Changes - Yes

Coleman's Blog Supplemental

I could have added more numbers to my signature this weekend but to tell you the truth, I'm a bit knackered post two heavy weeks of running. Add to this, I'm already feeling the drag of Autumn and it's darkening colder nights snapping at my heels.

Well, never one to completely hibernate I dusted off the pushbike (and I mean dusted) pumped the tires to 60psi and hit the streets of Cardiff.

Actually I hit more bumps than anything else. Tell me, is there a flat piece of Tarmac in the city centre without a pothole or massive sleeping policeman in it? I did go along the Taff Trail but the other people on bikes have no 'keep on the left' sense and just ride hap hazardously as do the pedestrians whom were completely blind (or blind drunk in some cases) to a 80kg man on a bike heading their way.

The other thing I noticed, even through a gel saddle, is just how much ones undercarriage gets battered in such a short time. No wonder those Tour de France riders are all a bit falsetto!

My hands were shattered to from the vibrations up through the handlebars.

This bike lark is harder than you think...I'm going to have another go tomorrow backside willing and will keep you posted of my progress.

At least I'm having a go and actually, I'm not a bad cyclist at all. Who says I'm stuck in a rut eh?

Rory Coleman - 919 Marathons - 235 Ultras

12 Marathon des Sables - 9 Guinness World Records - 21 Years' Alcohol Free.

Location:Pembroke Road,Cardiff,United Kingdom

Change - Tears for Fears

Lyric:- 'Became a point of view' - Orzabal

Song Choice:- Amazingly 32 years old this one and Tears for Fears first USA charting. Although Smith Vocals lead the song it's Orzabal's song writing that shines through and would be their final undoing.

Then again 'Change' affects us all and something that most of us shy away from.

The thing that highlighted this to me is the continued Cardiff parkrun too big, unsafe, it's not a race Facebook debate that's rumbling on and on and will until the day it ever gets stopped or the organisers get totally pissed off with the hundreds of 'suggestions' they get each week.

When it's not on anymore, everyone will say just how great it was and why isn't it on anymore!

But things change...I wasn't there in 1981 on the first London Marathon or 1986 for the first Marathon des Sables. I got to both in '95 and '99 respectfully when both were smaller and 'better' in my opinion. Then again I was younger, faster and hadn't gained the 'Point of View' that Smith sings about.

Whom am I to criticise such phenomenal races and give the Bedfords, Bauers and Cooks my opinions of their creations...Yet so many folk feel they can, even if they are a total beginner.

Maybe the Internet has given us the 'Review' option where anyone can have a go at anyone or anything and rate it. I know if I'd given up my Saturday Mornings since 2008 for nothing in return and earned myself a lot of free-agro, I don't think I'd still be doing it, would you?

We are very lucky, and I mean REALLY lucky and privileged to be able to take part in each other's dreams.

Change... change your outlook, change your opinion, change your life.

Rory Coleman - 919 Marathons - 235 Ultras

12 Marathon des Sables - 9 Guinness World Records - 21 Years' Alcohol Free.

Location:Cardiff

F.E.A.R - ortopliot

Lyric:- Fantastic expectations, amazing revelations - McCraken, Brown & Colquhoun

Song Choice:- A great song and every line has FEAR spelt with the first letter of each word in each line and must have taken some doing, which I like.

The FEAR part is what I'm interested in for tonight's blog.

My question is, 'What are you afraid of'? It's a fair question as I'm sure if you really think about it, you are afraid of lots of things. Being a superstring alpha-male I will own up to Dogs and Confined Spaces...and if you know me, you'll know just how much both give me a highly elevated heart-rate.

I was speaking to one of my clients today whom was frightened of a race and was having panic attacks ahead of the race but couldn't understand their high heart-rate. My example of my own heart-rate going over 200 without exercise inducement would be a trip into a full body MRI scanner.

Something I never want to repeat, well conscious anyway. Fear and Stress can work against us but can also heighten our senses and increase our performance - it's a very fine line and one that needs our attention, so we get things right and not scared into failure.

Have a think yourself to where your FEAR lies. What are you frightened of, a race, your job, your future or being stuck in a rut.

Don't be the person who says I wish but was always afraid...

Don't FEAR fear...Don't be afraid!

