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

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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

Deciding to stop a career which I spent 4 years at uni studying for due to absolutely hating it. I had nothing to walk in to next but new I couldn't go on. After various other jobs (and years) I'm trying to start a new path, but am feeling I don't have the final bit of strength to push the boat out! I'm a coward.

On a far smaller scale than the four mums in a boat. My husband wanted to go canoeing in Turkey. I am not sporty in any way, but we were told it was very leisurely and anyone could do it. It was horrendous and possibly the hardest thing I had ever done. It went on forever. When the tour group we were in stopped for lunch we asked the guide how much further we had to row,he said, "Oh we're only about half way there " I thought I would cry with frustration and exhaustion. We did make it to the end and managed not to turn the canoe upside down like many did. We didn't make it down to dinner in the hotel that night as we were sound asleep. Next day I could hardly walk which is why I admire these four mums so much.

I was always the admin for years and then a Supervisor's job came up, they are very rare and only come up every 10 years. Everybody was saying I didn't stand a chance and even my husband said don't waste your time, but low and behold little shy me, I got it and have been doing it now for 2 years, not bad at 61!

Doing my first 5k after a having children was a real effort.
I felt so unfit and hadn't really done any exercise apart from gentle yoga for two years. It was tough, but worth it.

My favourite "pushing the boat out" moment of recent years was Christmas 2015.

I was in a relatively new relationship with a divorcee. We both lived on canal boats - which was how we met- moored alongside each other in the summer- and we'd cruised our boats around together ever since.

Boyfriend HATED Christmas since his divorce- whilst I'm the spirit of Christmas - so I asked him if I could make all the arrangements. He (trepidatiously) agreed.

First I dismembered a Christmas tree, and wired it to the roof hanging with decorations and fairy lights. (No space for a traditional tree on a narrowboat).
Then I bought and wrapped presents for him and the dogs.
And most magnificently....
Using the ovens on our two boats, posed as a lord and skittering across the decks in high heels, with trays of roast potatoes and stuffing - I managed to knock out a 4 course traditional full Christmas dinner, for us and a couple of friends.

It must have been enough to change his mind about Christmas- because Christmas Day 2016 saw him cooking a turkey dinner, because I was busy with our brand new - Christmas conceived(!!!) baby snuggled up with on the sofa.

Pissed** as a lord, obviously

This won't sound particularly amazing compared to the wonderful feats others have accomplished but I only ever baked my first cake once I had kids and it has been quite an ordeal to overcome my fear of baking as I had so many cookery related fails (often of epic proportions!). So now I really enjoy it and it has become my way of having some 'me time' - I've even agreed for my daughter to have a 'baking party' for her upcoming birthday. It's taken years to get to this point but I feel proud of myself for persevering!

My pushing the boat out was getting offered an allotment two weeks ago!
Needless to say it was very overgrown & a real challenge so hubby & I have donned our wellies & it's now almost all done ready for planting
😃

Guess we pushed the boat out in a financial sense for our wedding, and I've pulled many an all-nighter in my insane old job. Biggest push the boat out physically is yet to come: I've signed up to do a half marathon later this year, never having run further than 5km in the past. Wish me luck..

Fitting yoga/Pilates in to my daily routine to help manage my bipolar disorder. Sounds like a small change but it's been hugely significant for me. What amazing things people commenting have done - good on you all!

baking 10 trays of cakes for a charity bake sale when I was told I only had days to live if I ddint seek treatment.
said charity was possibly going to save other lives so I decided that's how I wanted to go down.baking!
no one new.and after they were delivered I miraculously managed to be offered last minute saving treatment myself.

Running a 10k race 6 years ago. Will never forget the feeling crossing the finishing line. Unfortunately can't run now because I have a neurological condition. I'm used to it now but will hever forget that race.

We went with our children to Goa, India for 3 months, we home schooled the children and let them see some culture. Every day was new, exciting and sometimes scary!!

So, year 3 of having a poorly baby who does not sleep through (NO, NEVER!!) and I feel like I have constant jet lag, however, this year I've decided to push myself hard - I've committed to a 5km run, once a week with no stops, as well as a pilates class and at least one hour work out per week. It's really tough and my system is at overload, however, I'm feeling bizarrely great and very proud of myself, as I am on target.

I realise this is not near the same league as the incredible challenges and life-changing fund raising that so many of you have done......

when my daughter was a small toddler I was v overweight and really embarrassed about my body. I really wanted to take her swimming and putting the swim suit on and just doing it took a lot of courage!

Gosh not really a push the boat out sort of person but probably taking my hubbie to Rome for his big birthday!

Doesn't sound much compared to others here but I've gone from couch to 5k last year

I think this whole journey of motherhood is a prime example - not just saying it because this is mums net but its true. I have to say this has really tested me - patience, strength, determination and my ability to still make fun and not take life too seriously.

Its my parents Golden Wedding in two weeks, and not only have I made Golden bunting, but encouraged each of my children to make a home-made gift for them (golden flowers / Ferrero Rocher chocolate tree / golden memory box). My parents love anything their grandchildren make, so hopefully these will go down well. Persuading my 12 year old (sporty rather than crafty) son to decorate the memory box has been the biggest challenge of all!

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

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.

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

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

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.

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!