Over the Hill - Communion Jam

What no Becks at the Olympics! No not the beer, I mean our David. What the heck was Stuart 'Pyscho' Pearce thinking about leaving him out of the GB team? He's the shining example of what it takes to pull on a national vest and perform for one's country... he's always delivered and I'm not impressed with him being left out!

I wonder if 'Seb' has other 'duties' for Becks? I hope not  as it's the momentum and inspiration that he delivers to his team members that can be the break of winning and us getting a medal of some description or not...

Maybe Becks can be reconsidered - let's hope so for his sake and for the sake of the GB team. I'm sure he's gutted and this isn't about money for him... it's about PRIDE and it's a sad way to leave a career where he's given so much.

More tomorrow...

Survival - Muse

Well there's less then a month left until the start of the Olympics, and I am wondering just how many Sebastian Coes there are? He was shown in the news in three different places yesretrday and he's popping up everywhere right now as we enter the final run into the seven years of preparation for what could be the sporting event of our lifetime.

Hopefully it will run as smoothly as all of the Olympic Spin dcotors are predicting and they will find the 1.5 million school children they need to occupy the empty seats in the stadiums during the events. I just hope it's not going to be a 'Global Flop' as the UK promised so much to get the Games in  the first place.

I will be watching closely and drawing inspiration from my new Coaching Hero, David Brailsford as I am fascinated to see how the cyclists get on... especially Bradley Higgins (also in the Tour de France). 'Bout time we won something...

More later...

Record Breakers - Roy Castle

On a day where we've had a new course record on our UR100, it's quite spooky that I sit outside our finish at Stratford Leisure Centre as this is where I set 6 Guinness World Records back in 1998.

It was literally just a few metres from here that I ran for one day of my life to gain that special accolade that so many chase... I feel really lucky to have been able to do that and make my mark... That kind of thing is important to me and its been good to see that drive in so many people out there on the course today...

Sure it's tough and some have overcome some massive physical barriers to get here to take part today - with a smile even when the going for them has tested their limits of human endurance.

So why do it then? You might ask... Well it's because it's important and they have to - if you understand why, then you are an ultrarunner too and you'll be out there making your mark this weekend just like I did in 1998...

Oh to be 37 again...

www.ULTRArace.co.uk - The Home of ULTRArunning in the UK

Location:Bridgeway,Stratford-upon-Avon,United Kingdom

Tea for Two - Vincent Youmans

Well would you believe it... drinking large amounts of tea could increase the risk of prostate cancer, according to the latest research. Apparently sscientists found that more than seven cups a day raised the chances of men developing the disease by 50%.

Isn't anything good for you nowadays?... I've ditched the fags, booze and coffee, got extremely fit, run marathons AND go to the gym BUT I am now being told that my nice cups of Earl Grey are going to fry my nether regions if I'm not careful... what a nightmare!

Is it time to put the teapot at the back of the cupboard?... Is water bad for you?

Maybe we'll know in another 37 years...

Heart of Glass - Blondie

What sort of person are you? Glass Half Full, Glass Over Flowing or Glass Bone Dry? The one in the picture makes things slightly better I suppose but what's the point living in a permanent drought? Yesterday I asked if YOU went the EXTRA MILE,  and today, I am wondering if YOU struggle in seeing the brighter side of life and situations that you find yourself in good or bad...

Maybe it's all about lowering your expectations and shortening your horizons... or plainly kidding yourself that things can only get better!

Take it from me that running 100 miles takes a huge amount of training, effort and BELIEF as well as the ability to update your thought processes during the race. Without an 'Overflowing Glass' or a clear mental picture of seeing yourself at the finish of the race, there's no point even starting IMO. I am totally surprised that folk undertake this and other monumental running tasks with little more than a wing and a prayer.

You need to be 100% conditioned and prepared... Yes there are always some exceptions but in my experience success is down to planning and having huge mental belief in ones own abilities....

How's your glass right now?

Either you do... Or you don't

It got me thinking today that in life it's far TOO EASY to say 'No' or opt out rather than in on taking a challenge or going that extra mile...

How many times have you said 'Oh bu99er it, I can't be bothered or given just enough to get by... It's just average and it gets me barking mad when people just don't put in as much effort as they need to. Whenever I find myself doing it, I even give myself a good hard kicking... Honestly.

Mediocrity isn't my game... Is it yours and does it drive you mad?

