All the Answers - Jesus Jones

Lyric:- You have all the answers - Edwards

Song Choice:- Saw them in 1991 and thought they were amazing - great songs, great lyrics, greatly missed...

As we wind up 2014 and prepare to roll out 2015 I wonder what will stand out for you this year?

What were the moments that changed your world, your direction, your thoughts.

I met hundreds of people this year like every year, searching for answers to questions and life conundrums that they already know or are scared of finding out or admitting to.

It's always good to take time out to think, prepare and then action in my experience and as a Coach I spend a lot of time looking in on other folks predicaments. If only things were that simple to fix.

I learned a lot about myself back in 1993/4 and finally after confessing to myself I was out of control, in a world of total unhappiness I took the 'Bull by the Horns' and took a deep breath before sorting out my life.

By April, I was a totally different person in a place, I never even knew existed...Yes, you guessed it, I had All the Answers and all I needed was a gentle push to pluck up the courage I needed.

I'm a definite example of a New Year's Resolution and it's one I'm dead proud of.

Now, if you need to sort yourself out, do something extraordinary, change your life, whatever...Let me know as I'd love to help you out...

An Exciting New Year to you :-)

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

Location:Radnor Road,Cardiff,United Kingdom

These Days - Take That

So fast I'm blurred...

Lyric:- Tonight we gotta live for, we gotta live for these days. We'll remember these days

Song Choice:- Can't resist a bit of Take That as we head towards 2015 and a chance to get your head around planning a New Year. Gary Barlow writes such uplifting songs and this particular song sums up my feelings perfectly today.

Yesterday's Phoenix Winter Marathon was my 52nd this year and with one more to add tomorrow it's going to be a marathon every 6.89 days which makes me most happy, especially as there wasn't a Stoptober or Football Pilgrimage in sight.

My thoughts about 'these days' are that in ten or twenty years, I'll be looking back warmly thinking just how bloody marvellous it was to get up at 5am, drive to London, bash out a sub 4 marathon (just) and then drive home. I was asked 'Why?' and it's simple, I just want to and it satisfies my endeavour. Most of the people walking or riding their bikes, haphazardly might I add, looked really miserable...I wasn't!

I know I write lots of posts like this one BUT I just can't be someone that doesn't do adventure or is risk adverse. All that stuff drives me potty and it's not necessary what you've GOT it's what you DO that makes for a full and happy life.

Four up and downs on a muddy towpath was a very happy place for me...

I'll be looking for more in 2015 too as I take on the MdS again and more marathons and ULTRA's that keep me 'sticking out'...

Are you sticking out or going with the flow?

2112 - Rush

Lyric:- I thought It was a good life. I thought I was happy. Then I found something that changed it all.

Song Choice:- Well it's 2012 today but it was a great excuse for some Rush and a great lyric for today's blog.

Are you running tomorrow? I am. I'm running because every Christmas Day in my old life, I'd be starting my day off with a drink. It was second nature...

This year like I have done for the past 20 I'll be out pounding the streets enjoying the sights and smells of a Christmas Day morning stone cold sober, drunk on the fact I've been able to find the perfect partner for my life of extreme abstinence.

If like me you are out there pounding too, you'll feel free and very self righteous knowing you've found your utopia just as I have.

When you are out there have a think about what you can achieve and what 2015 has in store for you.

You might well be surprised at what you come up with.

Merry Christmas my loyal readers and enjoy your Day tomorrow...

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

Location:Templeton Avenue,Cardiff,United Kingdom

Faith - George Michael

Lyric:- Yes I got to have faith.

Song Choice:- I've never been too much of a lover of the stubbled troubled one but Faith is a great song and very apt for my blog today.

You see Life is all about Faith. Well hope and belief as well but we make millions of decisions in our lifetime and experience just as many likes and dislikes too.

What we do and what we like when we are 25 can be totally different at 50 say. You can grow to like things it come to loath them at anytime too, for example I simply can't do Tuna or Salmon. Never could, never will. I know that 100% for sure in my lifetime. Yet at 25 a life minus B&H and Stella Artois seemed unthinkable. My how things have changed.

