How do we keep moving forward?  How do we re-motivate constantly to keep the dream alive?  These are the questions I have now.  Once upon a time my motivations were different, it was a completely different game altogether. I once gained strength from negative things in my life that helped motivate me to be better, stronger and to want new adventures that would change how I felt.  I was used to negative experiences and turned them into positive feelings and outcomes.  What was once my cleansing process is now something else!  What I am now learning to do is to use positive experiences in my life to help motivate me in my Ultra running and challenges.  What I am learning is that being able to use happy positive thoughts can be just as powerful as the negative ones that I once used.   My desire to achieve great feats is now greater than ever, I have pride in what I want to do and a real sense of adventure surrounds it.

Everything I read up on and investigate just seems to inspire me to do more, I get excited when reading about ridiculous challenges and great feats of endurance.  I just think wow, wish I could do that!  Then I think back a couple of years, and this was exactly the sort of thing that got me into all this but now its different as I have done a few things.  Only the tip of the iceburg ha ha!

What lays ahead!

I think its important to have a bit of a long term challenge/plan, then a semi-ridiculous challenge as warm up and then smaller interim stupid challenges to build your strength and character in preparation.  I love the process, I love the training once you know what your plan is and I love working towards it.  This is what it is all about for me, not just the race itself but the process of getting you there, the build up.

How do I see the next few years?  My plans are simple really.  I want to keep building on the distance and difficulty but with a process in mind.  I have the Hardmoors 160 booked in for this May and looking for another 100 miler towards mid to end of the year.  I have set myself the challenge of joining the Hardmoors 1000 mile club which will take me to May 2019 and completing the Hardmoors 200 which will be massive for me.  In build up to this I intend to complete the Spine Challenger with the intention of completing the full Spine which is 268 miles along the Pennine Way the year after so 2020! This is all part of my process and build up to entering the Yukon Artic Ultra.  Inspired, understatement, excited absolutely.  Ready for the challenge of a lifetime, yes will love every second of how difficult it will be.

What is different now?  I have someone in my life who loves me and wants me to do these things as crazy as they are she backs me and wants to be there for me.  This makes a massive difference, its a game changer!  Negative into positive! If you want something bad enough find a way!

I found my way! :)