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12 Steps For Practical Problem Solving
Did you ever read the book from Paul Polak: ‘Out of Poverty: what works when traditional approaches fail’? It is a great reference book, and practical.
Paul Polak has worked addressing the needs of those most in poverty for over three decades, and has made a significant impact.
This video shows Paul describing 12 steps for practical problem solving.
Take some time to watch it. It will be worth it.
Coffee Free Friday?
Okay, maybe not go without coffee. I share your pain. But would you consider supporting me for the cost of a coffee in my crowdfunding project? I would love you to join the journey.
Check out my new video, but better still visit the Pozible site here at http://www.pozible.com/lifebridge and check out the right hand column.
On Friday, would you be open to supporting me for $4?
Go on, help make this journey possible and changing the narrative for child mortality.
…and could I ask one other thing too? Please ask those you are also having coffee with you support too. Yes, you can do it on your smartphone. And why wait for Friday? Thanks for your support!
Kiprotich
I am always amazed at the Olympic Marathon. It is so fast. Really, a race for the whole 42.2 km.
Stephen Kiprotich from Uganda made a surprising guts effort in the last 5 km to win from behind and steal the lead right through until finish.
Literally a race that was neck and neck for its whole distance, it was engaging throughout. Inspiring.
Uganda’s first medal at this Olympics, and in the last race.
See photos here:
Champion Effort
The Olympics are over. But let’s not forget that the Para-Olympics are yet to commence. Every event there is a champion effort. People giving their all, overcoming obstacles beyond than just training hard and pushing through pain.
I really admire competition at that level. Somehow, often it seems so natural and so effortless. But what we don’t see if the years of commitment and determination to succeed. The focus is so often on Gold alone, or Second or Third, but every competitor has achieved something great even if only for their own performance.
The world stops momentarily to watch so of the events. Take the 100 m Mens Sprint. Usain Bolt retains his champion status. What a race- so much intensity. Watch it here again recorded in high density footage caught from a rare up close camera…it is just like being there yourself. Unbelievable.
Want more inspiration? Check out http://www.pozible.com/lifebridge
Imposible is nothing: Oscar Pistorius
Kudos to Oscar Pistorius. This week in the Olympics he qualified through into the semi-final, against all odds and against a load of prejudice. That takes guts and commitment.
“He can appreciate how long the journey has been to get to these starting blocks, and he appreciates not just the opportunity but the moment”.
See his form in this video. It tells the story.
He still has the 400 metre relay to compete in, so this is not the end of his competition in the London Games.
No more words are needed. I am inspired. How about you?
Training Schedule: Preparing for 10 October Start Date
Here it is. This is the final training schedule. The dates have changed a little bit since first hatching the idea in March 2010, and there have been many failed attempts along the way. Plenty of lessons learnt, but for now what remains is to do the work and focus on training.
If you want to run together any night (or morning), let me know, and we can meet up and go for a team run together.
The schedule is taken from Tim Noakes’ book Lore of Running, and is the marathon preparation used by veteran coach Bob Williams from Portland, Oregon. The key his training is twice-weekly speed sessions.
