Confident - Demi Lovato

Spot the Link?

Lyrics:- 'Cause this is my game and you better come to play' - Lovato, Salamanzadeh, Kotecha & Sandberg

Song Choice:- I'll admit that I'm totally new to the music of Miss Lovato and only found out about her by 'Shazaming' this track whilst watching the Booking.com advert on TV. My that Shazam app is truly awesome... and it's introduced me to so much new music. 

Have a listen here and see if you would have 'Shazamed' it too...

Anyway, I suppose today's blog is about 'Confidence' but 'suppose' isn't a very confident  kinda word in my book? But then, what is 'Confidence'? I feel confident and think I always have been. Going to a 'Sink or Swim' Grammar School does that to you... I give straight answers from straight questions and although it can make one look arrogant (although I just looked in my thesaurus for synonyms of arrogant and got autocratic, conceited and egotistic, which aren't so nice) it does mean that you have opinion and folk know where you stand.

And yet 'Confidence' it's the single biggest missing part of most folks 'Personality Jigsaw' I've found. 'Self-Worth' destroyed by other folks projection can be so cruel, unavoidable yet fixable with time. Self-imposed 'Self-Deprication' though drives me a bit potty and can be immediately fixed when challenged, and that goes across ALL abilities and both sexes.

Folk tell me they find it really scary speaking in public and yes it is, well the first few times, then it gets a whole lot easier the more you do... I know from my own experience, and maybe that's the key. I believe a lot of life and it's highlights are down  to 'Experience' and 'Preparation'. I'm sure you are aware of the 'Fail to Prepare - Prepare to Fail' adage but it's SO TRUE.

Maybe 'Confidence' comes from 'Knowledge' as once you know what's in store for you, in any situation, things get a whole lot easier. Running Ultras and Marathon's isn't rocket science (and not all that life-threatening if I'm being honest), it's a process which you can use across other aspects of your life too. 

What's helps in all cases is making sure you do your level best is all you can do. Making sure you enjoy the ride. And making sure you don't let anyone tell you it's wrong to be 'Confident'...

More tomorrow...

979 Marathons - 241 Ultras - 13 Marathon des Sables - 9 Guinness World Records

8363 Days' Dry

www.RoryColeman.co.uk

Change - Lisa Stansfield

Lyric:- 'If I could change the way I live my life today, I wouldn't change a single thing' - Stansfield, Devaney & Morris

Song Choice:- Well it's only taken me 25 years to appreciate and finally buy one of the Rochdale Songstresses finest tracks. She popped up during a recording of the Freddie Mercury Concert from 1992, duetting with George Michael, and very good she was too... makes me wonder why I didn't back then but perhaps I was distracted by much harder rock anthems...

The thing is, whatever happened to Ms Stansfield? She just seemed to have dropped off the radar... But then again, lots of other actors, singers and TV celebs from that era have too. Ashley Judd, Rick Astley, Selina Scott and the bird out of Dollar spring to mind (and yes I do know it's Teresa Baltzar) simply vanished... Lesser know actors seem to re-emerge on Midsomer Murders, Casualty or Holby City from what I've seen, and you know in the relative shows, they are either the killer or will be killed off!

Anyway, maybe fame doesn't provide everything needed for a fulfilling life of adventure and folk duck out of the limelight to enjoy a simpler existence because it's... well...er simpler. I mean, what do you value in your life? Not sure? Well, you might find out one day and if you do, you'll find out it hasn't got a value, as it's priceless. 

When you do find that Holy Grail... I'd love to know. All that I know is, 'if I could change the way I live my life today, I wouldn't change a single thing' and I know exactly where Ms Stansfield was coming from.

Would you?

More tomorrow...

Rory Coleman,

979 Marathons - 241 Ultras - 13 Marathon des Sables - 9 Guinness World Records

8362 Days' Dry

www.RoryColeman.co.uk

I Can See Clearly Now - Jimmy Cliff

Lyrics:- 'Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind' - Nash

Song Choice:- I've chosen the Jimmy Cliff version from the brilliant 1993 'Cool Runnings' film as the 1972 Johnny Nash feels pretty dated now and not as clearly as 'bright' in my opinion. Have a listen for yourself here and have a bright, (bright) sunshiny day...

So, moving on, they say we have five senses of perception (hearing, sight, touch, smell, and taste) and possibly a sixth (extrasensory perception or ESP) too. There must be, as there would never have been the excellent 'Sixth Sense' movie (which incidentally they stopped showing on a flight I was on going to Jordan one time, just a couple of minutes before the end of the film, so we could land hence missing the twist). Talk about losing the plot...one more circuit of Amman Airport wouldn't have hurt eh? I never saw the 'Dead Person'...

