BACKWARDS AND FORWARDS

It's been a day of mixed emotions today. A day of looking backwards and forwards.

One of my partners retired from the practice today. I've known her for almost 20 years and in that time she has been a role model, a mentor,a friend and a confidante. Losing someone like that from my daily life will take a bit of getting used to but I wish her a long, happy and well-deserved retirement. The mood about the place has been a bit subdued today. I'm now the senior female partner here..... a scary and rather sobering thought.

On the positive side, it is New Year's eve, the traditional time for setting those resolutions for next year.

Ask yourself - what do you want to create in your life that isn't there already?
How are you going to go about doing it? Make your goals really mean something and write them down. Try to focus on the process goals rather than just the end point.
For example - if your goal is to lose two stone in the next 4 months, think about how you are going to do it and make each of those hows a goal in itself. Each day, keep a track of how you did, for example - eating breakfast, not eating a biscuit midmorning, snacking only on fruit, watching your portion size etc. Keep a track of each of these process goals in a success journal. It really makes a difference.

As a coach, i don't believe we have to wait for New Year to make the changes we want to make, but now it's here let's grab it by the scruff of the neck and make the most of it!

Here's to wonderful 2010 to all my readers.
May you have a peaceful, happy, healthy and fulfilling New Year.
Make it your best one yet!

GARETH THOMAS COMES OUT

This weekend saw the announcement by Gareth Thomas, Welsh rugby's most capped player and former captain of the British Lions, that he is gay. He is the highest profile British sportsman to openly discuss his homosexuality and in the 21st century, the question I most want to ask is.... why? There are plenty of gay sportsmen and women out there. When I played club level football and briefly rugby too, there were plenty of lesbians in the team...... but so what? None of us cared, they were just team mates.

It seems amazing to me that it matters to anyone else what his sexuality is. He's a great sportsman, a fantastic example of a truly dedicated, professional player. This holds whether he is gay or straight. It seems incredibly sad that society has forced him to keep his real self under wraps until now. His interview in yesterday's Sunday Times talks about his despair and suicidal ideas. What kind of world are we living in? We like to think of ourselves as an advanced society and yet people like Gareth feel the need to live a lie for fear of suffering prejudice, disadvantage or worse; blind, ignorant hatred.

Homosexuality remains illegal in many states of the USA, another fact that I find staggering. As we reach the end of the decade we tend to look back over past events. How long before we look back over outdated attitudes such as homophobia with the disbelief and disgust that they deserve?

For what it's worth, I say, good on you Gareth, you're a brave man. May your example ease the pain and suffering of others in a similar position and may one day may openess like yours be the norm rather than the exception.

FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS

This weekend will see millions of us tune in to see the final of X Factor.
Whatever you think of the show, and it certainly polarises opinion, I think that there is a lot that we can learn from it.

Those that do best seem to be really driven. They've had their goal for a very long time, have strived to achieve it and have often made a lot of sacrifices along the way. They've also had to take a lot of criticism. The most successful have learned that "There is no failure, only feedback". They take the judges comments on board, learn from them and use them to their advantage.

Now for sure there's an enormous amount of media hype about the whole thing, much of it entirely unjustified, but if it encourages just one person to believe in themselves and chase their dream, then to me it is worth it. If kids look at people on TV and think "if they can do it, then so can I" - then great. I'd prefer it if they wanted to achieve something more then just being famous, but seeing other people be confident is part of how we learn to be confident too.

Nathaniel Branden, the famous psychologist once said "Self concept is destiny".
I love that quote and really try and apply it in my daily life. How you feel about yourself really does affect how other people see and treat you. If you're looking for an example of a confident, successful man, look no further than X Factor's own, Simon Cowell.

EDUCATION, EDUCATION, EDUCATION

A real winter's day today but a great chance to catch up with some indoor work. I got my business accounts up to date and have made great strides into writing some new material for my upcoming workshops.

I'm excited to be starting up some new free weight management workshops for my patients in January. These will incorporate some of the skills I picked up from Paul McKenna on my recent training day with him. They will focus on the mental aspects of weight loss rather than on the mechanics of what to eat or not eat. I'm a firm believer in getting your head right before doing anything and losing weight is no exception.

I've also been working on material for a workshop I'm running in January for a group of local GP trainers. This is a great chance for me to convey my passion for NLP and coaching to the local medical community - and I'm determined to make the most of it.

My calf seems to be on the mend but it'll be Wednesday now before I get the chance to try it out on the roads. Tomorrow's combination of early morning commuter surgery, afternoon on-call and evening french lesson means I have a 15 hour day which doesn't leave any time for running.

The dark evenings are great for reading though don't you think? I'm currently re-reading one of Richard Bandler's early books, "Using Your Brain For a Change". For anyone looking for a great introduction to NLP, it's a very good place to start. As usual with great books, there is always more to get out of them on subsequent reads. Education is for life, you never stop learning. As I tell my kids, education gives you choices. I've just looked on their school website and saw that a lad who used to go to their primary school was awarded the top student prize in the 6th form and a prize of £ 3000 this week. Wow look at that I said to them, as they played Playstation, doesn't that make you want to go and start your homework? No replied one of them -you have to spend it on education!

As a psychiatrist once said about Basil Fawlty in a classic episode of Fawlty Towers...... there's enough material there for a whole conference!

THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU DO WANT

Would you jump into a taxi and tell the driver where you didn't want to go?
Would you enter what you didn't want to find into a Google search box?

Silly questions - of course you wouldn't, but many of us spend too much of our time focusing on what we don't want.

We get more of what we focus on so one of the best first steps you can take to making your life better is simply to think about what it would look like if it was better. What would you see? What would you hear? How would you feel if you were living your ideal life?

The clearer the image you have of this, the easier it is for your unconscious mind to begin to work on it.

So instead of moaning about how this isn't right or that's not working out for you, spend a few short minutes every day visualising just how wonderful your life will be once you achieve your goals. Now how good does that feel?

PAUL McKENNA

It's been another busy week and a really enjoyable one.
If the downside was the upturn in the number of swine flu cases we are seeing in the surgery, the highlight had to be attending a training day with Paul McKenna. It was absolutely excellent.

He is a great speaker, he really held the audience's attention..... and we weren't the easiest group either. Three hundred or so medics - mostly doctors, all there to learn about his weight loss and NLP techniques. It was awesome. He apparently did it for free too, being a friend of my NLP trainer and organiser of the day, Dr.Natheera Indrasenan. He was obviously really passionate about the subject and had flown in specially from his home in Los Angeles just for the talk.

Helping people be a healthy weight is something I am passionate about too and is a topic that occupies much of my time, both as a coach and as a GP. I've picked up plenty of new tools to use now so a very big thank you to Natheera for arranging the day and to Paul for making it so memorable and enjoyable.

Since my last post I've had mixed fortunes on the running front. Last Sunday I beat my personal best in the Grand Union Canal Half Marathon but in yesterday's 22 mile training run I had to pull up after 14 miles with another calf strain. Unfortunately this will almost certainly put me out of the Luton marathon on 6th December. I'm taking this as a sign that there are other things in my life that need my attention right now so I'll be spending tomorrow working on material for some upcoming workshops.

Well I'm off for a shower now before watching X Factor - sad but true. Whatever you think of him, you can't help but admire Simon Cowell. Whatever happens he always manages to come up smelling of roses....... and with the amount of **** flying around on that show, that's no mean feat! Enjoy the rest of the weekend.

THE BEST LAID PLANS....

Well it's been a funny old week here. I've had a week off from the surgery and had expected to be able to spend a lot of time running and training. Unfortunately my knee thought otherwise and I've been forced to take it easy. It's not too bad and is fine when I'm actually running but flares up again afterwards. Still, I've got Rosemary my physio back on the case and have also had some shiatsu from my friend Isobel - let's hope it's better soon.

