Martin Higgins Coaching

I wrote an article 6 years ago about a race I took part in. The first paragraph is copied below (the whole thing is too long for a post). It isn't eligible for The Tweedlecoate Press Short Story & Poetry Competition for 3 reasons.

The first is that it's my work and I can't enter my own competition.

The second is that the word limit is 2000 words and this piece is over 6000.

And the third is that it's been previously published.

Other than that, it would have been a solid contender for one of the winter months ;-)

If you'd like to enter the competition the link will be in the comments.

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The day dawned bright and clear and warm. Not the day of the 55, a totally different day, perhaps in a distant land or possibly just a different time of year. The day of the 55 dawned (or at least would do a bit later on) with a breeze and a somewhat chilly feeling in the air. A few flecks of snow on the windscreen of my van that I’d kipped in since arriving late the evening before.

The Tweedlecoate Press 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 & 𝐏𝐨𝐞𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 went live a few days ago.

We are looking for entries of either a short story or poem which can relate to one or several months of the year.

All winners and runners up will have their submission published in an 𝔸𝕟𝕥𝕙𝕠𝕝𝕠𝕘𝕪 which will have ③ stories and ① poem for each month (that's a total of 48 published entries).

Overall winners for each of the short story and poetry categories will also receive a cash prize.

Full details are on our website (the link will be in the comments).

I need to say a big "thank you" to whoever it was that donated to Isaac's expedition fundraising yesterday.

He was over the moon with the generosity you showed.

I'm hoping you're reading this as all I had on the donation form for a name was that you're a former colleague of mine and as I've worked with so many great people over the years that doesn't narrow it down.

For those who don't know what Isaac is up to I'll pop a link to his page in the comments.

He's raising the money himself as so far has worked on:
Bake sales.
A sponsored walk to complete the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge.
Making garden furniture from reclaimed timber - he's doing a professional job of these.
Selling refreshments at school events.
Bag packing in local supermarkets.

Future plans include:
More of the above.
Planning and operating another Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge for local small businesses.
And a few other things up his sleeve.

Proud dad alert.

This is the sort of action I love to see and when it's from your own son it's all the more special.

As I'm sure you all know by now, Isaac completed the Yorkshire Three Peaks challenge on Saturday which was a gruelling 24 mile route over three tough hills totalling over 1600m of climbing as part of his fundraising for next years' school expedition (yes, there'll be another copy of the link in the comments for my friends who haven't gotten around to sponsoring him yet).

While we were walking, one of the parents with us was struggling with a sore ankle. She had a heavier pack on with spare stuff in it.

Isaac simply went and took her pack instead of his lighter one. He didn't make a big deal of it. He didn't come and tell me or anything. He just shouldered the extra load in spite of the challenge he had already taken on.

No fuss, no bragging, just doing the best he could with the situation in front of him.

I did notice what he'd done and I got this photo knowing full well I'd be the one bragging about it...

Yesterday, Isaac and two of his World Challenge team mates completed the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge.

It was wet (well it is the summertime ;-) ). It was 24 miles of hard work made all the harder by over 1600m of ascent, some of which is really steep. For context, that's more climbing than the achieving the summit of Ben Nevis - Britain's highest mountain.

Each of the three had one parent with them (I thought it would be nice for this to be a family bonding trip ;-) ). The kids could have done it unsupported, they did so well - not that I'd have sent them off alone of course.

They are using this as a way to raise sponsorship for their school organised expedition next year. For more on what they're doing (and to donate whatever you can) head to Isaac's web page.

That’s the first summit done.

Today’s first challenge…

Tomorrow is a big day for Isaac. He’s about to take on the Yorkshire Three Peaks challenge. He’s never walked anything like this far before.

It’s around 24 miles total distance and includes 1585m of ascent. This is a serious undertaking. Especially so as the aim is to try and complete it in under 12 hours.

While it’s a big challenge for a 14 year old he’s decided to do it as part of his fundraising for the school World Challenge expedition to Africa next year where the group will be working with a children’s charity in eSwatini and doing marine research in Mozambique.

So here’s where I would really appreciate everyone’s help. I’m going to pop a link in the comments to his fundraising page.

Anything you can donate will help a lot and make his day all the more special knowing he has support out there.

We’ll be sharing updates on the odd occasions that we signal out in the hills.

Heading west…

This has been my week since getting her out of the water on Monday. I’ve cleaned and prepped the underside of the hull, put on two coats of primer and 3 of top coat anti foul paint (all the area under the waterline). I’ve cleaned the outdrives and all sorts of other jobs.

I’ve also had loads of people (ones who know what they’re talking about 😉) tell me how great she is and what good condition she’s in. Not bad for a 50 year old boat.

Not a terrible spot to wake up.

Nope, not selling the kids. Just most of the other things I own. Almost everything in the house is going. If the only reason I've touched it in the last year is to move it out of my way then it's going.

I've already got rid of the garden cabin (my gym moved indoors), the piano, a large bookcase, some stools, two TVs and a bunch of smaller items.

I'm making use of eBay's reduced fees offers and getting things on Marketplace.

I've got tons of books to go (I know, sacrilege isn't it), loads of fitness bits (just keeping the most useful items for simplicity), kitchen bits, more furniture and loads of other things.

The house is already feeling better for having less stagnant mental energy in it.

Ultimately, if it isn't a positive influence on our lives then it's going.

The kids and I have started a new project. I've hinted at it a few times but here is the intro to it.

I'd appreciate any feedback if you have a look over it.

We have the first episode of our YT channel up and there is already footage for another 3-4 episodes in the camera ready to edit.

