Change your Mind - The Horrors

'Mindset' is a concept that's been around since the early 1900's, according to Wiki. It's a word that's become part of my daily vocabulary when speaking with clients and I thought I'd investigate the philosophy behind the terms 'Fixed' and 'Growth' Mindsets, as I try and evaluate my own 'Mindset' traits.

However, I'm a bit confused to which 'Mindset' set I belong to. You see, I believe I'm in the intersecting part of a 'Venn Diagram of ‘Fixed’ and Growth Mindset' where the two circles intersect, if that makes sense.

To help clarify things, I looked to the expert in the 'Mindset' field - Professor Carol Dweck. Her primary research is in motivation, personality and development and speaks volumes - if I had the right 'Growth' Mindset, I could read all about it in her 2006 book 'Mindset: The New Psychology of Success' but as a ‘Fixed’ Mindset non-reader, I was a bit at a loss but luckily Wiki helped again...

Dweck states that there are two categories (Growth Mindset versus Fixed Mindset) that can group individuals based on their behaviour, specifically their reaction to failure. Those with a 'Fixed Mindset' believe that abilities are mostly innate and interpret failure as the lack of necessary basic abilities, while those with a ‘Growth Mindset’ believe that they can acquire any given ability provided they invest effort or study. Dweck argues that the ‘Growth Mindset’ will allow a person to live a less stressful and more successful life'.

Now, as soon as I see 'Failure', I immediately identify with the ‘Fixed Mindset” character trait as the 'F' word (Failure not ****) is like Kryptonite to my inner soul. Yet my ‘Mindset’ isn’t so myopic that I don’t believe that investing effort and study won’t bring results – well apart from swimming or triathlon as my mindset has been ‘Fixed’ by having the same buoyancy qualities as a house-brick. But then again, I’m pretty much stress-free and have had enjoyed many successes over the years which swings me back into the ‘Growth Mindset’ group.

So you can see why I’m confused. Or perhaps it’s how we like to label people nowadays and maybe I’m just someone that you can’t label. Or group, or even want to group. And maybe you are the same? No-one needs to be anything really – you just need to know who you are, where you are going and what’s needed to get you there.

And that’s all that matters…

1,044 Marathons, 244 Ultras, 9 Guinness World Records & 15 Marathon des Sables

Overnight Success - The Pointer Sisters

Success really doesn’t come in pill form. 

One of my clients (We’ll call him John Evers) suggested that I should join a few weight-loss Facebook Groups and surreptitiously spread the gospel of ULTRAdiet to the dieting masses. On being accepted into one such group with 844,000 members (Promising I thought) I was instantly informed that posts promoting my services or products would instantly be removed and blocked but to my amazement, most of the posts were just that - even though they were ‘approved’ first by the group admin advertised weight-loss pills and guava leave products that could not only help with weight-loss but could cure any ailment from diarrhoea to bowel cancer were all over it.

Other posts were mainly from women looking for fast ways of losing weight, for an upcoming event, or the simple desire for a flatter stomach. None I saw mentioned how they actually ‘felt’ about being overweight and how they were mentally going to change. Sure, there were folk showing amazing weight-loss transformations but in reality, these most were attempts ‘under the radar’ to promote instant weight-loss and more guava products. There were very few 'Lifestyle Makeovers' like the ones I help create.

Sure there were a few tougher ‘Coleman’ type messages saying, ‘Eat less and exercise more’ but these were less prominent against those demanding ‘Instant Fixes’. 

Before leaving the group, I did post some encouraging words that would hopefully help people see a brighter future rather than just another quick fix and left wiser but sadly no richer.

If only I could bottle ULTRAdiet John, and sell it in pill form...

1,039 Marathons - 25 Years' of Sobriety - 3 Years post Guillain-Barre Syndrome

Undertow...

How many times a day are we told to ‘Live it like it was our last’? Now, I’m not knocking such well-intended messages - I’m probably one of the biggest broadcasters of such posts on social-media and the like, but let’s face it, in reality most people don’t believe they are anywhere near living-out their final day. 

Most folk believe they have a long and healthy life ahead of them, which is a great attitude, (possibly a little naïve) as we all know all good things come to an end but chose to ignore them. On listening to ‘Undertow’ from the 1978 Genesis Album, ‘And then there were three’ some of the Tony Banks lyrics struck a chord. And Okay, they are a bit cheesy but he’s right when he questions it being that last day…

Tell me, what do you think you would do then?

