Training over the course of the last number of years at Esprit de Corps in Montreal with people half my age and less, I have often been told that I am a positive example for them. Certainly, it is in my own best interest to stay fit to continue to do all the challenges and sports I love. But increasingly I realize, I could be in a position to encourage others, younger and older, to Dare to Reach their own challenges and dreams.

Some say it has to be in you to train and live such a lifestyle. I don’t believe that. I have not always been so active in sports or exercise by a long shot. I believe that most of what we do in life does not come from just being born or good at it ‘naturally’. Practically everything we do is ‘learned’ and we make our choices along the way. It is we who decide where we want to go, what we want to be.

Turning 40, 50 or 60 should not mean a time to pack it in, quiet down, or get a bigger TV. Now is the time to expand your horizon, to dream bigger, to Reach further. Every study has shown that keeping active and motivated significantly extends health and quality of life. Often people have more time and resources once job and family are more settled, to return to aspirations lost along the way. Being older is being wiser and allows you to condense your energy more efficiently. Being wiser means tying up those loose ends of the stuff that got away or just couldn’t be realized.

Breaking our mental mould, even in small ways can be daunting. Going out at night in the cold of winter to train in the snow, even for me, is definitely not easy. But 2 hours later I am euphoric. I fought the elements, I pushed myself with other crazy souls and I felt like a million bucks. It is really just the question of setting up new habits, reshuffling the pack a little bit, seeing and feeling results. Everything starts somewhere, and possibilities will grow beyond your imagination. Once fit the list of opportunities and challenges are endless.

People sometimes ask me "how do you push yourself when the going gets really tough". Perhaps best said by Ray Zahab who ran 7,500km across the Sahara in 111 days, about 70 km a day. Interviewed he said, “it is 90% psychological”. When questioned what the other 10% was, he said “mental”.  Fixing your sights on a landmark a hundred meters above you as a goal will get you to the top. One little step at a time. One day at a time. Take a decision, act on your decision, make it a reality. Dare.

So it really comes down to the simple expression "use it or lose it". It applies to body, mind and spirit.

Body is obvious: get out there and be active to keep your physical body strong, or lose it.

Mind: get out and look for new ways to challenge yourself and Dare, big or small.

Spirit is vital: keep that desire to still be a little bit of a kid in you all the time.

This philosophy is so important to everyone, especially as we age. Gradually descending into a living slumber is not an intelligent option. It gets exponentially more difficult to resurface. I’m 62, and in 2008 I climbed the 6th highest mountain in the world. January 2009, I climbed the highest mountain in Antarctica. It is possible to take on even the biggest challenges at any age. All that holds us back is our willingness to get out there and Dare to Reach.