Enter Sandman - Metallica

Marathon des Sables 2017

The Marathon des Sables (The World’s Toughest Footrace) is one of life’s most exciting personal adventures and provides a perfect opportunity to find out just what makes you tick. During the 250kms (156 miles) of endless desert, sand dunes, mountains and dried-up-river beds, the 50+ degree temperatures will literally boil your brain. I’m really looking forward to the race as the desert makes me feel ALIVE! I discovered the race whilst trying to run 100 marathons in 1999. It was part of my journey of recovery from being a very unfit alcoholic, nicotine addict, and I saw the race as the ultimate life-laundry opportunity.

The whole experience changed my horizon on how I should structure my life. And during the seven days of the race, like most competitors I was broken both mentally and physically. The deconstruction and reconstruction of one’s character is profound and everyone who does the race comes back appreciating life, relationships and home comforts far more than when they went. I certainly did.

 

The race, well it’s tough. It hurts your feet, your legs, your back, in fact everything – however, crossing the finish line each day is one of life’s biggest rushes. I also enjoy the solitude that the race brings and it’s not like you can get lost following a long line of people stringing ahead of you like ants. It’s a marvellous time for reflection and the only consideration each day is to get to the finish, rest, eat and drink litres of water to get re-hydrated for the next day’s run. Out in the sand dunes, the going can be extremely slow as you climb the loose sand that immediately collapses under your feet but eventually you get to the finishing line.

 

At the end of each stage there is a small cup of sweet Moroccan tea to quench your thirst a little before walking back to an open sided Berber tent to share your tales of the day with seven other competitors who have just endured the same experience. The tent is your desert haven, your comrades become seriously special people that help bolster your spirit. Back in 1999 there were less than 600 competitors. In 2023 there will be a colossal 1200 due people coming out of lockdown, who like me back in ’99 are looking for an adventure. 

 

And after the race, everyone that’s taken part will have a special place in their heart for their days at the MdS. I’ve completed many challenges, set world records and run the length of the Europe but I’m looking to recharge my batteries at my 16th Marathon des Sables next year, why - because I LOVE it – and when you’ve experienced the MDS, you’ll love it too.

1,149 Marathons - 270 Ultras - 9 Guinness World Records - 15 Marathon des Sables

Keep Talking – Pink Floyd

Lyric: ‘I feel like I'm drowning’…

In the village where I grew up, a boy aged 10 drowned on this day back in 1969. It’s a sad day that I’ll never forget. A day that was etched into my childhood memories even though I was only seven years old at the time. Like most people looking back at their childhood, I haven’t many memories of being seven, the moon landing, first flight of Concorde and the Investiture of the Prince of Wales perhaps, but these were international events whereas this was local and very real. 

I could feel the raw emotion hearing my parents speaking to each other about the boy being swept away in the flooded river. A complete tragedy at any time of the year but being this close to Christmas must have been harrowing for his poor parents for that Christmas and every Christmas future.

 

The 23^rd December also brings me thoughts of his life, a life never lived. He would have been 63 now. He could have been a success, failure, husband, father, whatever. We’ll never know. He did have some life but limited to a very short period of 10 years or so. A mere blink of an eye when you consider it’s already ten years since the London Olympics and they seem like only yesterday. Tempus Fugit...

 

And yes, I do bang on about making the most of one’s opportunity of this thing we call life. And especially on this day every year I think about how I lucky I am to have enjoyed sixty plus, full years of life and want to enjoy as many more as possible. I’d hate to think I’ve had a missed out on a lifetime of memories.

Nadolig Llawen

1,149 Marathons - 270 Ultras - 15 MDS - 9 GWR - 1 Life

Turning Japanese – The Vapors

'It wouldn't look too good imho'...

'I want a doctor to take your picture, so I can look at you from inside as well' - Fenton

Yes, it's nearly 29 years since I stubbed out my last B&H, and I won't wax on about the health benefits, only that I'm bloody ecstatic that I stopped smoking, as I have certainly made the most of quitting the 'Evil Weed' ever since. Back then, I would never had imagined that I would have run so many miles and had so many adventures within a new life 'Smoke free'.

