New record set

Last week I wrote about "raising the bar" and by this I meant setting it high.  Reach for the stars my granny used to say, and if you hit the sky you have done well.  
On 26th June the bar was certainly raised when Jamie Aarons completed all 282 Munros in Scotland (mountains over 3,000 feet) in 31 days, 10 hours and 27 minutes.  She beat the previous record by 12 hours and 35 minutes set by Donnie Campbell who inspired her when she heard him talk about his record on the radio.  The previous female record was 76 days and 10 hours.  Can you imagine her mindset when she thought about beating Donnie's record?  
What makes it even more incredible is that she travelled between the Munros by bike, kayak or walked!! Unbelievable, and feats like these continue to drive me to raise my bar, but not to this level. 
As I have said before, it's all relative and taking on the couch to 5k is a huge challenge for some people.
Today I "raised the bar" or pushed myself beyond what I was comfortable with and ran the Stonehouse Half Marathon.  Obviously I have ran much longer than a half marathon distance but this one had 308m of ascent and as an ultra runner, I'd normally walk the hills.  But I decided to give it everything and leave nothing out there which definitely pushed me outside my comfort zone, but it was a race after all not a training run.  If I was lucky, I might even win the V60 category so I was motivated.
Accompanying me was my partner Beth and her daughter Holly who was running her first half marathon.  I knew she was strong but was determined not to lose to her.  Imagine my surprise when I thought I was going well and she past me on the first long climb!  But I was pacing myself as I knew the last 4.5 miles were down hill and I aimed to give it everything then.  I overtook her shortly afterwards and pressed on. 
On the out and back section I passed Holly and Beth coming the other way so I continued, even when it was uncomfortable to push it in the heat.  At one stage when tearing the top off my gel is exploded onto my face, hair & hands but I managed to get 75% of it in me.  With 2 km to go I had my last gel as the fast downhill had taken it toll on me and I was wavering.  That got me to the finish line and I was delighted with 1hr 49 mins - same time as my Glasgow half marathon earlier in the year without the elevation!  Sadly 6 minutes shy of the V60 winner but good on him, that was a tough course for that kind of time.
Holly finished 3 mins behind me and Beth a further 5 mins behind but taking the fastest V50!  A fabulous result all round.
But this only happened because we put the tough miles in and we set the bar high, not for the distance but for the time.  Any discomfort or pain melts away when you cross the line and after rehydrating you feel good about yourself.  I waded into the freezing cold sea up to my "rab hawes" while eating a 99.  After 2 minutes I lost sensation in my legs but hopefully this will speed up my recovery.
Not everyone can be in Jamie Aarons league but we can still set the bar high and when the time comes, give it everything.  It will only make us better.
Back home and we stuffed our faces with good food and I chased it down with a few cold beers.  Now for a bath and then start massaging my lets with my massage gun.  Tomorrow starts another week of training and my "A" race Last One Standing is now only 20 days away.  
When did you last raise the bar and is it time for a reset (upwards!)?