Poison Arrow - ABC

Lyric:- 'Raise your aim' - Fry, Singleton & White

Song Choice:- I love a bit of the old ABC and this song came to mind today. I could have chosen 'Many happy returns', with the great line 'Like the Phoenix coming back from the Ashes uh-huh'...but I believe the 'Raise your aim' fits my thoughts today just perfectly. It's been a long old week you see. A tiring one too, after five marathons last week including the Triple-Ultra Druid Challenge, a hard week of coaching and another 42.2km today, on the wonderful Welsh Riviera.

Anyway, going back to the ABC lyric, and raising your aim. Again, it's an interesting thought especially if you've been reading my blogs closely this week.

Aiming high has never been a problem for me as I've always wanted to be the BEST at anything I do, or I'm not really interested if I'm being honest. Run a marathon, only right to do 1000; set a Guinness World Record...then set five in a day and at least nine to get the maximum da-daaa appeal.

It sounds a bit shallow when I write it here but it's what makes me tick. It's my way of expressing myself and making a mark on this busy world we all live in. I'm going to carry on now for the rest of 2015 as I've clocked up 63 marathons now, my best for a couple of years and I'm looking forward to an exciting 2016 with a whole lot of new adventures ahead of me.

Are you raising your aim?

More tomorrow.

One Step Closer - Simple Minds

Lyrics:- 'To a different place, different time'.

Song Choice:- I've always enjoyed the 'Minds' and although this is one of their lesser known tracks, it's worth a listen if you've never heard this one before - here.

Now here's a question for you...

Today, did you one step closer to where you want to be? If you can honestly say 'Yes' to that, then that's an amazing feat as most folk spend a lifetime simply treading water. 

Even having a life-goal in the first place is a rare find, even in my line of work where I meet so many folk with a short-term goal of running across deserts or completing marathons and setting Personal Bests. 

Busy work and home commitments makes 'Uncomplicating Life', almost impossible sometimes and getting someone to experience the 'Lightbulb Moment' is one of the best, if not the best part of my job as a coach. It's happened a lot this week - and I love it!

Here's some thoughts for you...

• What is it you really want to do with the rest of your life?
• What really excites you?
• If you could be anywhere in the world, where would it be?
• What's the biggest area of change you make to your world?

Be honest with yourself and you'll get one step closer to a different place. If you don't know how to do it, come and see me and you never know, you might get that 'Lightbulb Moment' too...

More tomorrow...

Dogs - The Pink Floyd

Lyric:- 'That everyone's expendable' - Waters

Song Choice:- Well it's about time I did a few Pink Floyd blogs. The corrosive nature of Waters lyrics suits my thinking sometimes and etches through the layers that folk allow their life to be buried under.

Baring life's bare metal allows us the chance to rebuild our inner strength and add a fresh coat of paint for us to show the outside world that everything is perfect in our perfect little worlds.

Or is it?

It's funny but I meet a lot of folk who say one thing and do something completely different. Or here's something to consider, how many so called 'friends' that come to dine or stay are really that? Many? Any?

Do you just think the whole time, when are you going home?

I bet you do...as 'Everyone is Expendable', family exempt of course. I remember my children as youngsters battling it out in hand-to-hand combat and eventually resorting to a family charter where we agreed to get on at home and protect each other from the outside world.

Thank God it worked otherwise Sons #1&2 would not have survived their WWF teenage years!

Anyway, back to being 'Expendable' and maybe if you are a regular reader or know me as well as I let you, you'll understand where I'm coming from and before my Mother asks me has someone 'pissed me off', no they haven't. I just understand folks needs and I'm looking after number one, just as much as the next person.

On a Desert Island, you don't need much or anyone really - you just need to be comfortable with the person whom inhabits your head.

Finding others is a Life-Long-Lottery and you might find that they but more likely you are 'Expendable'.

What are you 'Expending' a lot of energy on for no return?

Rory Coleman - 943 Marathons - 238 Ultras
12 Marathon des Sables - 9 Guinness World Records - 21 Years' Alcohol Free.

Location:Cardiff

Wish You Were Here - The Pink Floyd

Lyric:- We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl - Gilmour, Waters & Wright

Song Choice:- From my most purchased album ever, (must be double figures on cassette, vinyl, cd and mp3) the 2011 remastered edition has some amazing early recordings of Raving and Drooling (later to become Sheep) as a bonus. As for the above rack, right from the first time I ever heard it, it hit all my buttons, very firmly, and has done every time I've heard to since.

You see, it's the 'How I wish, how I wish you were here' bit that I've always connected with. Of course I know the song was written about Syd Barrett but that doesn't matter as it's perfect for tonight's blog.'

Bear with me, but if I asked you where in the world you would like to be whisked off to right now, I bet it would be a sunny, white sanded beach next to a wide and deep warm blue ocean lying on a sun-lounger armed with a favourite tipple(soft drink of course) and a good book. Y

es, your own Island Paradise.

