Can you stay the course?

Most people will answer yes, without batting an eye-lid, but not really knowing what it means.

90% of people will sign up to something or other online these days and think that the preparation will be difficult, but find that they actually get bored of it rather than finding it hard, and ultimately quit.

Quitting because of monotony is not a good enough reason to stray off course, life is a long undetermined flight plan, yet most of it is predetermined for us!

Don’t believe me? Look at the day you were born, from day one it was determined that your parents/guardians would raise you, feed you, clothe you, nurture you and ultimately shape you into who you are today - for better or worse!

Childhood, School, Sport, Development, Adulthood, Work, Living and Death are all predetermined paths everyone of us are subject to in life – whether we like it or not.

Many people quit even at the earliest of stages, but what makes those of us in life the successes we turn out to be?

A choice made long before the end is here; a choice to “stay the course” – to earn those just rewards we claim such entitlement to.

The truth is, everything in life must be earned one way or another!

To truly achieve in life you must weather the storm of boredom and monotony, stick with the plan and stay the course. Don’t waiver or change heading, as doing so will lead you to uncharted territory that can be almost impossible to return from.

The Selection Challenge™ was originally designed as a program to teach people about the benefits of mental strength, and where to source such strength in times of need. It’s not something that can be spoken about, lectured on or written about to provide clarity to the inexperienced.

To truly understand what it’s all about, it has to be lived – that’s where the true value lies, in the knowledge gained through experience as well as theory.

Sign up to the best challenge you will ever undergo and you are guaranteed to meet your self for the first time, and learn just what it means to "stay the course"…

…the only easy day, was yesterday.

www.hellweekpt.com

TIME'S UP... SELECTION CHALLENGE(tm) CLASS 011 LAST EVER RENDITION!

 So this is it, time to say goodbye to the Selection Challenge™, it’s been a thrilling ride and the memories we’ve created will never be forgotten. The emotions, highs, lows, thrills, spills and choices experienced by all that have undergone signing up to, training for, participating in and completing the Selection Challenge™ remain as vivid today as the first day it was ran with just four people in attendance.

We’ve watched as apprehensive Gymbunnies and hardcore athletes have looked at the pictures, listened to our presentations and grimaced as they made the plunge to sign-up to and train for the most Elite Military Themed Challenge in Europe. We’ve watched with glee as others have jumped straight in and made the biggest boasts about how they will smash the challenge with both hands and then piss on it, only to be bell ringers without even showing up for the most incredible test condensed into a few short hours, or the longest day of their lives depending on perspectives. Oddly enough, it’s the average Joe and Jane that make it through, the ones willing to do whatever it takes to hang in there and not quit. 

Bell ringers are always there, signing up for the wrong reason and not really being committed – but why would you sign up to something only half hearted? You don’t sign up to an Ironman race only to quit at the starting line, right?! Most don’t see the bigger picture and think it’s all about bragging rights, and some just come along for the ride, those that enter for the right reasons are so apparent on the day that it’s completely mind-blowing to watch them arrive as individuals and strangers only to leave as a team, a band of brothers (& sisters) if you will.

Strangely enough we see the men crying and the women just sucking it up and getting on with it, every single time. We have no doubt that the last ever rendition of this challenge will be just the same, and we have some repeat candidates that graduated 005 and 010 coming back for more, it’s gonna rock.

Going out with a bang has always been the intention and for Selection Challenge™ Class 011, we will be doing just that. Expect the unexpected – but expect everything you could possibly dream of as well.

Memories and treasures will be created on April 13^th 2014 like never before. The challenge has never reached its full potential to date, 98% of it maybe, but not 100%, but on April 13^th 2014 Class 011 will be enveloped in a fireball of hellish tests that will challenge every last bit of resolve they have, and then some. 

You will laugh, you will cry, you will beg for mercy, you will plead with god, you will shout out in anger – but it will all fall on deaf ears until you either grit it out or ring out! 

So who the fuck is with us?

April 13^th 2014, Mornington, County Meath, Ireland – Early bird offer 65 Euro.

