Running to Rome: Leadership, Family, Faith and the Marathon Journey

Episode 13 — Belonging: The Communities That Shape Us

What does it really mean to belong?

In this episode, I reflect on the communities that have shaped who I am — from my childhood in Whyalla and Port Pirie, to my parents’ commitment to school, sport and community, and now the communities my own family is part of.

I dedicate this episode to my Mum and Dad, Peter and Lyn, and the example they gave me: that belonging isn't just about what we receive from a community, but what we contribute to it.

We explore the role of volunteering, coaching, culture, faith, running and family, and how leadership skills are developed well beyond formal leadership positions. I also reflect on legacy, the people who come before us, and the importance of knowing when to contribute, when to support and, sometimes, when to step aside so someone else can carry something forward.

Because communities don't simply exist. People build them.

And perhaps the greatest legacy isn't what we achieve, but what we give — and what continues through others long after we're gone.

Episode 12 – Barossa Half Marathon: The First Test of Preparation

Sometimes you can achieve a personal best and still finish wondering whether you could have done more.

In this episode, I reflect on the Barossa Half Marathon, my first major test on the journey towards the Rome Marathon. After months of training, I returned to a course I last ran seven years ago, with a clear goal: break 1 hour and 45 minutes.

But the race didn't unfold exactly as planned. After a confident start, I hit the wall around the 18 km mark, questioned my preparation and had to dig deep to reach the finish. With my brother Luke alongside me, I was reminded that sometimes the most important part of the journey is how we respond when things get difficult.

The experience left me reflecting on a powerful distinction: there is a difference between being prepared and being in control.

Whether it's running a half marathon, leading a school or navigating the challenges of everyday life, preparation doesn't guarantee that everything will go to plan. It gives us the tools to respond when it doesn't. And sometimes, the setbacks we experience are the very things that teach us what we need to learn next.

As I continue towards Rome, I'm learning to prepare well, trust the process, accept what I can't control and keep moving when the plan changes.

The race wasn't the failure. The race was the feedback.

Week by week. Run by run. One step closer to Rome.

What if we stopped trying to be perfect and simply focusedon becoming 10% better?

In this episode, I reflect on academic achievement, thecourage to hold high standards, and the importance of recognising growth as well as excellence.

I explore what it means to build a culture where people areencouraged to keep improving, while also reflecting on the parents who show up for their children and the responsibility we have to create the right conditions for others to grow.

From the classroom to leadership, parenting, running andfaith, the message is simple:

We don’t have to become the best. We just have to keepbecoming.

What would 10% better look like for you today?

Week by week. Run by run. One step closer to Rome.

What if we stopped trying to be perfect and simply focusedon becoming 10% better?

In this episode, I reflect on academic achievement, thecourage to hold high standards, and the importance of recognising growth as well as excellence.

I explore what it means to build a culture where people areencouraged to keep improving, while also reflecting on the parents who show up for their children and the responsibility we have to create the right conditions for others to grow.

From the classroom to leadership, parenting, running andfaith, the message is simple:

We don’t have to become the best. We just have to keepbecoming.

What would 10% better look like for you today?

Week by week. Run by run. One step closer to Rome.

What do we do when things don’t go according to plan?

A setback can feel like failure — but sometimes it’s simplyan invitation to stop, listen and learn.

In this episode, I reflect on the setbacks that have comewith training for Rome, the frustration that comes when our plans unravel, and the lessons they can teach us about resilience, patience and growth.

From running and injuries to leadership, family and faith,I explore the idea that setbacks don’t have to define us.

What matters is what we do next.

Because sometimes the setback isn’t the end of the journey.

It’s part of the formation.

What does it mean to truly trust someone?

A Tether is only a short piece of cord, but what it represents is so much bigger.

A chance encounter on a long run with the Achilles running group left me reflecting on the power of the tether both the physical one connecting a runner and guide, and the invisible ties that hold people together.

This episode explores trust, servant leadership, community and faith, and what it means to walk or run alongside someone when they place their trust in you.

What does it really mean to be a courageous, authentic leader?

In this episode, I reflect on the challenge of leading as myself not as the leader I think others expect me to be. I explore vulnerability, emotion, difficult conversations and the courage to stand by your values, while asking what it means to make leadership an extension of who I am.

Patience isn't just about slowing down—it's about who you become while you wait. In this episode, I reflect on lessons from a Year 9 workshop, marathon training, leadership and faith, before sitting down with Fr Peter Hosking SJ to explore patience, discernment and the formation of character over time.

The Rome Marathon is now officially locked in.

This week, Adam reflects on why growth rarely comes from doing the same thing over and over. What do interval training, leadership and dance have in common? More than you might think. From a Tuesday morning session with family to lessons learned across 15 years of leadership, this episode explores how variety, challenge and new experiences shape us as runners, leaders, parents and people of faith. Plus, a special guest appearance from his daughter, Ava.

Episode 5: Letting Go (and Holding On)

This week, the journey takes a turn away from marathon training and into the lessons that parenting and leadership have in common.

As my youngest daughter learns to ride her bike and tackles her fears high in the trees at Kuitpo Forest, I'm reminded that growth often comes from finding the balance between support and independence. There are times when we need to hold the seat, guide every step and be right beside those we lead. But there are also moments when the greatest gift we can give is the confidence to let go.

Through stories of family, school leadership and the challenges of raising resilient young people, this episode explores the delicate balance between helping and empowering, protecting and preparing, holding on and letting go.

Because whether it's parenting, leadership or running a marathon, the goal isn't to make people dependent on us—it's to help them discover that they're capable of more than they realise.

Plus, my youngest daughter joins me as this week's special guest to share her experience of learning to ride a bike and conquering her fears on the tree climb course.