Ship to Wreck - Florence and the Machine

Lyrics:- 'Did I drink too much, am I losing touch?' - Welch & Hull

Song Choice:- Now I'm not the biggest 'Florence and the Machine' fan BUT this is an awesome opening track from her 2015 album, 'How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful'. There's a great 'Live' performance that goes with it too if you are interested - how she didn't get electrocuted I'll never know.

It's a great tune though and you see, it's easy one for me to connect to on listening to the songs lyrics, as I see other folks daily actions and reactions arising from the 'Kryptonite' that daily drinking and weekend binging brings to their lives.

Now I'm not one to stand and preach about the pros and cons of alcohol - it's just that I personally didn't know where the 'Off-Switch' was where drinking was concerned and felt  I'd be better off without it in my life or I'd be simply DEAD if it was. What other people do with their lives? Well that's their business and it's their choice of course.

However, I get a really interesting reaction when I ask my clients as part of their journey's with me, if they could abstain from drinking booze for just 12 weeks to see if they are better without it.

Nearly always they say 'Yes'... Some with a qualifying 'I've wanted to quit/cut down for ages', or 'this will be good for me' and 'if it's part of the plan, of course'. It would appear that 'Wrecking your Ship' when you have someone to report to, is a whole lot harder to do as ' Failure with me isn't an option'.

So why's it an option when you are out there battling the world on your own?' - I've always wondered at that one...

Anyway, if you are thinking about going AF for a day, a week, a while, a weekend, 12-weeks or for LIFE. I'm always here to help and totally get how hard it is etc. BUT I totally get how bloody brilliant it is not to have been  'Wrecking my Ship' in over 23 years.

Amen

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

9 Guinness World Records - 8,582 Days' Alcohol Free - 430 Days' post GBS

& 1 Inspirational Running Memoir - Get your copy here.

Location:- Cardiff, Wales

Crystal - New Order

Lyrics:- 'We're like Crystal' - Gilbert, Hook, Morris & Sumner

Song Choice:- Wow, I've been blogging for over 13 years now - and on this site, with over 1,000 posts covering my thoughts, feelings and exploits for the last five years. 

For those of you new to my world, the idea of the music accompaniments came about from a) that I simply love music and it's been a real theme 'For Life' since I was a teenager and b) a track that I'd listened on that particular day that was relevant to what had occurred in 'Coleman-World'. Back in 2004 when in I started blogging, on the way from London to Lisbon, Tears for Fears was a real favourite and looking back over the months it's interesting for me to see how my tastes and phases have changed.

I'm not sure if I've ever chosen 'Crystal' by New Order before - I know I've chosen other tracks of theirs but this is probably their best offering post 'Blue Monday'. The Album version is a cool 6.51 minutes and here it is from 'Glastonbury' in 2005 with a very low slung Peter Hook Bass which is simply 'Awesome'...

Anyway, the idea is that you might blow the dust off the track yourself, take a re-listen and enjoy some of the same feelings I get from listening to this kinda music when I'm out and about.

You see, after a long day out with our new #Average2Average Group at Stepnell in Rugby, I was pounding the streets and Lady C was hammering the exercise bike making sure we practice what we preach at 10.30pm. Cardiff at that time of night, especially in Canton where we live, is really quiet and there are only a few people out getting some late night supplies from the nearby Tesco Mini-Market, (some in a relative state of unsteadiness and some a looking a bit angry). I must say, it did make me feel a little intimidated, as you never know who's who out there and Lady C was better off on the exercise bike at home. 

And that's where 'Crystal' hit my ears drums and made me realise how like Crystal we are and no matter how 'Strong' we can appear and just how 'Fragile' we all really are. I did then wonder what I was frightened of as I could have easily out-run anyone I met so that felt good especially as at this time last year I was waiting to go back into hospital in a state of 'unsteadiness' myself!

So be strong today in whatever you are undertaking and be safe about it too. Enjoy 'Crystal' as it's a great track to build your day on and in my case 'My Blog'.

Amen.

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

9 Guinness World Records - 8,582 Days' Alcohol Free - 430 Days' post GBS

& 1 Inspirational Running Memoir - Get your copy here.

Location:- Cardiff, Wales

Live it up - Mental as Anything

Hogan Hero

Lyrics:- 'How can you see looking through those tears? Don't you know you're worth your weight in gold? - Smith

Song Choice:- Taken from the film 'Crocodile Dundee' (that's going back a bit eh? 1985 for the hit and 1986 for the film, if you are interested) I just love the sentiment this song always delivers whenever I listen to it.

