My greatest personal achievement to date! Running the London 2012 Marathon

There isn't a lot that has tested my mental strength and physical endurance than the marathon I ran in 2012. Which is a very bold statement considering at the same time as training for the marathon I was also moving house and planning a wedding! I actually got married just 10 days after doing the marathon, which looking back now should have been a sign of how hectic things were to come. 

Even though it was 12 years ago I still beam with pride when I think about that achievement. I really didn't think I'd be able to do it at the time, but I was so determined. I initially started out in a team of five people from my work who committed to doing it, over time as the marathon drew near, one by one they would drop out - through illness or circumstance - and this just made me even more motivated to do it, being the last man standing. Though I did do it for charity, my main focus was to do it for myself, to prove to me that I was capable and that I had the ability to push myself that far. I wasn't a marathon runner, I swam as a teen and did it at a competitive level, but marathon running isn't something you can just do on a whim even with past sporting experience. 

I can remember the blisters from training. I can remember the aches and the pains, having to bath in salts to help my muscles, dips in freezing cold baths to help aid recovery. 

I can still remember the nerves on the day, that overwhelming butterfly feeling, knowing once I'd started I had a huge 26 miles to go. If I was starting it, I was going to finish it, that was the only focus I had. I didn't care about the time, just that I eventually crossed that finishing line... and I did! 

It's something I'd definitely like to participate in again. It really pushed my mind and my body to the absolute limit and made me realise what I'm truly capable of if I put the grit in. Working through the mental load of day to day life is difficult, don't get me wrong, it's something I've struggled with openly for a very long time and have sought support for, but pushing your physical body to the peak of what feels possible to you is something I know would be difficult to delve back into. I would have to put in so much time and effort to get to that point of being able. Maybe that could be a part of the 5-year plan? 

Right now Alfie and I are talking about doing the Mount Fuji climb together. According to Fuji Mountain Guides it takes an average of 5 to 6 hours to reach the summit if you're in decent physical health, with the main obstacle being the altitude. Obviously, it wouldn't be a decision taken lightly to have Alfie do this with me and he'd have to prepare for it the same as me, but I think it would be a really bonding experience for us both. To push each other through when we reach those moments of "I can't do this" ... to put the time in to train together, to walk together and get fit together. 

Have you taken part in anything that has pushed you to your limits?