The chance to train with a former SEAL team six officer known as Warrant Office Manslaughter: Don Mann; www.usfrogmann.com

The chance to do something just once in your life that only a handful will ever experience, how can you turn that down, For Fuck Sake… stop reading, sign-up and get training: REGISTER HERE

losing sight of the goal

Often in life there are obstacles thrown in our path to trip us up, albeit with good intentions but the wrong outcome will result. It's so easy to fall into a tunnel-vision mindset and see success in something that is not yours.

These last two years have been incredibly difficult for me, emotional stress and strain took their toll and I began making decisions I would never normally have made. This led to me losing sight of my goals, and some very important foundations I had set weakening in the process.

It's so easy to get sucked into something that can be deemed complimentary to what you do and sometimes you can see a new opportunity as a way out of a rut that will allow you to have time to focus on your original goals - except, it isn't a way out of a rut, it's a direct path into simply another rut, and, you won't have the time needed to achieve your original goals.

Hellweek PT(TM) was started because of a deliberate and intentional goal, to change mindsets and help people realise their true potential. I never lost sight of that fact, but did try spreading my time too thinly across multiple projects. Stress is a killer and a very real one too! It can cause you to make too many bad decisions, and unless you recognise that there is an issue and do something about it, you're gonna crash'n'burn, with no time to eject. 

Never lose sight of your goals, always write your goals down and visualise them, keep things simple and never let anyone else influence what only you know best. Stick to your core values in that plan, cooperate but don't deviate! Don't argue, don't debate, don't waiver - if you find you are micromanaging delivery of services and need to emphasise why something needs to be done "this" way, then you are losing sight of the goal and you can't trust your staff! They may be amazing, but if they are creating micro-management, it's time to reel the reigns back in! Don't lose sight of the goal, deliver to your standards! Not someone else's.

When you have a plan, it means you can go back and reference it for confidence, guidance, reasoning and quantification. You wrote it for a reason, use it! Never, ever, ever, lose sight of the goals and when you feel your self slipping, reel your self back in, put your self in check and take time out. If you have to do this when your business is your livelihood, you might feel so stressed that the world will fall out from under your feet, but it won't. Everybody needs a time out to get things in check. Seek advice, find inspiration, use those assets and motivate your self to bring calm and focus back into your life when you do lose sight of the goal.

You will be glad you did. 

As an adult, if you feel you are losing focus in life and want something that will really hone your mind and stimulate your soul, take on the challenge that is the Hellweek PT(TM) Selection Challenge(TM). Class 011 open for registration right now; www.hellweekpt.com/selection.htm

For 65 Euro you get a training plan, free training days leading up to the challenge, nutrition advice, cognitive skills that will help you at home, in work and on the sports field, memories that will last a life time, and the chance to say you have a true understanding of what Special Forces Operatives go through to be chosen for their specialist trades. It's a truly amazing experience that has to be lived to be understood.

See you on the beach April 13th 2014.

The only easy day, was yesterday...

Success is deliberate...

There are times when you wonder if you've absolutely lost the plot starting a business on your own, there are times when you wish there were more hours in a day, less to do and more people to do it, and more of you to spread around for family time versus work time. However, if you're as driven as required to start, build, run and develop a business then it becomes obvious that the first 5 years of your life is another apprenticeship, just like when you started out in your first real job as a kid all those years ago. You realise, hell, I've got a long way to go yet before I can take time off! 

It does kinda suck eggs, but if you want to build something and not just "make money" you gotta be ready to make sacrifices, and coerce loved ones into accepting it and assisting even. 

Four years ago Hellweek PT(TM) was in the final stages of its "proof of concept" phase. When I approached Senior Chief about joining me on this wild and wacky adventure that I had started from nothing, he thought I was absolutely nuts - but he seen the potential in what was there having listened to me. Based on watching me lead from the front for several months, SC came on board and did the Selection Challenge him self, together with 13 unsuspecting athletes from our Athletics Club. At the end of that session, comments were made to the nature of, "I don't know whether I love ya or hate ya after that!", "There are places for sadists like you and they all have iron bars on the doors, but damn that was good!", "I loved it, and I can see how you will make it grow, change it up and give candidates an experience they won't get anywhere else, and I'm in the Army 23 years!!!"