The phrase 'Mental as Anything', always reminds me of when I've been described as 'Bonkers Rory Coleman', whenever I've been introduced to a new audience whether in the flesh or on Radio and TV or when folk have said that I must be mad when I've been on one of my escapades.

I truly believe folk must be mad NOT to have tried the 'Impossible' or 'Lived the Dream'...

'A close encounter with a hardhearted man, who never gave half of what he got' - Smith

I mean you'll have to 'Give' an awful lot if you are going to 'Run around the world' or 'Climb to the top of it' and I'm full of admiration for anyone attempting or conquering either. A hard-hearted person wouldn't stand a chance.

'Has made you wish that you'd never been born, that's a shame 'cause you got the lot' - Smith

And that's the annoying part. You know, when folk don't get the most out of what they've got and don't live up to their own expectations.

You see, YOU are worth more than your weight in gold. Much more...

Amen.

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

9 Guinness World Records - 8,580 Days' Alcohol Free - 428 Days' post GBS

& 1 Inspirational Running Memoir - Get your copy here.

Location:- Cardiff, Wales

The Cinema Show – Genesis

Lyrics:- ‘Listen to the old one speak of all he has lived through’ – Banks, Collins, Gabriel, Hackett & Rutherford

Song Choice:- Taken from the brilliant 1973 Album ‘Selling England by the Pound’, the lyrics outline the band’s social comment on the UK being ‘Sold off’. The early 70’s of course were of course a time of great uproar with the trade-union strikes, the three-day-week and a general feeling of gloom and doom – I can remember most things being nylon, plastic or brown… Optimism wasn’t a word that was banded around frequently back then. It took Punk and the Silver Jubilee to kick start the nation and get things going again I felt…the 80's were far better...

Being 55, and as Gabriel sings, I could comment on a lot of what’s gone on in the world. I mean, I can remember 1967 (Just) and have first-hand knowledge of most of major ‘Ups and down’s’ since then as they happened. It’s amazing just how many you can remember when you try – these last few weeks will be etched on all of our memories for sure and there are more to come of course..

Apart from the obvious shocking disasters, what we can do is to look back at the things that went wrong for us personally, our own personal disasters, you see, there’s one common theme.

We just didn’t try hard enough – FACT. 

And for some of the failures the solution at the time, was SO ‘Easy’ - One simple change would have solved a lifetime of pain, yet it’s ‘Easier’ not to. Doh - Oh how I hate excuses - I also hate 'Failure Enablers'...

To me you see, it’s all ‘Pure Laziness’ that drives us on to FAIL... 

And it's something you’ll never find MEguilty of... How about YOU?

Rory Coleman - 994 Marathons - 244 Ultras - 14 Marathon des Sables

9 Guinness World Records - 8,561 Days' Alcohol Free - 410 Days' post GBS

& 1 Inspirational Running Memoir - Get your copy here.

Location:- Cardiff, Wales

Independence Day - The Comsat Angels

Take a Listen Here

Lyrics:- 'But I can't stand up, and I can't sit down, cause a great big problem stopped me in my tracks'.

Song Choice:- A great song that I bet you've never heard. I was lucky enough to see 'The Comsat Angels' a couple of times in 1981/2 and at the time thought they were destined for stardom as they were a bit like Simple Minds. Sadly, they never quite made it but 'Independence Day' has stuck with me all these years on especially as the lyrics say exactly how I felt back then, and how I've felt sometimes along the way since.

I mean have you ever been in a situation where you don't know what to do? - You know that 'Sliding Doors' moment where you are damned if you do and damned if you don't? If you have, you'll know just how tough that predicament can be, especially if you've been literally stopped dead in your tracks by someone or something. I know exactly how it feels as I've been there myself a few times...

The thing is, at the time, it makes you indecisive and that's the killer blow for me as I see I the world in Black and White without a 'Shade of Grey' (let alone 50 of them!) and it's most unsettling.

The lyrics continue - 'I can't relax ‘cause I haven't done a thing, and I can't do a thing cause I can't relax'...

Yikes, they speak volumes... 

My saving grace was my thought process in thinking that whatever decision I made at the time would make it a 'Time of Revolution' in my life. And it's those 'Revolutions' that have  turned the 'Cogs of Destiny' I've found. 

