The Real Thing - Faith No More

Lyrics:- 'Like your heartbeat when you realize you're dying, but you're trying. Like the way you cry for a happy ending'.

Song Choice:- It sounds strange to me when folk say someone is 'terminally ill', it's like death is somehow never going to happen to anyone. However some of the ''Outlook Appointment's' for the Pearly Gates are sooner than others. 

The hard thing of course is that we don't know when that day is, so we just bury our heads and ignore the fact and take our foot off the 'Got to make my mark on the World-Pedal'. 

So I wonder why we allow ourselves to lose the feeling that this life of ours is 'The Real Thing'.

It's been a time of realisation for lots of the folk I've met recently as I watch the 'Penny has finally drop' and the wonder of the world that surroundsus all finally comes to life in front of my eyes.

Take today...I met an incredible person this morning whose life was destroyed when during an operation he had a very rare 'Right-sided' stroke. This once active and very proud man, has been left disabled and really angry...and I mean ******* angry. I could see it in his eyes and hear it in his voice. For him asking for help is the absolute pits. So demeaning and for the past couple of years it's been a prison cell existence in his body without parole.

Yet today the anger disappeared and life's opportunities and it's 'Real Thing' suddenly came back to life and turned a corner. The crying stopped and the Happy Ending got one step nearer. I'll keep you posted on what's going to be a remarkable journey for a remarkable man. Yep he's aiming BIG! Well it's the only way to aim ins't it.

More tomorrow.

Rory Coleman - 944 Marathons - 238 Ultras - 12 Marathon des Sables
9 Guinness World Records - 21 Years' Alcohol Free.

Location:Caerdydd

Keep Talking - The Pink Floyd (Pulse 1994)

Lyrics:- 'I think I should speak now, I can't seem to speak now, My words won't come out right, I feel like I'm drowning, I'm feeling weak now, but I can't show my weakness' - Gilmour, Samson & Wright

Song Choice:- Well it's been a bit of a 'Pink Floyd Week' for me and my 'Guardian Angels' from a lifetime ago still deliver the goods especially with this 1994 'Live' version of the 1991 Division Bell track has every Pink Floyd trademark you could ever want handily written into nearly seven minutes of pure magic, you can appreciate right here.

It's been a long day in the gym today, (especially with this tooth ache) and as usual in my Running Clinics, there's a lot to cover and only a short time to get to know the people I meet in depth, so I can evaluate their needs and help them break down their self imposed barriers, that limit their horizons both personally and physically.

The biggest barrier I find is the one where folk are limited by the people they surround themselves with. Both at Home and at Work. There are SO many vampires and negative partners out there. Breaking through the barrier and seeing the result is one of the best parts of my job. There have been so many amazing moments that have lead to greatness. 

However the best ones are when you really connect and you don't have to 'Keep Talking' as it's there right in front of me plain to see. Call it a 'Sixth Sense' if you like but it's more like 'life experience 'and having been there myself, it's an easy one to spot.

I used to be too proud...The line of 'Not Showing your Weakness, feeling weak or drowning' are all references of being bullied or feeling depressed which often leads to a self-imposed silence, from what I found. A kind of self imposed silent domestic cease-fire slowly stops things getting worse but never improves things...ever.

What you or other folk are thinking or feeling then becomes  impossible to comprehend.

Yet in just over a couple of hours in Cardiff all of this can unravel and new horizons are found, levels of determination set at 11/10 and new oaths are sworn to a better person, live up to new dreams and head for a cleaner life.

I wonder how many just 'Keep Talking', rather than let the 'Real Talking' begin...

Remember C Scott Ragsdale - 'You can talk about it all day, but just make it happen'...

Is that You?

More tomorrow...

Echoes - The Pink Floyd

Lyrics:- 'But something stirs and something tries, and starts to climb towards the light' - Gilmour, Mason, Waters & Wright

Song Choice:- If you have the odd 22:32 minutes to spare to watch Parts 1 & 2 on YouTube (with headphones if possible) you'll hear just what I'm banging on about tonight. Some great vocals and keyboards from the late Richard Wright of course.

This is an old time favourite of mine and it's a unique snapshot of a time when 'Pink Floyd Psychedelic Prog Rock', (sadly long forgotten by nearly all of us), took us in a darkened room full of a hazy smoke that provided a 'Time Out' to think about whom we are, what we do, whom we do it with and when. Sadly back then most folk were too out of it to do anything about it, when they discovered what it was!

However, some 40 years later on and listening in hi-definition sound (without the smoky haze I hasten to all), still manages to deliver it's magic, well to me anyway. 

Maybe it's the lyrics? I could pick out loads of lines that hit the spot but 'The something stirs and tries etc'. reflects so much about my own awakening as well as the same awakening I see in my clients. The real clincher is 'And do I take you by the hand, and lead you through the land, and help me understand the best I can'. It doesn't get any better than that if I'm being honest. 

The problem is so many folk get bogged down by having such busy and complicated lives, their physical and emotional baggage buries their 'Treasure' (all of their good bits, you know what I mean) so deeply that time and energy just passes them by and therefore life itself.

If that's you right now, look up, see the light and start climbing towards it. There's nothing to lose only to gain if you ask me. Then I'm bound to say that aren't I, although I know it's true and that I've been there and got the T-Shirt.

I am however going to have another listen tonight in the dark and see if it speaks to me again and I can expand my mind just another but further.

