Amazing friends & family

I've said before that I keep bad company.  Friends who know no limits.  To them me running the Marathon des Sables was normal.  All the big (in my terms) achievements I have made in the last three years they have exceeded.  Don't get me wrong, they think what I have done is fantastic and have encouraged me all the way.  I train with them and have the utmost respect for their speed, endurance, determination and "can do attitude".  So when Rosie Bell decided to run 100 miles to raise money for the meningitis and was looking for some company I volunteered to do an early session.
So I got up at 4am and at 5am ran an 8 mile "leg" with her.  We chatted away and her speed was just amazing considering the difficulty of the course - I've cycled it (Strathaven 50 race) and it's tough - running it twice is unthinkable.
She managed the run in under 19 hours raising thousands for her chosen charity.  The weather conditions at the end were horrendous but she battled on.  That is the kind of friends I have the privilege of training with and perhaps that gives you an insight into the "mindset and expectations" of my friends and this influences my goals.
So this morning I went out for my ten mile training on the trails.  I ran with three of my friends who are all fit athletes with tough goals set for 2015.  They are working away quietly on there winter training plan knowing that every session is a step closer to what they want to achieve. 
Afterwards I quickly headed out to see my son Ali to finish his first 10k.  The Strathaven 10k is a great race and Ali came home 26th out of 355, and 1st Junior!  He came in on 37:59 - a brilliant time and one I hope he builds on.  But he trains hard and it's good to see him get the results he deserves.  I hope he keeps the same "bad company" as me and that it rubs off on him!
When I got home I strapped on my "boot" which is designed to help my foot problem.  The next two weeks will tell me if it's worked and then we can move on to sort the problem on the top of my foot!  So more yoga and back to swimming to improve my fitness during the week. 
Tonight I will be submitting my entry for the West Highland Way and I should know if I've been successful within 5 weeks.  Fingers crossed.  Let me leave you with this thought; to quote Brian Tracey - "would you rather scratch with turkeys or soar with eagles?"  Keeping bad company with amazing people is good for you!