Anyway, I reckon there's even a 'Seventh' sense, few people possess it and it's called 'CLARITY'.

What do I mean? Well it's just that. An ability to see things clearly for what they are, both in one's own life and what is being broadcast to us by the people around us. In my work, I meet a lot of folk who are in total denial and can't see their own 'Elephant in the Room'... it's amazing how liberating it is for them when it's highlighted to them. 'Clarity' for them is so liberating. For my client on Day Three of their new booze free life, the 'Clarity' is so bright, it's nearly blinding.

The other one is how many times do you feel you've been sold to and bought the wrong thing, only to regret it later? It's one of my pet hates... If you were a victim of PPI, you'll understand. Don't get me started on Black Friday... it's pure propaganda.

But then again, we are all surrounded by such propaganda. Take a look at any large news website like www.msn.co.uk. There's always seems to be a positive Government and Royals' story on there as well as some celebrity noise surrounding a new tv show or album release. The ex-Top Gear guys being interviewed on the BBC about their new Amazon Grand Tour extravaganza made me chuckle. I wonder how many £59 Amazon Prime memberships they made on that one. Hopefully for Amazon, it's lots as they've got a cool £160m to recoup... the latest 'Clarkson' racism story, yesterday preluded episode two quite nicely.

It all sounds a bit cynical, doesn't it? It's not though... it's so obvious and I'm sure it's just as obvious for you too. The sad thing is our own 'Clarity' gets clouded by our work, our home lives and for some, the dreaded booze. A simple life-laundry sorts this one out I've found and if you are on that journey, you'll understand just where I'm coming from.

Then again, it doesn't matter where we are coming from, it's where we are going that counts. And that bit's up to you and looking through a window into your world, only makes me feel excited. Shaking off the 'Life-Blinkers' and seeing things for what they are can only make your life better... So, activate your 'Seventh Sense' then when you'll look straight ahead and there will be nothing but blue skies.

I know as mine are totally cloud-free...

Rory Coleman - 979 Marathons - 241 Ultras - 13 Marathon des Sables

9 Guinness World Records - 8359 Days' Alcohol Free.
www.RoryColeman.co.uk

Shine - Years and Years

Lyric:- 'I'll recover if you keep me alive' - Thornton

Song Choice:- A great song this one, with some really poignant lyrics for a very special day in my recovery from GBS/SIDP.

You see I got the two-year all clear today from my Mr Kolli, my second consultant (yes I have two) based at Rookwood Hospital in Llandaff, down here in God's Country. He like my other Consultant are still pretty flabbergasted by recovery but are still erring on the side of caution as my Prednisilone consumption reduces over the next few weeks. He did say that I wouldn't relapse now which I was really glad to hear as I can't wait to put 2016 behind me.

So Hurrah!!!

It was also nice to see a few of the patients who were there at the same time as myself and also say 'hello' to the nurses who looked after me and say thanks once more for their care. Luckily I hadn't pooped myself in front of the ones there today so I didn't feel any embarrassment factor - to think I was there just three months ago, unable to walk feels most spooky and I didn't realise at the time perhaps just how ill I really was.

According to them, I was VERY ill...

Anyway, I'm not ill now - just enjoying life and getting back to being myself again.

Time for some running now I think :-)

More tomorrow as I feel I'm shining - are you?

Rory Coleman - 979 Marathons - 241 Ultras - 13 Marathon des Sables

9 Guinness World Records - 8358 Days' Alcohol Free.

Location: Cardiff

Reconnect - Knife Party

Lyric:- 'Through every shipwreck comes the chance to begin again. To rebuild anew atop the mistakes of the past'. - Swire

Song Choice:- And what a 'Friday Belter' this track is too... Have a listen here to the Australian electronic dance music combo consisting of two members of the drum and bass band Pendulum, Rob Swire and Gareth McGrillen. Harder hitting than Pendulum IMO and especially useful if you are in the middle of one of my legendary 'Power Hours'.

Anyway, if you are feeling shipwrecked today, one thing's for sure and that is one day, you'll sail again. Yep, you might be run aground for a while, but you'll float, set your course and sail off into the sunset.

It all sounds very romantic, but in reality it will happen for you...like it's happening for me right now. The only thing is, is just doesn't happen at our speed.

You have to go with the flow and I jogged a very slow three miles, my first run since Druid Challenge last Saturday. You see, it certainly wasn't the best training run I've ever had. Yet it's not surprising as I can't remember a dark November evening, running on leaf-slushy pavements around Cardiff being that brilliant anyway but it doesn't matter.

I was out there doing my thing, investing for my future. A day where I'm running in the hot, golden sands of the Western Sahara. To get myself further into the mood and with that in mind, I called in at our local 'Savers' store (Chavy but Cheap) for some new red nail-varnish to help get me back into an 'MdS Running Frame of Mind'. The male assistant , who served me, did look at me a bit strange but hey who cares...I sure don't as my feet look fab once again.