Or have they? Maybe it's just that my needs have changed and that there isn't enough satisfaction from the Nicotine or Alcohol to keep my needs fulfilled as a human being.

So when I went on my first run on 5th Jan 1994, I fell in love at first sight for the answer to both my physical and emotional needs. I didn't know I'd run marathons or set world records that day, I just knew I loved it.

I didn't have to think why, I just knew it. Maybe I live in a very simplistic world but it serves me well and maybe you need to have faith too.

It really helps and this year it's been the biggest thing I've encouraged folk to get...

21 miles of Sand today - that needed faith I can tell you!

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

Location:Capel Gwilym Road,Cardiff,United Kingdom

That time of the Night - Marillion

Lyric:- Your senses tangled in a new perfume - Dick, Mosley, Kelly & Trewavas

Song Choice:- I love this line from one of the best concept albums made since the almighty Lamb Lies Down on Broadway from Marillion's predecessors Genesis.

It's a great line isn't it? The notion of cloaking the 'Elephant in the Room' by disguising it rather than taking it by the tusks and sorting it out.

As I head towards my 21st birthday of Alcohol Abstinence, it does make me wonder why it took me so long to see the Elephant. It was there plain for me to see all the time...it's amazing how we put things off when we know something is dramatically Pete Tong with our lives.

If you're a doer then it's an easy think to rectify. It would be a lot easier now for me of course and even easier with a bucket of hindsight in my rear view mirrors.

My challenge to you is to consider your 'Elephants' just as I'll consider mine, yes I have new ones, as we head into the new year and the 5th January, my 21st Birthday.

Hopefully you won't have your senses tangled too much longer...if only it was that easy eh?

More tomorrow after a lot of running in the sand down at Merthyr Mawr.

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

Location:Cardiff,United Kingdom

The Stairs - INXS

Lyric:- Steal away our Destiny - Fariss & Hutchence

Song Choice:- One of my favourite songs from one of my favourite bands ever. I could have put the all the lyrics here and believe they convey my thoughts and feelings after such a long week on the road.

They also sum up the 111 days sobriety of my client 'Elizabeth' (not her real name of course) whom I ran with today whose 'Nature of her Tragedy has been a chain around her neck' (adapted lyrics) but has now seen the light and is a New Person, alive with Life and living booze free.

I've written a lot this week about being second rate, second best and giving up. Three states of mind that just don't have to be like that in a person and with hard work and effort can be eroded from one's life all together.

'Nothing is more corrosive especially, to you, from those whom surround you.

As we head into the holidays and seeing distant relations etc. there will be many opportunities to have your bubbles burst and your energy sapped.

Please try and deflect their Kryptonite and take a leaf out of Elizabeth's Book and don't let them steal away your destiny.

Your destiny is yours, use it wisely and do what YOU want to do, not what folk think you ought to :-)

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

Location:Pembroke Road,Cardiff,United Kingdom

And I will Kiss - Underworld

Song Choice:- You need inspiration - try this . The whole thing is F Amazing!!!

One of the most uplifting pieces of musical history that I have ever been privileged to see, a complete one off and one of the tracks that when I listen to when  I'm running makes my knees lift and pace soar.

I just love it...There's something about the importance of the staging of this part of the Olympics Opening Ceremony that has your heart in your mouth. Will all the rings get to the same place, all at the same time, all lit up as it better had as the sceptical British Public's money has been spent on it?

Imagine how much stress Sir Danny Boyle must have been under. Just imagine how thrilled he was when it turned out the way it did...

My lesson from this is to think B I G. Invest heavily in time & effort and don't put up with anything or anyone second best. If someone or something gets in your way of your dream, tell them to Foxtrot Oscar. 

Do your best, expect the best from those around you and keep your standards as high as you can and when you need a kick up the arse watch or listen to the above piece of music.

'Forging a moment that will live with us forever' - Hazel Irvine

Can you say that about your life?

I like to think I've done things and say I have...