In 1993, there was a simple choice to 'Smoke' or 'Not to Smoke'. A simple black and white choice with no half measures. Cut to 2022 and there‘s a new villain in town to rob you of your cash and potentially of your health - VAPING. As yet, the jury is out on the long-term risks, but I've a feeling there will be many health implications given time. Sure, the approx £3500-a-year saving from vaping instead of smoking 20 cigarettes-a-day provides a huge incentive to change ones smoking habits to vaping, however as vaping is seen as less of a health issue, the jump to smoking abstinence is seen by many as a 'good enough' attempt at a positive lifestyle change.

 

As a lifestyle coach, I find vaping bloody annoying and see it as manslaughter v murder in fitness terms. It’s like a spoonful of artificial sweetener on your porridge that won’t make you fat but is full of carcinogens that will kill you in the long run - again something I find bemusing. Vaping is simply something that's not needed, with the only winners being the businesses profiteering from the £1.325 billion vaping generates in the UK each year. 

 

Now, if you're a vaper or a smoker and you are reading this... January 1st is looming and it's a good day to start the rest of your life 'nicotine free'. Free of this nonsense. Nicotine addiction nonsense.

 

You see it’s the nicotine that really keeps you smoking. Nicotine reaches the brain within seconds and increases the release of brain chemicals called neurotransmitters, which help regulate mood and behaviour or so the science says. Dopamine, one of these neurotransmitters, is released in the centre of the brain, causing feelings of pleasure and improving the mood. And the more you smoke, the more nicotine you need to feel good. Nicotine quickly becomes part of your daily routine and intertwined with your habits and feelings. It's a ridiculous roundabout...

 

Smoking triggers include:- drinking coffee, taking breaks from work, talking on the phone, drinking alcohol, driving and spending time with friends. On the flip side I found running, and exercise provide a natural form of smoking cessation - try running 10km pretty hard and then think about smoking or vaping...it's more like puking!

 

Becoming more aware of your smoking triggers means that you can make plans to give up Vaping for good. It isn’t rocket science and living in ‘Vaping-Limbo-Land’ will never get you to becoming totally smoke-free. And becoming smoke-free is a great way to start 2023 where you have nothing to lose and everything to gain AND you’ll be one less person on my list each week, that I need to ask to stop vaping.

1,148 Marathons - 270 Ultras - 15 GWR - 9 MDS - 10,574 Days Smoke-Free

Zeros and Ones - Jesus Jones

Lyric:- 'There's more to this than anything that you or I can see, The world is mine the world is yours and here's the cause' - Edwards

Song Choice:- I think Mike Edwards, summed up our world perfectly in two simple sentences here, don't you? I like the fact that the World is too big to comprehend. I love it that actually we have an amazing chance to see it and exploit it for our own benefit, and then make our mark on it. We are all in control of our own destiny.

 

You see it all comes down to choices. Simple Yes or No – Zero or One decisions that we make a million times a day about everything and anything we ‘choose’ to do. Yes ‘choose’. We are victims of our own decisions. Some good some not so good. When it comes to looking after ourselves, I wonder what decisions you’ll be making today that will last or affect your lifetime. Sure, the odd biscuit, donut, cigarette, drunken night out won’t kill you but do it every week, every day or every time you fell pissed off, well it’s bad news – not today but for the future version of yourself.

 

Although it’s not news is it?  As we head towards the Christmas Break, with the best will in the world, it will be hard to resist the office party and resist the mince pies at the family yuletide gathering. However it is possible to be alcohol-free, go for a run or even eat salad without dressing. All you have  to do is make the right decision.  

 

And if you only gave it a chance like Mike says, you'd be a winner. Listen here.