And since then, it has indeed grown, changed up and given people experiences they wouldn't have gotten anywhere else, we've even had a USN SEAL on the deck with us. Support has come in from all over the world but especially from within the Special Forces Community where its authenticity and professionalism has been acknowledged time and time again. 

Ambitions are a wonderful asset, but knowing your trade and knowing how to turn it into a viable business that will be successful take deliberate vision, execution and learning - you are always learning in this world - ALWAYS! 

Having the vision to realise that no matter how much you already know, you will always have to learn something new to be in and ahead of the game is paramount to successful outcomes - whether it be that you need to find a new way to make the same decision but in a more positive and amiable manner, or be it a case that you have to learn something new altogether in order to make something work, you are always learning. 

All of that aside, if you don't have the stones to go out and make your dreams and ambitions a reality and you're not willing to make the sacrifices, you're going nowhere fast! So don't put it off, do it today, you'll be glad you did.

Success whether you know it or not, is very intentional and deliberate, there has never been a person that simply woke up one day and was successful by chance... 

Selection Challenge(TM) Class 011 is ready for bookings and training, get your slot here; www.hellweekpt.com/selection.htm 

More Competitions...

Following on from our 4 Week Personalised Training Competition, we are offering a few more =)

We will be offering the chance to win some serious time for free on weekend courses covering

• Survival
• Evasion and Escape
• Tracking
• Navigation 

These are of course in tandem with our upcoming Full Scale events based around the same subject matter. So those that win the prizes will receive proper skills and proper knowledge - before entering be sure that you have a genuine interest in the subject matter being offered, it's not suitable for a Stag do or something of that nature, these are serious skill set content based courses and completely professional.

You will be filmed and photographed as part of the course, so please be aware of this too.

We will be launching each competition in due course and entry will be free - done via our website. There will be a question for each competition, easy to answer of course, based on the subject matter at hand.

If you ever fancied being a Bear Grylls, Ray Mears or even Action Man for a day (G.I. Joe had the man flu) then this is your chance...

Keep your eyes peeled for the competitions coming soon =)

until next time; train SMART, train hard and remember to smell the roses...

Níl ní níos daingne ná croí an óglaigh.

Hellweek PT(TM) - Ireland and UK's Nr. 1 Elite Military Themed Events Provider

The only easy day, was yesterday...

www.hellweekpt.com

(c) Hellweek PT(TM) 2009-2013 All Rights reserved. 

Why do we fall? So we can learn to get back up again...

Confidence - it's one of the main variables that determines the outcome of any situation. When we fall having reached a perch or peak of career, sport or other accolade, it's sometimes hard to see a way back to the top again, but it's only you that can decide if it's possible or not.

Why do we fall? So we can learn to get back up again!

Never, ever, ever let exterior variables determine outcomes for you - manipulate, fight, bide your time if you have to, but always, always, always keep a firm handle on what cogs are turning and use their weaknesses to your advantage, and your strengths to the advantage of your goals.

Plan your course, complete your checklist, launch, stay the course and complete your journey... never give up!

If you set just one goal today, complete it and set another tomorrow, you are making progress, each time that wheel turns, you have travelled.

If you get knocked down... don't stay down, get back up and keep moving forward!!Confidence will come back once you reaffirm your abilities, knowledge and sometimes go back to roots...

Never forget where you came from, but always keep sight of where you are going...

Warm up Perceptions and Misconceptions...

As military personnel we have to be ready to move and fight at the drop of a hat, so warming up in the morning before starting duties is a vital aspect of the day, especially if deployed to a hot spot. But, what is a proper warm-up and why do we do it?

Well for one thing it’s a good question and for another thing, there is a very good reason for it. The answer is: “we warm up to prepare our body’s ligaments and muscles to work in tandem with our joints allowing them to take serious impact while pumping blood carrying amino acids and oxygen to the muscles in strenuous manual physical output”.

That’s it, that’s the reason we warm up – it’s not to “prevent injury” – you can have underlying injuries that you have caused elsewhere, warm up properly and still get injured, but of course, proper warming up will help minimize impact. We warm up to allow our body’s Motor and Rotary Ancillaries perform.

If that confuses you, let me put it another way. An engine needs to warm up before it will work at optimal strength. Your body is an engine, make no mistake about it. Your heart and lungs are the epicenter of that engine, your bones, joints, ligaments, tendons and muscles are its ancillaries.