And I'm starting to feel like I'm floating again...Just.

More tomorrow...

Rory Coleman
979 Marathons - 241 Ultras - 13 Marathon des Sables - 9 Guinness World Records
8353 Days' Dry
www.RoryColeman.co.uk

Easy - Faith No More

Maidenhead Bridge - Opened, 1 July 1839

Lyrics:- 'I'm Easy like Sunday morning' - Richie

Song Choice:- Being more into Genesis back in 1977, I couldn't bring myself to choose the original Commodores version, so I've chosen the more street-cred Faith No More, 1993 revamp... Nice.

Anyway, it was more like 'Not so easy on a Wednesday morning', on my day's MdS Training in London. Don't get me wrong, I love a day out and it should be a really simple process. Get up at 0400hrs, drive into town, park the car at Cardiff Central Station. Catch the 0512hrs London train, get the Tube to venue, deliver session and return home.

And it was as all of the travel infrastructure worked a treat... Only all of the technology used for the journey was a bit of a nightmare if I'm being honest. The simple job of buying a train ticket online, has been made infinitely more difficult by the restrictions placed on travelling at peak times to and from the smoke. Thirty minutes between trains times, is the difference between a £220, and a whoppingly cheaper £93 fare... Getting the cheapest option and not getting ripped off it so difficult and a really negative experience. No wonder folk in the UK don't think of using the train.

Don't even get me started on the NCP Car Park ticket machine at Cardiff Central Station either, as you'll need a cool head and great vision if you are going to follow the very small print in the dark and the five different steps you'll need to follow, plus 10 x £1 coins (no cards allowed) to avoid a hefty parking fine. Do you really need to enter the last three numbers on your registration plate on a Nokia style keypad? What happens if you get that wrong? It's far too complicated and my parents who are very capable drivers and travellers but aren't so technically savvy couldn't use these machines. A simple ticket machine that takes cash would be just fine I would say...

Luckily, I didn't have to buy a ticket to get the Underground (opened 1863) as my train ticket doubled up with a few more clicks and I enjoyed the simplicity of getting around the capital in remarkable ease on a system that like the Cardiff-Paddington line (completed 1841) has been enjoying for the past 150 years+. 

No doubt both are now governed highly by technology BUT is any of this any better than it ever was before the internet revolution?

The price differential on tickets, the amount of car-parking fines delivered are surely just there to make the cash needed to implement the tech that we didn't really need in the first place. It does make me sound like a grumpy old man here but I'm very much for a KISS lifestyle. Yep, Keep It Simple Stupid.

The laughable thing was that my train ticket wasn't checked as I left either station or on the train coming back...How daft is that? Just how much more 'Human Factor' can be removed from our modern day lives? And just how helpful will it actually be?

I feel glad that I could deliver my own 'Human Factor' yesterday and I have no plans to get myself automated right now!

Rory Coleman

979 Marathons - 241 Ultras - 13 Marathon des Sables - 9 Guinness World Records

www.RoryColeman.co.uk

You soar over the world - Above & Beyond (Feat. Alec Vargas)

Lyric:- 'You soar over the world' - Play, Grant, McGuinness & Siljamäki

Song Choice:- I'm always up for a bit of progressive trance aren't you? Well, when I heard this track in the gym last year, I instantly fell in love with Above & Beyond. If you've never heard of them, try this out and see what you think...you never know, you might just love 'em too.

Anyway, I hope you are feeling 'Proud' as I described in my previous blog. And if you still are feeling empowered and self-motivated, you will understand my thoughts today about 'Soaring over the World'.

I mean, when was the last time you 'Soared'?

I 'Soared' when I saw my Consultant on Monday as I can now see a finish date to my 2016, 'Guillian Barre Syndrome Nightmare'. That's an easy thing to say now as I'm not actually ill anymore, or even was in the first place technically... My nerve endings were just fried by my own auto-immune system as that's all that really happens with GBS, AIDP, SIDP, CIDP or whatever it bloody well was!

Anyway, that's not my problem now, it's my body's addiction to Prednisilone that is and that's what I'm now going to reduce to zero, very slowly, by the end of the year. 

Last dose planned is 31st December - told you.

And then I'll be 'Soaring' even higher into 2017, GBS and Prednisilone-Free, 245 days after first being 'ill'.

Now there's something I thought I'd never be able to predict...so let's SOAR!

More tomorrow...

Rory Coleman
979 Marathons - 241 Ultras - 13 Marathon des Sables - 9 Guinness World Records
8351 Days' Dry
www.RoryColeman.co.uk