I had already decided for other reasons not to do the hilly off-road marathon that I had originally planned for tomorrow - perhaps just as well as it turned out. I am currently due to do a half-marathon in 2 weeks though. Should know in the next few days whether that is still a possibility or not.

Anyway, as I've said before, I think things like this happen for a reason and I've tried hard to make the best use of my time this week. I've devoted time to writing and to my french studies. I've also had to attend four - yes four - evening meetings at work! Guess I must have been pretty bad in a former life!

I've spent all this afternoon cooking - a Bangladeshi feast from Rick Stein's latest book "A Far Eastern Odyssey". It's a fabulous read, one of those makes you hungry just to look at the pictures type of books. Not really good for me as I'm not running it off right now but I reckon I deserve a treat. I've spent the last two hours holed up in my kitchen, chopping and grinding spices. Everything's now just at that ready to go stage, you know the way TV cooks have it, all chopped and ready in little bowls. Excellent. I was listening to french radio while I did it. A rather odd show was on there, a mix of interviews with french pop stars about their new album and giving the results of various surveys including the revelation that "women who have at least one orgasm a day are the happiest!" The french - don't you just love 'em!

Keep smiling (french style if you prefer) and have a great weekend.

THERE BUT FOR THE GRACE OF GOD GO I.......

As I write this, I'm watching the world gymnastics championships on TV. What an event and from London's wonderful O2 arena - can't wait for the Olympics. Just two minutes ago there was a really nasty accident. A gymnast fell landed really badly on her neck during a complex tumbling routine. She was taken off on a spinal board, complete with neck brace by the medics....

I spent this morning watching my older boy play rugby and as usual did the first aid cover for the match. The lack of rain recently has left the pitch rock hard and one of the visiting players took a heavy fall and, at least for a moment, looked like he may have sustained a nasty injury......

Currently my running coach Rory is sidelined with a serious back injury and may require surgery. He hates not running but still keeps up his blog and keeps on motivating his clients towards their goals, even whilst his own running goals have been put on hold......

What is my point here?
It's this. One minute everything is fine - life is ticking along just great...... then bang. It can all change in an instant.

The rugby lad was fine, missed the rest of the game but otherwise OK. The pundits are saying that the gymnast was treated on the spinal board purely as a precaution and Rory, being Rory, will I'm sure bounce back and be doing something amazing again before we know it.

None of us know what life has in store for us, so why do we waste time worrying about it?
Let's use what talents we have, grab our lives by the scruff of the neck and LIVE!
Always try to live in the moment..... make the most of now and enjoy each and every minute of your life.

DON'T YOU JUST HATE IT WHEN......?

Now there's a question....... and one with so many possible answers!
The one that inspired this post was, "when the doorbell rings when you are in the shower".

Actually I was just getting dry and a quick peek out the window showed me it was the postman, so I grabbed my dressing gown and ran downstairs. By then he was already at the end of the drive - (a full 5 yards away!) having put his "too big for your letterbox" card through the door. He must have filled that in before ever getting to the door I reckon. Anyway, he trudged back when I called him and gave me the envelope.

I was glad I'd made the effort when I saw what it was, some material from Steve Chandler's excellent Club Fearless. Steve is an American coach who regularly sends out loads of really inspiring material. Today's package contained his new book. It also drew me to check his website where I saw this quote from Bernard Baruch:

"One of the secrets of a long and fruitful life is to forgive everybody everything, every night before you go to bed"


So simple, yet it really struck a chord with me.
I see so many people both as a GP and as a coach who struggle with vast amounts of "baggage". They worry endlessly about stuff from their past, stuff they have absolutely no control over.

There was also another great quote on the site, from the same author,

"Our only freedom is the freedom to discipline ourselves".
How very true. Why waste time and energy on stuff we can't influence when all the time the answer to the change we are seeking is to make that change within ourself.

As Ghandi once said,
"Be the change you want to see in the world".

The downside was that the post also contained a huge bill from my accountant....... but hey, I guess you can't have everything, at least not all in one day!

28 MILES.....AND PANTING!

Yesterday saw me do my first ever ultramarathon run (that's any distance longer than a marathon, 26.2 miles).
OK it was in training so only my trusty Garmin watch and I witnessed this (for me) momentous event.... but I did it and ran all the way.

It's been a good week on the running front as I also broke my personal best for 5 miles and got accepted for next year's London Marathon - excellent!

Work has also been really busy this week. The flu jabs have arrived, just the normal ones so far, not the swine flu ones, so were are busy giving these alongside doing all the normal stuff. The new partner interviews have led to us short-listing three candidates for round two. I'm sure that the fact that everyone looked so young has more to do with my advancing years than reality, after all, I was about the same age as most of them when I joined the practice back in 1994..... quite a sobering thought really.

It's been an interesting week on the coaching front too with telephone sessions and workshop preparation to keep me busy. Tomorrow morning I'm off to a networking meeting at a nearby hotel. I enjoy things like that, you never know who you are going to run into.

It's three weeks today until I'm due to run the Greensand marathon in Surrey. I haven't done a marathon since London in 2005 and have never done an off-road one. This one is also seriously hilly and run entirely on footpaths and bridleways. There is a real possibility of coming last too I reckon. This doesn't bother me, but the idea of being so slow that it's almost dark as I stagger back the last few miles does...... I think I'll slip a little torch into my pouch just in case. The clocks go back that day so there is an hour less daylight than usual.

Still, if that's all I've got to worry about, I must be pretty lucky. When you look at all the dreadful things that have happened in south east Asia this week - tsunamis, earthquakes etc. We must never forget that we are the lucky ones and always make sure we use every minute given to us to the best of our ability.

Right, I'm off now to watch X Factor - a sad but true confession.
Is it just me or aren't the best six acts ALL in the over 25 category and didn't you just know that Simon Cowell was going to get to mentor them? The only group that is even a quarter decent is the one made up of the three solo girls. And of course everyone has the obligatory story of bereavement, disappointment, being one of 14 children or of having struggled on the club circuit for ever..... but sometimes it's nice to switch off your brain and just watch something. Believe me, yesterday, after running 28 miles, was definitely one of those times!

AUTUMN LEAVES

As I drove back from the gym this morning I passed the local tool hire shop and was confronted by a new sign on their blackboard out the front of the store - "Leaf Blowers now in stock".

Oh good I thought (not!), I hate them with a passion.

It's not that I don't like autumn itself. It can seem like a sad time when summer first fades away but it's a beautiful time too - wonderful colours and usually not too cold..... but lots of leaves, everywhere. And here, I suppose, is where the leaf blower comes in. Now at risk of sounding very old and boring, I'd go so far as to say that for me, a leaf blower reflects most of what is wrong in today's society. It's about wasting energy to move a problem onto somebody else, rather than dealing with it yourself. What was wrong with the good old-fashioned rake? I used to love raking up leaves as a kid, still do in fact. When you rake leaves, you put them into a pile and you deal with them.... you don't just fire up the blower and blast them off your bit of pavement into the road or onto somebody else's property. It's the easy option but for me, not the best one.

I have to confess that we do own one of these gadgets.... but I didn't buy it, I don't approve of it and I have never used it. Maybe it's just a man thing that we women don't understand! What do you think?

LUCKY RABBIT'S FOOT?

Why do we consider a rabbit's foot to be lucky?
I would beg to differ that it is the bringer of good fortune. I have a good reason why it isn't...... in fact 24 good reasons...... attached to the SIX dead rabbits I saw on a run last week!

It's been a bad week on the "roadkill spotted whilst running" front.
Today yielded a small buzzard, a robin, a frog, two pigeons,three rabbits and a squirrel.

On Thursday there was a deer on the wooded path I rang along just by the side of the road..... made me jump!
Stupidly I nearly fell over it two days later when I moved to avoid a low branch and woah.... only just avoided tripping right over it - or "stacking it" as my boys would say. I never understand that one - but then, according to them, I wouldn't as I am "too old"!