| Date | Running |
| Training Schedule | |
| Training Week 1/12 | |
| Fri, Jul 20, 2012 | 8 km |
| Sat, Jul 21, 2012 | 5 x 800 m |
| Sun, Jul 22, 2012 | 8 km |
| Mon, Jul 23, 2012 | 5 km on machine |
| Tue, Jul 24, 2012 | Rest |
| Wed, Jul 25, 2012 | 24 km |
| Thu, Jul 26, 2012 | Rest |
| Training Week 2/12 | |
| Fri, Jul 27, 2012 | 8 km |
| Sat, Jul 28, 2012 | 3 x 1600 m |
| Sun, Jul 29, 2012 | 8 km |
| Mon, Jul 30, 2012 | 16 km |
| Tue, Jul 31, 2012 | Rest |
| Wed, Aug 1, 2012 | 20 km |
| Thu, Aug 2, 2012 | Rest |
| Training Week 3/12 | |
| Fri, Aug 3, 2012 | 8 km |
| Sat, Aug 4, 2012 | 4 km on machine |
| Sun, Aug 5, 2012 | 8 km |
| Mon, Aug 6, 2012 | 8 x 200 m |
| Tue, Aug 7, 2012 | Rest |
| Wed, Aug 8, 2012 | 24 km |
| Thu, Aug 9, 2012 | Rest |
| Training Week 4/12 | |
| Fri, Aug 10, 2012 | 8 km |
| Sat, Aug 11, 2012 | 4 x 1600 m |
| Sun, Aug 12, 2012 | 8 km |
| Mon, Aug 13, 2012 | 9 km on machine |
| Tue, Aug 14, 2012 | Rest |
| Wed, Aug 15, 2012 | 24 km |
| Thu, Aug 16, 2012 | Rest |
| Training Week 5/12 | |
| Fri, Aug 17, 2012 | 8 km |
| Sat, Aug 18, 2012 | 6 x 200 m |
| Sun, Aug 19, 2012 | 8 km |
| Mon, Aug 20, 2012 | 5 x 1000 m |
| Tue, Aug 21, 2012 | Rest |
| Wed, Aug 22, 2012 | 24 km |
| Thu, Aug 23, 2012 | Rest |
| Training Week 6/12 | |
| Fri, Aug 24, 2012 | 8 km |
| Sat, Aug 25, 2012 | 8 x 400 m |
| Sun, Aug 26, 2012 | 8 km |
| Mon, Aug 27, 2012 | 7 km on machine |
| Tue, Aug 28, 2012 | Rest |
| Wed, Aug 29, 2012 | 20 km |
| Thu, Aug 30, 2012 | Rest |
| Training Week 7/12 | |
| Fri, Aug 31, 2012 | 8 km |
| Sat, Sep 1, 2012 | 5 x 1600 m |
| Sun, Sep 2, 2012 | 8 km |
| Mon, Sep 3, 2012 | 16 km |
| Tue, Sep 4, 2012 | Rest |
| Wed, Sep 5, 2012 | 24 km |
| Thu, Sep 6, 2012 | Rest |
| Training Week 8/12 | |
| Fri, Sep 7, 2012 | 8 km |
| Sat, Sep 8, 2012 | 8 km on machine |
| Sun, Sep 9, 2012 | 8 km |
| Mon, Sep 10, 2012 | 8 x 200 m |
| Tue, Sep 11, 2012 | Rest |
| Wed, Sep 12, 2012 | 24 km |
| Thu, Sep 13, 2012 | Rest |
| Training Week 9/12 | |
| Fri, Sep 14, 2012 | 8 km |
| Sat, Sep 15, 2012 | 6 x 200 m |
| Sun, Sep 16, 2012 | 8 km |
| Mon, Sep 17, 2012 | 5 x 1600 m |
| Tue, Sep 18, 2012 | Rest |
| Wed, Sep 19, 2012 | 24 km |
| Thu, Sep 20, 2012 | Rest |
| Training Week 10/12 | |
| Fri, Sep 21, 2012 | 8 km |
| Sat, Sep 22, 2012 | 8 km |
| Sun, Sep 23, 2012 | 8 km |
| Mon, Sep 24, 2012 | 6 x 800 m |
| Tue, Sep 25, 2012 | Rest |
| Wed, Sep 26, 2012 | 10 km on machine |
| Thu, Sep 27, 2012 | Rest |
| Training Week 11/12 | |
| Fri, Sep 28, 2012 | 8 km |
| Sat, Sep 29, 2012 | 5 x 1600 m |
| Sun, Sep 30, 2012 | 8 km |
| Mon, Oct 1, 2012 | 16 km |
| Tue, Oct 2, 2012 | Rest |
| Wed, Oct 3, 2012 | 20 km |
| Thu, Oct 4, 2012 | Rest |
| Training Week 12/12 | |
| Fri, Oct 5, 2012 | 8 km |
| Sat, Oct 6, 2012 | 5 x 1600 m |
| Sun, Oct 7, 2012 | 8 km |
| Mon, Oct 8, 2012 | 5 km |
| Tue, Oct 9, 2012 | Rest |
What exactly is ‘bridging’?