Rory Coleman - 919 Marathons - 235 Ultras

12 Marathon des Sables - 9 Guinness World Records - 21 Years' Alcohol Free.

Location:Cardiff

Sheep - Pink Floyd

Lyric:- What do you get for pretending the danger's not real - Waters

Answer:- You get into a load of trouble, that's what. There have been so many stories this week of people getting into really dangerous situations when they could easily be avoided. I've personally seen folk cut off by the tide, children of 6-8 years playing unsupervised in a river in Ely (Cardiff) and umpteen young children in the front seats of cars ready to garotted by a seat belt or seatbeltless ready to hit the windscreen.

What the f*ck is going on...Ohhhh it's Summer Holidays! Yes, the time when people's brains turn to Jam and can only wish away the days until their little loved ones go back to the daily penitentiary of school life.

Now I'm not one to talk as I'm surprised I've made 53 with my life history or perhaps I've got here as I'm quite streetwise and am actually tuned into looking after myself and my loved ones.

Obviously my lifestyle comes with hazard just like the next man's but I do offer myself some duty of care and wouldn't engage say running 4 x 100 milers in a year like some. Well I could but I wouldn't be able to do much else and it would take me twelve months to get over the process.

So why do some folk reckon they can and do...

The danger's real, it's out there and maybe a running seat belt or life jacket might be in order for those of you who are in danger of getting cut off by the tide of ULTRA-running.

Happy Swimming Folks...

Here's where the story ends - Tin Tin Out

Lyric:- People I see, weary of me, showing their good side.

Song Choice:- From 1998? Yikes! Where did that go...Anyway I love the line above and it leads me into my blog for today about cutting through life's cr4p.

It's been one of those weeks you see. One where so many folk have been in touch for one reason or another but it feels like I've been sold to on occasions. The thing is I don't need to know that you are a 40 year old accountant or that you are a sub-13hr Ironman (groan) or whatever. What I need is to be able to cut quickly through the bravado and connect with the real PERSON. The real YOU.

'Cos that's when my training methods really work and when things would really start to happen for YOU.

We all have a few warts, shortcomings and things we don't like doing. We also have areas where we can be pushed and we KNOW we could improve if we really tried. 

Luckily for me most of my clients quickly drop their guard and let me in to rearrange their furniture and repackage their fitness regimes.

They say a Leopard can't change it's spots...Well maybe they can if they don't show me their good side, I need to know the sh1t side too. 

Life's far better when people know where they stand. When you get to 53, you'll know what I mean.

More tomorrow...

Dogs - Pink Floyd

Lyric:- So have a good drown, as you go down, all around - Gilmour & Waters

Song Choice:- Best listened to on the deluxe Welcome to the Machine album live from Wembley in 1974 working titled 'You've got to be crazy'...but also brilliant on Animals it's perfect for today's blog.

As it's been a crazy day indeed as I read that people are using 'Exercise Videos' to train for the Marathon des Sables (not sure Jane Fonda ever felt the Burn of the Sahara) but every day's a school day eh? Combine that with every man, family and caravan heading into Wales for some late summer sunshine and today's return drive to Nottingham was a rather eventful, lengthy affair.

No wonder I needed to run at least six miles when I got home. Nothing less would suffice, easy jog not an option.

I needed to make today count and that's what drives me on not a DVD or a short cut to success. I need success but want to earn it.

Just pick one thing...train hard and make it happen. You don't have to be crazy, you just have to want it.

Rory Coleman - 919 Marathons - 235 Ultras

12 Marathon des Sables - 9 Guinness World Records - 21 Years' Alcohol Free.

Location:Cardiff

Summer Son - Texas

Lyric:- Tired of telling it your way...

Song Choice:- A great Summer Song played and sung beautifully with a warm and rich voice of the very under-rated Sharleen Spiteri.

I like the 'Tired' reference as I think a lot of folk get very tired at this time of year.

Late summer sun, corn-cutting and nights starting to draw in herald the dark times of winter to me. It has so much effect on our mood, mine included.

Combined with other people pulling our strings and life soon becomes a very depressing existence. It's one lots of folk experience and endure for days, weeks and years of their lives.

Equating your lifetime to seasons, I'm in late Summer myself and I'm going to enjoy it's warm rays for as long as I can...before an extra hot Indian Summer and Autumn.

Has your Winter come early?

Rory Coleman - 919 Marathons - 235 Ultras

12 Marathon des Sables - 9 Guinness World Records - 21 Years' Alcohol Free.

Location:Cardiff