I haven't blogged for a few days as I've been really busy elsewhere. My training continues - 11 mile run and a gym session today. We are interviewing for a new partner in the surgery so that is taking up much of our time there right now. Once the two departing partners leave - one retiring, one emigrating, I will be left as the senior female partner.....

Huge congratulations to my trainer Rory Coleman who completed his 143 mile run from Nottingham to London at the weekend, dressed as a gorilla. Remember how warm it has been? Rory, you are amazing!

UTTERLY AMAZING!

Some things in life are inspirational...... and some things are just off the scale!

If you haven't been following it, you'll be amazed to hear that Eddie Izzard, more famous for his cross-dressing brand of stand-up comedy than his athletic prowess yesterday completed his incredible run for Sport Relief.

He ran 43 marathons in 51 days, covering over 1100 miles in total. Just mind-blowing stuff. I found this to be just so inspiring. I love tales of ordinary people doing extra-ordinary things. If you haven't already sponsored Eddie - you can do so here

So here's to you Eddie. I hope you are now enjoying a well deserved rest. What you have done will change the lives of more people than you will ever know.

MEN BEHAVING BADLY

No not the 90's TV series....nor interestingly what I was about to write about when I sat down to write this.

I had been about to write about the contrasts in our society. Whilst running this week I have seen the same homeless woman twice, searching through rubbish bins for plastic bags at the side of the road. She was dressed in a dirty old rainmac on a hot day and was stuffing the bags she found into a short section of one of those plastic, fold-up tunnels that kids crawl through. As she did so the traffic roared past - plenty of 4 x 4's, Porsches and BMWs amongst them..... always makes me wonder what's gone wrong in our society that in 2009, people still need to live like this.....

What caught my eye, or rather my ears as I was about to write this was the debate that suddenly flared up in the BBC1 studio between the pundits who were discussing the final minutes of the Manchester City v. Arsenal match.

Emmanuel Adebayor, who has just made a somewhat acrimonious move from City to Arsenal, scored their third goal and then raced the full length of the pitch to celebrate in front of the Arsenal fans. Was this taunting of them justified? He got a booking but will that be all? Scuffles broke out behind the goal as he did it. The studio debate got pretty heated and was about how much responsibility the players on the pitch have for how they behave. Is bad behaviour on the pitch a good enough excuse to allow adults to behave badly on the terraces?

Sounds to me like Adebayor should have known better but everyone in that Arsenal end had a choice about how they reacted. It's not enough to say he did X so I had to do Y. It doesn't have to work like that. In an ideal world wouldn't we all take responsibility for ourselves and drop this ridiculous blame culture?

On the running front it's been a good week. I've beaten my personal bests on all my shorter runs and survived a 22 miler this morning unscathed..... bit stiff but still smiling. Have a great weekend.

DAY OF REST

Well, here we are again, another week over already.
As I write this it's 8.15pm and already pitch black outside. That's one of the things that I find strange when I go and visit my Dad in Thailand - it always seems to get dark at about the same time every day, around about 6.30pm I think. Here it'll be anything from 10.30pm in the summer to just after 4pm in the depths of winter. Somehow there's something strangely comforting about the way the seasons change.....

It's been another busy week, in the surgery, on the coaching front and with my training. I did a 22 miler (long slow distance) along the canal yesterday with my younger son accompanying me on his bike. It was a lovely day for it too. The banks seemed to full of birds yesterday - ducks, geese, Canada geese, coots, moorhens and herons to name but a few (OK to name all the ones I could recognise!) Just why are baby swans called cygnets? Gosling and geese - seems to be some sort of grammatical connection.... but cygnet? Always gives me the mental picture of a cygnet ring on the hand of a pudgy east end gangster for some reason..... sort of Bob Hoskins type character, but a bit meaner somehow.

Today I felt pretty stiff and sore though and after much though decided not to train today, although it wasn't supposed to be a rest day. This was the first day I have missed in 7 weeks but I still felt pretty guilty somehow. However, with my sensible head on it seemed better to try and let the few niggles I had collected have a day to recover before getting back out there tomorrow.

Strangely I will be sitting in a lecture theatre all day tomorrow. I'm doing an update course at the local hospital. It'll be a good opportunity to catch up with some local colleagues I haven't seen for a while and I'll still be home early enough to fit in a five miler before it gets dark.... even at the speed I run !

EDDIE IZZARD - AMAZING !

A really inspirational story caught my eye this week. Hopefully you've already seen it and sponsored him but if not, here goes.

Comedian Eddie Izzard, not someone you'd necessarily realy associate with endurance events is running the length and breadth of the UK, some 1100 miles to raise money for Sports Relief. He is running around about a marathon a day, six days a week.

Bloody brilliant I say.He always was the kind of guy you had to admire, even if his comedy wasn't necessarily your cup of tea. He is brave and stands up for what he believes in and is never afraid to be himself. I love people like that, people that are happy in their own skin and aren't afraid to say so.

Follow his journey here

Eddie Izzard you are truly inspirational - good luck!

BANK HOLIDAY OVER

If you're reading this in England you may be returning to work after the Bank Holiday. It's a phrase that used to puzzle me as a kid - why Bank holiday? I used to wonder did just the bank people not work? Thinking back to recent events it might have been better if many of the high profile bankers had taken a prolonged holiday..... but then I guess many of them probably are doing so now - at our expense no doubt!

I was out running along the canal yesterday and felt it was unusually quiet everywhere. Notably there seemed to be a lot fewer people fishing then normal. Are the sort of people who fish the same people who go away for the Bank Holiday? Now I confess I'm not into fishing, I love eating fish and I used to keep marine fish as a child, before they got electrocuted.... but that's another story. It's not a sport that I can readily see the appeal of. My hunch is that most women feel the same as in all the time I have spent by the canal I don't think I have ever seen a woman fishing on her own. Yes I've seen a few small girls with their dads and a few chavvy looking teenagers sprawled on the bank, gum in mouth and Heat magazine in hand as their boyfriends fished...... but women actually fishing. A very rare site indeed. I did see two together on the opposite bank last week... almost wanted to stop and congratulate them - though for what I'm not quite sure!

This is the kind of stuff that goes through my head when I'm running... that and wondering why there seems to be a lot of single shoes about the place, on pavements, on the towpath etc. Don't people know they've lost them? There was a whole new six pack of Petit Filou yoghurts on the towpath at the weekend. Strange.... not near a shop or a fisherman, just lying there beautifully symmetrically on the path as if placed there deliberately. Gone when I passed by that way a couple of hours later though. Still, I guess you need something to pass the time if you're fishing!

SECRET ADVANTAGE

It was beautiful this morning, so I was up at 5.30am and running by 6am.
I managed a 9 miler before work and felt great about it all day.

For me, doing something extra early in the morning really sets me up for the day. Somehow knowing that you've achieved something, whatever it is, before your normal day gets under way, really gives you the edge all day.

It doesn't matter if running's not your thing, or if you're not a morning person..... but think about what extra little thing you can squeeze into your day that'll keep you smiling all day long. Now now..... keep it clean! (or not, choice is yours!)

Whatever it is, don't just think about it, actually do it.
I can't remember who said "Life is a series of little victories" but I couldn't agree more.

Have a great weekend.

NO LIMITS

"It's not the will to win that makes a champion, it's the will to prepare to win."
Bobby Knight

I love this quote. I saw it again yesterday in some stuff sent through to me by coach Steve Chandler. Steve runs a world mastermind group called Club Fearless and is a great source of inspiration and positivity. Well worth checking out his site if you haven't done so already.

The quote made me think about a book I read whilst I was away, "No Limits" by Michael Phelps.
It was fascinating, a real insight into the mental and physical preparation that he went through to win those amazing eight gold medals at the Beijing Olympics.

One of the favourite phrases of his coach Bob, and he had a lot of them, was "money in the bank".
All the time and effort Michael put in in his training was like money in the bank, not in the financial sense but in terms of building up a reserve that could be drawn upon later when it was really needed.

