The easy & friendly way

Yesterday, I was out in the dark running a mile as fast as I could. Today I ran in the gorgeous sunshine, supporting three relatively new runners with a gentle jog, followed by some jog/walking.

Both very different experiences but I loved both.

I hope I didn't torture my beginners group too much, as we were supposed to run for fifteen minutes and then jog/walk for the rest of the three-mile route.

I'm afraid to say I got so involved in chatting that I kept them running for nineteen and a half minutes before I realised that we were supposed to stop for a walk.

It's so great to see people stretching beyond their comfort zones towards their true potential.

All three of the runners I was with this morning said that they enjoyed running with others and that they didn't think they'd be able to keep up the running if they weren't doing it with a group who all supported each other.

Striving for your potential doesn't have to be hard, and it is also often far more effective when you've got others supporting you.

Running & Michelangelo

Splashing through the puddles this morning I had a real sense of wellbeing.

I really enjoyed leading the four mile group last night with the beginner & intermediate running group that I was helping.

There's something about running, chatting to people and the feeling that you're helping someone that I find a really rewarding mix.

I also enjoy my running on my own. I couldn't only run with others, otherwise I wouldn't get my new ideas time.

Anyway, on this morning's run my mind drifted and fell upon Michelangelo's philosophy that the job of the sculptor is to free the forms that are already inside the stone.

It sounds a bit heavy for early in the morning I know, but I felt that was a great analogy for how I feel about my life.

I have an idea of the statue that I'm trying to release, and that already exists, and I'm chipping away at the excess stone and things are gradually taking shape. And there are also some intricacies within, that I'm discovering as I remove more pieces.

Anyway, on to more down to earth things.

Now what's for breakfast?

How to transform a day

Not for the first time, my morning run completely and utterly transformed my day today.

I woke up with an unusually negative frame of mind this morning and found it really hard to drag myself out of bed.

As a result I got up late, drank my tea and did a couple of small jobs on my laptop before pulling on my running things, thinking that not even my run would be able to shake me out of my downer.

How wrong could I have been!

I set out on my 3-miler with the question in my head, "What was it that has had such a negative effect on me since this time yesterday?" I just left the question "out there" while I tuned in to my breathing, the process of running, and the scenery that I encountered.

Now, I've done a lot of work on values, particularly my own, over the last 8 or 9 years of being involved with coaching. However, somewhere along my route this morning, it hit me that one of my core values is adventure.

I have uncovered the value of adventure for many clients over the past few years, but it had never occurred to me that it is a key value of mine.

But when it hit me, and hit me it did, this morning, it all made sense. My value of adventure has recently been suppressed. I also realised that knowing this, I have an opportunity to find out what I could do to increase my experience of adventure in my life.

And my day was turned on its head. Yet again, I returned energised, excited and my day totally transformed.

Wisdom of your body

Completed my 200th day of running at least a mile each day. This morning it was 5K again.

Another glorious morning, and a relatively quiet week ahead with the family having left for sunnier climes (hopefully for them).

While I was running this morning I was thinking of what I could write in my blog today and as usually happens when I'm trying to think of something, my mind goes round in circles and doesn't come up with the goods.

However, if I let go of trying to think of a solution and get present to my body, my breathing, how my legs feel, how I feel inside, an idea nearly always comes to mind, as it did this morning.

It reminded me of when I was on my coach training and they taught us that our intuition is an extremely powerful feeling (think of your gut feel, or when you feel that your heart isn't in something).

In fact they also taught us that our intuition, usually in our guts or stomach but can be anywhere, is never wrong. The only mistake we make is misinterpreting the feeling sometimes, and that comes from lack of use. Like any muscle that you stop using, you have to practice and build it up gradually.

So anyway, my gut says that I'm going to have a good day today, and it's usually right.

Nike got it right

Nothing like a 5K in the rain before breakfast to spark an appetite. It was actually really nice. I can't think of a better way to start the day.

I'm sitting at my desk with Crowded House blaring out at me from my iTunes and getting really excited about going to see my favourite band again in a couple of weeks.

I feel great today and am also excited about several projects that have been in the background but are all starting to slowly start moving.

There's something about moving, isn't there. That's what I love about running. No matter how you feel when you're stuck, whether at work or at home, just the process of getting your body moving on a run generates energy and starts that important initial momentum.

Nike got it so right when they said "Just do it".