1,148 Marathons - 270 Ultras - 15 Marathon des Sables - 9 Guinness World Records

Fight from the Inside - Queen

‘Ho-Ho-Ho – Merry Christmas Everyone’ or should I say, ‘My-oh-my – How the fuck am I going to survive Christmas’…

Yes, it’s the toughest time of the year for anyone cleaning up their lifestyle, and it can become a complete disaster if you are not careful as those around you do their best to undermine your inner resolve. They don’t necessarily do it on purpose either, they do it sometimes to enables themselves to over-indulge in the festive calorie bonanza. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m just the same as anyone else and enjoy a good Christmas Lunch – you’ll find me digging into turkey surrounded as many roast potatoes that my plate swimming in gravy will take, with the one ceremonial slice of carrot atop a sea of peas. I can taste it now - Yum yum…

 

The thing is, it’s just one meal and I’ll have a nice brew on hand to wash it down with rather that a beer, bottle of wine, champagne, port, brandy etc. because as you know booze ain’t my thing. It will probably be my only meal of the day and I will run on Christmas morning as it feels good to do something healthy on a day noted for being so unhealthy and self-indulgent.

 

People use being in company as a handy excuse to go wild with their diet and feel obligated to go with the flow. What I’ve discovered over the years with any such social occasion is that people worry more about what they are consuming to be too concerned with what you are. I’ve spoken to many this week that are quoting office parties, family gatherings etc. as obstacles to their success. However, it’s really easy to come up with a million excuses as to why one is not drinking or eating whatever. Try my favourite, ‘I have a problem with alcohol’ it normally quashes the fuss or ‘I’m on a diet – and I don’t want to be fat anymore’.

 

If you tell people, ‘WHY’ you are living the way you are and not doing some of your previous behavioural traits then that should be good enough to stop even the weakest of weak-willed people not to partake of the obligatory mince-pie or glass of mulled wine. The Christmas period is actually a time where you can strengthen your defence against these energy-vampires that simply don’t understand what you are trying to achieve and get you through the New Year into Dry January.

 

As I go into year twenty-nine, nearly half of my life now dry, I’m ever more convinced that being alcohol, smoke and fat free will deliver a much longer and happier life. You see I never feel like I’m missing out, I’m not missing anything. I’ve gained a whole new world of positive adventure that doesn’t revolve around thinking about the next meal.

 

Nadolig Llawen my friends and 2023 beckons – enjoy the taste of success, it lasts a lot longer than a glass of wine or a mince pie.

1,147 Marathons - 270 Ultras - 9 Guinness World Records - 15 Marathon des Sables

December Decision...

December is the Decider…

Personally, I’m not a big December fan. The shortened daylight days that don’t ever get light seem to put my ‘SAD’ into a right tailspin. However, December never fails to deliver – you see it delivers hope for a better year ahead and the Christmas break provides a well-earned break from the grindstone to reconsider the path one is taking in life.

 

I could wax on about New Year’s Resolutions, how mine saved my life blah, blah, blah but it really did and all I’d like to say is that I wish I’d taken that decision a whole lot sooner. I know it sounds a bit kinda fluffy but back in 1993/4 I felt I could use the New Year as a springboard to change my lifestyle by having different rules. The rules being to do ‘Less’ of or to ‘Stop’ a behavioural trait. Where folk go wrong with NYR is to say ‘Right I’m going to start going to the gym, learn a new hobby, practise mindfulness etc’ – which by the 5^th of January are just a dot in the New Year’s rear-view-mirror.

 

Now why my NYR was so successful, if you can measure success in such a way, was because it’s so easy NOT to do something. Easy being the action following a period of a tough decision followed by addiction withdrawal. I will admit that I had a go at a mid-year resolution in 1992 where I didn’t drink, smoke or eat unhealthy food successfully for six months but my mindset didn’t have the value perhaps that my NYR gave my ‘December Decision’ as I’ll now describe it.