Is it a 'Time of Revolution' for you and do you need a day of 'Independence' right now?

Rory Coleman - 991 Marathons - 244 Ultras - 14 Marathon des Sables

9 Guinness World Records - 8,548 Days' Alcohol Free - 397 Days' post GBS

& 1 Inspirational Running Memoir - Get your copy here.

Location:- Cardiff, Wales

Round and Around - The Pink Floyd

Song Choice:- Taken from Pink Floyd's 1987 album 'A Momentary Lapse of Reason' this 1.33 minute track usually preceded 'Sorrow' at their live shows and it's a wonderfully haunting piece of 'Floyd Magical Music' IMO. It's well worth listening to it on their 'Delicate Sound of Thunder' album - but you'll need to play it very loudly with a good sub to get the full effect - make sure the neighbours are out or like mine are deaf!

You see it's the 'Sorrow' in the music itself that I find interesting. Googling, the noun 'Sorrow' means 'a feeling of deep distress caused by loss, disappointment, or other misfortune suffered by oneself or others'. To me it just means 'Failure'... and I'd love to know what I find so abhorrent about 'Failing' as it's been one of my limiting 'Life-Factors' I believe.

Is it a result of growing up in an male only school-environment in the very Non-PC 70's - where one slip could cause a school life-time of distress and ridicule? I'd love to know. My non-tolerance of folk giving up is legendary and my 'non-failure focus at any cost' has enabled me to be incredibly driven and achieve but hasn't helped me make friends in certain circles it would appear.

Then again, well into my sixth decade, I'm not sure whether it's something I should worry about or change especially after last year's 'Life-is-too-short' realisation. I do feel 'Sorrow' though, but I believe that's more about looking at life in the rear-view mirror a bit especially as I'm getting older at some of the things I didn't do along the way to today. 

Wow, there are some things I wish I should have done and now never will..

Maybe I'll be more forward focussed following the three day 'Bank-Holiday Cease-Fire'. It is a time though where thoughts go 'Round and Around' again and a couple of marathons will get me fired up and feeling super-positive again.

How's your Bank Holiday shaping up?

Rory Coleman - 990 Marathons - 244 Ultras - 14 Marathon des Sables

9 Guinness World Records - 8,545 Days' Alcohol Free - 394 Days' post GBS

& 1 Inspirational Running Memoir - Get your copy here.

Location:- Cardiff, Wales

Time - The Pink Floyd

Lyrics:- 'Waiting for someone or something to show you the way' - Gilmour, Mason, Waters & Wright

Song Choice:- Taken from the 1973 Album, 'The Dark Side of the Moon', probably one of the greatest 'Rock Albums' of all 'Time', this is one of Pink Floyd's most recognisable tunes and one where Richard Wright's lead vocals gets my hair standing on end every 'Time' I hear it.

I've used the song many 'Times' in my blogs as 'Time' is a very interesting concept. It's interesting how it was Roger Waters' own realisation of 'Time' that life is not about preparing yourself for what happens next, but about grabbing control of one's own destiny became the theme to this amazing track that showcases everything that is Pink Floyd.

Lady C would call it 'depressing' but it's a track I can really connect with and is simply awesome IMO as it always gets me thinking...

They say for instance that 'Time' is a great healer - and I for one know that for a fact, and you have to give 'Time', 'Time' I've found. It's interesting how much we try to compress the whole 'Time' passing process especially if we are recovering from illness, addiction or injury and I believe life isn't necessarily about the events we pin our year's activities on, it's also about the 'Time' in between where even bigger gains can be made.

This 'Time' last year, I didn't think once about missing out on going for a run, I just enjoyed a 'Time' out and looked at the bigger picture and gave myself 'Time' to think. It did me the world of good too, especially after the first 'Time' I did parkrun post GBS on September 3rd in a whopping 58.06mins finishing 729/731 - (which included Lady C and Des the Sweeper Runner) following me round, so I was LAST really.

Yes, at the 'Time' is was amazing to be back running but I was also really pissed off with my 'Time'. Six months on and I'm slowly getting there and getting closer and closer to a sub-27 minute 'Time' with a 27.33 mins (285/622) today and feeling that I'm running a bit like I used to.

