TAKEN OUT FOR A REASON

Well it hasn't been the best start to the day ever.....
I got up at 5.45am to go to the gym before work, only to get there and realise that I'd forgotten half of my kit.

So,I showered and went on to work early, intending to sort out some emails...... only to find that I couldn't access my email account. A not infrequently recurring glitch on my practice computer.

I'm a firm believer in things happening for a reason, and decided to make the best of it. I guess that's why I'm writing this post now rather than tomorrow morning. Even the gym thing might have been for the best. I am still recovering from a torn calf muscle I sustained running 5 weeks ago. It's on the mend and I'm doing everything I'm told by the physio. Maybe this stopped me from overdoing it today? I'm not able to run on it yet and apart from my normal weights circuit and the stretches, I've been restricted to walking on the treadmill..... not that exciting. Today I was allowed to cycle (gently) in the gym..... maybe forgetting the kit stopped me damaging it further doing my Lance Armstrong impression - who knows?

Sometimes I think we are just "taken out" for reasons that aren't always immediately clear ...... either that or I'm just getting old and forgetful and have a crap computer! Much as I love your comments - you can keep these ones to yourself!

AN AMAZING FEAT

I just wanted to pay tribute to Helen Skelton - only the second woman in history to successfully complete the 78 mile Namibia ultra marathon. An amazing feat, even for a seasoned endurance athlete...... but considering she is a Blue Peter presenter who trained for just three months beforehand, it as absolutely phenomenal.

She ran the equivalent of three marathons, through the desert, both during the 43 degree heat and the long dark night. She suffered horrendous blisters and came close to quitting twice, but she hung in there. The programme recording the race was wonderful. If you are in the UK, for the next few days you'll be able to watch it on the BBCi player - I'd highly recommend it. My favourite bit was when she kept herself going by the shout "Come on me!"

As you may know I love to run myself. I completed the 2005 London Marathon and raised £4500 for the spinal injury charity Aspire. Unfortunately I sustained a back injury that kept me away from running for a long time..... but now I'm back. Well I will be once my torn calf has healed - the perils of being the wrong side of 40......I'm being good, doing my stretches etc..... but things like Helen's run just make me want to get my trainers back on and get out there.

My own big dream in the running arena is to complete the 40 mile Tring to Town run next January. 40 miles along the Grand Union Canal from near Kew to Tring. It will be cold, might well be wet, almost certainly very muddy and could even snow. Unlike the London Marathon, there won't be huge crowds lining the entire route. For miles at a time there will be no-one. It starts in the dark and will long since have got dark again by the time I get there. But just the thought of completing it fills me with the sort of excitement that a really big goal should do.

What are your big dreams? What's going on that you can take inspiration from? Look around you. Open your eyes, take it all in and use it to help you build your dream.

MEETING MICHAEL NEILL

I've spent the last two days up in london attending Michael Neill's Coaching Mastery course. It was absolutely excellent. For those of you not familiar with Michael, he is one of the world's top success coaches with lots of celebrities and film stars among his clients.

In spite of this he's a remarkably down to earth sort of guy. The course was wonderful and hugely inspirational. As always when coaches get together there was a great atmosphere of generosity and sharing. The attendees really learned a lot from eachother - as well as loads from Michael of course!

Meeting someone you have huge admiration and respect for can sometimes be a worry..... will they really live up to your image of them? I needn't have worried. Michael Neill not only met but far exceed my own expectations. Thank you Michael and everyone else who attended the course - fantastic.

Whilst there I gained a lot of clarity about my plans, so expect a few changes in my website soon. I'll keep you posted! Have a great weekend x