Thanks to the inspiration of friends who just keep me going. Most of the time, you never see the difference you make. Especially, a big thank you to Mahei Foliaki for sending this video around which gives a good demonstration of what I am calling ‘bridging’.
Things don’t always work out the way you would like…
We can’t always go it alone. We are stronger together. Sometimes, reaching out for help comes easily, other times not so. A bridge needs supports on both ends…it is not just about one side taking all of the load.
In this case, it is about child mortality. I have been watching things unfold for the last 10 or 15 years, and there is good progress, but too much leaning on too few people doing the work. And too much potential and opportunity going wasted. What if we were to bridge together- our ideas, our resources, ourselves. Could we make more of a difference?
Here, the father comes to the son’s aid. “We’re going to finish together.”
In September 2010, I set out to run the 10 City Bridge Run. So far, things didn’t work out as I had planned. I have learnt a lot in the process, about myself and about how to do/not to do something.
I ended up in 2010 physically damaged so that it was not possible to run through overtraining, and also financially stretched…both situations that were unintended and undesirable. Many people had supported me to that time, and I also believed that the issue was worth pursuing.
So here I am again, lining up and ready to undertake this task commencing 10 October this year.
Never give up. There is work ahead for all of us to do. Join me on this journey. Please do. I am asking you to build a bridge together with me and the rest of the world. Are you in?
Training Day 1: Perfect conditions – cold, wet and dark
I started this 12 week training schedule for my run in September with a run through a rainy night in Sydney. It was the wettest I have seen Sydney, or at least the wettest I have seen the area near Lidcombe, since moving there in August last year, measured by the run-off on the ground.
The course took me around the Sydney Olympic Park crossing Parramatta Road and back again.
The next two days were in Canberra. Last night with sprints along Anzac Parade late into the evening, and tonight in the excellent gymnasium at the Australian Defence Force Academy on the running machine.
Feeling good for the journey ahead. Could be a little better conditioned, and a few kg heavier than my ideal training weight which will drop over the next four to six weeks, particularly important as I pick up the distance.
Training Schedule: 18 Weeks of Preparation
Preparing to commence running in September. The whole thing is a little daunting, not because of the intensity of the task, but because I experienced failure in commencing my previous effort. For me, that is the biggest obstacle, and your support is immensely important.
So here is my training schedule for the next 18 weeks. If you want to join in at any time, or to drop me a line ask how I am doing, I would love to hear from you. If you need any advice in any training you are working towards, please drop me a line as well- I would love to help out where I can.
Training Schedule 10 City Bridge Run
| Date | Conditioning | Running |
