Author: Keri McKibbin

Your faith is being tested to the max right now. It’s been sunny for the last 3 weeks in weather terms, but we are in winter now in terms how we feel, and faith is very much in short supply.

If you can stay in a positive state though somehow through the winter we are going through, then you have every chance of coming out of it feeling invincible into summer.

You will feel invincible because you are tapping into the great resources you have. You have two options of channeling bad news into your brain, or letting hope come into it, and build a foundation of possibility and opportunity.

Anticipation is your greatest gift right now, because spring and summer always follow winter. 

Do we give up because we feel trapped right now? Or do we show resourcefulness beyond what we thought had?

An interesting government statement came out today about re-opening parks and so people could exercise more (what’s it like to have 2-3 kids in a flat right now in the middle of a city for example?), the government know they will be under immense pressure from mental health issues and getting people to exercise more is a key strategy.

Most people are not irresponsible no matter how some of the vile papers get one photo and spread it everywhere, most people just want some “me time”, they want some fresh air and solitude, and time that’s guaranteed to make them feel better physically and mentally.

Anticipate everyone around you is going to need you to be strong for when we eventually come out of this and right now too, they are going to need your support, but you are going to have to dig deep and get your kit on every day and change the way you see the world, that part is down to you and don’t hide away from it.

Life is pain and pleasure, opportunity and challenge, we are having more of the rough stuff at the moment, but the more you test yourself in these harder times, will dictate the speed you come out of this in great shape, in your body, mind and spirit.

Don’t forget you’re a fighter, don’t look the other way, and face this head on continue to kick it in the balls!

Saturdays I try to shut down, relax completely but with these days where we often don’t know what days it is, I feel like running the mountain again. Last MONDAY was my day off, because my body needed it and I appreciated it, but today feels damn good to get going again.

I feel like doing sprints today, which I haven’t felt like doing for a long time, there will be a video coming up at a future date too. Life feels more productive when we notice we can improve personally against the odds.

It’s a good sign my trainers are wearing out, we are in week 8 of them and they are almost done. The miles that these have run, the hills that they have climbed, the workouts at the gym and in my back garden, have all been done for a reason.

Every time I’ve put them on, I’ve done it with new urgency. I know there’s been immense pressure to get you fired up through our films, messaging and leading by example.

We had a difficult first week, with some of you struggling to get going, feeling the paralysis and fear of the virus, which is natural.

The day by day approach rather than worrying about the whole 3 week period has been a great recipe for calmness of the mind.

When I just heard there will be another 3 weeks, it’s natural for me and for many of you to feel your heart sink. 3 WEEKS sounds a lot again, but we have done 3 weeks as of NOW already.

Lots of you are hammering our workouts, loving the challenges that they are producing, and you find it the best way to cope with the stress and anxiety that lockdown can bring.

Your resourcefulness though and resilience has stood out for me. Your ability to grind it out and actually improve has impressed me deeply. 

The hills I run have become easier because of the response you have given, the workouts at the gym have gone up a couple of levels because I can feel the passion you are throwing at them, and I’m feeling that deep energy.

It maybe back to taking one day at a time for a short time again, but realise we have already DONE 3 weeks, we have found new things out about ourselves, we are tougher than we ever thought and we have a deeper appreciation for all the best things in life which turn out to be free.

We have done the hard part, so look forward to going forward with the wind at our BACKS for a change and thrive on getting better, and appreciating great things that are undoubtedly coming.