Thing is no ones going to do it for me and the 'Cloudless Skies' Waters sings of might not be everyday but you never know I'll try if you do - please let me know how you get on?

Now where are my sandals and joss-sticks?

More tomorrow...

Life in the Fast Lane - The Eagles

'Lyric:- The coming attraction, the drop of a name, they knew all the right people' - Frey, Henley & Walsh

Song Choice:- Seems only right for today and more later on...

All The Things She Said - Simple Minds

Lyric:- 'There'll be no compromising'...

Song Choice:- Even though it's now some 30 years old, I still love the video and the above lyric still hits me like a sledgehammer, I love the 'All the things she said', line and it's more 'of an 'All the things she didn't say', really as that speaks volumes as far as I'm concerned. 

As far as the 'compromising' bit I'm not so sure as t's not one of my particular life skills. if I'm being honest...

I don't mind admitting it either as my being highly focussed and unfaltering in my objectives has provided me with an unequivocal drive and determination that I've drawn on time and time again when the brown-stuff has hit the fan especially when I've been pushing my running past my limits of human endurance.

It's a blessing and a curse as though one gets to see the world in high-contrast-full-colour-dolby-surround-sound it uses vital RAM for less urgent life happenings that can get sidelined so easily!

Can one learn to compromise? Who knows...I'm not sure I can whilst I'm still running so many marathons, coaching folk to their goals and crossing deserts or even if I'm not doing all of the above. I don't think I'm going to be compromising today...again.

More tomorrow...and don't lower your guard, as you don't want to look back on a big lost world.

Rory Coleman - 944 Marathons - 238 Ultra-marathons -12 Marathon des Sables

9 Guinness World Records - 21 Years' Alcohol Free.

Location: Cardiff

A Design for Life - The Manic Street Preachers

Lyric:- 'What price now for a shallow piece of dignity'

Song Choice:- Seems only right as lead singer James Dean Bradfield was at Cafe Castan in Pontcanna getting a cup of tea this morning at the same time I was and since then this track has firmly stuck playing over and over in my head!

Isn't it funny how certain things get lodged in our minds and we just can't shake 'em. I don't mind in this case though as the 'Design for Life' lyric is such a great hook and of course it's the Manics at their best...

I mean, if only we were all born with a handbook, life would be simple.

We'd all then live 'By Design'. Everyone would have a plan, we'd all know where we stand with each other and there'd be no war, only love. It would lead us to the perfect world,you know the one you've spent a lifetime trying to reach.

Only life's not that perfect is it and it all sounds far too 'Stepford Wivesy', well for my liking 'cos as you know I'm not really one for rules.

Then again lots of folk don't live by the rules either and live in a more kind of 'Freeform Jazz' kinda way, wearing Earplugs so they don't hear the cacophony they make and dark glasses so they don't see the mess they leave in their wake.

Ask them 'How are things?' and they'll tell you 'Life's ticketyboo' only what they really mean is 'Beam me up Scotty as I haven't got a clue what I'm doing at all. All I want to do is be happy, but there's no plan!'

Maybe writing a few simple operating instructions for your own life would help get things going in the right direction before a possible redesign.

I love the old adage, 'Engage brain before putting mouth into gear'. I've found disconnecting my drive' and pressing my 'Reset button', helps in times of conflict. I know that from experience very well!

Are you in need of a 'Grand Life Re-Design. Makes you wonder what parts you'd keep...I'd be really interested to know...

More tomorrow...

Rory Coleman - 944 Marathons - 238 Ultras

12 Marathon des Sables - 9 Guinness World Records - 21 Years' Alcohol Free.

Location:Cardiff

Hold Your Colour - Pendulum

Lyric:- 'Don't try to save yourself, the circle is complete' - Thompson

Song Choice:- No marathons this weekend for me and on a wet day in November in Cardiff  and in the light of the Paris Terrorism Attacks it's hard to lift the mood but I decided to include some Pendulum in my day to brighten up the 'Darkness' that can sometimes surround us in this crazy upside down world we live in.

So sticking to the colour theme, for years now I believe I see and feel life in 4K Hi-Definition colour. It's so bright and clear sometimes it makes your fingers tingle. It makes you feel so alive...Have you ever felt like that? It's a rare feeling and folk can sometimes go a lifetime and never experience it. Maybe it 's something that comes with age, who knows. 

If however, you view life the same way, you'll know just what I mean. 

You'll already know that short-lived artifically-fuelled alcohol highs and lows just makes the world even foggier place take it from me, as I know. If you want to see what I mean, I have some 3D glasses you can try on before the world simply passes you by.

It took me a good 31 years to find out where I'd been going wrong and that first run of just 100 steps took me from living in a grey, alcohol fuelled black and white world to my Hi-Def heaven where I now like to think I preside.

I say 'think' as it's a from perfect broadband service in 'Roryworld' and there are still parts of it that are still a puzzle. Therefore, I see life more like a 'Hi-Def Magic-Eye Picture' and what can seem really obvious to me sometimes can often just be 'gobbledygook' to the folk I meet.

Have I lost you now - I'd love to know...anyway...

I'm often asked what's my favourite marathon, or greatest achievement well I'm not really sure if I'm being honest as I've done so many and they have more value as a whole rather than as one-off's.  What I would say though is the greatest gift I've got from running is 'Seeing the world in Hi-Definition Colour'.

Get those fingers tingling folks...and get a HDTV License ASAP and 'Hold Your Colour'.. 

More tomorrow...