Higgins Adventure Life - YouTube We bought a boat. Boats are better than houses. On top of starting to live afloat we also do a bunch of other adventures. Some are big. Some are small. And w...

Getting bored at work is not just an issue of being unfulfilled in what you do.

It also has impact on your physical health.

Many people who are bored will turn to snacking as a way to alleviate the tedium of what they're doing and of course this excess of calories, coupled with what's likely a sedentary job, likely leads to weight gain in the form of body fat.

The direct reason for this boredom eating is a need to stimulate dopamine release which is lacking because the work isn't rewarding us in that way.

Knowing that it's a reduced level of dopamine in the brain that's causing the need to snack we can look at strategies to get that hit in another way.

Taking a break and doing something physical is a good start. A short walk in the fresh air would tick the box or, if time is short, doing some squats or star jumps can have the desired effect.

Going and talking to someone might also do the job. If you can raise the interest levels in the day then you'll be less bored and your dopamine may come back up again.

Perhaps the ultimate aim though might be to find something to do that isn's as boring.

Corporate type meetings like they're talking about - absolutely true. Those are the most dull and uninteresting things you could possibly waste your time on.

On the other hand, coaching call or 121 networking type meetings are always really interesting and I always look forward to having them. Perhaps it's because there's real benefit to both people and there's less fluff to get past.

And if numbers and projections are involved then it's to do with personal improvement rather than some corporate targets that were never that realistic in the first place.

I just saw an ad for a chair. It was more like a lounger to be fair.

The claims made on this ad were that it would:
Improve blood flow
Reduce neck tension
Relieve back pain

Well I have a cheaper approach to all of that.
Take frequent breaks away from your desk
Change your seating position frequently
Add more exercise into your normal day

Get these basics right and you'll not need to spend out on a fancy chair to do it all for you.

The photo is not of the actual chair - I don't want complaints from them 😉

In honour of Ground Hog Day we’re having ours unground…

There are a bunch of mentor type gooroos banging on at the moment about how virtuous they are in getting up at stooopid o'clock every morning to get to the gym and taking on a "holier than thou" attitude for doing so.

Well, I know some of them (or their spouse has dobbed them in ;-) ) and that isn't their normal habit. Many, just like the people they're trying to connect to, struggle to make it a habit beyond the third week in January.

The things that prompted them to make a change are still there and are still a temptation and they're still human and succumb that temptation just the same.

Habits are about what we do most of the time, not just some of the time.

So rather than get ashamed of not being able to hold a gym habit, or a "no cake" habit, or an alcohol free habit, or whatever else you're trying to achieve and struggling with, how about owning up to it and I'll see what I can do to help get you what you want.

And yes, I struggle as well. I am making progress to my goals but there are days when I have to let life get in the way and leave the lifting a few days before getting back to it (FREE HINT - you won't lose all your progress for a few days off now and then, it might even help).

I'm going to go out on a limb and suggest that the vast majority of pills are a bad idea. Look after your health and you'll never need them.

That said, there are some pills without which life would be nigh on impossible. Sometimes pain can't be managed without. Sometimes we need to reduce inflammation. Sometimes things just don't work without a little extra help and that's often through no fault of our own.

So when you hear that pills are a sign of taking the easy option rather than putting the hard work in, don't take it to heart. It isn't always down to personal failure or bad choices.

Of course, if there is something you can do to reduce them, go for it. If there's something you can do to avoid them, go for it. If you want another set of ears to see if there are alternatives, give me a shout and I'll see if I have any ideas you could look into.

I used to say stuff like "it's not difficult, it's ONLY rocket science" ;-)

Everyone has their own subject that they're expert in. I'd struggle with music theory - which is why I take singing lessons with Tobyn. I don't know a whole lot about marketing so I hire that expertise in when I need to.

I do class myself as expert in a couple of other subjects though.

What are you are expert in?

A timely reminder that fish oil is great for all sorts of things and is one of the few supplements worth taking daily. If you're only going to take one thing (on top of a decent fresh food based diet) then make it this one.

My current view while the group of kids eat…

One of my Six Core Elements to Thriving Without Limits - Rest. Hobbes getting in one of the other ones at the same time - spending time in Nature.

Both are vital for a healthy body and a healthy mind.

These two tearaways are full of great life lessons that too many of us adults have forgotten about.

Eleanor made me aware of another Netflix documentary last night and asked me to have a look at it and see if there was anything useful to take away from what it had to say.

The show is called "You Are What You Eat: A Twin Experiment". If you have watched it or are planning to then please wait a day or two before you try and make any changes based on it's content.

I've taken a couple of pages of notes and I'll be doing a video discussing what's in there which I hope you'll take account of before you seriously set your goals back.

As a small spoiler I'm just going to say for now that the show contains a blend of good information and, errmmm, inaccuracies (that's me trying to be diplomatic and all that ;-) ).

Eleanor just messaged me a much more accurate description but I try not to publish content with swearing in it ;-)

I basically had the same conversation as Calvin and Hobbes with Eleanor earlier.

It started with how, several decades ago, my mum mentioned to a lady in the village that her dog was overweight and would be happier to get a bit less food and more exercise.

The lady took note and was then seen out walking the dog several times a day round the village and over the fields. The dog slowly got trimmer and went from slowly plodding along to running about and having a much more exciting time of it as the weight came off.

It likely lived longer than it would otherwise have done, it certainly put more life into it's years in any case.

But then I say basically the same thing to people these days (about themselves) and I either get tumbleweed or a flood of excuses.

Is the message of "eat better, move more and have a far better quality of life" not a popular one these days?

It certainly seems that nobody wants to know in spite of the stats showing that most of us need to take note...