Real talk: The Ups and Downs

RUNLY NEWSLETTER #122
Thurs Aug 7th 2025

One thing that I know about myself, is that I'm not immune to feeling all of the ups and downs.

Building a business, any business, is an absolute rollercoaster!

Some days, weeks, are amazing.

Others, well you have to dig deep and wonder why you started all of this in the first place.

It's perhaps not the upbeat vibe you want to read in a brand's weekly newsletter.

But hey, this is a founder newsletter, and this is how this particular founder feels.

I can't imagine there's too many brand founders out there, in any category (not just running), who will send you an email about how they're feeling.

But I hope if nothing else, it gives you a bit of an insight into what goes on beyond the flashy product drops and big event activations.

If you had've asked me this time yesterday 'how's business mate?'. I probably would've said something like;

'Yeah all good, had a pretty good last week or so. Pretty under control and things are growing.'

But if you asked me this morning, or last night, I'd probably say something like:

 'Ah yeah alright, very stressful, dealing with quite a few things at the moment.'

And to be honest, neither are wrong.

Just different contexts.

Not every day is glamorous. Frankly, I don't think there are many glamorous days at all 😅

As a founder of a small business who is passionate, and serves a passionate community, I think I feel things more than I would otherwise.

Things like, trying to manage a customer who I can't make happy despite my best efforts, a delayed shipment, some issues at the warehouse, and planning for two major marathons in two months.

These things can weigh on me, especially when it happens all in a short space of time.

But I understand that, I know that's what building a real brand is. I know what I signed up for.

Ultimately, I do this because I want to not only help runners, but I also want to be part of the running community myself.

So yes, we are building a business and that has its challenges, but the real wins are seeing people with a smile on their face using our products on their long run, or on race day.

That is something that fills me with complete and undeniable joy.

So while there are many hard things I do, I often remind myself just how lucky I am to be doing what I am doing, and doing it for people like you.

CITY2SURF

Good luck to the tens of thousands of runners who will be hitting up the City2Surf this weekend - the world's biggest fun run.

Although we're not taking part this year in any official capacity, I am heading up to check it out and be a part of the vibe.

It's actually my first time at a City2Surf event, so I'm really keen to absorb everything and importantly checkout the expo to see if it's something that we might be able to get involved in for next year 👀

PREP FOR SYDNEY MARATHON

Guys, Sydney is coming up so quickly. If you're running it, I don't need to tell you that. I'm sure there's a countdown on your phone letting you know every single day.

It only really dawned on me yesterday how big of a week this is going to be for us (me).

When I think about Gold Coast Marathon, exactly one month ago, and how brutally demanding that was for me, it makes me extra nervous to think I'll be going to do the drive up on the way there, and back, from Melbourne.

When I think back to GC, I was absolutely destroyed after the event. It took every ounce of strength to get up the next day to get on the plane.

But this time, there's no plane. I'm doing the drive. Eek.

This definitely deserves a new YouTube vlog.

That's all for this week.

I appreciate your continued support, it means a lot.

Run well,
Robbie