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