,213 Speaker 2: month of November. He's doing it for Better Man, a 9 00:00:34,333 --> 00:00:36,173 Speaker 2: charity on a mission to help boys and men become 10 00:00:36,173 --> 00:00:39,453 Speaker 2: better versions of themselves mentally, emotionally and physically. 11 00:00:39,853 --> 00:00:41,172 Speaker 3: And he was. 12 00:00:41,253 --> 00:00:44,493 Speaker 2: This week's winner of New Zealander of the Week. He's 13 00:00:44,492 --> 00:00:47,693 Speaker 2: on the line, Nick, congratulations. 14 00:00:46,973 --> 00:00:49,053 Speaker 3: Oh, thank you in absolute honor. Thanks for having me on. 15 00:00:49,732 --> 00:00:52,853 Speaker 4: So, Nick, what exactly is a half marathon and where 16 00:00:52,853 --> 00:00:54,853 Speaker 4: did the idea come from to do one every day 17 00:00:54,853 --> 00:00:55,413 Speaker 4: in November? 18 00:00:56,853 --> 00:01:00,653 Speaker 3: So starts off with the one point nine k swim 19 00:01:00,693 --> 00:01:03,493 Speaker 3: and then a k bike ride and then a twenty 20 00:01:03,533 --> 00:01:07,292 Speaker 3: one point one k run to finished the day, Sparrow. 21 00:01:07,533 --> 00:01:09,973 Speaker 4: It's crazy how much how much framing did you have 22 00:01:10,053 --> 00:01:12,133 Speaker 4: to do to prepare prepare for us? 23 00:01:12,213 --> 00:01:16,972 Speaker 3: Nick? Oh, the specific training block for this was about 24 00:01:17,013 --> 00:01:20,053 Speaker 3: six months. They about six months went into trying to 25 00:01:20,053 --> 00:01:23,213 Speaker 3: get the body ready as much as possible to complete 26 00:01:23,212 --> 00:01:23,572 Speaker 3: the month. 27 00:01:24,333 --> 00:01:28,413 Speaker 4: And you've already completed your half iron Man today, haven't you? 28 00:01:28,453 --> 00:01:28,773 Speaker 4: For the day? 29 00:01:28,853 --> 00:01:31,533 Speaker 3: Yes, I have finished about half an hour ago. She 30 00:01:31,572 --> 00:01:33,173 Speaker 3: was a hot and windy one down here and across 31 00:01:33,212 --> 00:01:36,013 Speaker 3: at today, so it's grateful to be finished. 32 00:01:36,212 --> 00:01:38,813 Speaker 2: Yeah, you sound pretty fresh considering he just completed it 33 00:01:38,893 --> 00:01:41,693 Speaker 2: thirty minutes ago. So what has been the toughest part 34 00:01:41,733 --> 00:01:42,493 Speaker 2: of it for you? 35 00:01:42,613 --> 00:01:42,813 Speaker 3: Nick? 36 00:01:42,973 --> 00:01:44,773 Speaker 2: Was there a couple of days that you think, jeez, 37 00:01:44,853 --> 00:01:45,693 Speaker 2: this is full noise? 38 00:01:47,173 --> 00:01:51,413 Speaker 3: To be fair, early on, probably between day three and five, 39 00:01:51,493 --> 00:01:53,653 Speaker 3: I was just having a bit of troubles getting all 40 00:01:53,653 --> 00:01:56,773 Speaker 3: the food on board, which because obviously I have to 41 00:01:56,773 --> 00:01:58,693 Speaker 3: be eating quite a lot of fuel for the day 42 00:01:58,733 --> 00:02:01,653 Speaker 3: and then the next day. So that was the biggest 43 00:02:01,653 --> 00:02:04,133 Speaker 3: concern really early on. But then once the gut caught 44 00:02:04,213 --> 00:02:07,133 Speaker 3: up to what we were doing, we were away laughing. 45 00:02:07,253 --> 00:02:11,293 Speaker 3: So yeah, it's it's actually gone quite quick, but I'm 46 00:02:11,293 --> 00:02:13,173 Speaker 3: pretty happy. There's only two more days left to be on. 47 00:02:14,333 --> 00:02:16,893 Speaker 4: And what about injuries must have been a concern. You 48 00:02:16,972 --> 00:02:19,573 Speaker 4: have to must have had to be very careful that 49 00:02:19,653 --> 00:02:21,573 Speaker 4: you didn't you know, into yourself on day fifteen. 50 00:02:22,413 --> 00:02:25,453 Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, no injuries. I've been well looked after by 51 00:02:25,493 --> 00:02:28,132 Speaker 3: the team motus out here on Lincoln, so physios have 52 00:02:28,213 --> 00:02:29,893 Speaker 3: been giving me a message of your day, so that's 53 00:02:29,933 --> 00:02:32,493 Speaker 3: been awesome to keep me going. But I've been pretty lucky. 