thrivetogethercoaching

"Fall seven times, stand up eight."

The Sahara Desert walks into a bar.
The barman says, “Long time no sea.”

Humour, good humour, bad humour, or painfully timed dad jokes, is one of life’s best medicines.

Camp life was spent nursing blisters, cuts, and bruises. We were showerless, sleep deprived, under-fueled, re-toilet trained, fatigued souls layered in grainy sand.

On "recovery" day, we were greeted by a sandstorm. We were the lucky ones, there were still competitors out in it.

Morale can slip so easily. The mind drifts toward what we don’t have.

But what we did have was an abundance of badly timed dad jokes.

And somehow, that mattered.

Humour in its adaptive form is good for the soul, it can break tension, enhance connection and distract us from the daily stresses that life throws at us.

Laughter is known to bring psychological benefits to the body. Studies have indicated it to reduce stress hormones, improves oxygen flow and release endorphins.

So I will leave you with this one.

“I invented a word the other day.”

“Oh yeah, what is it?”

“Plagiarism.”

The Devil whispered to the warrior, 'You cannot withstand the storm.'
The warrior whispered back, 'I am the storm'"

Thank you everyone feeling incredibly greatful right now.

There is nothing sexy about running 270km across the Sahara desert but there is somethjng beautiful in it.

Im emptied the tank and left it all out there

❤️🙏🏃

Fueling for the Marathon Des Sables

You have to bring a minimum of 2k calories of food per day.

Im 6 ft 2 in...90kg ...2k cals will only fuel my left foot...

Il plan to consume on average 4k cals per day.

I prefer to carry the extra weight knowing that il be fueling as best i can to help my performance.

Each day my bag will get lighter and il get stronger or less hangry or both.

The Maamturks (‘Sléibhte Mhám Toirc’ - ‘the mountain of the pass of the boar’)

Close to 15 hours on feet
3k meters elevation gain
15kg on our backs

A big shift. A streneous physically demanding route. But it was all mental training.

10 hours in we hit the pointedly named "Col of Despondency". My initial challenge mindset desendent into the mindset of despondency.

Non judgement, recognise where the mind goes and bring it back to where you are now. Place your attention on what you can control. One foot in front of the other.

Another step towards

Led, supported and nourished by 🫶

As I write this, I realise I haven’t actually run a marathon yet… so naturally I signed up for what’s often called the toughest foot race on Earth, the Marathon des Sables.

From April 3rd, I’ll be running 250km across the Sahara Desert over 7 days and 6 stages, in extreme heat, carrying everything I need on my back. One of the stages this year will be 100km.

I’m very aware that taking on the Marathon des Sables is a privilege, and I’m incredibly grateful to be able to do it. That’s why I want to use this challenge to raise money for three charities supporting people who face far greater challenges every day.

I’ve chosen to fundraise for , and . This ultra event is 100% self-funded, so every donation raised here will go directly to these three incredible causes.

These charities are very close to my heart. Over 40 years ago, I was a patient in Temple Street Children’s Hospital, which is supported by the Children’s Health Foundation and continues to do incredible work for children and families across Ireland.

 provides vital mental health support and advice, both online and in person, for young people aged 12–25 who are struggling, support that can be life-changing at a critical time in their lives.

Focus Ireland supports individuals and families who are homeless or at risk of losing their homes throughout Ireland, helping people in some of the most difficult circumstances imaginable.

These charities support people at three very different stages of life, but each represents a time when challenges are real and support can make all the difference. That’s why I’m proud to run for all three and why your donation can truly have a meaningful impact.

I hope you can help me by donating whatever you can. Simply click the link in my bio. All donations are processed securely.

Many Thanks for your support.

https://www.idonate.ie/fundraiser/michaeldemetriou1

I’ve found that physical challenge is one of the most effective ways to cultivate deep values.

Training for the Marathon des Sables has given me a renewed sense of focus.

When my nervous system is under stress, my mind quickly moves toward doubt and fear, pulling my attention away from what I can control.

Preparation, for me, is aligning my values with actions that remain within my control.

When fatigue sets in, courage enables brave decisions, while connection sharpens body awareness.

Performance becomes a sequence of micro-moments fully within my control.

When the pain hits, I leverage optimism to remind myself that this moment will pass.