Foxhole - Television

Lyric:- 'Hello Guardian Angel' - Verlaine

Song Choice:- This is off my 1978 Album Adventure originally bought on Cassette and later on Red 12 inch vinyl. Ahh...those were my New York Days Arthaus!!!

I heard this old classic earlier today and I've always love that line about having a Guardian Angel. Yikes I must have worn mine out over the years with some of the scrapes I've put myself and my well into the teens and beyond 'Cat's Nine Lives'. Have you had a few too many close shaves...

It makes me wonder how this body of mine has got thru it's 52 year complete battering by it's rather un-careful owner, having been raced and rallied at will to destruction and back with the expectation that it will last for a good few years to come. 

I also think a similar aged 1962 car would be rusted into the ground by now and yet I reckon I've got another 100,000 miles to running to add onto my speedo at least...I do hope my Little Guardian Angel keeps looking after me as She's done a great job in getting me this far.

More tomorrow....

Ease the Pressure - The Beloved

Lyric:-) If you're feeling low - Marsh & Marsh

Song Choice:- I instantly loved 'Hello' when it was realised and this is an all time running anthem for me.

For some it will remind them of their dancing and clubbing youth, which is where we once let off steam to relax. I bet I could Dad Dance all night with my level of fitness as long as I had enough energy drink and a suitable white three piece wicking suit and black shirt.

I'm disco runner nowadays and not in need of the 40 cigarettes and 10 pints needed as the basis of a good night out. I see the clubbers coming home as I starting a long Sunday Morning run sometimes or as I'm leaving the city for a marathon.

Makes you wonder whether it's all been with it for them...worst of all if they have been to the Cardiff Kebab House rated at 0/5 hygiene before it was closed down!

Anyway, there's no hangover for me to overcome and an office party of just me to satisfy - so I'm going to party hard and go for a nice long run on my own mid-week.

I might stop and Dad Dance on my own whilst I'm out too...

Just to Ease the Pressure /-)

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

Location:Pembroke Road,Cardiff,United Kingdom

Figure it out - Royal Blood

Lyric:- But it's killing me to try and figure it out...

Song Choice:- What a rocker this track is! Two people making a massive sound and impact on the UKs music scene in 2014. They are awesome I think.

The lyric sums up this Pre-Christmas period to me and before you say 'Humbug', I mean that I'm trying to figure out just how much time and energy are we expected to invest into this never ending prelude to just one day of the year?

Ok, it's a bit 'Humbug' but the whole escapade knocks a huge gap into my calendar and means that for most self-employed folk like me that it also knocks an even bigger hole in your pocket.

I'm sure the age-old pagan festival based on brightening up the darkest days of winter could do with a make-over and maybe we could move it to a more clement time of the year.

Is it worth considering as all this wallet bashing makes January a very miserable five weeks until payday?

Just a thought and the real winners are the shops and Amazon :-)

Have you figured that out too yet?

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

Location:Ty-Wern Road,Cardiff,United Kingdom

The Sun Rising - The Beloved

Lyric:- It's just the sun rising...

Song Choice:- They became my beloved Beloved the first time I heard them sing 'Hello'. A truly great Coleman Anthem.

Anyway, I could do with the Sun Rising as this wet and wintry weather lark in Darkest Cardiff is totally miserable right now.

Let's hope a day out in the fresh air, freshens my mood as I totally get people when they say they are SAD.

More tomorrow, now where are my sunnies?

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

Location:Radnor Road,Cardiff,United Kingdom

Tears for Fears - Change

Lyric:- Change, you can change - Orzabal

Song Choice:- I've always admired Orzabal's songwriting and this 1983 (Yes it really is that old) offering marked the start of the big time for the mismatched of talents perhaps pop duo.

Anyway, I love a bit of Change as you know and if I've helped you Change your Running, Way of Life or Behavioural Process or all of these you'll know how much better you can feel about things with some different eyes looking honestly in on your lot.

I did this 10 years ago tomorrow for a German Guy called Ronald whom I met on a 40 mile social ultra in Baden-Baden.