I look at those great athletes in Berlin this week and marvel at what has gone before. All those weeks, months, years of dedicated single-minded preparation...... and I learn from it. You get out of life what you put into it so let's get out there today and put it all in.... 100%. Nothing else will do.

JUST AMAZING....

Did you see the men's 100m final last night?
How amazing was that? Usain Bolt not only won but absolutely smashed the world record. How much faster can he go?

Jessica Ennis was incredible too, winning the heptathlon. So inspiring.

Not sure if I was influenced by what I'd seen but I had a fabulous run myself today, lopping a full six minutes off my best time for the run to the gym (6.6 miles). I followed it with a training session and felt on good enough form to do an extra set of weights and tempo run.

Earlier on I'd coached a new client and we'd done some face to face NLP work together. I am sure she is going to do really well, she's got a great attitude.

Afterwards I even felt up to braving the school uniform shop for new blazers and trousers for the boys. Must be getting an appetite for those frogs!

I'VE EATEN THE FROG!

No, not a reference to my recent trip to France...... though I am partial to a bit of grenouille now and again.
I'm referring to accomplishing a much hated task - as described in Brian Tracy's book "Eat That Frog".

I was very pleased with myself yesterday for sorting out the paperwork for our practice accountant. In truth it's not that big a job, maybe two hours worth of work, but one that I loathe doing every year. In comparison with the sorting out I have been doing of my Nan's estate since she died, this stuff was very simple..... but nevertheless, a frog for me.

The idea in the book is that to eat a frog would be very unpleasant, so when you are looking at a list of tasks, make yourself do the worst thing first...... hence eating the frog. I certainly felt great once I'd done it and rewarded myself with...... a fifteen mile run. Yes, you knew I was strange didn't you! I have to confess I was really looking forward to running yesterday...... as they say on Reggie Perrin, "almost physically excited". No I'm kidding, but while I'm on the subject of Reggie Perrin, I thought that series turned out rather well, so much better than expected. I loved that programme as a kid and when I saw it was being remade thought it was bound to be awful..... but I rather enjoyed it. Martin Clunes brought something new to the role and didn't try to be Leonard Rossiter. If only the same could be said for the remake of the Pink Panther films with Steve Martin, surely the worst remake ever? Unless you know better of course!

Anyway, the run went really well but was fairly hard in the last 4 miles. It was quite hot yesterday and I tried running with a backpack for the first time, for my drinks. As always, it was hugely worth it, not only for the enormous endorphin high at the end - makes you wonder why anyone bothers with drugs - but for the great feeling of knowing that it is one more step along the road to my goal.

I've had an easy morning this morning. Stretched out on the sofa, sun streaming through the window, watching the World Athletics Championships live from Berlin - fantastic. Starts again at 5pm and hopefully I'll see Jessica Ennis take the heptathlon gold medal and Usain Bolt "jog" to win the 100m. Lots to do before then..... enjoy the rest of the weekend.

BACK HOME

First day back at work today......

I've taken a bit of a break and spent a week in France followed by a week in Ireland.
It was great to spend time with the family. My boys were really missing facebook, MSN etc. For me it was a deliberate decision not to blog. I checked my emails once during the fortnight - 53 messages, only a couple of which needed my attention. On my return there were 72 more waiting for me.... but the world had kept on turning without the internet.....

I've been good whilst I've been away and kept up with my running and exercise regime.
Running past fields of sunflowers and along tree lined avenues was a real pleasure, as was the time spent in Ireland.

I had a lot of messages from prospective clients on my return, all of which I'll get to in the next couple of days.

I was in the gym today before work and as usual found the session really set me up for the day. It's lunchtime now and so far so good..... but I am on-call this afternoon, so who knows what might happen! It's a beautiful day here though, the sun is shining and the council guy is strimming right outside my consulting room window. I feel like shouting down to him - "Hey mate you're 15 minutes early, I don't restart until 2pm!"

BEAT SURRENDER

Another beautiful day today...... starting off with a 7 mile run by the canal. It was fabulous. Unusually I wore my ipod today and had one of those "I'd forgotten how good this playlist was" sort of moments. Five miles gone and on came one of my favourites, "Beat Surrender" by The Jam. These particular lyrics are from the middle eight and I've always loved them. Today, as I heard them, the sun shone down on my back and they put a real spring in my step. The miles flew by, no problem.

If you feel there's no passion, no quality sensation.
Seize that young determination.
Show the fakers you ain't foolin'.
You will see me come running, to the sound of your strumming.
Fill my heart with joy and gladness, I've lived too long in the shadows of sadness.

I've been a Paul Weller fan for 30 years and for me this is a real feel good song. Takes me back to being 14 again and queueing for hours in the snow to see The Jam at the old Hammersmith Palais - magic. I've probably seen him live 30 odd times over the years....
The song set the tone for the whole day as I went on to a great networking meeting and later signed up two new coaching clients, both of whom had first heard of me when they read my recent article in the BMA News.

Tomorrow is looking like a complete contrast with a full day in the surgery, beginning with the commuter surgery at 7am and ending with an afternoon on call. Later, a new coaching client awaits me in the evening. Another day of great opportunities awaits....... enjoy.

AN AWESOME DAY

I have had a terrific day today. I've been up in Derby with fitness trainer Rory Coleman www.rorycoleman.co.uk
He did a VO2 max fitness assessment on me and then showed me an entirely new way of training.

I'll confess I was nervous before going there. He is one of the greats in the world of ultramarathon running. He has completed well over 600 marathons, is holder of 9 distance running world records and has completed the Marathon Des Sable 6 times - more than any other Briton. He is also the man who trained Helen Skelton, the Blue Peter presenter to run the Namibia 78 mile desert run. I am just a novice with a big dream and a ton of attitude. A small voice in my head whispered, "so what makes you think you deserve to train with the likes of him?'

Do you know what, I ignored it...... and I'm bloody glad I did as I had an absolutely awesome day!
I thought about that quote I blogged about a few weeks ago..... "it's not about who is going to let me. rather, who is going to stop me!"

Rory has drawn up a personalised plan for me and I can't wait to get started.
It's a few hours now since we finished and I'm starting to feel just a little stiff and sore, but inside I'm still buzzing.

Today was a great day - a personal landmark for me. My ultramarathon dream starts here. C'mon!

HERE AND NOW WITH TIGER

Whilst running yesterday it occurred to me that so many of the people I passed on that beautiful sunny afternoon were..... well, elsewhere. They were either listening to their ipods or chatting away on their mobiles. They didn't seem to be connected to the here and now and really enjoying the moment.

A few did look up and return my "hello". A few even remarked on how well behaved young Soxy dog was. She's developed this habit of trotting along about half a yard in front of me as I run....really cute. However most people seemed to be, well, somewhere else. Now there's nothing wrong with that per se, it's just that where we were was so beautiful, it seemed a real shame to drown it out with music/talk over it/ignore it.

It made me think about Tiger Woods......my mind works in strange ways!
I read recently that he attributes some of his phenomenal success to his ability to be really in the moment. When he stands over the ball, he doesn't fret about the putt he's just missed or about what time he's got to catch his next flight. He just concentrates on swinging that club, to hit that ball towards that hole.

Try it this evening. Whatever you're doing, give it your full attention. Ignore everything going on outside. Do it like you mean it and see how it feels to be right there in the moment.

ULTRAMARATHON MAN

One of the books that I bought to take away with me, but I didn't wait until then to read ..... was the amazing, "Ultramarathon Man" by Dean Karnazes.

I'd like to share this extract with you, written as he reflects on the last stages of his solo 200 mile relay race. I say relay because everyone else ran it as a team event but he did the whole thing by himself.... as "Team Dean". Even if you've no interest at all in running, I'd urge you to read this book. It is fabulous and utterly inspirational.

"Running has taught me that the pusuit of a passion matters more than the passion itself. Immerse yourself in something deeply and with heartfelt intensity - continually improve, never give up - this is fulfillment, this is success."

