The world is full of people doing extraordinary things. And there’s something that fascinates us about people who are taking on seemingly impossible challenges, pushing themselves to the limit or making brave life choices. We’re envious, we’re inspired or we’re simply transported to a different place in our imagination. And…

If you're returning to work after a summer break and see only a hard slog through long days and dark nights to Christmas, when you collapse and fall ill, before another long slog through January to Easter, then is that thinking helping? Perhaps instead you should think like an athlete…