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Tell us about the times you've pushed the boat out - to win a copy of Four Mums in a Boat plus £100 Sweaty Betty vouchers. Ends Wednesday 5 April

119 replies

SorchaMumsnet · 08/03/2017 12:46

Four Mums in a Boat is the incredible true story of four ordinary working mums from Yorkshire who took on an extraordinary challenge, breaking a world record along the way.

Janette, Frances, Helen and Niki were four very different women, all juggling full-time jobs and motherhood. They could never be described as athletes, but were determined to be busy and the local rowing club was the perfect place to have a laugh and feel invigorated. It wasn’t long before, over a couple of glasses of wine, they cooked up the crazy idea of crossing 3,000 miles of treacherous ocean in the toughest row in the world, The Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge. Yes, they had families and jobs that they would be leaving behind for two months. But after two years of planning, they found themselves ready to head up the race of their lives.

This is the story of how four friends had the audacity to go on a wild and beautiful adventure, not to escape life, but for life not to escape them.

To be in with a chance of winning one of two Sweaty Betty vouchers each worth £100 plus a copy of Four Mums in a Boat, share the times when you've pushed the boat out.

This discussion is sponsored by HarperCollins and will end on 5 April

Books T&Cs apply

Tell us about the times you've pushed the boat out - to win a copy of Four Mums in a Boat plus £100 Sweaty Betty vouchers. Ends Wednesday 5 April
Tell us about the times you've pushed the boat out - to win a copy of Four Mums in a Boat plus £100 Sweaty Betty vouchers. Ends Wednesday 5 April
OP posts:
Susangilley7 · 15/03/2017 09:29

A good walk everyday. Absorbing nature and its seasonal changes. Can't beat it.

sbruin1122 · 14/03/2017 22:57

Challenging myself to swim 1km every week this year!

KarenCBC · 14/03/2017 22:27

Doing a half marathon! I definitely didn't run round the whole thing but it was a challenge that I proudly completed being someone who's usually allergic to exercise!

Marg2k8 · 14/03/2017 22:26

I am disabled and even taking what most people would consider a gentle stroll is really pushing the boat out for me.

mo3733 · 14/03/2017 20:54

having family visiting and i bought the best joint of beef i could afford to make a full roast dinner with all the trimmings

beckyinman · 14/03/2017 20:38

About 10 years ago I decided I wanted to go to Hawaii - every year for about 5 years all my friends and family said "I'll definitely do that with you" and every year they dropped out. So about 5 years ago I just booked and went by myself!

cocochips · 14/03/2017 19:35

Training for and completing my first ever marathon

farhanac · 14/03/2017 16:31

Learning to ride a bike as an adult

Trinidading3 · 14/03/2017 14:41

Beating my 10 year old son in a Cycling Race around Hyde Park and laughing at the amazed expression on his face as he thought i could not ride a bike but i used to zoom around like Higgins when i was his age.
Also doing all the Oar work in the Boating lakes in the summer whilst teaching son to use oars for the first time, alas sweating away as you do....Grin

123hartley123 · 14/03/2017 14:39

went on a cruise of course I wore a dinner jacket grand to dress up for a change

mooota1514 · 14/03/2017 14:26

This looks like a really interesting read. I'd say it's when I took a risk returning to a very different role at work after mat leave. That took confidence and some self belief, and in a very round about way has helped me make some real choices about my career.

jandoc · 14/03/2017 12:44

on our wedding anniversary we really pushed the boat out and had an indulgent weekend of pampering and relaxation

meggysar · 14/03/2017 12:31

Keeping walking despite having extensive hip surgery.

NauticalDisaster · 14/03/2017 12:18

I always dreamed of working on the continent on a work exchange. I lobbied my manager and made it happen! I worked for a year in France and Luxembourg and loved it!

tabbaz123 · 14/03/2017 10:48

I think my 'moment' or should I say 2 DAYS was on a visit to the Grand Canyon when we had to decide which 'little trek' to do - In the heat of the moment and boy was it hot I decided that I am only here once and really want to see the Colorado River that runs through the Canyon. A trek down to the river on day one was bad enough but getting up on day 2 really was me 'pushing the boat out' or pushing my limits

Genka · 14/03/2017 10:29

The decision to leave my previous life, including house, career, family and to move to UK and start from zero! A desicion made in 48 hours!

janeyf1 · 14/03/2017 10:23

Running a half marathon which was made all the harder because it was a very hot day

Nanalou · 14/03/2017 10:00

In 2014 backpacked with my daughter the coastline of Norway from Oslo to the Lofoten islands. Hard work has it had years since I had a carried a rug sack on my back but what wonderful memories.

cluckyhen · 14/03/2017 09:54

Needing a goal for this year I decided to sign up to a full marathon - then had a thought and signed up for a half - then had another thought and signed up for a 10k as I am not a runner. 10k done and dusted in 56m, half is this weekend!! Luckily I'm raising funds for the Mental Health Foundation too as I suffer PTSD and body dysmorphia so for me getting out in front of people is really hard.

ThemisA · 14/03/2017 09:05

I edited an anthology of parent's stories for a publisher and it w almost impossible to get each of the contributors to write their piece in a timely manner - never again!

Bellroyd · 14/03/2017 08:23

It was a Li-lo rather than a boat and it was in Malta on holiday when our two boys were small. Pushed the younger one gently out into the sheltered flat-calm bay and then the Li-lo was punctured by something under the water - he sank in an uncontrolled spluttering way and it did kind of put him off water for a while until he regained confidence.

amyhalliday1 · 14/03/2017 07:26

Went all out for my husbands 30th deciding to make my own cake ... disaster !

winterpark · 14/03/2017 06:17

I pushed the boat out when I was a surrogate for a couple that couldn't have children, I gave birth to healthy twins :)

barricade · 13/03/2017 22:11

Good example of this was at the onset of the Millennium when I was studying for a Masters degree by day, working 50+ hours a week in paid employment by evening, and completing house chores (and assignments) by night. This spanned 2 years, and followed a further year of working 2 jobs. Household continued to be run, bills paid, cleared debts, got qualified, commenced a new career - but most of all, I developed a level of self-confidence that still tells me to this day that I can do anything if I set my mind to it.

Smile
glenka · 13/03/2017 21:57

Struggling through depression is my major achievement at the moment, but hopefully one day I should be able to do something extraordinary.