I'd love to know...

www.ULTRArace.co.uk - The Home of ULTRArunning in the UK

An Innocent Man - Billy Joel

Looks like it's time up for Lance Armstrong as the The United States anti-doping agency (USADA) are closing in on him and his three doctors on their 'Alledged' doping activities during his racing career.

Interestingly enough Armstrong has tested negative in ALL off his doping tests and so is well in the clear but has been named by his fellow team-mates that he was on performance enhancing drugs.

It's a bit like being convicted of murder without anyone finding a body with no DNA proof and just being convicted because someone said they saw you do it... I think they will have to do better than that to corner Armstrong as he has a MASSIVE following not only in cycling but also in the wider sporting world.

Whether he has or not been on drugs, we'll never know but it's a real shame that he is constantly under scrutiny and we are not celebrating his achievements without any doubt of his integrity.
There is a doubt there though isn't there. And it's bad that anyone wants to cheat to win and be blineded by adulation and monetary rewards. With the Olympics around the corner it makes you wonder just who is 'straight'... Hmmm

More tomorrow.

Red Light - David Nail

My word what's going on... Pelican Crossing are going to have to slow down! Apparently the general population can't cover the required 1.2m/second to cross the road anymore and people are in danger of getting run over. The new speed of 0.8m/second is as fast as some can go, which is 14.5 hour marathon pace... it's frightening.
What a sad state of fitness levels for the 21st century man... even the 76 year old original Green Cross Code Man, David Prowse can still walk faster than that!

Maybe we need some initiative to get people out there walking and exercising more so that I spend less time at Red Lights waiting for them to crawl across the road or even worse, press the button when they don't need to stop the traffic...

GRRR - more tomorrow!

Disappear - INXS

Now can anyone tell me what has happened to Jimmy Tarbuck? He's not dead, I've checked...he's just disappeared. Tarby used to be on TV all the time in variety shows and game shows but he's just vanished. Folk do you know, even some at the peak of their careers such as the lovely Jan Francis and even lovlier Lysette Anthony. What a waste...no not Tarby, we didn't need him in the first place really!

I could add Caroline Langrishe and Chris Jury from Lovejoy fame to my list of vanished celebs ... is there a black hole? If there is I will of course be sending my usual suspects off on the next 'Starship' (see what I did there)... but what I need to know is who else is 'Missing in action?'

Do we need a search party?

Home by the Sea - Genesis

We went to the coast today to stretch our legs and give our furniture a rest from being bitten by our Mad Puppy...Down at Sully, we were blown inside out by the wind and nearly washed by a few waves down on a very quiet beach. The normally busy 'Captain's Wife pub deserted and a walk out to Sully Island simply impossible. It was a lovely hour or so on the beach...

Makes you wonder when we ARE going to get those summer rays as Aberystwyth got a real battering last night.

I thought the sun always shone in Wales...

Football's Coming Home - Three Lions '98

Warren Gatland

With just 50 days to go until the Summer Olympics, we now have Euro 2012 (did you see the crazy opening ceremony?) followed closely by Wimbledon to whet our sporting appetites...

We already know in our heart of hearts that England won't win the football - especially as they can't even pick a team yet as the second choice, second rate manager is still deciding whether to choose Ferdinand (3rd choice for MUFC on most Saturdays) or not for the team. I reckon Germany will win the tournament as they are a cohesive TEAM that expect to win...with losing not being an option.

Anyway moving on, at Wimbledon, Andy Murray will crash out in the Quarter or Semi-Finals and will sound as mono-syllabic as ever in defeat.

IMO, What they need is a bit of positive coaching from someone like Sir Clive Woodward... a coach who can direct, encourage and create a team of WINNERS... isn't it time that these over paid sports stars delivered for once.?

Just take a look at Wales' Rugby Players , what a great advert for team work and belief... Warren Gatland's men are going to give Australia a right hard match tomorrow, you mark my words... I reckon England and Andy Murray need to do a few hard scrum sessions with the mighty Reds... that would harden them up a bit.

Be good spectator sport too...

Venus - Bananarama

Did you see the Transit of Venus? No, not a new Van that Ford have launched but the path of the planet Vebus crossing the sun. Transits of Venus are among the rarest of predictable astronomical phenomena. They occur in a pattern that repeats every 243 years, with pairs of transits eight years apart separated by long gaps of 121.5 years and 105.5 years.