Now I'm back in the zone, I must say that I'm looking forward to my next chance to chip away at a few more seconds off that post GBS-run 'Time'. Long gone are my 'Times' of heading off on 145 miles down the Grand Union Canal on a May Bank Holiday but I've done that one (3 'Times' and I must have been totally mad) and luckily know more about life than I did twenty years ago knowing that I don't need 'Something or someone to show me the way' - as this 'Time' I know where I'm going.

Do you? Or do you need more 'Time', 'Time' to recover or 'Time' out...

Rory Coleman - 990 Marathons - 244 Ultras - 14 Marathon des Sables

9 Guinness World Records - 8,543 Days' Alcohol Free - 392 Days' post GBS

& 1 Inspirational Running Memoir - Get your copy here.

Location:- Cardiff, Wales

Blind Vision - Blancmanche

Lyrics:- 'Blind visions, with no reasons'

Song Choice:- Blancmange surfaced in 1984 with this 'Synth-Rock Classic'. They had a string of hits including 'Living on the Ceiling' but as a poor man's Depeche Mode perhaps, by 1986 they simply disappeared, which seems a shame.

Anyway, it's the 'Blind Vision' that I'm interested in for today's blog as I often wonder if folk actually see their real-self, when they look in the mirror in the cold light of day and whether they see beyond their reflection, right into their heart and soul.

Being objective about that, well there's the rub...

You see, I help umpteen people every year change their outward appearances and become the person they want to be perceived as being. 'You never get a second chance to make a first impression' they say and our tribalism and appearance attracts friends and lovers as well as it excluding us in certain social situations. It's amazing what signals we send out about ourselves.

Losing weight and getting fit, well that bits easy...

Changing the signals we all send out, well that's different. Some people just don't get it that they are over-bearing, myopic and opinionated. All great turn-offs for the general population and ingredients for a very lonely existence. I'm guilty of this myself sometimes too, but if you are happy in your own company, well that's ok.

Changing this behaviour pattern can take a lifetime and that's the hard one to project as folk eventually revert to type as their guard comes down and the pounds pile back on. I'm currently watching one of my Average2Awesome clients do just that, so I will be having a word in the very near future with that person and help them take a good look at themselves.

Having worked so hard, it's such a shame...

'Life's a Journey' and we all know really when we are boring the pants off people yet keep droning on and know when we are being our own worst enemy.

So why have we got 'Blind Vision' as there's 'No Reason' for it?

Have a think, are you 'Blind' and in need of a 'Personality Update' as well as a 'Physical' one'?

Rory Coleman - 990 Marathons - 244 Ultras - 14 Marathon des Sables

9 Guinness World Records - 8,523 Days' Alcohol Free

& 1 Inspirational Running Memoir - Get your copy here.

Lights Out - Royal Blood

Lyrics:- 'You're not so hard to forget, with all the lights out' - Kerr & Thatcher

Song Choice:- Another track not yet released? My word I'm like John Peel reborn here! 

Anyway take a look for yourself at this first track from Royal Blood's new album 'How did we get so dark' which is released on June 16th. If it's anything like their first, we're all in for a real treat and 'Figure it out' is still on 'parkrun' playlist which speaks volumes for just how great that song is, three years on from it's release.

It's the 'Light's Out' bit I'm interested in for today's blog as I'm not so sure it's that easy to forget what's going in one's world when the light's go out at night. I know a lot of you go to bed worrying about all manner of things in the small hours. It's never an issue when I first 'Hit the Hay' as when I was taking part in the Flora 1000 Mile Challenge in 2003 (you know, the one mile an hour every hour for 1000 hours event), I went to sleep over 300 times in 6 weeks and got into a special fall asleep routine that got me snoring in just a matter of seconds ever since - ask Lady C.

However, I find it's the waking up at 4am routine that's the tricky one, especially at this time of year when it's already starting to get light. You see, the moment my brain cells are activated there's nothing I can do to get me back into 'The Land of Nod'. And I use get up now and have an early morning cup of tea, write a blog and catch up with an old episode of 'The Sweeney'. My word Regan and Carter never needed much sleep!

I know I won't get much tonight as I'm heading for Marathon #990 tomorrow and I'm very excited to be in the last 10 before the 'BIG ONE' at the 'Robin Hood Marathon' on September 24th.

Do your 'Lights go out at Night?'... Or still Glowing?

More tomorrow...

Rory Coleman - 989 Marathons - 243 Ultras - 14 Marathon des Sables

9 Guinness World Records - 8,521 Days' Alcohol Free

& 1 Inspirational Running Memoir - Get your copy here.