Why Bother...

Every day we undertake a huge number of personal tasks and challenges that we call ‘Life’. We are living that ‘Life’ as a result of those options and choices that we believed were the right at that particular moment in time. In other words, ‘We have no-one to blame but ourselves’…I think it’s just far too easy to say ‘Poor old me’…

At 60 years of age, I am in a much wiser position now and looking in my rear-view mirror, I can say quite that by the time I was 31, I had created a huge mess that was not only challenging me mentally but physically too. So on 5^th Jan 1994, I decided to make some changes, massive change in fact and ‘getting fit’ became a great foundation to build a ‘New Life’ and a ‘New Rory’.

I know personally that it’s a huge step to stop drinking, smoking or over-eating. I now see these as being really negative actions and these were replaced by a far greater challenge of a marathon back in 1994. It only took me six months to reverse my very poor levels of fitness and I enjoyed the elation of crossing the finishing line so much, that some 27 years later, I have completed over 1100 marathons.

I’m not saying that you have to run 26.2 miles, be an Ironman Triathlete, a bodybuilder or a latter-day Saint but whatever life choices you make in the future, be it starting a new job, a new relationship or over-coming an illness or accident – fitness REALLY helps.

Running Morocco’s Marathon-des-Sables, a 156 mile multi-day ULTRA-marathon has provided me with amazing life adventures and introduced me to some very inspiration people, one such person being Personal Trainer, Wanda Summers.

When I heard of her accident, I felt very sad for her as I knew that fitness played a huge part in her life. But Wanda, saw hope in her desperate situation and her determination and importantly, her fitness enabled her miraculously to get back on her feet and back doing what she loves best. I remember that during her six months of enforced bed rest, she contacted ME to encourage me in what I was doing rather than hiding herself away in self-pity. It helped get me through my own journey with Guillain-Barre Syndrome some years’ later.

Hopefully, you can see from our two life journeys that really positive things can come out of some very dark places and situations… I know for one that I am far from perfect but I was lucky enough to be able to make positive changes to my behaviour that have given me huge satisfaction and a career where I can now help other people to reach their own fitness and life goals.

It’s far too easy to say, ‘Why bother?’… but actually, you need to. And if you do, you will be pleased you did… believe me. 

My dream is to keep doing what I’m doing now and keep having amazing life-adventures… and I will. 

What’s your dream as I’d love to know?

1.122 Marathons - 261 Ultras - 15 Marathon des Sables - 9 Guinness World Records

Speed King - Deep Purple

I checked with my new and fabulous Garmin Fenix 7 watch what was required of me for today’s suggested exercise routine - as after just a couple of weeks, I’m finding it a most useful partner in my quest for a sub-4-hour-marathon post Guillain-Barre Syndrome. HOWEVER, I was somewhat amazed that it was suggesting a 45-minute workout which included three seven-minute bursts at 8:15 pace.

Hmm – With legs still a little bit broken from the weekend’s fast 10km and yesterday’s morning run of nearly 10 miles with young Matt Wintle – I knew that wasn’t going to happen. Also, as you know, I’m not very good at being told what to do so instead, I made up my own interval session, which might be worth having a go at yourself if you are looking for a bit of a different intervals’ solution.

 

So, on a 1km loop from my front door in King’s Road on a pavement littered with dustbins, I started off with a creaky first lap at 10:30 min mile pace. On completion and back passing my front gate, I hit the lap button on my watch and went into my parkrun pace of 8:30 min mile pace and picked up the pace. The lap whizzed by and before I knew it, I was back and into a recovery lap back at the 10:30 pace.

 

It took just over 40 minutes to run four laps at 10:30 pace interspersed with three 8:30 pace efforts – in reality, just what the Fenix 7 had prescribed! 

 

You can see by my times that I was pretty consistent, but I did find it hard to run at 10:30 pace after the effort on occasions. The training effect was 3.5 Aerobic with 0.0 Anaerobic but it did up my V02 Max from 48-49 which I’m pleased with, and average HR was 139.

 

It was actually really enjoyable and I’m going to try a couple more laps next time – check me out…

 

Anyway, have a go and see what you think for yourself, especially if you are trying to speed up and can’t bear the thought of a Coleman Power Hour.

1.122 Marathon - 261 Ultras - 9 Guinness World Records - 15 Marathon des Sables

Thought for the Day - 7

What’s life without Adventure? Well, it’s dull. Very dull in my experience. I mean, what’s the point in living out dreary old days, glued to a screen and a keyboard, when there’s a whole world of adventure out there to go and experience? I see life as an experience, which lasts a lifetime. 