| Pre-Week 1 | ||
| Mon, Apr 30, 2012 | Swimming 5 x 200 m | 8 km |
| Tue, May 1, 2012 | Yoga | 5 x 800 m |
| Wed, May 2, 2012 | Swimming 3 x 400 m | 8 km |
| Thu, May 3, 2012 | Pilates | 5 km on machine |
| Fri, May 4, 2012 | Rest | |
| Sat, May 5, 2012 | Swimming 2 x 500 m | 6 km |
| Sun, May 6, 2012 | Rest | |
| Pre-Week 2 | ||
| Mon, May 7, 2012 | Swimming 4 x 400 m | 8 km |
| Tue, May 8, 2012 | Strength Circuit | 2 x 1600 m |
| Wed, May 9, 2012 | Yoga | 8 km |
| Thu, May 10, 2012 | 16 km | |
| Fri, May 11, 2012 | Rest | |
| Sat, May 12, 2012 | Pilates | 6 km |
| Sun, May 13, 2012 | Rest | |
| Pre-Week 3 | ||
| Mon, May 14, 2012 | Swimming 4 x 500 m | 8 km |
| Tue, May 15, 2012 | Strength Circuit | 4 km on machine |
| Wed, May 16, 2012 | Yoga | 8 km |
| Thu, May 17, 2012 | Pilates | 8 x 200 m |
| Fri, May 18, 2012 | Rest | |
| Sat, May 19, 2012 | 24 km | |
| Sun, May 20, 2012 | Rest | |
| Pre-Week 4 | ||
| Mon, May 21, 2012 | Swimming 2 x 800 m | 8 km |
| Tue, May 22, 2012 | Strength Circuit | 5 x 800 m |
| Wed, May 23, 2012 | Yoga | 8 km |
| Thu, May 24, 2012 | Pilates | 5 km on machine |
| Fri, May 25, 2012 | Rest | |
| Sat, May 26, 2012 | Strength Circuit | 6 km |
| Sun, May 27, 2012 | Rest | |
| Pre-Week 5 | ||
| Mon, May 28, 2012 | Pilates | 8 km |
| Tue, May 29, 2012 | Strength Circuit | 2 x 1600 m |
| Wed, May 30, 2012 | Yoga | 8 km |
| Thu, May 31, 2012 | 16 km | |
| Fri, Jun 1, 2012 | Rest | |
| Sat, Jun 2, 2012 | Strength Circuit | 6 km |
| Sun, Jun 3, 2012 | Rest | |
| Pre-Week 6 | ||
| Mon, Jun 4, 2012 | Swimming 3 x 800 m | 8 km |
| Tue, Jun 5, 2012 | Strength Circuit | 4 km on machine |
| Wed, Jun 6, 2012 | Yoga | 8 km |
| Thu, Jun 7, 2012 | Pilates | 8 x 200 m |
| Fri, Jun 8, 2012 | Rest | |
| Sat, Jun 9, 2012 | 6 km | |
| Sun, Jun 10, 2012 | Rest | |
| Date | Conditioning | Running |
| Training 1/12 | ||
| Mon, Jun 11, 2012 | Swimming 4 x 400 m | 8 km |
| Tue, Jun 12, 2012 | Pilates | 5 x 800 m |
| Wed, Jun 13, 2012 | Yoga | 8 km |
| Thu, Jun 14, 2012 | 5 km on machine | |
| Fri, Jun 15, 2012 | Rest | |
| Sat, Jun 16, 2012 | 24 km | |
| Sun, Jun 17, 2012 | Rest | |
| Training 2/12 | ||
| Mon, Jun 18, 2012 | Swimming 4 x 400 m | 8 km |
| Tue, Jun 19, 2012 | Pilates | 3 x 1600 m |
| Wed, Jun 20, 2012 | Yoga | 8 km |
| Thu, Jun 21, 2012 | 16 km | |
| Fri, Jun 22, 2012 | Rest | |
| Sat, Jun 23, 2012 | 20 km | |
| Sun, Jun 24, 2012 | Rest | |
| Training 3/12 | ||
| Mon, Jun 25, 2012 | Strength Circuit | 8 km |
| Tue, Jun 26, 2012 | Pilates | 4 km on machine |
| Wed, Jun 27, 2012 | Yoga | 8 km |
| Thu, Jun 28, 2012 | 8 x 200 m | |
| Fri, Jun 29, 2012 | Rest | |
| Sat, Jun 30, 2012 | 24 km | |
| Sun, Jul 1, 2012 | Rest | |
| Training 4/12 | ||
| Mon, Jul 2, 2012 | Strength Circuit | 8 km |
| Tue, Jul 3, 2012 | Pilates | 4 x 1600 m |
| Wed, Jul 4, 2012 | Yoga | 8 km |
| Thu, Jul 5, 2012 | 9 km on machine | |
| Fri, Jul 6, 2012 | Rest | |
| Sat, Jul 7, 2012 | 24 km | |
| Sun, Jul 8, 2012 | Rest | |
| Training 5/12 | ||
| Mon, Jul 9, 2012 | Strength Circuit | 8 km |
| Tue, Jul 10, 2012 | Pilates | 6 x 200 m |
| Wed, Jul 11, 2012 | Yoga | 8 km |
| Thu, Jul 12, 2012 | 5 x 1000 m | |
| Fri, Jul 13, 2012 | Rest | |
| Sat, Jul 14, 2012 | 24 km | |