There was a lot of time to talk that day as we ran thru the vineyards of The Black Forest in sub zero temperatures. We connected immediately and spoke of our lives and about the things that had driven us to be there in Germany at that moment on that day. The 11th December 2004.

I bent Ronald's ears about my running salvation story and he told me how to play poker as he is a professional gambler.

Luckily he took my booze advice and I forgot the poker part and tomorrow he turns 10 years dry. 3652 lovely days without a drop passing his lips...Wow.

He was my first real Change I could make on the world after myself of course and one that I am so proud of, as that's where my professional career really turned a corner and I started making a difference to other people.

Let me make a difference for you too eh? Elizabeth is three months dry going into her first Christmas on the wagon and I'm proud of her too...

More tomorrow from Coleman World where you don't have to have a drink to have fun.

Rory Coleman - The UK's Leading Inspirational ULTRA-Coach.

Location:Pembroke Road,Cardiff,United Kingdom

Nothing Else Matters - Metallica

Me Living Life - My Way

Lyric:- 'Life is ours, we live it our way' - Saidenberg, Hetfield,  Raubenheimer & Ulric

Song Choice:- I could have chosen many songs today but it would be libellous in the Extreme so I won't be choosing '60 Miles an Hour' or 'An Innocent Man' but I've decided to rise above the 'White Noise of Life' and live it My Way...

Yep, Life is for living and we make our own way and fortune in the few years we have on this Planet Earth of Ours. Funnily enough I nearly chose Photograph by Pomp Rockers, Def Leppard as the notion of a photograph that reflects just a single spilt second in a lifetime of moments got me thinking of which photo I would use best to describe myself.

Hundreds of years ago, if you were rich, your likeness would be painted by a portrait artist. If you go to the National Portrait Gallery in London, you will see some amazing paintings each one representing a split second moment in their amazing life histories. I get really blown away in this gallery every time...

What picture of you best describes you and what you are about? Have you got a portrait of yourself on your wall at home? If you have does that make you an ego-maniac, a right old big-head or just proud to make a statement telling folk who see it what you are?

If you have, who cares as it's your life and you MUST live it YOUR way...

More tomorrow...

Wishing Well - Black Sabbath

Lyric:- Yeah, Throw me a penny and I'll make you a dream, you find that life's not always what it seems - Iommi, Butler, Ward & Dio

Song Choice:- Bought this in 1980 and it's still as good as ever and the lyrics have loads of lines that ring true as I could have chosen 'Dream for a while of the things that make you smile'...for today's blog.

You see my job is all about people's DREAMS...and recently I've heard a lot of self-imposed NIGHTMARES!!!!

Don't get me wrong, I've made loads of them myself BUT isn't it your DREAMS and aspirations that keep us going? Watch an episode of Jeremy Kyle and see how superior you feel to this diverse bunch of halfwits whom spend their wasteful lives eroding their years and brain-cells on drain cleaner and drugs rather than making something on their time on the planet?

It's amazing how many of them have no teeth!

Anyway, Jeremy's simplistic attempt at conflict resolution might be entertaining to some but it does show you how much time we spend in dispute. It's really corrosive to everyone concerned and simply not worth the waste of time and energy in my book. There are better things to do with our time.

It's always best to walk away and concentrate ones energy on where YOU are going and on what YOU are doing. If I coach you and you've changed your approach, you'll know where I'm coming from.

The other one I'm not understanding atm is if you are contracted to work for 37.5hrs a week and work 80hrs for no extra cash; that you are giving your employer your salary+ free. I've been there but at 52 I can say I was never thought any more of and there was always someone there to fill my boots however much I thought I was irreplaceable.

Follow your dream folks and make a wish!

More tomorrow...

Sound of the Crowd - The Human League

Oakey Stands Out from the Crowd

Lyric:- 'No need to stand proud, add your voice to the sound of the crowd' - Burden & Oakey

Song Choice:- Love and Dancing by The Human League Unlimited Orchestra is one of my favourite albums of all-time and Oakey's Baritone voice and excellent Martin Rushent (sadly no longer with us) made the 1981 above single seem most apt to accompany today's blog.

