Way too long - Christina Perri

'And how long can we keep this up' - Perri

I must admit that I lost the plot half way through yesterday's marathon at Coombe Abbey's Running Festival. It was at exactly 13.1 miles that I realised that the course would be at least 27 miles long as I hadn't completed 6 of the 12 laps and considering the warmth of the day and the spongy off-road grassed course that a second half sub 2hrs to match my first was going to be a real struggle.

It's not often I get a bit dis-hearted and don't get me wrong as the event itself was really well done, it was just too long. I know the Garmin 910xt can be a bit unreliable but mine is pretty good and I wasn't the only one to measure it at 26.99 miles.

It got me thinking about marathons and their standards and if you want superb dining you might go to a Michelin starred restaurant. If you use a takeaway in Cardiff, they all have a hygiene rating in the window and I wouldn't expect many folk eat from a 1/5 and even a 4/5 feels a but scummy. Star ratings really influence folk...

So how about the 100 Marathon Club doing something really positive and having a star rating for the BEST marathons in the UK, based on the quality of the race, measured course, insurance, first aid etc. London would be a 2 star rating as it's probably the best in the UK but Snowdon and Beachy Head would also be up there as races that the 100MC could endorse with a possible 2 star rating as they are simply iconic in the race calendar.

Ian J Berry's Kent Roadrunner would make a great 1 star, and as a private enterprise as his attention to detail and quality of the medals is something that a lot of other race directors could aspire to.

A 100 Marathon Club logo with a star on race info or websites would help promote the association and also keep the races with a star on their toes to maintain their standards. I'm not saying that EVERY race has a star rating just a few 2 stars and a few more 1 stars to get the system going.

What are your 2 star and 1 star MARATHON races?

All the things she said - Simple Minds

'She said, this is our time, she said, this is our place' - Kerr, McNeill & Burchill

What an amazing week! Mrs. C and I have had an absolute ball and couldn't have asked for a more perfect time to celebrate our marriage. Even the weather held for us and blessed us with a warm welcome into our married world of Coleman Partnership, which was an amazing piece of blind syncronicity, especially as it's been raining here today.

How to follow all of that, well you simply can't and I thought it was best to get a good 10km under my belt today and start the expanding wedding waistline reversal process! Hopefully it will help and also give me time to take in the last few days and really savour the experience.

Luckily we have the rest of the summer to continue celebrating and if you are in the area and want to pop in for a slice (that's a LOT of slices) of wedding cake, you are more than welcome.

Happy Days :-)

So Happy Together - The Turtles

'I think about you day and night, it's only right' - Gordon & Bonner

Well this time tomorrow, Miss Salter will be Mrs Coleman and I'll be an exceedingly happy and lucky man. Indeed, the odds of find ones soul-mate completely outshines that of a lottery win and I've got the winning ticket.

I feel incredibly fortunate to find such a wonderful lady to spend the rest of my life with.

We are both looking forward to a lovely wedding day tomorrow and the Welsh Gods will hopefully continue to let the sun shine on our celebrations.

All the planning's been done (that's another Jenny quality) and I only hope my best man, Mick McGeoch will go easy on me in his speech. There will no doubt be lots of pics on FB and thanks for all of your good wishes and comments.

It's going to be the best day EVER...

Always in my head - Coldplay

'I haven't slept' - Martin, Berryman, Buckland, & Champion

Feels like I've been awake for days! It must be the light mornings and the early starts including a crack of dawn start to get to the Littledown Marathon yesterday down near Bournemouth.

Not one of the UK's biggest races but certainly one of the friendliest and if you think 26 laps of a grassed park including a cricket pitch is easy, then think again, it's a complete leg sappper. I beat my 4 hour target by a mere 50 seconds in the end and have some very sore adductor muscles today from pushing it hard up the long slopes on the last few laps.

I was chuffed though and I beat last year's time by 8 minutes! Yes, there's life in the old dog yet. Better be as Friday's the big day for Jenny and Me.