A lifetime where I’m endeavouring to get as much value-for-money as humanly possible, so when I look back in years to come there are very few what if’s and if only’s.

As we head into the second half of February with over 13% of 2022 already spent, isn’t it time to start planning some new ‘Adventures’? It’s at the top of my priority list today as like you, I’m in need of some fresh goals and focus for the year ahead. The beauty is that a blank canvas awaits us, there are no boundaries, no rules and anything’s possible – believe me.

 

So, take a deep breath, let’s take the plunge and dive into our next adventures – what’s yours going to be?

1.122 Marathons - 261 ULTRAS - 15 Marathon des Sables - 1 Big Life Adventure

Thought for the Day - 6

We are often only one step away from the success we so desire. So close – yet no cigar. A small leap of faith. What is it that stops us from completing our goals? Joining up the dots? Being that starter completer? 

Imagine being just one metre away from the finish line of a marathon – 42,194 metres completed and just one step away from the finishing line. I’ve never heard of anyone giving up in the last metre of a marathon, have you? For that matter, the final km sees very few victims fall victim to the energy vampire of ‘defeat’. So why do we give in when there’s even further to go?

 

If you’ve done the training and a flexible positive mindset that can adapt and overcome anything that’s thrown your way – you become invincible. 

 

So as we head into another week of fresh starts, have in mind how far you’ve got to go to succeed, proceed in a full strength of mind and perhaps enjoy the final steps that only success delivers.

1.121 Marathons - 261 ULTRAS - 15 Marathon des Sables - 9 GWR - 1 Positive Mindset

Thought for the Day - 5

You’ve probably heard the saying - ‘You can’t see the woods for the trees’ and know it refers to the state of being so stuck in the detail that you don’t see the big picture. Maybe it’s symptom of the pandemic but I’m encountering this situation time and time again with my clients as they simply not seeing the ‘magic eye picture’. 

Taking a step back and being brutally honest with yourself in any situation works wonders, so be honest with yourself today, look up and open your eyes to the blindingly obvious.

There’s a whole big world out there that’s passing you by…

1.121 Marathons - 261 Ultras - 15 MDS - 9 Guinness World Records

Thought for the Day - 4

Nowadays, everyone has a voice. In fact, there are so many voices out there that it’s hard to work out which one to listen to in all the din. The Internet and Social-Media have sadly provided a platform for any Tom, Dick or Harriet to deliver propaganda to anyone daft enough to tune in. Mildly ironic and ‘very pot calling kettle’ in my case in doing just that on here BUT at least I’m very happy to turn down the volume and listen to the only voice that really matters in my world – my own.

Try a day wearing earplugs and enjoy the ‘Sound of Silence’… you might just enjoy it.

1.121 Marathons - 261 Ultras - 9 Guinness World Records - 15 MDS - 1 Voice

Thought for the Day - 3

We blame our predicament on anything, anyone or everything - yet seldomly ourselves. Asking whom to blame is always one of my first questions when I meet new clients with a follow up being ‘And what are you going to do, to straighten things out?’ 

As we head into the first weekend of February 2022 with Spring just around the corner, take a moment and consider tackling the lifetime mess you’ve created and start living life in a less chaotic, simpler way.

1.020 Marathons - 261 Ultras - 9 Guinness World Records - 15 Marathon des Sables

Thought for the Day - 2

The most iconic footprint ever?

Yesterday, I was asked what my ‘legacy’ might read. And funnily enough it wasn’t a five-minute chat and turned into more of an exploration of thought and a journey of self-realisation. In the future I will write at length about how I see my footprint on planet earth being preserved but in the meantime, take a moment or ten and consider your own legacy and how folk will remember you in the future.

1.120 MArathons - 261 Ultras - 9 Guinness World Records - 15 Marathon des Sables

Thought for the Day - 1

We spend so much of our time thinking about what we are NOT good at, we often overlook what we ARE good at. Not being one to hide my light under a bushel I’m always happy to let people know what my values and strengths are but most folk are less so inclined. There’s something so quiescently British about not broadcasting our success.

Well, here’s a simple opportunity to come clean and shout out loud about what makes amazing as being good isn’t good enough!

Be AMAZING today :-)

1120 Marathons - 261 ULTRAS - 9 Guinness World Records - 15 Marathon des Sables