54 00:02:32,573 --> 00:02:34,893 Speaker 3: The body is held together reasonably well. I've had a 55 00:02:34,933 --> 00:02:37,053 Speaker 3: bit of a battling a bit of a quad strain 56 00:02:37,173 --> 00:02:40,693 Speaker 3: for the last week, but just been managing that and 57 00:02:40,773 --> 00:02:43,493 Speaker 3: managing to get through the days all right. So yeah, 58 00:02:43,532 --> 00:02:45,893 Speaker 3: hopefully the quad can hold together for two more days. 59 00:02:46,173 --> 00:02:48,973 Speaker 2: What does nutrition look like when you're undertaking something of 60 00:02:49,013 --> 00:02:51,692 Speaker 2: this magnetude? Do you mean have you got? I take 61 00:02:51,733 --> 00:02:53,333 Speaker 2: it you're pretty dialed in on what you should be 62 00:02:53,333 --> 00:02:54,493 Speaker 2: eating and checking in your body. 63 00:02:55,453 --> 00:02:59,733 Speaker 3: Yeah. Yeah, I've pretty much got the same stuff each day, 64 00:03:00,893 --> 00:03:04,933 Speaker 3: a lot of OSM bars and some pure dowls and 65 00:03:04,933 --> 00:03:06,813 Speaker 3: stuff like that. But yeah, there's plenty of food being 66 00:03:06,853 --> 00:03:10,453 Speaker 3: eaten in between each and yeah, I've got it pretty 67 00:03:10,532 --> 00:03:13,852 Speaker 3: doll and now. So yeah, I'm eating a lot of calories. 68 00:03:13,893 --> 00:03:15,532 Speaker 3: So come one day, I'm probably going to have to 69 00:03:15,573 --> 00:03:17,573 Speaker 3: cut back on the pies and the people, all the 70 00:03:17,613 --> 00:03:18,253 Speaker 3: young stuff. 71 00:03:19,252 --> 00:03:21,773 Speaker 4: How has this been working with your day job with 72 00:03:21,933 --> 00:03:24,053 Speaker 4: the police. 73 00:03:24,613 --> 00:03:28,013 Speaker 3: I've got a month off work so and my dog's 74 00:03:28,053 --> 00:03:30,533 Speaker 3: been looked after by one of the training sergeants, so 75 00:03:30,693 --> 00:03:33,653 Speaker 3: yeah that works. Been bloody good with leave and yes 76 00:03:33,773 --> 00:03:36,533 Speaker 3: looking after my dog and support as well. We had 77 00:03:36,533 --> 00:03:39,413 Speaker 3: plenty of our colleagues coming out and come with some 78 00:03:39,493 --> 00:03:40,733 Speaker 3: runs and bikes. It's been awesome. 79 00:03:40,933 --> 00:03:43,173 Speaker 4: I have good on them. And your dog must be 80 00:03:43,213 --> 00:03:45,293 Speaker 4: missing you though, right do. 81 00:03:46,173 --> 00:03:48,693 Speaker 3: Yeah, I'm starting massimichs. Are we good to get back 82 00:03:48,693 --> 00:03:51,493 Speaker 3: on the first looking forward to seeing him again? 83 00:03:52,253 --> 00:03:55,213 Speaker 2: And for you, mate, why has been a man special 84 00:03:55,253 --> 00:03:57,413 Speaker 2: to you? Or why did you want to raise this cash? 85 00:03:57,453 --> 00:03:59,813 Speaker 2: I understand you know clearly mean's mental health is a 86 00:03:59,813 --> 00:04:01,733 Speaker 2: big thing for for a lot of us, but there 87 00:04:01,773 --> 00:04:03,933 Speaker 2: has been some family ties to it as well. 88 00:04:04,893 --> 00:04:08,253 Speaker 3: Yeah yeah, so obviously just through work and had lots 89 00:04:08,253 --> 00:04:10,733 Speaker 3: of friends that have struggled with mental health issues. And 90 00:04:10,773 --> 00:04:15,013 Speaker 3: also got a a younger brother actually who has struggled 91 00:04:15,093 --> 00:04:20,133 Speaker 3: with mental health throughout his adult life. So yes, it's 92 00:04:20,133 --> 00:04:21,533 Speaker 3: a cause is dead to my heart. And I think 93 00:04:21,573 --> 00:04:25,853 Speaker 3: the Better Man boys, the way they go about their 94 00:04:25,853 --> 00:04:28,253 Speaker 3: businesses really sticks out to me. They you know, they 95 00:04:28,293 --> 00:04:31,613 Speaker 3: get guys together and have some fun, but also weave 96 00:04:31,693 --> 00:04:35,453 Speaker 3: that mental health message in which is a good way 97 00:04:35,493 --> 00:04:38,733 Speaker 3: for some blokes to open up, better than sometimes sitting 98 00:04:38,773 --> 00:04:40,773 Speaker 3: in front of a shrink. So those guys do a 99 00:04:40,813 --> 00:04:44,213 Speaker 3: great job. So that's the driver behind it, to raise 100 00:04:44,253 --> 00:04:46,893 Speaker 3: some money and some awareness for their awesome charity. 