Whatever you enjoy in your life, whatever you strive for..... this says it all. Sometimes we get so caught up in the pursuit of our goals that we forget to enjoy the journey. If you are clear about what you want and can honestly say you have given 100% effort towards getting it, what greater satisfaction can there be than that?

SUPPORT & DEMONS

Well I survived the run - even if it didn't rain. It was pouring when I got up but by the time we started it was hot, hot, hot.
It made me realise how much I had missed taking part in things like that. My finishing time was pretty poor but for me the point of running is to run against yourself..... and believe me, today, I won.

I started near the back but still seemed to be passed by loads and loads of people. My legs were feeling pretty weary and after about two miles I could hear a small voice in my head saying things like, "ooh isn't that calf a bit niggly again, maybe you should stop, you don't want to be last do you?" I hung in there, plodded on and by halfway was really enjoying it. I finished a very long way down the order but who cares. I overtook two people with a final sprint (aka slightly faster plod) and crossed that line. Michelle 1 - Demons nil.

Thanks to my facebook friends who sent message of encouragement. It made me realise how important the love and support of those around you is. I've been chatting to some new prospective clients this evening too and the theme of support and connection was big in those conversations too.

So enjoy what remains of the weekend. Look back on the fun you had and think about what you've learned that you can take into the new week. See you tomorrow.

SPORT, SPORT, SPORT

Yesterday I had an article about NLP and my coaching business published in the BMA (British Medical Association) News.
Since it came out I've had loads of enquiries from prospective clients - fantastic.
I know how much my own life was enriched by coaching and I can't wait to get the message out there to some of my colleagues.
Makes me feel really excited.....

Other good stuff today included book shopping for my upcoming holiday.
I bought:
Ultra Marathon Man - Dean Karnazes
It's Not About the Bike - Lance Armstrong
No Ordinary Joe - Joe Calzaghe's autobiography
No Limits - Michael Phelps' autobiograpy
What Sport teaches Us About Life - Ed Smith

See, I told you I am a sports nut! I love books about how people achieve extraordinary things, about the mental strength behind champions. Only problem is..... they might not last until my holiday, I've already made a good start on the first one.

I've also got a local quarter marathon to look forward to tomorrow. I haven't run with other people since the London Marathon in 2005. After several years out with back problems I've been strictly a solo runner since returning... until now. It is forecast to rain but, you guessed it...... I love running in the rain. Bring it on!

THROW YOUR CAP OVER THE WALL

I want to share a great story with you, from one of the books I am reading at present. The book is called "Shift Your Mind, Shift the World", by Steve Chandler.

John Kennedy once attended an elite public school in Boston. At that school, the uniform was highly prized and losing or damaging your uniform carried a severe punishment. It was customary amongst the boys to challenge each other to climb a huge wall near the school which was thought to be pretty much impossible to scale. Many had tried, all had failed. When Kennedy was challenged, what did he do before starting his ascent? He took off his school cap and threw it over the wall. Now he knew he had to climb it........ and he did.

Think about things you want to achieve in your life. How committed are you to doing them?
Are you trying to lose weight or hoping to get fitter?

If you want to achieve something you have to make it happen, you have to give it top priority.
It is said that the most important choice you make is what you choose to make important.

What do you need to do to get that leverage on yourself, to turn your dream into reality?
Start right now and throw the cap over your own wall.

BACK OUTSIDE

"Tu vas courir dehors demain?" My french teacher asked me last night.
(Are you going to run outside tomorrow?)
For the first time in three months, the answer was a resounding yes..... and what a great run it was!

It is exactly 3 months since I tore my calf and after many weeks on the sidelines I resumed cross training and treadmill running but today was my very first run outside - wonderful.

I did six miles along the Grand Union canal towpath, accompanied by my faithful hound Sox. She's a 4 year old rescue dog, a Jack Russell cross with perhaps a bit of Beagle in her..... who loves to run. She loves to lag behind then come charging past at breakneck speed. We had only one nasty experience when she bizarrely tried to run between my ankles.....

The weather was perfect for running and the canal is a wonderful place to do it. Although never far from the main road or railway, it feels like a peaceful haven in a mad, crazy world. I returned to a hot shower and then a telephone coaching session with one of my favourite clients. What better way to start the day? I appreciate how privileged I am to be able to spend my days doing the things that I love and I'm not afraid to say so.

If you haven't spent any time outside today, I'd encourage you to do so, even if it's just to take a short walk for a few minutes. The power of exercising, especially outside can never be overstated. Why not try it, you'll be glad that you did.

I was hugely chuffed to see that more people read my blog yesterday than on any previous single day - probably more to do with Roger Federer than me, but gratifying none the less. A special welcome to a new reader in Pelotas in Brazil. Why not leave me a comment and say hello?

15TH GRAND SLAM

Did you see the tennis yesterday? What a fantastic match!
Roger Federer won his 15th Grand Slam tournament, beating Andy Roddick in five sets, the final set going to an unbelievable 16 - 14.

I was impressed by many things during this match and feel there is so much to learn from it. The mental strength of the players was huge. They absolutely refused to throw in the towel, even when things were going against them. They just hung in there, dug deep and waited for their moment. For me the best example of this was when Federer came from 4 set points down in the third set tie-breaker to win six straight points and take the set.

The truly great champions seem to step up a gear at the really big points.

I was also impressed by the composure of both men and by their interviews straight after the game. They paid tribute not only to each other but to the fans and the tennis legends in the crowd. They both showed humility and grace. Would Andy Murray have done the same?

Well Wimbledon's now over but it'll soon be the Ashes and even better, soon be the football season again. As for me, I had a great session in the gym today. I took inspiration not only from the tennis but also from watching "On Thin Ice" last night. Did you see it? It was the second part in the documentary following the attempt of Ben Fogel and James Cracknell, together with a third competitor to train for and take part in a race to the South Pole. If you've missed it so far, check it out on the BBCiplayer. I love programmes like this, about people doing extraordinary feats of endurance - wonderful. It's enough to make you want to leap out of your comfort zone.... and grow!

Oh and a big thanks to you Lady M for your kind comments and for becoming my first follower! Don't leave her on her own..... if you enjoy my blog, why not follow it too?

SELF BELIEF

Regular readers will know how highly I value self belief.
We all have so much more strength and so many more resources inside us than we give ourselves credit for. If there was one quality I would want my boys to grow up with it is self belief. Happiness flows from there. When you know you can do something, you take responsibility for it. You have no need to blame other people for what happens to you or indulge in activities and lifestyle choices that bring you down.

I love this quote, from A.A.Milne

Promise me you'll always remember:
You're braver than you believe
and stronger than you seem,
and smarter than you think.

Enjoy the weekend.
See you next week.

THE JOY OF SWEAT

What a wonderful day it is today - absolutely beautiful.
I'm sitting out in my garden typing this on my laptop. It's well over 80 degrees but with a gentle breeze...... magnificent.
The day started brilliantly with an excellent session in the gym. The new shoes are great and I'm starting to build the running up again nicely. Not yet back to where I was when I tore my calf but I'm getting there. I truly believe things like that happen for a reason. One of the good things that came out of it for me was the fact that whilst I couldn't do much cardiovascular stuff at the gym, I got into the habit of doing more core-stability work. Something that I badly need to do and previously used to hate.

Anyway, whilst on the treadmill I was listening to this book. It is the amazing story of Dean Karnazes who ran 50 marathons in 50 consecutive days in 50 different states of the USA. It is a truly inspirational book, narrated by Dean himself. It's much more than just a list of his runs. he gives the reader an insight into his personal highs and lows as well as to the incredible logistics of planning something like that. He also stated a charitable foundation called the Karno Trust, designed to encourage physical activity in kids. A phenomenal guy, I highly recommend you read this.

