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