101 00:04:47,053 --> 00:04:50,653 Speaker 4: Well they're great New Zealanders, fantastic and they've got it. 102 00:04:50,693 --> 00:04:51,933 Speaker 4: They've got a bit of a quiz on at Eden 103 00:04:51,973 --> 00:04:52,853 Speaker 4: Park tonight, so. 104 00:04:53,173 --> 00:04:56,133 Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, so hopefully that goes well for them. 105 00:04:56,253 --> 00:05:00,133 Speaker 4: Betterman dot org if you're you're interested in that. Speaking 106 00:05:00,213 --> 00:05:04,013 Speaker 4: of mental health and mental strength strength, So when you're 107 00:05:04,053 --> 00:05:07,413 Speaker 4: facing something like that's a half iron man every day, 108 00:05:07,773 --> 00:05:09,293 Speaker 4: how do you how do you chew off the bits 109 00:05:09,333 --> 00:05:09,493 Speaker 4: of it? 110 00:05:09,613 --> 00:05:09,773 Speaker 3: Do you? 111 00:05:09,813 --> 00:05:11,693 Speaker 4: How do you keep going? How do you keep your mind? 112 00:05:12,253 --> 00:05:14,573 Speaker 4: And how do you keep in charge of your mind? 113 00:05:14,613 --> 00:05:16,573 Speaker 4: Because I imagine the calls to just pack it in 114 00:05:16,653 --> 00:05:19,453 Speaker 4: must be big from some parts of your brain. Yeah. 115 00:05:19,573 --> 00:05:22,613 Speaker 3: Yeah, to be honest, the brain, the mind's been pretty good. 116 00:05:22,693 --> 00:05:24,453 Speaker 3: As I said, I've had heaps of support from work, 117 00:05:24,493 --> 00:05:26,093 Speaker 3: so I haven't had to do a hell of a 118 00:05:26,093 --> 00:05:28,653 Speaker 3: lot of it by myself. So that's probably that's probably 119 00:05:28,653 --> 00:05:31,573 Speaker 3: the main when you're there. But now I've had some 120 00:05:31,733 --> 00:05:35,093 Speaker 3: moments where I've been thinking, oh, this is pretty hard, 121 00:05:35,133 --> 00:05:37,333 Speaker 3: or I'm getting sick of this. But as I've said 122 00:05:37,373 --> 00:05:40,533 Speaker 3: in the past, like that moment is nothing compared to 123 00:05:40,533 --> 00:05:43,053 Speaker 3: what some blokes go through when they're you know, when 124 00:05:43,093 --> 00:05:45,813 Speaker 3: they're struggling behind closed doors and not opening up. So 125 00:05:46,293 --> 00:05:48,133 Speaker 3: when I start thinking like that, I just give myself 126 00:05:48,133 --> 00:05:48,693 Speaker 3: an upper coat. 127 00:05:48,733 --> 00:05:54,013 Speaker 4: And so, Nick, you've got two more half iron Man's 128 00:05:54,013 --> 00:05:57,093 Speaker 4: to go to complete the month. What are you looking 129 00:05:57,093 --> 00:05:59,453 Speaker 4: forward to? What's the first thing that you'll do when 130 00:05:59,453 --> 00:06:00,053 Speaker 4: it's all over. 131 00:06:00,853 --> 00:06:02,253 Speaker 3: I think as soon as I cross the finish line, 132 00:06:02,293 --> 00:06:04,573 Speaker 3: I have to give my wife a big cuttle because 133 00:06:04,613 --> 00:06:06,533 Speaker 3: she's been the legion holding the fort together at home. 134 00:06:06,613 --> 00:06:09,853 Speaker 3: And then it'll be straight into a couple of Frosty's, 135 00:06:09,853 --> 00:06:10,853 Speaker 3: I think a few years. 136 00:06:10,933 --> 00:06:14,253 Speaker 2: Yeah, good man, good man, Hey, it's a fantastic if 137 00:06:14,293 --> 00:06:17,213 Speaker 2: you're doing just quickly. Just did you ever see that 138 00:06:17,293 --> 00:06:20,773 Speaker 2: documentary Iron Cowboy where a guy called James Lawrence was 139 00:06:20,773 --> 00:06:23,093 Speaker 2: trying to do something similar to you. It's I mean, 140 00:06:23,133 --> 00:06:25,053 Speaker 2: you're you're clearly a freak when it comes to doing 141 00:06:25,053 --> 00:06:27,013 Speaker 2: this sort of stuff, and so is he. But I 142 00:06:27,093 --> 00:06:28,853 Speaker 2: wondered if that was a bit of inspiration. This was 143 00:06:28,893 --> 00:06:31,053 Speaker 2: a guy who tried to do I think thirty iron 144 00:06:31,053 --> 00:06:31,893 Speaker 2: Man's in thirty. 