This week I've said many times over that I've been speaking a different language to some of the people that I've met and that there has been a lot of one way emotional traffic, which isn't surprising considering my job.

What became more evident as the week went on was it wasn't a different language I was speaking it was more about me making sure I still stand out from the crowd. It's really important to me as I have standards. 

That’s the hard part especially if you are part of a crowd that happily gets hammered for instance and expect you to do the same and if you don’t, they hammer you or you are in a position of power and the folk you are dircecting, don't like your direction.

I've been asked a couple of times this week ‘How can I get thru Christmas without a drink?’ Well…it’s really easy and if anyone gives you a hammering for not doing so, tell them simply to ‘Foxtrot Oscar’. 

It’s funny how folk find a reverse gear when you challenge them back, I hate bullies.

How do I know? Well it’s coming up to 21 years dry for me and I have no problem owning up to having a problem with alcohol and I've been ganged up on and stood my ground.

If that's you (and you know who you are) stick out from the crowd, they're the losers…

When you can do this you'll feel so much better and you ‘Can Stand Proud AWAY from the Crowd’.

I do...

The Way of the World - Wishbone Ash

Lyric:- 'Another road to be taken'.

Song Choice:- Wishbone Ash have been a life-long band of choice for me and this offering from their live tour of 1980 has always stood out for me as the drums are sensational and sound really alive as the album still sounds today.

The 'another road to be taken' lyric seems more than apt after writing chapter 10 of my book today which features my 28 marathons in 28 days of last year's Stoptober Challenge. Maybe I'm in need another such 'Road Trip' as I call them?

Writing the 'Coleman Coaching Newsletter' and updating our website always fires my imagination and there must be one last 'Mega-Day Journey' out there for my old bones to undertake...

Never say Never eh? It's the Way of My World...

More tomorrow...

Digging in the Dirt - Peter Gabriel

Lyric:- 'Don't turn around' - Gabriel

Song Choice:- In my last blog-homage to PG, I've gotta choose 'Digging in the Dirt' as it's just rattled our double glazing in it's frame and the keyboard breakdown section at 2:10 is just one of my favourites of all time. The stick bass is totally sub-sonically awesome too...as are the lyrics.

I love the idea of not turning around as you've gone to far. Sometimes it's too easy not to see things thru and argue ones way out of completion. The comfort blanket of taking the easy way out and its always best to achieve what you set out to do as long as it was achievable in the first place.

It came to mind this morning when I was explaining to one of my clients that it's best to train gradually towards a goal rather than go at it hammer and tong for a short while and crash land well before the landing strip, rather than come in on a gradual descent and land on time and in one piece or not to enough and miss it altogether. (I love this analogy and admit to using it a lot but hey it's a good illustration).

Seen lots of scenarios 1 & 3 and not so many 2's if I'm honest...

Anyway, the more you look, the more you'll find according to PG and RC in this case and whatever you do, don't turn around.

More tomorrow...

Rory Coleman - The UK's Leading ULTRAmarathon Coach

Secret World (Live) - Peter Gabriel

Lyric:- 'What was it we were thinking of?' - The Lord Sir Peter of Gabriel

Song Choice:- This song just blew me away at last night's Peter Gabriel Gig in Cardiff's Motorpoint Arena. There are a few people whom you can say this about but Gabriel is one of the few that has real the 'X-Factor'. The biggest thing I took away from the gig was his pure professionalism and showmanship built over nearly fifty years of music creativity. What a gift...

For me to be just a few yards from someone who has been there in my good times and not so good times making the songs that have partnered the peaks and troughs of my last forty years made me feel quite emotional about the profound effect this one person has had on my life.

From the hissing, whirrings of 1970's poor quality double cassettes played as loudly as they could on a tape recorder plugged into a radio to make it even louder...Gabriel's songs have stood the test of time and sound as fresh as ever especially as they have now been remastered. 

Shaking his hand at the Hammersmith Odeon in '78 feels just like yesterday - where on earth did those 36 years go?

That's the sad thing...

Make sure you don't let 'all that has gone before leave no trace'...(Gabriel lyric amended)...

More tomorrow.