targets create focus

The  great thing about having a target is that it's set. I've made it public. There is an expectation and I can't back out. In 122 days time I will be standing 5 miles north of Fort William on the Great Glen Way with 3 running pals, Roddie Riddle, Steve Drake and Michael Martin. We will be running 100 miles to  Milngavie and on route we will be joined by numerous triathletes who will be supporting us with food, water and running part of the route with us. It will be a joyous event and I am aiming to raise as much money as possible for Maggie's Cancer Caring Centres, an amazing charity that supports Cancer sufferers and their families throughout the illness and beyond. I'll post more details in due course but any support you can give me is appreciated.
However as I sit in Vancouver Airport waiting to return after a week's skiing, the timescale before I undertake this task isn't going unnoticed.  My training is about 6 weeks behind for a number of reasons.  I thought 5 hours skiing a day would get me in shape but the conditions were so bad I might have managed 7 hours in total. I ran two days and found the altitude tough but was invigorated going through the forrests. But also had to keep an eye out for the Bears who may be coming out of their winter slumber early.
I've eaten well and enjoyed a few glasses of wine so it will be interesting when I step on the scales tomorrow.  All week I've suffered from jet lag and just as I'm getting used to Canadian time, im heading back home.  It was great to see my eldest son working in Whistler and the opportunities that lie before him. Skiing with all the family was great and it was real quality time.
But if I didn't have my goal set, if it was just an idea then I'd be postponing it so I could build my training up. I've always been honest in my blogs over the last five years and it's no exaggeration that this is going to be a big ask. The most I've run in one session is 15 miles but I am determined that in 122 days time we will be completing the task, ticking the 100 mile box, the west highland way box, and having another wonderful adventure with like minded friends. While we do this money will be raised for Maggie's which will improve the quality of people's lives.  And it will be that thought that drags my sorry ass out of bed and forces me to put one foot in front of the other for many many miles!  And to help me I have the Strathaven half marathon in a weeks time - bring it on.