The transit of Venus on 5 and 6 June 2012, and was the last Venus transit of the 21st century. The next transits of Venus will be December 10-11, 2117. So it's a once in a lifetime occurrence and even knowing this I couldn't be bothered to witness it.

I wonder why that is as I am genuinely interested in astronomy and was most keen on the Solar Eclipse of 1999... maybe Venus hasn't quite got the WOW factor eh?

Makes you wonder just how important knowing what is going on outside of our world is of interest to us in our everyday lives... certainly when you see a Solar Eclipse it is an incredibly powerful and emotional occurrence that makes you wonder at how lucky we are to even exist... Making sure that you make the most of it during the blink of an eye that you are here is SO important.

Hmm, maybe I should have got up and seen that Transit?

The Works - Queen

Well how was your first day back at work? Mine was superbusy and will be tomorrow with more MdS Training for 2013 Runners. Running around Cardiff today, it was like the city there was a little bit of a Jubilee Weekend hangover and the torential rain made it a very hard day to be out running but hey ho we got it done :-)

Better news is that my website www.rorycoleman.co.uk is now live following some updates with more information about training for Ultra's and Marathons with my 12 week Programmes to help you reach your running goals. Jen's new 3hrs 10mins Pb says it all...

I'm using this myself to get my marathon times back to where they used to be, so watch this space...

More tomorrow...

Jessie J - Domino

Well did you see the concert? Boy oh boy some of the old pension brigade of entertainers - namely Paul McCartney, Elton John and Cliff Richard should have been left firmly in the home or should that be FLAT...as it was just plain nasty at times. No wonder the Queen was wearing bright yellow earplugs.

Gary Barlow must have been disappointed with some of the weaker performances which is a shame as it had started far too well with Robbie Williams and Jessie J who both showing that they could actually SING unlike the horrific Will-i-am. Don't worry though Gazza as your knighthood's still safe...

Although, wheeling out Rolf Harris and 'C' list celebs including the ever talentless Lenry Henry didn't do it any favours either IMO to nail it all together. What we needed was Duran Duran and where were Coldplay? Were none of the world's best acts unavailable? We had a crummy rendition of Beautiful Day instead of the Real U2 (sorry Dan) and where were Queen?

Happily it did look like the Royals liked the Gig and Prince Charles speech was just a perfect way of summing up why so many people had gone to celebrate the occasion. Hopefully at the 70 year Platinum Jubilee, Annie Lennox and all the other no-hopers will be long gone and Cliff won't be trying to sing the Young Ones at 82?

Let's hope eh?

Dizzee Rascal - Round We Go

It was a marathon with a twist today down on the site of the old A2 in Kent, courtesy of our good ULTRArace friend, Ian J Berry... the Kent Roadrunner Marathon is actually a 17 lapped 26.2 miler around the lavish Cyclopark attraction which has been built over the carriageway...

It was a very good multi lapped and undulating course with a nasty hill halfway down the back straight but it didn't stop Slaterchops amongst many others getting a new marathon best of 3hrs 10mins... My 84th best time ever of 3hrs 57mins was mildly hindered by a bit of Dog walking and watering if I was being honest but all in all a good day out, with even some sun later in the day.

It was also good to see some of the old 100 marathon Club runners too especially Pete Morris and John Williams... shame Big Dave Carter and Paul Adams weren't there too... miss 'em...

Celebrate - Kool and the Gang

Well on this marvellous Jubilee Weekend, isn't it sad that there's an anti-royalist protest planned during the Jubilee River Pageant... no matter what you think about the Queen etc. if people want to celebrate, why can't they just get on with it without people trying to ruin their fun. 

Apparently, they will hold placards and banners saying 'citizen not subject', 'power to the people' and 'democracy not monarchy'. Guest speakers at the event include human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell and columnist Joan Smith. 

Republic's chief executive Graham Smith said: "Our message is to the wider public that there is an active and growing movement they can join rather than sitting and watching on TV. We are planning a peaceful protest and many families will be joining us". 

"We can't wait for Sunday. Our loud, bold and provocative protest will be a major step forward for the republican movement and an opportunity to kick-start a real debate about the future of the monarchy. The royals spend most of their lives shielded from criticism; this protest will give them a rare glimpse of the strength of republican sentiment in Britain today". 

Hmm...Why don't they just enjoy a long weekend like everyone else, as it's an extra day off work... That's what we're doing and not trying to spoil lots of people's fun. 

More tomorrow after the Kent Roadrunner Marathon...