One of the many things I love about running is the "head time" it gives you - allowing you to think about...... well, just about anything. I've lost count of the good ideas I've had whilst in the gym. One I am pondering at the moment is setting up some sort of club to encourage women to run, specifically women with self-esteem or mental health issues. As a GP I see loads of women like this. I just know how much exercise could help them and often they know it too but don't know where or how to start, who to go with etc.I am thinking of experimenting with this amongst my patients. Does this sound like a good idea to you? Let me know. You see I'm sure there are so many women out there who would love to get into sport but perhaps haven't participated since school and think they "can't" do it. There's no such thing in my book. I want to take my passion and enthusiasm for exercise out to the masses and let others share in the sheer bloody joy of sweat.

ROUNDERS FOR RWANDA

Yesterday found me out in the sun, doing something I haven't done for the best part of 30 years....... playing rounders.
Actually, we did play once with the practice 10+ years ago, but otherwise I haven't done it since I was at school.
So, what was the occasion? My sons' school were holding a fundraising sports afternoon to raise money fro the mission they support in Rwanda. A fantastic cause and more than 60 of the parents thought it was well worth donning shorts and trainers to show their support.

What a great day we had - really good fun. Everyone mucked in, gave it a really good go....... and was a whole lot more competitive that they admitted! It was excellent fun and I can't pretend that we didn't absolutely love it when we scored rounders. it was a really good laugh and hopefully a whole lot of money was raised for the cause.

It was surprising energetic too. Since I stopped playing football, I can't say I do much sprinting. Yes I'm in the gym a lot and yes I run, but it's more of an endurance type workout that I do........ so my thighs felt a bit stiff this morning. Still, I treated myself to some new running shoes today and, after coaching a client, I tested them out on the treadmill. Fantastic!

I drove back home in the beautiful sunshine to watch Roger Federer finish off Robin Soderling in straight sets - excellent. Another great start to another great week - enjoy!

TWO SURPRISES

Swine flu continues to spread in my neck of the woods and has certainly changed the way we have functioned as a practice this week. It lead to an odd experience for me, something you don't see every day as a GP. Being on-call yesterday, one of my jobs was to take swabs from some of the suspected cases. To do this we work in a designated area and have to wear a mask, gloves and apron. The paperwork is a nightmare..... takes much longer than the swabs themselves. No that didn't surprise me..... what did, was opening the door to call the first person in, to be confronted by a sea of faces, all also wearing facemasks. It was quite surreal. Like something out of a bad science fiction movie. Not the stuff of everyday suburban general practice.Still, on a personal note, it's been good for me to be pushed out of my comfort zone and thrown in to dealing with this. It's had a good effect on our team too, it's pulled everyone together in a sort of wartime spirit.

The other shock this week was the death of Michael Jackson. Whatever you thought about him, no-one could deny the guy was a musical legend. In years to come, it'll be one of those, "where were you when you heard the news?" type moments. A bit like when Elvis died, or Princess Diana. I rememember when Elvis died, we were just about to go on holiday. I was about 11 and woke about 4am (we were due to leave very early) to hear my Mum crying and saying "we can't go now!" She was a big Elvis fan and was really upset by the news. Luckily my Dad talked her round and we went away, but the memory has stuck with me.

Funny the things you remember.....
Well have a great weekend - see you next week.

NEVER A DULL MOMENT

Well it's been another busy week so far...... and it's only Wednesday.

The week started with a bang when the big secondary school nearest to the surgery was closed down for a week due to confirmed cases of swine flu. This led to us activating our flu plan in the practice.

Now luckily for me, I no longer work there on a Monday - it's one of my coaching days, but I walked in on Tuesday morning to find the signs all in place, directing the flu and non-flu patients to different entrances. Inside things were different too, with the creation of sealed off areas for the examination of those who might be infected. It brought home to me one of the difficulties of working part-time..... sometimes you feel as if you are the last to find out about things.

Don't get me wrong, part-time working, especially mine where I spend the non-practice time doing the coaching that I am so passionate about, has plenty of benefits. Where was I today, when the sun was shining? Lunching at a local golf club, networking with a group of 20 other women - excellent. You meet some great people there, people with real stories to tell. I guess that's one of the things I love most about my two jobs - I get the chance to talk to so many different people and really find out what makes them tick.

A woman at the group was the founder of a charity called The Cookery School for Kids. They have been nominated for a National Lottery Good Causes Award. Their mission is to teach the underprivileged and disadvantaged kids of West London how to cook healthy food. They've done some fantastic work so far. You can read more about them and vote for them in the awards hereIt's completely free, there's no form filling and it takes about five seconds.

As a GP I see so many problems that relate to poor diet and unhealthy lifestyle. As a coach I work with lots of clients who want to kick their bad habits. Anything that can be done to encourage kids to make a better start in life, especially kids like these, many of whom are in care or have special needs, has got to be fantastically worthwhile. Take a few seconds to check this out. You'll be glad you did.

LOOKING PROMISING

Well, the weekend is over and the new week is with us. To my mind it's looking like it's going to be a great one. For lots of reasons.

I'm writing this having just finished a session at the gym in which I ran for the first time in two and a half months. Admittedly not very far.... but boy did it feel good! The calf tear I sustained back in April has been slow to heal and been complicated by the flare up of an old back problem. I am hoping that I am now over the worst of it and able to, quite literally, get back on the right road. I've been exercising all the way through..... but there's nothing quite like running.

So, I'm sitting here glowing about that and contemplating the start of Wimbledon. Will Andy Murray win? Without wishing to sound unpatriotic, I hope that Roger Federer wins. Can there be a professional sportsman who is a better role model for youngsters? I once read an article by a journalist who interviewed him the night before a big tournament final. They were in his hotel room, it was already 1am and it had been a very long day for the player. Just as the interview was about to finish, the journalist realised to his horror that the tape recorder hadn't been switched on.... he was very apologetic but felt dejected that he wouldn't be able to capture the full interview. To his amazement, Federer suggested they just do the whole thing again..... from the beginning.

That story has always stuck in my mind. That a man with that much money, kudos and power was humble enough to do that. He's always had my support since then.If he wins he will also break Pete Sampras' record by winning his 15th Grand Slam title - a truly amazing feat.

So, whoever you are supporting, let's hope that Wimbledon fortnight is the great sporting spectacle it usually is. Let's hope to see effort, passion and sportmanship rewarded. Sounds promising to me.

STOP BEING A VICTIM

A great quotation for you today, one that really made me think.

"The question isn't who is going to let me, it is who is going to stop me!"

Ayn Rand  from "The Fountainhead"

I love things like this, subtle mind-shifts that allow you to stop feeling like a victim and begin acting as the creator of your life. Too much time these days is spent responding to circumstances, rather than designing our lives.

This begins with knowing what you want..... allowing yourself to dream.

Richard Bandler is quoted as saying "Would you get in a taxi if you didn't know where you wanted to go?" What would you say to the driver? Remember, when it comes to your life - you are the driver. Too many of us focus on what we don't want rather than getting clear about where we really want to be going.

Once the destination is established it's about taking responsibility for the journey....... and remember...... Who's going to stop you?

WHAT A LOAD OF RUBBISH!

Not a comment on today's post...... hopefully not anyway.

The title refers to what I got up to yesterday morning.

Normally I spend my Sunday mornings ankle-deep in mud on the touchline of my son's rugby team, but for the next three months it's the off-season. Just the midweek training session and no weekend games. So, I decided to do something different.... something useful.

It's the annual carnival in my village next weekend and to help clean up in preparation for it there was a volunteer litter pick..... so I volunteered. I have to say, it was great fun too. I tried to get the rest of my household involved but I'm ashamed to say the call of the sofa, the Sunday papers and the PS3 was just too strong!

Two hours in the warm June sunshine, hi-vi jacket on and picking-up gadget thing in my hand, I collected two big bin-bags full of rubbish. Where does it all come from? Evidently McDonald's and the off-license are a big part of the answer to that. But who drops it.... and why?

 I don't know about you but I detest litter. How much effort is it to put it in the bin? Maybe they should bring back those great Ronnie Corbett TV adverts of the early 70's - who remembers seeing little Ronnie, up to his neck in rubbish saying "Litter's not much fun, when you're only five foot one"? 