 

You see my NYR of 1994 was really made in December ‘93 with the last cigarette being ceremoniously stubbed out on Boxing Day – a day when I took control as I was away from the workplace, where smoking went with the territory.  In my mind I thought I could be nine days into being nicotine-free before taking the alcohol-free lifestyle plunge that would be so alien to those that I’d surrounded myself with when I went back to work.

 

I knew that sticking out was going to be a problem but with a few days under my belt and already feeling a lot better both physically and mentally, I thought it would give me the best opportunity of kicking out a whole lot of necrotic kryptonite that was slowly eating away at my world. Twenty-nine years on and my ‘December Decision’ has brought you to reading this blog and if you are considering a similar journey in 2023 then please start making some plans as part of your ‘December Decision’ and hope it delivers you a similar level of satisfaction as mine has for me.

1,146 Marathons, 270 ULTRA-marathons, 9 Guinness World Records, 15 Marathon des Sables, 28 Years' Alcohol Free, 28 Years' Running Marathons

New World - RPWL

There are better places to be, with much better things to do - discover a fresh future 

ATM I have this overwhelming feeling of wanting to create a ‘New World’, not necessarily for me but for those around me that I coach. As I spend much of my time sharing in other people’s aspirations, expectations, and frustrations I’m more than ever convinced that all that’s needed to improve people’s outlook is to create an alternative ‘New World’. A ‘New World’ devoid of the white noise and corrosion of life that basically messes things up.

Easy for me to decree you might say and in reality, incredibly hard to put into practice - especially when it’s tough just getting through the day, let alone when you’re trying to initialise a ‘New World’ vision. Yet a ‘New World’ is there to be had. It’s actually right there in front of you. Waiting to be grasped with both hands. You just have to want it. And want it 100% - more than anything.

 

It’s personal. No-one can do it for you. You can’t buy it. You have to earn it. And when you’ve got it, you’ll find it easy to lose if you don’t cherish it. It’s a love-affair for life. A love affair like no other as the person you need to really love is yourself. I know it all sounds a bit fluffy, especially coming from me but hopefully one day you’ll take the plunge and find a ‘New World’ and when you find it, you’ll know where I’m coming from.

 

Amen.

1,145 Marathons - 270 ULTRAS - 15 MDS - 9 GWR - 1 Life

Time - The Pink Floyd

I was looking back at my blog to see what I was writing about ten years’ ago. And it made for some really interesting reading, well for me anyway, looking at what was important in my world in the Autumn of 2012.

Like most of the UK I’d enjoyed the London Summer Olympics and I was also enjoying the benefits of being in the 50+ age group where I felt I could maybe win some age category prizes. The blog's common theme back then was about my performance and training and what I was doing to make myself better - not a bad thing.

 

It was all about 'leading from the front' - a kind of this is what I’m doing, you should be doing it too approach. Only leading from the front, I now believe is fraught with issues, especially in my game. I notice it even in the simplest of ways. On client runs a half step behind instead of a step ahead makes a huge difference. I’ve witnessed so many people being ‘paced’ by someone in marathons, racing ahead shouting an encouraging ‘come on!’ in the knowledge that the person following is thinking ‘I wish you’d just shut the f@ck up and f@ck off’…

 

Sure, it’s good on my part to be out there practicing what I preach but ten years ago I was far more regimental in my coaching approach. Believing that A plus B plus C would Deliver. It did, but it could have delivered more.

 

In a blink of an eye for 2012 has become 2022 - well that’s how it feels. A decade in a moment, and yet so much happened. A busy ten years with a busy life, a busy wife, three very busy young children, a life-threatening disease and a mere 325 marathons. Well, that's the highlights package anyway.

 

In reality, it’s been a time where I’ve learned the most about myself but also about what makes other people tick. I realise it’s not a perfect world and that for most a long, happy and healthy life is all they are looking for - it’s that simple. And it's my job to make it happen. I get it now.

 

I’ll be interested to see what I’m writing about in 2032, if I’m still blogging or even still here. And, I hope it will be as interesting to look back at the next ten years and relive some of the life-events that made any day stand out enough to write about.