91 days to go before I enter the desert. 91 days of learning.....

Supported by the best .demetriou

Rinneamar é!
το κάναμε!
We did it!

28 days of showing up. 406 minutes spent in cold water 🥶. 🏃‍♂️ + 🚴‍♂️ + 🏊‍♂️ = 406 km ✔️

A goal provides something to aim for. It provides focus and direction.

A plan helps you get there. It’s the how.

Nevertheless, plans will change. A plan is never linear. Your attention will be diverted, and obstacles will arise, but the ability to adapt will always keep you moving forward.

What underpins all of this is a mental map of how to navigate the obstacles that will come your way.
The good days will look after themselves. It’s the tough days that flex the mental muscles.

Anticipate things going wrong and mentally rehearse how you'll handle it. When challenges arise, they’ll feel more familiar than unexpected.

Pay attention to your internal dialogue. Recognise when your mind starts to derail you. You can choose to rephrase the words that hold you back.

Learn to reframe situations. Try to adopt a flexible mindset. Pose open questions that direct you back on task: “If I adopted a challenge mindset, how would I perceive this moment?”

Finally, give yourself time to reflect. Take time to reflect on your journey and what it taught you. Reflective practice helps you draw valuable lessons that fuel future growth.

Challenge is the front door to your mental gym.

Your support network energises you to consistently open it.

This has been a collective effort.
A massive thank you to everyone who supported me, whether in the water, on the runs, cycles, swims, or through your generous donations and words of encouragement.

Your support has made all the difference in this challenge.

Thank you.

Fundraiser will be open till March 23rd supporting Focus Ireland and Jigsaw - The National Centre for Youth Mental Health

https://lnkd.in/g87Zje-A

#

"If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together."

Tomorrow will be day 28. 28 days of showing up.

Tomorrow, I will complete an olympic triathlon and spend 28 minutes in the cold 🥶

1.5k 🏊‍♂️
40k 🚴‍♂️
10k 🏃‍♂️
28 mins 🥶

This has been a collective effort.

Massive thank you to everyone who has supported in the water, on the runs, cycles and swims. To everyone who has donated and provided those much needed encouraging words.

Big shout out to .demetriou doing all the work in the shadows🙌 it's the unseen work that keeps me going.

Tomorrow, we will achieve 406 mins in cold water and 406 kms...

Big push to raise as much as we can now for and

https://www.idonate.ie/fundraiser/MichaelDemetriou

TRI FREEZBRURY DAY 18 REFLECTIONS

It’s dark outside and I find myself in the unfamiliar surroundings of the washing machine. Starting the second load of the day, but more importantly, delaying my own wash in the ice-cold water. Now a chore itself.

I’ve tried every Any Given Sunday style speech I can come up with… and now my internal dressing room has revolted.

I enjoy the cold water and reap all the benefits, but this is an extreme challenge that forces discomfort. The triathlon disciplines are designed to intentionally fatigue me. Most days, the last thing I want is to get into the cold.

There’s no honeymoon period once I step in. It’s intense from the start. The cold triggers the sympathetic nervous system and then the physical pain kicks in.

"Act my way into my feelings" has been a helpful cue through these past 18 days. It’s propelled me 251 km forward and into 171 minutes of frigid waters.

Through this, I’ve found that self-talk is most effective when it’s simple, credible and authentic. It serves both an instructional and intrinsically motivational function. But self-talk alone isn’t enough. Preparation matters just as much.

I learned that lesson the hard way on Day 13.

The video captures me soaking in a lake in the Netherlands. What it doesn’t show is the panic that followed. I hadn’t felt an after-drop like that since my ice-mile training last year. The cold exposure isn’t over until you’re dressed and warm.

I packed a hand towel instead of a real one. My clothes were inside out, my runners still tied. I ended up flapping around the lakeshore, frozen limbs struggling to get dressed in the biting wind. I lost focus on what I could control.

On the drive to Schiphol Airport, I reminded myself of what it takes to do this. The effort required. A growing body of research advocates that pre-performance routine can enhance performance. They shift focus away from distractions and help bring you back to the right physical and mental state when it matters most.
Pre preparing my self-awareness of what is to come, is a non-negotiable!

Now, back to the laundry, a new, unintentional measure of progress. Watching it pile back up as I keep moving forward.