I mean, just what do YOU do? Look back and have regrets? Say a few if only’s or sift through the ups and downs of life and be satisfied that you'd made the most of it and had experienced and achieved all the things that really mattered – not those that you could have bought. Let's face it, there's not a lot of looking forward - Banks continues…

Let me live again, let life come find me wanting...

A bucket of hindsight goes a long way and I believe folk would do half of the things they did second time around, twice as well, if they could. Without the distraction, consider just how different your life could have been. 

In ten years time, imagine what you’ll be saying about the 3,652 days that lie ahead of you. What will you be saying then as these days turn into years and, still no tomorrow appears?

Change today and start living as we never know when it's our last but we do know tomorrow never comes...

1,039 Marathons - 25 Years' of Sobriety - 3 Years post Guillain-Barre Syndrome

Marathon Man runs to RunFestRun

Press Release - 29th May 2019

RunFestRun is the nation’s newest and biggest running party, hosted by Chris Evans and Vassos Alexander at Wiltshire’s beautiful Bowood House and Gardens. When Marathon Man, Rory Coleman, was asked to take part, he knew there was only one thing to do… run there!

Having completed over 1,000 marathons and 250 ULTRA-marathons, Rory is well-known amongst the running community for his extreme running exploits. He will be one of the inspirational speakers taking part at the event alongside Paula Radcliffe, Steve Cram and Jo Pavey. 

He aims to inspire people new to running and healthier living and show them what’s possible by putting on a pair of trainers and going for a run.Back in 1994, Rory did just that and has never looked back having used running as a therapy and a framework for life. Over the last 25 years, he’s experienced some amazing adventures and coached many celebrities to do the same. He now uses that knowledge and experience to help others enjoy and achieve their goals and dreams through running and fitness.

Rather than driving to the festival, Rory will be running the 100km (62.1 miles) from his home in Cardiff to the RunFestRun venue where he plans to inspire a new generation of runners. This is a particularly impressive feat given the fact that Rory was paralysed from the neck down only three years ago following the contraction of Guillian-Barre Syndrome (‘GBS’), a rare and debilitating neurological disorder that affects 600 people/year in the UK.

‘I’m really looking forward to my run to RunFestRun,’ said Rory, ‘it’s something I could only have dreamed about three years ago when I was recovering from GBS and I hope my run will inspire lots of people to get into running and come to the Festival’.

Tickets can still be purchased online and Rory is speaking at 3pm on Saturday 1^stJune in the Inspiration Tent.

Call Rory Coleman for comment on 07866 477051 or email rory@rorycoleman.co.uk

Ends.

1,037 Marathons - 250 Marathons - 9 Guinness World Records - 15 Marathon des Sables

One Small Day - Ultravox

'And live a life the way it's meant to be' - URE

Things will change when you change. Sounds kinda corny doesn’t it? But it’s true. You see, I believe folk expect the world around them to magically change for the better of its own doing - like some kind of magical lottery win where suddenly everything is perfect, all the planets are lined up and the hurty-pain of life disappears and forever.

‘Dream on’, I say as it will never happen - especially if YOU are not prepared to change.

How do YOU go about making the changes that will ease the pressure and lighten your load? Well that’s not so easy - and if it was, life would already be rosy wouldn’t it? If you are in a dark place right now and think that the world is against you, why not take a more pragmatic view of where you find yourself and how you are perceived as it’s easy to say that it’s not your fault and that you are a mere victim of circumstances. Are you blinkered like that?

Let’s break it into three parts. Honesty, De-Cluttering and Direction.

I mean, are you really being honest to yourself? Being self-critical at a time when others are criticizing you might be the last thing you want to take on-board but do the people you’ve surrounded yourself have a point when they highlight your failings. Do you still feel as driven in the career you once loved, since a fresh hierarchy has invaded your work-domain and dented your pride - maybe they have a point? They are probably being Honest. Everyone will say they want ‘Feedback’ but in reality, we all prefer ‘Praise’. I know it’s hard, been there - taken ‘Feedback’ on the chin – softened my message and got the T-Shirt. Take a long hard look, what do you really see?

Clutter. 

That’s what I see in other peoples’ worlds - and I see more worlds than most I believe. So much clutter in fact that it suffocates all the good that lies beneath. You see, we are a nation of hoarders both mental and physical. For instance, I’m just as bad as the next man as I’m not sure if I’ll ever wear my school cap I had when I was 11 again. It lives on in my wardrobe having escaped a trip to the tip on numerous occasions most recently when we moved.  It’s been there for shelf for 45 years’ hoping for an outing but in truth never will - it’s just baggage. Why do we hold onto so many things that are simply useless? Why do we hold onto so many thoughts that are just as useless? Take a trip to the tip - the Memory Tip. Get rid of things that just don’t matter anymore. Move on.