Caring for your environment makes such a difference. Studies have shown that poor environments - derelict buildings, smashed windows etc. are strongly linked to anti-social behaviour. It was great to be able, in a small way, to make a difference to where I live. Just think if everyone did a little something like that..... what an enormous difference we could make to our world.

MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Well, I'm back..... almost four weeks after my last post.
Sadly my Nan died during this time and although not altogether unexpected, she had Alzheimer's disease for several years, it really shook the roots of my world.

A combination of annual and compassionate leave from work meant that I was away from the surgery for almost three weeks. I've been back here almost a week now after one of the longest months of my life.

My Nan made a huge difference to the lives of other people, not just in our immediate family, but in the wider world. In 2002 she was awarded an MBE by The Queen for services to charity. She and my late grandfather between them put in over 112 years of service to The League of Friends at their local hospital. They were amazing people.

There are wonderful people like them all around the place, quietly working away for the greater good without a thought for themselves. Wouldn't it be great if we heard more about inspiring people like this? Why does the media focus on Real Madrid buying Cristiano Ronaldo for £ 80 million whilst millions die of malaria in Africa for want of a £ 5 mosquito net? You know how much I love football...... but even to me, that's obscene.

Look around you, at your local community. Find out what's going on and think how you can get involved. Now more than ever in this mad, money-driven culture, it's time for us all to start putting something back. Contact me and let me know what you are doing.

So enjoy your weekend and may the sun shine on us all. The blog will resume as normal next week.

TAKEN OUT FOR A REASON

Well it hasn't been the best start to the day ever.....
I got up at 5.45am to go to the gym before work, only to get there and realise that I'd forgotten half of my kit.

So,I showered and went on to work early, intending to sort out some emails...... only to find that I couldn't access my email account. A not infrequently recurring glitch on my practice computer.

I'm a firm believer in things happening for a reason, and decided to make the best of it. I guess that's why I'm writing this post now rather than tomorrow morning. Even the gym thing might have been for the best. I am still recovering from a torn calf muscle I sustained running 5 weeks ago. It's on the mend and I'm doing everything I'm told by the physio. Maybe this stopped me from overdoing it today? I'm not able to run on it yet and apart from my normal weights circuit and the stretches, I've been restricted to walking on the treadmill..... not that exciting. Today I was allowed to cycle (gently) in the gym..... maybe forgetting the kit stopped me damaging it further doing my Lance Armstrong impression - who knows?

Sometimes I think we are just "taken out" for reasons that aren't always immediately clear ...... either that or I'm just getting old and forgetful and have a crap computer! Much as I love your comments - you can keep these ones to yourself!

AN AMAZING FEAT

I just wanted to pay tribute to Helen Skelton - only the second woman in history to successfully complete the 78 mile Namibia ultra marathon. An amazing feat, even for a seasoned endurance athlete...... but considering she is a Blue Peter presenter who trained for just three months beforehand, it as absolutely phenomenal.

She ran the equivalent of three marathons, through the desert, both during the 43 degree heat and the long dark night. She suffered horrendous blisters and came close to quitting twice, but she hung in there. The programme recording the race was wonderful. If you are in the UK, for the next few days you'll be able to watch it on the BBCi player - I'd highly recommend it. My favourite bit was when she kept herself going by the shout "Come on me!"

As you may know I love to run myself. I completed the 2005 London Marathon and raised £4500 for the spinal injury charity Aspire. Unfortunately I sustained a back injury that kept me away from running for a long time..... but now I'm back. Well I will be once my torn calf has healed - the perils of being the wrong side of 40......I'm being good, doing my stretches etc..... but things like Helen's run just make me want to get my trainers back on and get out there.

My own big dream in the running arena is to complete the 40 mile Tring to Town run next January. 40 miles along the Grand Union Canal from near Kew to Tring. It will be cold, might well be wet, almost certainly very muddy and could even snow. Unlike the London Marathon, there won't be huge crowds lining the entire route. For miles at a time there will be no-one. It starts in the dark and will long since have got dark again by the time I get there. But just the thought of completing it fills me with the sort of excitement that a really big goal should do.

What are your big dreams? What's going on that you can take inspiration from? Look around you. Open your eyes, take it all in and use it to help you build your dream.

MEETING MICHAEL NEILL

I've spent the last two days up in london attending Michael Neill's Coaching Mastery course. It was absolutely excellent. For those of you not familiar with Michael, he is one of the world's top success coaches with lots of celebrities and film stars among his clients.

In spite of this he's a remarkably down to earth sort of guy. The course was wonderful and hugely inspirational. As always when coaches get together there was a great atmosphere of generosity and sharing. The attendees really learned a lot from eachother - as well as loads from Michael of course!

Meeting someone you have huge admiration and respect for can sometimes be a worry..... will they really live up to your image of them? I needn't have worried. Michael Neill not only met but far exceed my own expectations. Thank you Michael and everyone else who attended the course - fantastic.

Whilst there I gained a lot of clarity about my plans, so expect a few changes in my website soon. I'll keep you posted! Have a great weekend x

GOOD ENOUGH

It's been a little while since my last post. I'd love to say I've been away to sunnier climes or been doing something similarly exotic - but I'd be lying. The plain truth is I've been a victim..... of trying for perfection.

Let me explain.......

Sometimes in our lives we get stuck don't we? It's as if we can't move on with something until it's absolutley perfect? Does this strike any chords with you?

Regarding the blog, I've had lots of half-formed ideas for posts in the previous couple of weeks.... but nothing that was quite perfect. So instead of choosing something, anything,in fact..... inertia set in. Once you leave off doing something for a while, it gets harder and harder to get back into it.

Whilst contemplating this very fact this morning at 6.30am as I drove in to the surgery, it struck me that the most valuable lesson in this was accepting that being good enough is sometimes the best option at the time.

What have you been holding back from doing as you thought you weren't going to do it perfectly? Why not take this opportunity to decide that where you are, right now, is the best place to start from - and just go for it. That's good enough for me!

BE PASSIONATE !

Last night I ran a workshop on Limiting Beliefs.
It's a subject that I find is hugely relavant to so many of my clients.

What things in your life do you believe in that are holding you back?
Where did they come from?
What purpose are these beliefs serving you?
What have you missed out on because you have continued to believe these things?

These topics and many more were covered last night and went down well with the attendees. We had a really great, highly interactive session. It's excellent when people realise thay are not the only ones to feel as they do and share ideas and strategies with others in a similar situation.

When I got home afterwards, I was asked if I had enjoyed it - "I loved it!" was my response - not a moment's thought needed......

Although those that came along really seemed to enjoy it and get something out of it too - I think the real winner there was me. I don't say that in any sort of arrogant way...... far from it. I see the opportunity to do this sort of thing, to get out there and talk to others about something you are really passionate about, as a huge privilege.

So come on. What do you really enjoy doing? What are you passionate about? Whatever it is, know that you have all the resources you need to succeed inside yourself and just go for it. Step out of your comfort zone and fly!

GENEROSITY OF SPIRIT

Yesterday was devoted entirely to networking - a vital part of building any business and a part that I have really come to enjoy. It is also one part of my life as a life coach that differs hugely from my life as a GP. GP's don't really need to network. We're just there. People find us. We don't need to advertise or put ourselves about so to speak. However, like coaching - it's very much about forging relationships and building a reputation.

I have had quite a few meetings with other business women in the last few weeks and I never fail to be amazed at just how much you can get out of these meetings if you go into them with the right attitude. The thing that always amazes me is the real generosity of spirit. There's a real sense of sharing, of camerarderie, of all being in it together. This sharing extends to information, contacts, ideas.... you name it.

If we both have an apple and we swop them, we've still got one apple each. But if we each have an idea and we swap them...... we've now both got TWO ideas. Probably just the process of discussing them will throw up a few more besides and so it goes on.

