Inspiration from others

On Friday I gave my first talk about my adventure of a lifetime in the Marathon des Sables to the Institute of Directors in Glasgow.  I had spent many hours preparing for the event and replaying the journey brought back some wonderful memories.  Chatting to the audience afterwards I was delighted to find so many of them had taken on challenges from 10k to ultra marathons and had come away with something from the talk whether it was about their personal or business challenges.  One of them had even completed the MdS two years earlier finishing 70th!  What makes that all the more amazing is he was the first person to complete the race with a pace-make fitted - incredible and inspirational.
On the "fatness front" (muffin top) I've lost a 1/4 of a stone and feeling better for it.  I went out for an hours hilly run on Saturday and there was no foot trauma so it looks like I'm on the mend and will be able to run more miles, more frequently and the body can get back to normal.
As summer starts to disappear my thoughts are turning to my autumn/winter training programme.  Swimming training starts tomorrow night and while the first few weeks will be hell I know this is what I need especially as I am aiming to complete a 10k swim down the river Dart in a years time.  My yoga will help with the shoulder flexibility which will be required if I am to succeed in that challenge.  I still have to pick my half Ironman for next year but that will be done withing the next month.  These stepping stones (goals) are important to my frame of mind which impacts on the quality of my training.  Onwards and upwards after all, you're a long time dead!