 

What life-story are you writing today?

1,145 Marathons - 270 Ultras - 9 Guinness World Records - 15 Marathon des Sables

Lost - Coldplay

It’s okay to be a bit lost…And I often say that to people. Having been lost on many occasions myself, I’ve been lucky enough to be able to find a new direction and head off on the next chapter.

I know it sounds far too fluffy and cuddly coming from me but during a period of personal transformation, there are times when it’s hard enough to know who you are, let alone where you are heading.

 

Setting course on a new life-phase should take great time and thought - yet far too often it doesn’t happen as it becomes far too easy to bob along and lose the most valuable years of life. The only place you get to, is the ‘Land of Regret’.

 

Now, if you are in need of a wake-up call, 2025 is just over a year away - 419 days to be precise (I checked) and yes if you think back to the year 2000 - well that’s just a dot in the rear-view mirror of life. And, if like me, you ask yourself ‘where in the fuck did all that go?’ I can tell you - it went in a flash! Believe me, the next twenty-five are going to do even faster.

 

So right now, if you are STILL feeling lost, it doesn’t matter as from this moment on you can reset your Sat Nav and start the next exciting life-journey you’ve always wanted. Why not make some plans, do something about yourself and head in a new direction, with a fresh spring in your step.

 

I mean, now you've found out you're lost, you could be onto a winner…

1,143 Marathons - 269 Ultras - 15 Marathon des Sables - 1 Direction

Desire - U2

A question I often ask, especially when I'm speaking to new clients is, ‘Just how much do you want it?’ More than often, their replies tell me - not enough. But then that could be down to the chosen goal. Sure, if someone wants to run the Marathon des Sables, and has invested their £4K, well the commitment has already been made. However, I find that men in particular post forty, that might have expanded waistlines and constricted arteries, are less so committed.

It’s as though they're 'weight-blind' and just want to pay for their unhealthy lifestyle to go away, wipe the slate clean and then carry on abusing themselves until another future detox is required. The sheer impudence of my suggesting that on current trend they could be leaving this world up to fifteen years early - is seen as an act of sheer brutality and uncalled for. But how else can a depth charge of this magnitude be discharged.

 

The truth is, it’s not really news to them - it’s an already known but there’s never a good day to pluck up the courage to make the changes that are needed.

 

Clean living in your 40’s will hopefully get you to 80 and beyond. Just six months of less booze, quality food and daily exercise can change the rest of what’s left of life into a much brighter future. It’s a simple choice to make. A flick of a switch, that can be made today. And then decide tomorrow to do the same and so on.

 

Believe me, it’s better than winning the lottery if you buy this ticket for life. My advice, if you are thinking about giving this a go, is to see what a new life can bring as I bet it’s better than the one it’s bringing you right now.

 

So here are two questions you could ask yourself:-

 

Q - How much do I want it?

Q - What is it that you are wanting anyway?

 

I'd love to know the answers...

1,143 Marathons - 269 Ultras - 15 Marathon des Sables - 9 Guinness World Records

Close to the Edge - Yes

As we head into the dark days of November and beyond, it may feel like there's not a lot to smile about right now. I know that I'm seasonally affected by the lack of daylight and I'm already yearning for the warm days of Spring '23 to brighten my mood - however until then I'm not going to get stressed about it. In fact, I've never really felt stressed about too many things in life and I did write about stress a couple of years ago when I outlined some thoughts on stress-management and how to deal with stress and it's negative implications. If you can engage with some of the ideals then you'll find that your stress levels might decrease. Here are some thoughts:-

First Pillar – Visualise Stress

Prioritise

Quote - ‘Prioritise and regain control’…

 

There’s a feeling of being overwhelmed by stress where anything however big or small becomes hugely and equally stressful. Making a list where everything is given a value out of ten helps prioritize where to direct energy and provides a positive feel-good feeling when tasks are completed. It also helps quieten the white noise that surrounds stress.