145 00:06:31,733 --> 00:06:35,013 Speaker 3: Days, so he actually did one hundred full iron Mans 146 00:06:35,013 --> 00:06:38,693 Speaker 3: in one hundred days. But so he yeah, he takes 147 00:06:38,813 --> 00:06:41,253 Speaker 3: the cake. But there's actually buy in the UK who 148 00:06:41,253 --> 00:06:43,053 Speaker 3: broke his record a couple of years ago. He did 149 00:06:43,093 --> 00:06:44,893 Speaker 3: one hundred and five four Imans in one hundred and 150 00:06:44,893 --> 00:06:48,293 Speaker 3: five days. So yeah, yeah, I was following him and 151 00:06:48,333 --> 00:06:52,933 Speaker 3: that was the inspiration behind like doing the half iron Man's. 152 00:06:53,773 --> 00:06:56,493 Speaker 3: That was the inspiration behind the idea of the raising 153 00:06:56,533 --> 00:06:58,533 Speaker 3: money and obviously I've done a few trifle so I 154 00:06:58,533 --> 00:07:00,773 Speaker 3: thought I'll give it a crack and what's the worst 155 00:07:00,773 --> 00:07:01,293 Speaker 3: that can happen? 156 00:07:02,613 --> 00:07:05,413 Speaker 4: So you're raising money, where are you're sitting at on 157 00:07:05,453 --> 00:07:09,213 Speaker 4: your target? And how can people chip in? 158 00:07:10,693 --> 00:07:14,333 Speaker 3: So yeah, we initial target was fifteen thousand, but we've 159 00:07:14,533 --> 00:07:17,573 Speaker 3: hammereds past that so now we're looking at thirty for thirty, 160 00:07:17,613 --> 00:07:20,693 Speaker 3: so hopefully thirty grand for thirty half Ironman and we're 161 00:07:20,693 --> 00:07:23,333 Speaker 3: sitting at I think could pick under twenty six thousand 162 00:07:23,373 --> 00:07:25,733 Speaker 3: at the moment, So hopefully a big push in the 163 00:07:25,733 --> 00:07:27,613 Speaker 3: next couple of days and get those donations up. But 164 00:07:27,653 --> 00:07:30,613 Speaker 3: if anyone does want to donate, they just have to 165 00:07:30,653 --> 00:07:33,693 Speaker 3: go to either better Man dot org oz or just 166 00:07:33,733 --> 00:07:35,453 Speaker 3: go straight to Give a Little and type in Nick 167 00:07:35,533 --> 00:07:37,293 Speaker 3: Johnson and the link. You should be able to find 168 00:07:37,293 --> 00:07:38,293 Speaker 3: the link to donate there. 169 00:07:38,533 --> 00:07:41,533 Speaker 2: Yeah, great stuff, Nick, You're a legend, and thank you 170 00:07:41,613 --> 00:07:43,013 Speaker 2: very much for having a chat with us, and go 171 00:07:43,093 --> 00:07:44,453 Speaker 2: well for the next couple of days. 172 00:07:44,773 --> 00:07:47,333 Speaker 3: No, I appreciate you guys for having me on show 173 00:07:47,373 --> 00:07:48,613 Speaker 3: Andy or some things for that. 174 00:07:48,693 --> 00:07:50,893 Speaker 2: What a great key with that is Nick Johnson, a 175 00:07:50,973 --> 00:07:54,853 Speaker 2: christ who's police doll candler who is attempting thirty half 176 00:07:54,893 --> 00:07:57,573 Speaker 2: iron Man's every single day for the month of November. 177 00:07:57,653 --> 00:07:59,573 Speaker 2: So those websites again, just go to give a Little 178 00:07:59,653 --> 00:08:02,773 Speaker 2: dot co dot nz and search Nick Johnson or Betterman 179 00:08:03,093 --> 00:08:06,173 Speaker 2: dot org dot nz and we'll get that interview up 180 00:08:06,213 --> 00:08:08,533 Speaker 2: and give you those websites as well. 181 00:08:09,093 --> 00:08:12,013 Speaker 1: For more from Newstalk st B, listen live on air 182 00:08:12,213 --> 00:08:14,893 Speaker 1: or online and keep our shows with you wherever you 183 00:08:14,973 --> 00:08:17,413 Speaker 1: go with our podcasts on iHeartRadio.