In the early hours of an August weekend, I stumbled out of the delightful bunkhouse. After weeks of preparation at the pub, telling my friends about the challenge. But, not actually doing any training for it. With some serious chilli eating the night before, Stella consuming and no sleep due to Roger’s snoring and the other delightful strangers. I was ready to go with my new ‘cool’ rucksack and my walkin
g boots that have not been worn in years. I set out at 06.30 into the morning sunshine (not really, this is the UK remember). Our support crew, consisting of June and Emily, were primed and ready for action (which involved rolling over, going back to sleep and dreaming of the fantastic Full English that awaited them at a more civilised hour) actually, bless them they did a marvelous job.
I set off on the first peak with the gang of 9 and Millie the dog. After walking at the back of the pack for a while. I decided I would go catch the leading boys up and leave the pensioners behind (jokes). I reached the top of first peak and still no sign of them after a quick look at the picturesque view of mist. I then decided to run down to try catch them up, still in thick mist which was rather scarey. I finally caught up to them and we arrived at the man eating bogs and streams, whilst I tried to tiptoe and leap over and around the wet and boggy bits to keep my feet dry. Stupid idea, as I was using up far too much energy gambolling around like a demented lamb. I ended up falling in regardless. A straight, but very wet and boggy line was the answer from then on.
The delights of wet feet and blistering commenced, the boys started pulling away again. Also, I wanted a wee. So, I thought of a brilliant dignified idea of climbing this stone wall and what did I do? fall off the wall . Anyway, having had deep meaningful conversations with a few cows and sheep eating my nuts and raisins. I accomplished my first peak. As I sat down with the support team, the boys were just leaving to commence the second. After having a rant to June about why I decided to do it for 15 mins, I put some dry socks and blister plasters on and started peak two. At this moment, I looked up and thought why am I doing this, if only I had my IPod to listen to motivational songs like ‘aint no mountain high enough’. Oh yes, I recall why I did not have it. Yes, my brother said it would be anti social of me whilst walking with others. With the boys at least 15 mins ahead and the others I was clueless to how far behind, I was on my own.
Regardless, I reached the second peak up in the clouds and I had a signal on my phone. So, as I marched along, I had a few brief phone calls in the blistering wind. I soon dropped below the cloud. But, my goodness, that first bit of the steep descent is a bit of a killer on the knees! You would think you would look forward to the journey down, mistakenly I assumed that as you are going downwards its easier! Do not believe it! It actually hurts more and to top it off I lost my footing and catapulted down landing on the knee. Ouch! God knows where my determination came from, but I plodded along. At this point my knees are unbelievably painful and my feet were in sheer agony and I thought I have another peak to go. Then I needed a wee again. I turned around no one behind, so just pulled my pants down. Ah that’s better I thought, I then turned around two men was behind me. I thought oh brilliant, I bet that was not spectacular scenery there were expecting. Eventually, I saw the support team June and Emily waving at me outside a pub (Cruelty). My hand signal back was not one of the same nature. I decided not to stay long just asked them to fill my water up and swap boots for trainers and commence the third peak. By heck this was steep and quite frankly the only bit of the walk I enjoyed. I remember someone informing me that when you are walking you should always take the time to turn around and see what was behind you, you miss so much if you simply have your head down with the sole task of getting to the top and on this climb it was bliss. The strawberry raw jelly fuelled a burst of strength to reach the top. I did it! Woohoo. I have done it. Get me to that pub. This was torture I passed a finger-post saying 1½ miles to Horton. Knowing I could normally run that in less than 15 minutes, I briefly flirted with striking up a jog to try to get that beer. Sanity, and gravity, quickly re-asserted themselves, which is more than can be said for the sanity of the person who amusingly erected the 1½ mile marker at least 3 miles out.
At this point, I was tearful and thankyou to my wonderful friends text messages of support I reached the half a mile finger post such a short distance that still looked so far, occasionally disappearing from view before reappearing but I hobbled to that crisp pint in agony and opened my mouth to say “I’m never ever going through that again”. I did it "The 3 Peaks Challenge" a gruelling 37.5 km (23.3 mi) to 42 km (26.1 mi) (depending on route) circuit of all three peaks with nearly 1,600 m (5,249 ft) of ascent and descent.
