1952 is a day everyone who makes the statement, “it isn’t possible” should be reminded of. It is the day Sir Roger Bannister’s set an important milestone in human history.

The 4 minute mile

As you may all well know, everyone, even the most eminent of scientists in the world, had said that it would be impossible for a human to break the 4 minute mile. What’s maybe even more interesting, in relation to how the human species works, is that just two months later, Australia’s John Landy ran the mile in less than 4 minutes as well, and in 1964, America’s Jim Ryun became the first high-school runner to achieve it in just 3:59.0.

250 marathons in one year

Then there is the question of how far you can run. I’ll ask the question – how many marathons do you think a person can run in one year?

10? 20? 50? How about 250 marathons in just one year. Staggering isn’t it. Yet, in 2010 Martin Parnell did just that and in doing so raised $320,000 for a children’s charity. (if you want to find out about his other quests and charity fundraisers click here).

Oh, by the way, Martin Parnell only started training for running events at the age of 47 years old!

125 miles in 1 day

The Tarahumura are a Native American people of north-western Mexico and famous for being able to run 200 kilometres in just one or two days. And it isn’t just the fittest of the villagers who do it, as often the whole family will go on long running jaunts to visit other villages which are spread across the mountainous regions of their homelands.

Mr Severinsen and Mr Kropp

And maybe two of my favourite example of mindlessness that I have recently come across are Stig Severinsen of Denmark and Göran Kropp from Sweden.

What makes Mr Severinsen stand out? Well he can hold his breath underwater for 22 minutes without the use of any breathing apparatus of course.

Mr Kropp on the other hand cycled from Sweden to the foot of the Himalays in Nepal. Ah, so? It’s only 8,000 miles of 13,000 kilometres. However, he then untethered his climbing equipment and without a sherpa and without breathing apparatus climbed to the top of Mount Everest, had a cup of tea or something that a Swede might do up there, climbed back down and cycled home again!

What do you plan on doing this year?

What do you plan on doing this year?

Yesterday, I just managed to walk to the end of my local beach and back, about 3 miles approximately.

It may not seem like it relates to mindfulness, yet mindfulness meditation or mindfulness thinking is about letting go of our preconceptions, the stories we tell ourselves and the limits we place on ourselves. It is about tuning in to who we truly are and what we are here to be and do.

What Is Mindfulness according to Berkeley University?

Mindfulness means maintaining a moment-by-moment awareness of our thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and surrounding environment.

Mindfulness also involves acceptance, meaning that we pay attention to our thoughts and feelings without judging them—without believing, for instance, that there’s a “right” or “wrong” way to think or feel in a given moment. When we practice mindfulness, our thoughts tune into what we’re sensing in the present moment rather than rehashing the past or imagining the future.