Being generous with our time and helping others is one of the greatest ways for us to contribute to the happiness of those around us, and subsequently to our own happiness. Think about your own life, your contacts and friends. What can you do for them that will make their life a little easier? Just thinking about it will probably bring a smile to your face. Go on - give it a try!

TAKING FIVE

How has your day been so far? Mine has been pretty busy.
It's one of my GP days today so I was here just after 7am catching up on paperwork and results. A fairly hectic morning on call followed and I'm just about to start evening surgery.
So I decided to take five.....

I'm sitting here in my consulting room, looking out at the sun. What a differnce the sun makes. Although there's a building next door, I'm on the first floor and can only see trees from my chair. The birds are singing loudly and the faint rumble of traffic in the distance is barely audible. There a gentle breeze blowing, I'm warm and comfy..... all is at peace in the world.....

Well it made me feel good anyway!

My point is, that however busy your day is, make a deliberate point of taking five...... just stopping, sitting still and just for a moment...... doing nothing. Be a human being for once, rather than a human doing. Look after yourself and your body. If you don't, where else are you going to live?

BREAKING OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE

Today's post was inspired by a presentation I gave in my network meeting. I belong to a branch of the WIBN (Women in Business Network) www.wibn.co.uk and we start every meeting by giving a one minute presentation about our business. I try and do something different each time - to make it memorable and humorous.

Today I decided to handcuff myself to promote my new series of workshops entitled "What's Holding You Back?" I'm giving three evening workshops on topics relevant to just about everyone I know!

1) Limiting Beliefs

2) How to Thrive in a Recession

3) Motivation

My point was that we all have a choice. We can either choose to stay in our comfort zone (even if it's not feeling too comfy) or we can BREAK OUT to the wonderful, balanced, exciting lives we deserve. It was at this point that I escaped the cuffs with a flourish!

If you're ready to escape your comfort zone, now is a great time to come along to one of my workshops. The details are on my website www.change-it-lifecoaching.co.uk If you're not local, why not book some one to one coaching sessions with me? As well as face to face coaching, I work with many of my clients on the telephone or via Skype  (changeitlifecoaching). More details are on my site.

Remember, you can stay right where you are....... or you can choose to live the life of your dreams. It's your call.

ENTHUSIASM

"Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm !"
Ralph Waldo Emmerson

This has to be one of my all time favourite quotes.
It encapsulates the energy of wanting to get out there and just do it.

I thought about this last recently when I was interviewing for a new member of staff in our practice. Among the questions I asked was for them to select three words that best described them. I told them it was OK to blow their own trumpets too. Lots of them struggled with this.
What would you say to this?

The first of my words would definitely be enthusiastic. If you're not doing something that you really love doing - do something else. Failing that, find a way to love what you are doing. Do it with energy, commitment and as if your life depended on it. Strive to make yourself into someone who is great for others to be around, a source of energy and inspiration.

When now would be a great time to start?

A LOVELY WAY TO GO

I attended a funeral this week, my great aunt's.
I mentioned her in the blog back in September when she had her 100th birthday celebration. Well 2 weeks ago, she died peacefully in her sleep - may she rest in peace now.

I was interested in one of the conversations at the gathering afterwards in which someone talked about the passage of time. They observed that they were now beginning to realise that everyone around was growing older. Certain relatives they perhaps only saw every few years at similar events and could now begin to see the effect of the passage of time. "When we met, we were in our 20's, as were most of the others...... but that was 50 years ago now!"

The implication is that we don't notice the passage of time in ourselves....... though having recently restarted running I may have to disagree!..... or in those we see regularly. Proabably a good thing come to think of it.

Well enjoy the weekend. It looks like a lovely day out there again. I'm busy proparing for a series of new workshops. Check out my website soon for more details.

A SPRING IN YOUR STEP

Well it looks as if spring is well on the way here...... and not before time. One of the many things I love about living in England is the seasons and the unpredictable weather, but I can't say I'm sorry to see the back of the snow. A patient told me this week that she was just back from a three week holiday. It was apparently meant to be a two week one but on phoning home and hearing of the bad weather, she decided to extend it. Doesn't that sound good?

Well a bit of sunshine certainly seems to have put a smile back on most of the faces I have seen around this week - which is great to see. Personally I have had an excellent week, although I have very much missed my older son who is off skiing with the school. He returns tomorrow. I have managed 5 trips to the gym so far this week and what has pleased me the most is that I have restarted running.

Back in 2005 I ran the London Marathon. I had only begun running about a year previously so was very pleased to finish and even more pleased to have raised over £ 4000 for the spinal injury charity Aspire. Unfortunately since then I have had a lot of back problems which have meant although I'm a regular exerciser, running has not been part of my regime - until now.

I have managed several treadmill runs this week and am planning some outdoor runs early next week. There is something incredibly great about running, even at my slow plodder kind of speed. Even on the treadmill, i-pod in my ears, it is sometimes a real effort not to join in and sing along out loud. Do you know what I mean?........ No? ......... Must just be me then!

I hope you make time to do a bit of what you love doing this weekend.
Have a good one.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING JUST FOR FUN?

I'm writing this from the cafe at my gym. I'm sitting here, cappucino in hand, typing away. I have a bit of extra time this morning as a client cancelled at short notice.

I'm lucky. I know that. My jobs and lifestyle allow me the luxury of indulging regularly in one of my passions - working out at the gym. Maybe this makes you smile - pityingly! Maybe you agree? Maybe you know me personally and think..... well it doesn't show!Well believe me...... it does to me. And do you know what? Much as I love you all, I couldn't give a monkeys (in the nicest possible way of course) ......because I love it!

There is something about pushing yourself really hard, getting covered in sweat and then afterwards feeling an amazing endorphin rush. I don't smoke, I wouldn't do drugs for all the tea in China and I no longer drink alcohol....... I don't need to. I get all the buzz I need from the rest of my life!

OK, so maybe you don't share my passion for exercise...... but I'm sure you are passionate about something. Whatever it is, are you actually doing it? Are you finding a bit of regular time in your life to indulge in that activity and bask in the great feeling it gives you?

If not....... ask yourself....... why not? When now is a good time to look at your week and think about what you can incorporate that really makes you feel wonderful?

The benefits of doing something that you love last far longer than the time you spend doing them. Take my gym session this morning. Not only am I still glowing on the outside...... yes I'm still rather pink in the face 45 mins after showering....... but it's got me on the inside too. I feel incredibly energised, enthusiastic and ready to take on the world.

And even though it's still really cold here and the car park here is like an ice rink...... at last the sun is shining. It's going to be another beautiful day. So get out there and grab it with both hands!

WHAT HAVE YOU GOT TO LOOK FORWARD TO?

So how have you been coping with the cold snap?
Have you been enjoying the recent snow/travel problems/school closures if you've had them?

I'm not really a great lover of the snow myself, it has to be said, but I do love the variety it brings to our weather. I would hate to live somewhere where the climate was too predictable. I guess knowing that we'd have a couple of months of sun in the summer would be rather nice though.......

If the cold, dark mornings are getting you down - do something about it..... start planning what you've got to look forward to later in the year. Maybe you've got a celebration coming up - a family birthday or wedding, perhaps it's a holiday or a visitor coming to stay. Maybe you are going on a course that really excites and inspires you? Perhaps you have tickets for a sporting event....... Watford in the FA Cup final maybe? OK, maybe that's pushing it..... but you see what I mean!

Thinking about something that you have got coming up is a great way to focus your mind. Maybe there are things you need to do to prepare for it and can start work on now. Why not make a list of those things and decide when you are going to do them?

Once you get yourself into a great state of mind by focusing on a future event, other ideas will start to flow. You'll be amazed at how creative you will become once you get your mindset right.
Let's face it - for most of us, there is so much to look forward to. If you're in reasonable health, with somehere to live and friends about you - you have an awful lot to be grateful for. So make the most of it now. Decide that this weekend is going to be a great one for you - and as they say at Nike - Just do it!