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.