I'm going to have a couple of days off and then get back into a few miles a day to help conquer the pre-marriage nerves.

Until then it's more MdS Coaching for me and some last minute running around.

Happy Days...

In a Lifetime - Clannad

'So the light shines in you, without colour, faded and worn' - Brennan & Brennan

Maybe it's desire that one really needs when it comes to running, especially ULTRA-running, as the hunger and need to compete/complete are a total necessity into having a successful and enjoyable race experience.

When I've raced extremely long races or tried to beat a previous record or time, I've thought about the task in hand for a long time prior to race day and have always had a really clear objective and race plan to work to. Sometimes it's MONTHS...even YEARS.

I'm sure I've enjoyed the pre-race thought process as much as many races. It's a similar feeling to booking a holiday, buying a new car or choosing a Hi-Fi, the wanting is sometimes better than having. 

So in my experience, the desire can be a great adventure too...

For me it's been a life long experience and the desire is still there and I'm always planning for my long road ahead. I know the flames are still burning and the desire is still there...

Do you know where you are going? What fires your desire? Do you know what you really want?

More tomorrow...

Glitterball - Simple Minds

'And I've been captured by imagination' - Kerr & Burchill

Following a good week of running rest and intense Wedding Day planning, I finally got my trainers on and racked up a fast 10km ahead of the Littledown Marathon on Sunday. My 846th and last as a single man!

It felt great as my 10km was just under 50 minutes and during Cardiff rush-hour on an extremely hot afternoon. And it felt really relevant as I've spent so much time this week encouraging all of my MdS Clients to get their bodies and feet in motion, as they've now got less than 300 days to got to race day.

Luckily ALL the folk I've seen so far, will get to the finishing line, IF they continue to follow my training ideals...

I'm going to bash in a few more miles tomorrow, so please watch this space.

Ain't the weather just perfect for running?

Life in the Fast Lane - The Eagles

'Eager for action' - Henley

What a busy old week and with 'W' Day just 13 more sleeps away, the latest batch of MdS hopefuls are keeping me SUPER busy.

I has a simply marvellous time with Craig Barnshaw running up the Taff Trail to monstrously steep Garth and onto Llantrisant and back on a wonderfully warm day.

And today's mission has been working with two lovely ladies (Sharon Firmin and Nic McAlpine) both of whom lasted out the gym tests and exercises long enough to get a clear picture of what's needed to prepare for the race. 

Incidentally - they will both finish the race, quite nicely in my opinion.

I've now got a nice weekend off and a chance to catch up on some well earned rest.

How's your MdS/Summer training going?

Coleman Coaching - The UK's Leaders in Inspirational Coaching.

Location:Cardiff,United Kingdom

Games without frontiers - Sir Peter of Gabriel

'It's a knockout' - Gabriel

Did you see the 'Big Fight' on Saturday night? I'm always blown away by the level of commitment that a Boxer has to have to step into the ring, especially in front of 80,000 people and a global TV audience. I wonder if a couple £million softened the blow for George Groves and whether the £8 million payday for Karl Froch satisfied his need for Pugilistic Dominance as his only way now (apart from a dream of fighting in Las Vegas) is sadly downhill as he's reached the high point of his life..

The big match for Froch lies ahead in a bout with 'Neil Armstrong Syndrome', where he will never match up to his current level of athletic prowess...ever again and once you've been to the moon, nothing else ever lives up to the experience. 

I'm sure Karl will dine out for year's on the night he knocked Groves out but unlike us ULTRA-marathoners, his career will be over at 36...an age where most people are coming into OUR sport! 

Wouldn't it be sad if we had to retire at 36? I'd only ran 75 marathons by then and I've achieved loads since then and still have some more peaks to climb!

Let's hope Karl puts his wealth to good use and uses his incredible fitness wisely eh? 

Have you reached your peak yet?