Your muscles give you the power you need to move.

Your tendons provide the bounce and spring for running, lifting, throwing and doing anything functional at all.

Your ligaments connect the muscle tissue to the bones – wrapping around your ligaments and giving them support and added power.

If your ligaments are not warmed up properly, your muscles will not function correctly and neither will your tendons, irrespective of how much blood you pump in or warm you think you are!

To warm up, you need to “limber up”! So that means before you begin hitting the barbell hard or taking to the roads and smashing PB’s, you need to prepare your body from head to toe, and ligament to muscle!

Loosening the ligaments up means the muscle has a greater range of dynamic motion, thus providing greater range of performance and ability to pump blood into the muscles, comfort in the joints while moving and performance output.

Static stretching before training is not the way to go! Static stretching is done after you have cooled down (heart rate has dropped) and your muscles need lengthening to prevent tightness and pain.

Dynamic Stretching as people call it is a limbering warm up cycle starting at the head and working your way down to your toes – there is a cycle, it takes 5 to 10 minutes and it allows the blood to flow in its natural manner. This means you are carrying oxygen to the muscles, but loosening the ligaments up first.

As you near the end of each Dynamic station, you speed your motion up. So Dynamic means that you are moving – not standing still – as opposed to static stretching where you do stand still and hold your stretches.

Dancers, Yoga Students, Martial Arts Students and many others that need power from their bodies to perform will do a dynamic warm up – as do track athletes! Next time you watch a track meet on television, watch how the athletes warm up, they won’t be standing still, they may incorporate some ballistic stretching to bounce the ligaments out, but they will move around to limber up.

A great way to warm up before a run or gym session involves 5 to 10 minutes of your time

--- Dynamic Warm up Sequence ---

Dynamic Warm Up.  – Head to Toe!!! Always warm up from the head down – this is how your blood circulates and the brain sends its signals down – not up! Always warm up starting with loosening your neck and shoulders – traps and delts.

Start:

Head 1 – Look up slowly, Look down Slowly, Look Left Slowly, Look Right Slowly – repeat 5 times

Head 2 – From the centre, rotate your head gently on its axis from left to right in a circle 5 times – repeat in the opposite direction 5 times.

Shoulders 1 – Rotate your shoulders forwards 10 times, Rotate your shoulders backwards 10 times: Keep your hands by your sides, try not to assist the rotation by lifting, simply roll the shoulders at their pivot!

Shoulders 2 – Arm Swings -  Swing your arms in big circles forwards 20 times, and backwards 20 times.

Trunk Twists – Place arms in front of body at chest height, gently rotate left and right a total of 20 times slowly controlling the muscle as you do.

Pelvic Openers – lift your knee up to your chest and at the same time rotate outwards – right for right, left for left and repeat on each leg 10 times.

Lunges – Pulsing lunges; On both left and right leg, 10 each: Get into a lunge position, hold, push up off your heal, and then return to a lunge position, repeat for a total of 10 on each leg.

Leg Swings – Place left leg forward, left arm straight out palm facing down. Place right leg behind and right arm by side, swing right leg straight up with big toe pointing upwards to touch palm of left hand. Do this 10 times and repeat on opposite leg. Get your leg as straight as possible, no bend in the knee.

Ham Stretch – from your pelvis, lean forward until you feel a pull in your hamstrings and then lower your shoulders until your hands touch the ground or your fingers touch your toes. Hold for 10 seconds. Do this 10 times.

Groin Stretch – stretch your legs out and get as low as you can. Lean on to your left knee and keeping your back as straight as possible, stretch out your adductors and groin, holding for 10 seconds. Perform on opposite side, and do 10 on each leg.

Shake out your legs and arms and your ready to commence training. You’ve just gently stretched the ligaments and opened up your joints while pumping blood around your body. This is the correct method of warming up.

--- End Sequence ---

Understanding what you are doing and what you will achieve from doing it is very important as an active person in life. You don’t have to be an elite athlete, but if you approach your life from the simple manner that the elite do, you too will reap the benefits.

Always warm up dynamically, and cool down statically.

© Hellweek PT™ 2009-2013

Silver Spoon Syndrome

Silver Spoon Syndrome...        