It all sounds idyllic...and, if we took time out from our Paradise to write a postcard or drop a message on Facebook (as of course it would have wi-fi), you might write - 'Wish you were here'. to all and sundry 

Only would you really mean it? I don't think you would...I know I wouldn't.

It's a funny old thing eh? But would you really want to be asking anyone to join you and ruin your tranquility and simple existence. Running's like that for me as I discovered early on in my career, I soon went to that very beach, the one you have pictured in your mind right now, every time I ran.

If you can see the beach, you'll understand just what I'm talking about. If you can feel the sun, you'll understand the warmth exercise can bring into your life and if you can feel the waves rushing in and out around your feet, then you'll know that the ocean washes away your woes and creates a fresh beach to walk on every day. I could go on but there's no need for any star nonsense is there! 

Wish you were here? Maybe not!

More tomorrow...

Royal Blood - Out of the Black

Lyric:- 'And took the skin off my back running' -  Kerr & Thatcher

Song Choice:- Before I lost my headphone volume from my iPhone in today's Druid Challenge Day 1 29.5 miler, I was happily banging out the miles to the Royal Blood Dunes unique Bass Guitar and Drum only brand of Rock. No skin off my back but a bit of a bummer as they are such an amazing band to run to.

The tunes helped loads as the MUD was totally MEGA all the way but luckily the sand dune training at Merthyr Mawr I've been doing has helped no end as I powered my way to the finish and a very happy first 29.5 miles of the race. Picked up a few scalps along the way too. TA Coach Lady Coleman!

What my legs will be like tomorrow who knows, especially after the three marathons I've done this week.

I'm looking forward to a good nights sleep and hopefully 100 snoring runners will make less of a din than a 9 month old hungry Jack Anthony Coleman at 3am! I do have some heavy opiates to help if not and a big size 11.5 boot if it gets too much. Last year I swear someone was hoovering in the night.

More tomorrow from another marathon muddy day on the Ridgeway.

Cheers folks...Now where are my ear-plugs?

Miley Cyrus - The Climb

Lyric:- There's always gonna be another mountain, I'm always gonna wanna make it move, always gonna be an uphill battle, sometimes I'm gonna have to lose, ain't about how fast I get there, ain't about what's waitin' on the other side...It's the climb' - Cyrus

Song Choice:- Now I'm not the biggest Miley fan but the lyrics of this song were sent to me today by one of my clients. She told me that it's a mantra she's chanted many a time when things have gotten tough and I thought I'd share it with you...and funnily enough with her again and my take on the tune!

The thing is though, that sometimes there isn't another mountain and sometimes you don't have to lose...I agree with Ms Cyrus that 'The Climb' is the part of the struggle that ignites the passion within BUT why accept failure as part of the journey. It's such a negative emotion and gives corrosion it's opportunity to work it's evil magic on your soul.

What makes matters worse is an outside force (people, partners, work commitments) stopping you scaling new heights and sometimes those 'Sliding Door Moments' can be the making of you.

My mantra is life is far too short. I ran 42.2km on a gloomy Welsh November Day and it was blooming marvellous and another few steps up my 1000 Marathon Mountain,

I'm climbing Folks, are you?

The Red Shoes - Kate Bush

Lyric:- 'And this curve, is your smile, and this cross, is your heart, and this line, is your path' - Bush

Song Choice:- A brilliant track from her 1993 album of the same name and it's not the first time I've used it as an illustration and inspiration for one of my blogs. If you watch the video and ignore the corny acting you'll soon get the gist...

If you are midst Average2Awesome right now, a pair of the Red Shoes, would certainly help you clock up your daily step count but my real liking for this track comes from the above lyrics.

There's something deeply hypnotic and magical about 'And this curve, is your smile, and this cross, is your heart, and this line, is your path'.

Everything I've ever thought about life, running and reflection - in one simple lyrical sentence. It really gets my grey matter going...

It's well worth that listen, try headphones in perfect tranquility, in complete darkness if you can. You can then really listen to the multi-layers of Bush's incredible creativity and enjoy a long lost album all over again.

Anyway, less of my love of Kate Bush, more about those lyrics...

Maybe, take some time to consider...

Is your Smile a Curve?

What's in really in your Heart?

Can you see your Life as a clearly defined Path?

She goes on to sing, 'I'm gonna dance the dream, And make the dream come true'.

Yikes - How does that grab you?

I just love that thought and I wonder how many folk can actually say that they are actually making their dreams come true? Talking the dream is one thing, making it happen is another!

My endeavour in the future is to hopefully say I have...I know I'm trying bloody hard and I'm trying my hardest for those that surround me. It's not easy and as you'll find out, it's not as easy as putting on some new shoes as you have to cobble together your own 'Red Shoes' in the real world.

Who's dancing?