 

Second Pillar – Personal Development

Learn

Quote – ‘Learn to read your warning signs’…

 

Stress is a recurring emotion and has a high probability of producing a series of negative feelings and consequences. Being able to identify when things are starting to go wrong and taking a ‘time out’ for reflection and redirection can not only help rebuild a tricky situation but can provide a waymarked way to positivity.

 

Third Pillar – Handle Stress

Acceptance

Quote - ‘Accept change and adapt to the environment’…

 

When we are stressed, it feels like everything is going wrong but being open to change can reduce stress dramatically. The acceptance of change can provide an inner feeling of calm and provides a firm foundation for the future. The world we live in is currently going through a great time of uncertainty and being able to adapt to whatever changes come our way is vital.

 

Fourth Pillar - Motivate

New

Quote – ‘New patterns of behaviour don’t happen overnight’…

 

There’s no miracle cure for stress. What we do have is time to engage a new method of stress-management and coping as new thought processes and behaviours take time to build. It doesn’t happen overnight but every day is a step towards a brighter future. Prioritising our thoughts, learning how stress affects us and accepting of our predicament will help deliver a new and hopefully less-stressed future.

Let's face it, atm there are enormous stresses in most areas of our lives - being able to acknowledge them and act accordingly is the key and as I said this morning in my quote box, knowing where the limit is vital to success.

1,142 Marathons - 269 Ultras - 15 Marathon des Sables - 9 Guinness World Records

Post Traumatic Race Disorder

PTRD - I’m serious and I believe it’s a definite condition that people can feel following a running adventure. Please understand that I’m not belittling PTSD in any way, but the symptoms have a similarity. Prolonged exposure to multi-day marathons, be it in the desert or on the road, can lead to disturbing feelings of being lost, depressed and can alter the way that a person behaves - the symptoms lasting months after the event.

I can remember returning from the Marathon des Sables for the first time in 1999 feeling shell-shocked by what I’d experienced. It wasn’t a negative feeling at the time as I’d had an amazing ‘out-of-body’ experience or rather ‘out-of-normal-life’ experience. You see the race came at a time of change for me and opened my eyes to an unknown world of adventure. On my return, I felt lost with an overriding feeling of confusion. I couldn’t explain to those around me what I’d experienced, and it was the early days of email and before social media, so there was little connectivity with those that had been there with me. It made me start questioning everything I’d surrounded myself with in life. Relationships, career, even functioning. My brain started to question why simple things such as using a pedestrian crossing on a busy high street was needed, when in the desert such things were unheard of. I spent many minutes looking the lights and the crossing button as I remember.

 

I'd found out the hard way that life is far too complicated.

 

I experienced the same feelings following my forty-three days on the road to Lisbon from London in ‘04 and also following my 28marathons in 28 days for Stoptober in ’13. Following both adventures, and with the MDS in mind, I carefully detrained and detoxed myself back to some kind of normality. In more recent times, I’ve met people undertaking similar feats and warned them of the dangers of PTRD and how post experience the things they were trying to escape and the life-problems they’d stacked up would be there to run into on their return. It happens…

 

My cure has always been to sign up for the next big adventure so that I get the same euphoric feelings that running twenty-six point two or more can only bring. For those in Team Coleman that were with me at ULTRA-X Jordan earlier this month, I wouldn’t be surprised if they had some or all of the above feelings. It’s only natural. Within my group I know that there are feelings of being lost and some are some are still feeling broken but there are also those that feel empowered and ready for the next challengeafter righting the world they left post desert-retreat. Let’s face it, there’s a lot of time to process things in the desert, especially without any connectivity to the ‘outside world’.

 

That’s the ‘outside world’ which is full of life’s white noise, distraction and nonsense that masks the basic needs of existencecomplicated. For anyone planning their next adventure my advice is always to consider what you are going to do with what you learn from the journey pre-event, and how the lessons learned during the event will be distilled and filtered back into normal day-to-day life – as well as how are you going to deal with a good old helping of PTRD.