And only when you’ve been honest and de-cluttered, real changes - the changes you are so desperate to make, will start to happen. Success isn’t measured by possessions or wealth; it’s measured by happiness - becoming and being the person that you know is within you, surrounded by the people you really want to be with.

In my own experience, the journey was possibly the most enjoyable part of my life-change. De-cluttering the present and mapping out a fresh and brighter future is amazingly empowering. I felt euphoric and finally back in control of my own destiny. How are you on  Honesty, De-Cluttering and Direction right now? 

1,036 Marathons, 250 ULTRAS, 9 Guinness World Records, 15 Marathon des Sables

One Slip - The Pink Floyd

I just hate it when people give up, especially when just the tiniest of things go wrong and cloud the day – it’s something that really upsets me. I hope the folk chasing their goals that ‘give up’ find it just as upsetting. You see, it’s been a right dichotomy of a week. I found Sunday’s London Marathon totally uplifting. The whole experience boosted my thoughts on being the best version of oneself. 

Seeing so many of my clients’ surpass their race-predictions underlined what can be achieved with hard work and devotion to task. Tuesday’s ULTRAdieters results added more faith as I added more names to my ‘Two Stones+ Lost Club’ – it made me feel super-proud.

Sadly though, it’s not a perfect world and however heartening all the above is – it’s the folk that I see ‘give up’ that I want to help the most. If you’ve been following my daily ‘Quote Boxes’ you will have probably noticed the theme.

‘One slip and down the hole we fall’… my favourite. In fact, the 1987 ‘One Slip’ track by The Pink Floyd, has some brilliant lyrics that underline how I feel about one tiny upset ruining the ‘Big Picture’ journey. A bit like how I am with the folk I work with that momentarily lose their way.

I can think of many instances in my life where it would have been far too easy to have given up when faced with both major and minor obstacles either to circumnavigate or simply take on the chin. I can also think about the times I have ‘given up’ and the common theme perhaps is that I just wasn’t committed enough in the first place or had the required appetite for success.

I mean, why say you are going to do something, if you don’t even believe you will yourself.

Okay, there are many people who start full of good intentions and It made me wonder for instance how many ‘Only went once’ gym memberships there have ever been or alternatively how many running careers have lasted just one ‘Park-Run’. It’s such a shame when success and happiness is only a matter of weeks away for most. 

In 12-weeks, it’s possible to lose a lot of weight and take 30-minutes off your marathon PB – To change one’s whole outlook on life.

 ‘A Momentary Lapse of Reason’ is all it takes to make it turn to dust – However ‘A Moment of Reason’ is all it takes to make it happen. Start making it happen today.

1,036 Marathons, 250 Ultras, 9 Guinness World Records & 15 Marathon des Sables

Head Full of Dreams - Coldplay

Lyrics:- 'You can see the change you want, to be what you want to be' - Berryman, Buckland, Champion & Martin

Song Choice:- Well Coldplay surpassed all of my expectations and probably those of the all the 70,000 people crammed into every inch of the ‘Principality Stadium’ in Cardiff I’d say, last night. Yikes, how concerts have moved on in the last few years and this easily overshadowed my hallowed memories of seeing INXS and U2 in the 90's as the sound, lights and colours were so electric, as was lead-man Chris Martin – He simply gave it 100% and his enthusiasm throughout was totally infectious.

This being the last concert in the UK, (for ‘some time’ he said on a couple of occasions), did make it feel like a 'Chapter' was being closed for the band and a ‘New Dream’ was possibly being developed as the performance and stage-management would be hard to surpass - it's as bigger show as you'd now ever get. The whole flashing wristband that co-ordinated with the songs lit up the stands in a way I’d never seen before in any arena.

So how one would go about changing at that level? Well I’ll never know but maybe every change process jumps through a similar number of hoops when we want to make things happen.

In my experience, I like to get things straight in my mind first. Get some real clarity about what I’m trying to do and how I’m going to do it. Having a clear mental picture of me completing the task in hand makes a huge incentive.  With perfect 20-20 vision on where I’m going, I find I can get my foot hard to the floor and drive-on ‘Goal-Bound’ free of distraction at speed. The only drawback with my method is that it takes a lot of time and patience to get things perfectly lined up, ready for action.

Seeing ‘The CHANGE you want’ through ‘The Fog of Life’, well there’s the rub but isn't so hard perhaps once you get to grips with where you are going next, once you know where that is.

