Guest post by Sally Kettle.

I run, but not very well, my arms spin like windmills and my feet land with the subtlety of an elephant but, on occasion, I can pull off a marathon; but it’s through running that I’ve learnt a very valuable lesson. ‘You can be your own worst enemy!’ Once the mind starts chattering you can literally turn every pounding footstep into a torturous experience.

But why running, when the title of this blog is ‘No Hope on the Boat’? Well, in 2004 I rowed across the Atlantic for the first time; by 2006 I’d rowed it again becoming the first woman to do so. As I write, I’m just a day away from sailing back across the Atlantic in a 68ft racing yacht.

You’d think with that experience I’d have all the confidence in the world? I’ve been there and done it; the trouble is I am as nervous and anxious now as I was standing on the pontoon for my first rowing attempt. It seems these things never get any easier. My imagination has run away with itself turning my preparations into an exercise of torturous self-doubt!

Perhaps I only have myself to blame? Am I prepared? Well yes . . . and no! I’d never rowed before I set oar in 2004 and I’ve only had 3 weeks sailing training before I spend the next two months at sea! So am I realistic about my chances of success? Absolutely! This is totally achievable; it’s just going to be very hard work.

So why the nagging doubts?

It’s all too easy to run along believing everyone is having a better time than you, a more comfortable run than you are, that they are more prepared then you are. The truth is we all doubt our ability to achieve our goals. It’s human. We are our own worst enemy!

I have come to believe the key to my own success has been to recognise my negative thoughts but to keep bloody going!

I rowed the Atlantic with my Mother and she and I coined the phrase “No Hope on the Boat”. We said it because we’d spent so much of our time hoping for things to change. We whined about the weather and ‘hoped’ it would get better. We moaned about how long it was taking, we ‘hoped’ we’d go faster. As I run I still find myself hoping I’ll make it round the course without stopping or vomiting even on the shortest outings!

The thing is hope is often a passive prayer. It encourages you to do nothing, to believe that something or someone will intervene and make the difficulties go away.

When Mum and I reminded ourselves of our ‘No Hope on the Boat’ mantra it helped us to keep going; to understand that our fate is ultimately in our own hands, even when the mind is telling you how ‘hopeless’ you are.

So when you’re faced by self-doubt or fear, whether in your personal life or at work, remember the ‘No Hope’ rule, it’s very different from ‘Hopeless’. If you reach deep inside, ignore those nagging doubts (because they will always be there), but know that you really have the strength to keep going you’ve just have to believe it.

Sally is taking part in the last leg of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, attempting to raise £20k for The Children’s Trust. To follow the race and read Sally’s onboard diaries please go to Clipper Round the World Yacht Race. To sponsor Sally please visit: www.justgiving.com/sallykettle

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