Inspiring week

Your first week back from a holiday is never easy but I also had to step up the training as with 81 days to go, there is no room for slacking.  Swim gym and run, even double runs on Wednesday, got me back into the swing of it.
But the highlight of the week was speaking to 800 staff at the annual conference of Glasgow Clyde College about “Everyday Superheroes”.  I had spent time preparing with the Principal & Chief Executive Jon Vincent who himself is an inspirational character.  On the day I was blown away by a video about the students and the difference they make in the communities they live in.  Before I spoke, they had three students put on a musical/ theatrical performance that had me “choking up” - absolutely first class.  It was then my turn to speak.
I’d been asked to nurture and inspire the audience and I did my best to use my story to get them there.  It’s a story of continually raising the bar and not listening to the “voice in my head” which is the health and safety officer.  Your brain has a factory setting that is set too low.  You need to over ride it and push the boundaries.  If you’re in your comfort zone your dying. Life begins outside the comfort zone.
If you are too worried about failing then you won’t make any progress.  Chinese proverb; success is falling down seven times and getting up eight.  I was so inspired by the students stories and what the staff at the college did for them.
With those thoughts ringing round my head I headed out for a 30km run on Saturday with my pal Mark.  Due to bad planning on my part (7 P’s - piss poor preparation precipitates piss poor performance) I didn’t have enough fuel with me - amateur!  I had 1 gel and 1bar.  The latter stages were extra hard but in the end it was a good run. Today 14km even faster run.  It’s a full on training week but on Saturday I head for the hills.  This is essential training for me.  I have to get used to long hours in the hills and “shredding”my quads running down the hills.
I also got news that my friend from G2G who had suggested the Tahoe race had pulled out. This gives a few logistical problems but I’ll sort that over the next couple of weeks - there are at least another 8 runners that I’ll know but the key is coordinating it so we can help each other.  I do need to get my kit together and that will take some research and planning.
Yesterday was also a special day in that it was the annual West Highland Way race. 95 miles of tough trail with climbing and it takes a special kind of person to complete it.  I had a number of friends running the race and am in awe of their achievement. I’m sure their mind chatter was loud by they blocked it out!
I finished my talk to the college staff by asking the “killer question”: how bad do you want it? That’s all that matters and I want Tahoe BAD.  So game on. #Tahoetough