Selection Challenge Class 010 was a challenge for the Hellweek PT™ Crew let alone the Candidates. Faced with horrendous weather on Saturday and Sunday, we were against the odds to run an efficient event and deliver the core ethos of what makes us who we are.

We did it, despite the odds, and where others would have collapsed in a ball on the deck and panicked! Instead, we took charge, we delegated right from the start and we made every effort to run as smooth an event possible in the worst possible conditions.

There were insinuations that we should have been cancelled, feedback given that the o-course was not a patch on our Day of Days Challenge O-course and that the weather was too bad.

Most people want everything handed to them, society as a whole has become accustomed to things being readily available and supplied. A little bit of that silver spoon syndrome was a little bit evident on Sunday March 24th. What we do here at HWPT is raw, it's never been any different. We take nothing, and create something from that - showing people that in order to succeed, you need to diversify, adapt, make the best and most of what you have! 

An event will never please everyone, it will never live up to everyone’s expectations, but look back at what was promised – the o-course was stated as a “mini” o-course, designed to aid team-building and camaraderie. Yes, we could have managed it a bit better on the execution of candidates going through it, but we got there and lessons were learned.

That aside, the whole core ethos of a Selection Challenge or Course is to find people that will come together and bond right from the start as a team, and over time find those that have the heart to be there right to the bitter end even when it gets boring and tedious. This is the very mental strength that we speak about all the time, having your buddy’s back even when focus is at an all time low – and you have to kick it back into the touch!

Let’s look at the weather, and the event overall. This challenge is designed “around” the weather being bad – hell, we could run this challenge in the summer, have everyone turn up and it would indeed just be a PT session on the beach. The elements and conditions required to test a person’s willpower would not be there! Why? Because anyone can run a beasting session, bootcamp or fitness challenge, it’s more difficult to create strong teams, teach leadership, enhanced decision making skills and above all else cognitive behaviour! To that you need to test a person’s desires to be there, in any conditions, most will quit and go home, it takes a special kid of person to stick it out when it gets bad. In war, once the bullets start flying, there is nowhere to run, nowhere to hide! You stand and fight with your brothers and sisters or you die.

A person can prepare themselves to run 42.2km, do a thousand press-ups and all sorts of physical activities, but take them out of the comfort zone, place them in an environment where their very success is paramount to the success of others, and their whole attitude changes! Place the added pressure of howling Force 6 winds, -5C wind-chill and +1C Water with breakers that would bring the toughest of the tough to tears… and make them endure its temperature, it’s sting, the bite of the wind and still have a brain that functions to allow your body to move, and at the same time motivate your crew mates, work with them, support them and at the end of it all, complete something amazing!

A comment was made that there was no difference in this challenge to what we ran  last year even though we had a Navy SEAL on the deck – that simply means the quality of what we ran in the past has been authentic, our experience shone through and if you’re looking for a pure simple beasting session with no purpose – you should seek life elsewhere! That’s not what we are about.

183 people were due to report  to the Hellweek PT™ Quarterdeck on March 24^th for Selection Challenge™ Class 010 – of that number, 60 arrived, 47 stayed and took part – helping to create our mini o-course and be part of it all right from the start – they endured, they got hammered at one stage, they endured again, they questioned why they were there, they endured, but one by one, they began to drop like flies because they couldn’t handle the conditions. Some were Medical DOR’s, others were those that hadn’t got the loyalty to their crews to stick it out because they couldn’t handle the cold and knew the water was coming.

37 candidates from 183 made it to the end of an almost 10 month journey! It’s not all about the day itself, so many people made the decision one way or another to pull out before the challenge itself arrived, so many quitters! And there is no other way to put it… those of you that know who you are, you took the easy road. Those that showed up can be proud, even the wash-outs. Those that made it to the end, they have something special inside! 

Physical Fitness and strength is one thing to have, and yes it’s admirable that people can bench or lift or squat twice their own body weight, but when it comes down to it, if you can’t endure hardship, if you’re not willing to even try, simply because the opportunity to test your self for real is there… then you have very little else going for you in life.

The banter in the bar afterwards was great craic. The feedback was superb, even the negatives, it all helps us to be better the next time.