1.142 Marathons - 269 Ultras - 9 GWR - 15 Marathon des Sables - 2 ULTRA-X Jordan

The Price of Love - Bryan Ferry

After a fabulous week in the Wadi Rum desert with Team Coleman running the 250km ULTRA-X Jordan, one of my team members reminded me of a blog I’d written a couple of years ago that had helped her through the darks times that she’d experienced. Reading it back on the plane it resonated with me again as all I could feel was love. Love for those that had been with me in the desert, sharing the highs and lows of the desert and love for the people back home that were looking forward to seeing me, just as much as I was them. Anyway, here’s what was written in August ’20. 

‘A debt you pay with tears and pain’ - Ferry

 

I think we’ve all paid the price of love and have given our all trying to find it. The return - a lifetime of heartache, tears and pain. Our investment into relationships with other people is without question. My question to you is how much have you ever invested in yourself? I mean, how much value do you give yourself?

 

It’s a question well worth asking, although if you are low on confidence and self-esteem, the answer is no doubt - not a lot. It’s really sad as a lot of the folk I meet feel worthless. If they were a product on the BBC Dragon’s Den Programme and they were a Dragon - well they wouldn’t invest. 

 

Yet we are all worth self-investment. I mean what’s the point in living if you are not prepared to invest time, energy and money into the person in your world that probably needs it the most - namely YOU.

 

It’s strange how people lose their self-value. Take my weightloss clients for example - weight-gain isn’t an overnight market gain - it’s the result of people spending more time spinning plates simply getting through life, holding down a job, bringing up a family and maintaining their friendships. Time and energy spent externally with nothing left in the bank for self-investment.

 

A permanent state of overdraft with no sign of ever getting back into credit.

 

And okay there’s no magic overnight life-overdraft fix, yet time and time again people do regain their self-esteem, lose weight, potentially extend their lives and have a much richer life for a mere 22.8p a day. You see, I did a bit of ‘Coleman-Calculating’ and if working with me for five months yields an extra fifteen years’ of life - it’s a better return than Bitcoin.

 

So, what’s there to lose apart from unhealthy lifestyle and a relatively small amount of money. Nothing. In fact, it’s like winning the lottery every single day of one’s life, for the rest of one’s life. Health, pride, self-esteem, self-value, confidence, improved relationships with family, colleagues, friends, food and alcohol await those that are willing to pay the price of ‘change’. I can’t promise ‘love’ but it must improve even the chances of that, so why not invest some time in yourself today.

1,142 Marathons - 269 Ultras - 15 Marathon des Sables - 2 ULTRA-X Jordan - 9 GWR

Shine on you Crazy Diamond - The Pink Floyd

Personal bests and great performances don’t just happen, they are made to happen. They’re engineered by training, commitment and personal investment. However, being in the right mental state as race day approaches is the real deal maker/breaker, as I know only so well and that’s what I’m going to write about in this edition of my blog. 

Having run a few races myself, I’ve experienced the highs and lows of being mentally engaged with the many challenges that I’ve attempted and completed.

And as the first weekend of October is quickly approaching and many of my clients are racing in marathons at Chester and London – plus I have a 12-strong-team racing with me at the 250km Multi-Stage ULTRA-X in Jordan - I wonder what’s going through their minds with less than seven days to go to race day? 

As their coach, I have a good idea of how much physical effort they've put in and I believe all of them have done enough to finish their particular races. How well they will perform? Well, that’s another question. For some, just completing the distance will be a Personal Best. For others, a 3:30:00 marathon result will be a sad face whereas a 3:29:59 will be a big smiley emoji for those chasing that time.

Over all my years of racing, I’ve found the last week before the race is the best time to start thinking about what lay ahead and the goal I was trying to achieve. At the height of my running back in '99 it would have been impossible to have remained at such a heightened state of alert for 52 weeks of that year but there were certainly races where I distilled the basics of why I was there and what I was trying to achieve, rather than just adding another marathon to my email signature.

