Desire - U2

Lyrics:- 'She's the dollars, she's my protection, she's the promise - Clayton, Evans, Hewson & Mullen

Frank Lloyd Wright, one of the world's most prominent and influential architects said, 'I know the price of success: dedication, hard work, and an unremitting devotion to the things you want to see happen.

How right he was too - And it underlines my own thoughts today as I truly believe 'We are the architects of our own Failure'. It's a quote I often use and it's something I see manifest in both my clients and the folk I meet along my travels.

'Failure' for me really isn't an option, especially if it's something that I've set as a 'Personal Goal' or as a 'Lifestyle Limitation'. As for running in deserts? Well that's down to 'Desire' and how much hardship you are prepared to go through to battle on when the lights are all saying red, and the body and mind's battery levels are critically low. Some of the folk that dropped out of last week's Marathon des Sables will already be thinking that they should have or could have carried on - Your see it just didn't matter enough -  at that moment in time or at any time for that matter.

It did for me though, but then I see things differently as I'm from the Frank Lloyd Wright school of thought. It doesn't make you popular I can tell you - My 'Monochrome' thought process doesn't take prisoners. But then it never has, as I don't understand why folk will say one thing and then do another. 

Why commit to something knowing that completion isn't an option? The armies of FB 'At least you tried' Admirers only fuels my 'Monochronicity'. Never surrounding oneself with 'Failure Enablers' has been a fundamental 'Life Rule' since 1994. I believe that it's one’s own dedication, hard work, and an unremitting devotion that terminates any 'Bad Behavioural Process' not a book.

Yes, there are lots of resources out there that can help the process happen - but actually it's down to YOU and YOU alone. Making the Promise, the Promise to yourself that is, that's the hardest thing. 

Never giving up, well that's easy.

More tomorrow.

Rory Coleman - 989 Marathons - 243 Ultras - 14 Marathon des Sables
9 Guinness World Records - 8,505 Days' Alcohol Free

& 1 Inspirational Running Memoir - Get your copy here.

Location: Caerdydd, Cymru

Biology - Girls Aloud

Lyric:- It's just a matter of time.

Song Choice:- We all have a few closely guarded secrets and 'Girls Aloud' are one of mine that I'll own up to. There are others but my Mother reads this blog so I have to be careful.

This little ditty from 2005 is one of the Girls finest tracks, along with 'Close to love' which is a great running track if you need a thumping tune to help you along when you are struggling...

Anyway, it's the 'Biology' bit I'm interested in today as I've helped a lot of folk realise their potential recently and when I say it's not down to them or me but simple 'Biology', I see the penny drop.

At the end of the day, we are all the same and have similar attributes - it's how we use them that differs. Seeing similarities and differences in ourselves and others either encourages or dismisses our drive, desire and performance - if I've coached you, you'll understand where I'm coming from. If I haven't, I need to.

Are you lacking the confidence you need to really make your mark?

Rory Coleman - 980 Marathons - 241 Ultras

13 Marathon des Sables - 9 Guinness World Records - 8,377 Days' Alcohol Free.

Rory Coleman - The UK's Leading ULTRAmarathon Coach

Location: Cardiff

Missing (Todd Terry Mix) - Everything but the Girl

Lyrics:- 'And I miss you, like the deserts miss the rain' - Smith, Sim & Croft

Song Choice:- A great opportunity to choose a great track from EBTG. I'm not sure whatever happened to them but 'Missing' and 'Wrong' have always been stand out favourites of mine.

Anyway, did you see the news today from the Collins Dictionary People about some of the new words they've included in their new tomb this year. (Pre-Christmas PR if you ask me but here goes with)...

Dude-Food, Snowflake Generation and the one I'm interested in 'Jomo'. More of an acronym like RADAR or TARDIS really but standing for 'Joy Of Missing Out'. Something I can really connect with.

You see having never seen a Star Wars movie, The Sound of Music or read a Harry Potter, Dean Karnazes or Born to Run book; I feel more than happy to celebrate the fact. I'm not sure why except I don't think I'm missing out on anything by not having done so.

I'm not sure what difference any of them would make and I must be honest in saying that none of them really interest me. I've always been more interested in what I'm doing rather than anyone else, but maybe that's a question of ego. Understanding Quidditch doesn't have much relevance in my world.

Don't get me wrong, if I'm interested in something I'll learn everything I possibly can about it and then remember it forever. That's part of my personality make-up and makes me want to stick out from the crowd. You can now see why committees and team-sports have never been my thing.

It doesn't matter as knowing this is very empowering and used in the right way means you never miss anything. You only miss out on the stuff that isn't important.

What do you need to miss out on?

Rory Coleman - 977 Marathons - 241 Ultras - 13 Marathon des Sables - 9 Guinness World Records - 8338 Days' Alcohol Free.

Location: Cardiff, United Kingdom

News of the World - The Jam

Lyric:-'The truth is in what you see, not what you read' - Foxton

Song Choice:- I loved a bit of The Jam at the time and can't believe that's this track is nearly 40 years old now. 

Anyway, on a day of headlines that include a new nuclear power station being built by the French with Chinese investment at Hinkley Point just over the water from us here in Cardiff and 'Bake Off' going to Channel 4, I often wonder what we are supposed to believe in what we are told by our news sources. I mean, just who IS interested in baking some old cakes eh?

So a lot of the time, although I keep a keen eye on what's happening in the news, I tend not to worry too much about the things I can't control and concentrate on making my own headlines. They don't have to be earth shattering, hold the front page news-stories either - they can be simple no nonsense one liners.

Why not have a go yourself and see what headlines, you come up with about yourself today. Yesterday I would have reported on clocking up my first 30,000 step day since last April as a major headline but I'd also write that I'd helped a good friend become more comfortable about undertaking his first 100 mile race. Have a think?

Today's Front Page is there waiting for you and totally blank. It's just asking for your news.

What are you saying about yourself today?

Rory Coleman - 976 Marathons - 241 Ultras

13 Marathon des Sables - 9 Guinness World Records - 8289 Days' Alcohol Free.

Location: Pembroke Road, Cardiff, United Kingdom

Lily-white Lilith - Genesis

Lyric:- 'I can see the corner of the tunnel, lit up by whatever's coming here' - Collins, Gabriel & Rutherford

Song Choice:- I wanted a good 'tunnel' lyric today and luckily 'The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway' Double Concept Album provides just that. Have a listen to what you've been missing here.

The Tunnel? That's the Guillain Barre Syndrome (GBS) Tunnel - stands for 'Getting Better Slowly', I was told yesterday, ha ha. However this week, even with it's ups and downs, has been a good one for my own GBS Journey - 'Grind Back Steadily', I call it.

No Heroics, No Guinness World Records, Just plain pure honest Graft.

I'll see just how much of this has paid off when I meet my Consultant Neurologist on Monday afternoon. I wonder what he'll think of it all eh? Not much I bet!!!

Anyway, luckily for me, t's Friday, I'm post exercise during Wimbledon Fortnight and the Mighty Cymru taking on Belgium tonight, the World isn't too bad a place now is it?

More tomorrow,

Diolch - Rory Coleman

976 Marathons, 241 Ultras, 9 Guinness World Records & 13 Marathon des Sables