Instructor Mcleod was blown away by our conditions over here, he even said that in BUD/S they would never get those conditions – they don’t experience anything like that until they hit SQT in cold, cold Alaska after BUD/S. He thoroughly enjoyed the event, and he thought you were all superstars.

The difference between those that stayed and those that left or didn’t show [bell ringers no matter what the here-say is] is choice! Simple as that, choice! Some chose to stick it out to the end, others chose to quit!  

Not knocking anyone that quit, but there was an evident lack of prep for the day on most candidates’ behalf. It can’t be stressed enough that you underestimated what the challenge would be like and you underestimated how we would run it. We’re very adept at this; we’ve been building teams and preparing people for war for a very long time.

There are 140 t-shirts or so sitting in a box that will never be claimed, because the names on them didn’t bother to show up… what does that tell you about a person’s character? 

Please take the valuable lesson away that you can do anything feasibly possible if you just put the work in, set micro goals as part of bigger macros and stick with the plan. Take your self out of your comfort zone, build confidence, and don’t allow others to carry you up the crucible next time! Be humble about your achievements in life and don’t forget that others need your help. When the chips are down and others are relying on you, be there for them, they will return the gesture when you need them.

We all look forward to working with Instructor Mcelod again for Class 011.

Signing off by saying a big thank you to all that made the journey to Mornington Beach on March 24^th for Selection Challenge Class 010, wear your t-shirts with pride, those that graduated, wear your unique patches with immense pride, and remember, the only easy day was yesterday!

It's baffling, it really is!

You know, people are scared of coming up and preparing for a challenge with the very people that can help them, the very people that can give the right tips, the very people that gone through it all! Yet, for some reason, quite a lot of candidates are afraid to come up and see what all the fuss is about in advance for fear of looking like an idiot, being told they're not able or whatever!!

Whatever the fears, they are unfounded and unnecessary.

Today, 7 people of 9 that said they would attend a benchmark prep day for March's Selection Challenge showed up and learned tons! Their fears were quickly put to bed, and things that they thought they knew, they found out they didn't know!

It has to be said that those that miss out on an opportunity to prepare for March for FREE are being very unwise!

We're not going to tell you you're crap or that you are useless or you're doing everything wrong, we're going to help you ascertain what weaknesses you have to work on and give you a direct, practical insight into what March  will be like.  170+ people missed that chance today, for whatever reason!

Even for BUD/S or for the Marines there are prep courses, a chance to see what candidates need to do in order to get themselves ready for "actual" Selection - this is a very wise thing to do. To simply say, I'll be fine on the day, is dumbfounding! No offense to anyone, but it is!

Ask former Naval Special Warfare operative Chief WO3 Don Mann, P.O. Brad Mcleod, P.O. Dan Cerrillo, Cdr. Mark Divine, P.O. Marcus Lutrell or ask Andy McNabb, Rune Gjeldnes, Chris Ryan or any Bootneck, US Marine, Swedish Marinjägare or even the SSG and they will tell you; "I went to prep school before I went to school!"

Being honest, you're all missing the chance to gain valuable information that will assist you! It's about you, and your success in life, not ours, we've already succeeded, we've already sailed our course.

Today, 7 of 185 officially registered Selection Challenge(TM) Class 010 Candidates became stronger mentally, they have an insight into what is ahead of them, and they showed courage, determination and commitment by showing up today - the very characteristics that will ensure they succeed on March 24th. I'm sad to say, those of you that had the opportunity to show up today, but thought you would rather do something else and think you know it all and you'll be fine for March, I'm sorry to say you haven't shown those characteristics, and we encourage you to show up on February 23rd when we will run the final benchmark day before the big event on March 24th.

7 P's people - Prior Planning and Preparation Prevents Piss Poor Performance - and that means as a person, not physically!

It's so fantastic to have a full Ship's Company registered for the event in March, so many people to pass wonderful experiences and memories to. So many people that will have a unique bond! But we really need you all to show up, I urge you all to show up and I urge everyone that can make it to the last Benchmark day on 23.02.13 to do so! It will be the best decision you've made to date, the first of so many going forward in life...

Look forward to seeing many many more faces on Feb 23rd at 1200 in the same Dunes as today.

/LT