Sure, there were marathons I entered which I never thought would be some of my quicker times (Mablethorpe Marathon comes to mind) but the races that I’m most proud of are those where I’ve invested time in getting to the start line rested, with a clear understanding of the race and with life nicely balanced. And when I say rested, I don’t mean for the night before but for the week leading up to the race with lots of extra zzz’s packed in and a Saturday spent doing very little on a settee.

Now, if you are running the London Marathon, learn the route – learn the landmarks – learn the highlights. It passes the time and provides a framework for your race plan. And if you are away with me in Jordan, make sure that while you are away that everything back home is covered. Peace of mind really helps. Make sure the Mortgage is covered, Car and Home Insurance is in place, your Out of Office is on and your nearest and dearest know what not to expect from you when you are away as there is no 'phone a friend' option where we are going in the sand.

I find the races are difficult enough without any added ‘worry-factor’. On Jen’s recent racing in Italy, we both found pre-race facetiming upsetting for the whole family and agreed that a few simple texts of our continued love and affection for each other was the only information we both needed. Seeing it from a 'Back Home' point of view helped. Going with the 'if something terrible has happened theory', there's nothing you can do when you are away and there's always time when you are back to sort it out when you are back is my approach.

The key to success is to think about the investment you’ve made both physically and mentally and to think back at how you felt when you entered the race. Excited is the first one that comes to my mind. On race day, listening to tunes and excluding the vampires will also help you concentrate on getting the biggest bang for your buck and of course, feel free to enjoy the whole race experience because it’s a real privilege to take part in any race as later years you’ll look back and be glad you gave your anything and everything if you know what I mean.

Rest - Race hard - Reflect :-)

1,136 Marathons - 264 Ultras - 9 Guinness World Records - 15 MDS

F.E.A.R - Ian Brown

We’re often told that it’s okay to be ‘afraid’. Hmm much better than being totally shit-scared IMHO. But how do we let being afraid (aka defeat and failure) in at the precise moment whe things are getting tough - and if anything at a time when we need to try even harder? Sure, being afraid is very natural. Fear is part of our personal defence mechanism that makes us careful and highlights danger. It’s a feeling that can range from a slightly raised heartrate through to a full-on panic attack. I know from my own experiences what that’s like and I’m sure you do too.

Are we more afraid of the ‘Unknown’ or the ‘Known’ or is feeling of being ‘afraid’ actually a learned response of our past?

 

In our childhood, the majority of our learning comes from teachers, parents, other relatives, mentors, etc. add to it years of life experience and it’s not surprising we all have our phobias. For instance, I know I’m afraid to go near a viscious snarling dog but then again, I’m afraid of any dog as I was scared by one when I was just four years old. It’s a memory that I’ve have carried with me for 56 years. The feeling of being petrified, lives within me but buried in a place that doesn’t keep me awake at night but immediately sets my hackles up when any dog of any size approaches.

 

That ‘One-Shot Trauma’ of a moment, a lifetime ago shaped my future. And being an all or nothing kinda person there’s nothing I can do now or in fact want to do to correct it. It’s just too long ago. Has it ruined my life? Hell-no and it’s only a mild illustration of a childhood event that subconsciously effects how I react today.

 

How we deal with the feeling of being afraid, makes us stronger. It shapes how we feel in different situations. For instance, I probably have more to fear in running ULTRA-X Jordan in three weeks’ time, than those that are there for the first time. Having completed the race last year, I know what’s in store for me in the race and TBH, I’m more afraid of getting on the plane than I am the race right now. Sure, it’s going to be super-tough, super-sandy but hopefully also super-exciting.

 

And whatever it is, I’ll adapt to the situation as there’s no point in worrying or being afraid as there’s twenty valuable days of life to live before then.

1,136 marathons - 264 Ultras - 15 Marathon des Sables - 9 GWR - 1 ULTRA-X Jordan