Please donate to the charity I, put my body through sheer torture.
http://www.justgiving.com/The-Hull-Memory-Clinic/2
g boots that have not been worn in years. I set out at 06.30 into the morning sunshine (not really, this is the UK remember). Our support crew, consisting of June and Emily, were primed and ready for action (which involved rolling over, going back to sleep and dreaming of the fantastic Full English that awaited them at a more civilised hour) actually, bless them they did a marvelous job.
I set off on the first peak with the gang of 9 and Millie the dog. After walking at the back of the pack for a while. I decided I would go catch the leading boys up and leave the pensioners behind (jokes). I reached the top of first peak and still no sign of them after a quick look at the picturesque view of mist. I then decided to run down to try catch them up, still in thick mist which was rather scarey. I finally caught up to them and we arrived at the man eating bogs and streams, whilst I tried to tiptoe and leap over and around the wet and boggy bits to keep my feet dry. Stupid idea, as I was using up far too much energy gambolling around like a demented lamb. I ended up falling in regardless. A straight, but very wet and boggy line was the answer from then on.
The delights of wet feet and blistering commenced, the boys started pulling away again. Also, I wanted a wee. So, I thought of a brilliant dignified idea of climbing this stone wall and what did I do? fall off the wall . Anyway, having had deep meaningful conversations with a few cows and sheep eating my nuts and raisins. I accomplished my first peak. As I sat down with the support team, the boys were just leaving to commence the second. After having a rant to June about why I decided to do it for 15 mins, I put some dry socks and blister plasters on and started peak two. At this moment, I looked up and thought why am I doing this, if only I had my IPod to listen to motivational songs like ‘aint no mountain high enough’. Oh yes, I recall why I did not have it. Yes, my brother said it would be anti social of me whilst walking with others. With the boys at least 15 mins ahead and the others I was clueless to how far behind, I was on my own.
Regardless, I reached the second peak up in the clouds and I had a signal on my phone. So, as I marched along, I had a few brief phone calls in the blistering wind. I soon dropped below the cloud. But, my goodness, that first bit of the steep descent is a bit of a killer on the knees! You would think you would look forward to the journey down, mistakenly I assumed that as you are going downwards its easier! Do not believe it! It actually hurts more and to top it off I lost my footing and catapulted down landing on the knee. Ouch! God knows where my determination came from, but I plodded along. At this point my knees are unbelievably painful and my feet were in sheer agony and I thought I have another peak to go. Then I needed a wee again. I turned around no one behind, so just pulled my pants down. Ah that’s better I thought, I then turned around two men was behind me. I thought oh brilliant, I bet that was not spectacular scenery there were expecting. Eventually, I saw the support team June and Emily waving at me outside a pub (Cruelty). My hand signal back was not one of the same nature. I decided not to stay long just asked them to fill my water up and swap boots for trainers and commence the third peak. By heck this was steep and quite frankly the only bit of the walk I enjoyed. I remember someone informing me that when you are walking you should always take the time to turn around and see what was behind you, you miss so much if you simply have your head down with the sole task of getting to the top and on this climb it was bliss. The strawberry raw jelly fuelled a burst of strength to reach the top. I did it! Woohoo. I have done it. Get me to that pub. This was torture I passed a finger-post saying 1½ miles to Horton. Knowing I could normally run that in less than 15 minutes, I briefly flirted with striking up a jog to try to get that beer. Sanity, and gravity, quickly re-asserted themselves, which is more than can be said for the sanity of the person who amusingly erected the 1½ mile marker at least 3 miles out.
At this point, I was tearful and thankyou to my wonderful friends text messages of support I reached the half a mile finger post such a short distance that still looked so far, occasionally disappearing from view before reappearing but I hobbled to that crisp pint in agony and opened my mouth to say “I’m never ever going through that again”. I did it "The 3 Peaks Challenge" a gruelling 37.5 km (23.3 mi) to 42 km (26.1 mi) (depending on route) circuit of all three peaks with nearly 1,600 m (5,249 ft) of ascent and descent.
Please donate to the charity I, put my body through sheer torture.
http://www.justgiving.com/The-Hull-Memory-Clinic/2
