Tuesday 18 May 2010: The human spirit can be incredible

Mileage: 7.5 miles

AM: 3.75 miles PM: 3.75 miles

I am still not feeling great. You must be getting sick (excuse the pun!) of reading about me moaning about my man-flu. In an attempt to sort it out I restricted myself to my run to and from work at a steady pace. No gym. I have thrown loads of fruit down my throat and had a healthy salad for tea, as well as the daily herbal cocktail. Let's hope tomorrow, all will be well. That's enough of that. 

Today, I saw a feature on the BBC News about  a group of ex and current service personnel who plan to trek to the North Pole. Nothing too demanding about that for trained soldiers you would imagine. At least until you find out that every one of them is an amputee. They plan to become the first group of amputees to reach the North Pole unsupported.  Watching them, as they did their ski training and then listening to them as they were interviewed I was hugely impressed and inspired beyond words. Firstly, to have gone through what they have gone through just been able to find a way back to normal life in our society and in their careers would be nothing short of exceptional, but to refuse to stop there and instead challenge and push themselves to and beyond a limit attainable by almost every 'able bodied' person is breathtaking. This, they do in the name of other more severely injured soldiers, who even with the will power of this group would never be able to make the trip. 

I really hope they make it and I will be following their progress on their website Walking With the Wounded.

It reminded me of another modern day hero, Major Phil Packer, you may remember him as the man who was told he would never walk again and then just over one year later completed the London Marathon 2 miles a day over 13 days. He has also rowed the English Channel and climbed a 3,000ft mountain to raise £1.2m for the Help The Heroes charity, because he considered himself more fortunate than others. He recently finished this year's London Marathon in 26 hours. He has now left the army and set-up the British Inspiration Trust, which will help to encourage activities for young people. He continues to do adventures and expeditions. 

What amazes me about these people is that when life deals them a hand that would test even the strongest souls they rise back up and refuse to give in. Not only that, they push through the boundaries, pain and limitations put on them and excel to achieve more than most people dare hope to ever dream about.

It makes my challenge pale in comparison, but motivates me at the same time. I hope that I can find just a small amount of the courage and dedication that these people have, because if I do, then I can achieve my goals. I think, if ever I waiver or have doubts in training, or wonder if what I am doing is too difficult or hard, or even think about quitting then I'll just remind my self of guys like these.