At the end of the day – It’s your life and your journey, no one else’s... So 'Live' the Dream don't just leave them in your head eh?

Amen.

Rory Coleman - 995 Marathons - 244 Ultras - 14 Marathon des Sables

9 Guinness World Records - 8,590 Days' Alcohol Free - 436 Days' post GBS

& 1 Inspirational Running Memoir

Location: Caerdydd, Cymru

Turn No More - Public Service Broadcasting (featuring James Dean Bradfield)

Lyrics:- 'Stand Firm' - Producer J Willgoose Esq.

Song Choice:- I'm loving getting to grips with PSB's latest 'Concept Album', Every Valley. The album's story depicts the history of the mining industry in Wales but more specifically chronicles the rise and decline of the country's coal industry. 

Mining in Wales provided a significant source of income to the economy of the country throughout the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries being key to the Industrial Revolution. Wales was famous the world over for its coal mining and Welsh Coal was said to burn at a higher temperature and brighter than any other coal. By 1913 for instance, Barry had become the largest coal exporting port in the world, which is some accolade and a far cry from it's now Gavin and Stacey fame.

The above track, 'Turn no more' features the 'The Manic Street Preachers' James Dean Bradfield on vocals  whom I often say 'Hello' to at 'Cafe Castan' in Llandaff Fields near my home - His voice compliments PSB’s unique blend of ‘Art Rock’ and film archives of years’ gone by and instantly got my hair standing on end on the very first listen and hitting the replay button instantly. Next time I see him, I’ll let him know just how much I love this song already and I'm looking forward to hearing it live on their tour which lands in Caerdydd in October.

Anyway, it’s the ‘Stand Firm’ lyric that I’m interested in for today’s blog as it’s easy to do any new regime for a day, a few days or even a week – Keeping it going for a month and then on past three – a whole new ball game.

Some ways of making it happen are to have some words to accompany the process:-

• Stand Firm
• Endurance
• Durability.

Well, they are mine... These are the focus for me as I march on towards my sub-4 marathon goal and dream of full recovery from the Guillain–Barré Syndrome. I'm not daft as I know that these goals won't happen overnight but with the above words in place it will make me sharpen my focus and keep me out there bashing out the miles and enjoying getting to grips with ‘Standing Firm’.

What three words would you choose?

Amen

Rory Coleman - 995 Marathons - 244 Ultras - 14 Marathon des Sables

9 Guinness World Records - 8,585 Days' Alcohol Free - 433 Days' post GBS

& 1 Inspirational Running Memoir - Get your copy here.

Location: Caerdydd, Cymru

Let there be Love - Simple Minds

Building 'Love'...

Lyrics:- 'It heals and it hurts' - Kerr & Burchill

Song Choice:- Released in 1991 this is a great track from Simple Minds and is typical of their stadium years. I'd say that they were a much better band at the time than U2 but some how they went into a decline soon after this track, whereas U2 weathered the storm and went onto even greater chart and album success - it's a real shame IMO. Then again, I'm sure Jim Kerr and Charlie Burchill won't be losing much sleep over it tonight as they would certainly have made their fortune well before this release.

Anyway, I love the lyrics... and perfect for today as I LOVE Tuesday's.  They are always full of fun in my world as I get so many 'Messages of Success' from clients announcing their 'Weight-loss' and 'Power-Hour Triumphs' on Messenger, Facebook, What’s App and Text. My iPhone was red-hot this morning and that's without a fresh set of 12 #Average2Awesome clients from Stepnell Ltd, starting their journey with us at the Peak Performance Gym in Rugby.

'The Stepnell Dozen'

The first session is always a lot of fun as we start to get to know folk. What we really noticed about this group today was how much CARED about each other which triggered me into thinking about the above track.

You see, it's ok to get pushed to reach your goals by me or by the people around you, but along the way you'll need a lot of 'Love'. Mostly from yourself - as it's easy to be your own worst critic if you're not careful and the training is tough enough without giving yourself a good kicking too.

So with that thought in mind, how about a week of accountability all round where we stick to our goals, stay away from the cookie jar and get on with what we do best - Yes, 'Stretching our Horizons' and that way maybe, our own 'Love' can help heal us and take away some of 'The Hurt Pain of Life' perhaps.

Amen.

Rory Coleman - 995 Marathons - 244 Ultras - 14 Marathon des Sables

9 Guinness World Records - 8,581 Days' Alcohol Free - 429 Days' post GBS

& 1 Inspirational Running Memoir - Get your copy here.

Location:- Cardiff, Wales