| Sun, Jul 15, 2012 | Rest | |
| Training 6/12 | ||
| Mon, Jul 16, 2012 | Swimming 4 x 400 m | 8 km |
| Tue, Jul 17, 2012 | Pilates | 8 x 400 m |
| Wed, Jul 18, 2012 | Yoga | 8 km |
| Thu, Jul 19, 2012 | 7 km on machine | |
| Fri, Jul 20, 2012 | Rest | |
| Sat, Jul 21, 2012 | 20 km | |
| Sun, Jul 22, 2012 | Rest | |
| Training 7/12 | ||
| Mon, Jul 23, 2012 | Strength Circuit | 8 km |
| Tue, Jul 24, 2012 | Pilates | 5 x 1600 m |
| Wed, Jul 25, 2012 | Yoga | 8 km |
| Thu, Jul 26, 2012 | 16 km | |
| Fri, Jul 27, 2012 | Rest | |
| Sat, Jul 28, 2012 | 24 km | |
| Sun, Jul 29, 2012 | Rest | |
| Training 8/12 | ||
| Mon, Jul 30, 2012 | Strength Circuit | 8 km |
| Tue, Jul 31, 2012 | Pilates | 8 km on machine |
| Wed, Aug 1, 2012 | Yoga | 8 km |
| Thu, Aug 2, 2012 | 8 x 200 m | |
| Fri, Aug 3, 2012 | Rest | |
| Sat, Aug 4, 2012 | 24 km | |
| Sun, Aug 5, 2012 | Rest | |
| Training 9/12 | ||
| Mon, Aug 6, 2012 | Strength Circuit | 8 km |
| Tue, Aug 7, 2012 | Pilates | 6 x 200 m |
| Wed, Aug 8, 2012 | Yoga | 8 km |
| Thu, Aug 9, 2012 | 5 x 1600 m | |
| Fri, Aug 10, 2012 | Rest | |
| Sat, Aug 11, 2012 | 24 km | |
| Sun, Aug 12, 2012 | Rest | |
| Training 10/12 | ||
| Mon, Aug 13, 2012 | Strength Circuit | 8 km |
| Tue, Aug 14, 2012 | Pilates | 8 km |
| Wed, Aug 15, 2012 | Yoga | 8 km |
| Thu, Aug 16, 2012 | 6 x 800 m | |
| Fri, Aug 17, 2012 | Rest | |
| Sat, Aug 18, 2012 | 10 km on machine | |
| Sun, Aug 19, 2012 | Rest | |
| Training 11/12 | ||
| Mon, Aug 20, 2012 | Strength Circuit | 8 km |
| Tue, Aug 21, 2012 | Pilates | 5 x 1600 m |
| Wed, Aug 22, 2012 | Yoga | 8 km |
| Thu, Aug 23, 2012 | 16 km | |
| Fri, Aug 24, 2012 | Rest | |
| Sat, Aug 25, 2012 | 20 km | |
| Sun, Aug 26, 2012 | Rest | |
| Training 12/12 | ||
| Mon, Aug 27, 2012 | Pilates | 8 km |
| Tue, Aug 28, 2012 | 5 x 1600 m | |
| Wed, Aug 29, 2012 | Yoga | 8 km |
| Thu, Aug 30, 2012 | 5 km | |
| Fri, Aug 31, 2012 | Rest | |
If only it was this easy
Ze Frank recently completed a Kickstarter crowdfunding exercise. I helped out responding to his offer of saving one of fifty babies from toy sharks and lions. The photo is here on the blog post, or click on this link to see all of the babies saved.
Is it alright to include this in a discussion about child mortality? Does it present something overly flippant?
In this case, no. I think it is fine. I don’t intend to make light of a serious problem, but only to suggest that all too often our efforts at ‘saving babies’ are not much more involved than with Ze Frank’s stunt. Neither was he addressing this issue of child mortality.
Rather, it is a reminder of what has been referred to as the ‘White Savior Industrial Complex‘ by Teju Cole in an article that is well worth reading (click the title for the link). Addressing complex social need goes beyond the simplicity of the emotionally charged presentations like we see in Kony 2012 or when we are accosted by charity muggers.
If only making change was this easy. It is hard work. That is part of the metaphor involved in the 10 City Bridge Run running stunt: 10 sub-marathons each of 24 km in 10 cities across 10 countries all inside of one month. Much more palatable just to write someone a cheque, but that is not how things get done.
Building Bridges 