Surprise, surprise, surprise.
I was surprised recently to find that my blog celebrated its 4th birthday earlier in the month while I was in Argentina. I have never before kept a diary so I struggle to believe that it's been going for so long!
I was reading back over some of the earlier posts recently. In some ways, I feel like I've made bugger all progress in the last 4 years. It sometimes feels like groundhog day. Let's face it, each year I have had a (major) injury that has resulted in me having at least one, and sometimes several, months off running. And then I start all over again - like I am at the moment.
But in other ways, I have come so very far from the person who wrote that initial post. There is no way I could have imagined the things I have done, the places I have been and the people I have met when I started this journey 4 years ago. From Six Foot to mountaineering to rock climbing to mountain biking and triathlons, I have done things that I could never have contemplated. But I think my 'mental' journey has been ever greater. I have learnt so much about myself; I have learnt to challenge my (many) preconceived limitations. I have learnt to say 'I can' rather than 'I can't' which has always been my impulse reaction. I have learnt to let go of my fears - of failing or of what others might think - and just go for something I want. I now truly understand and appreciate that the journey is far more important than the destination.
To quote the Beatles, it's been a long & winding road. And, as frustrating as it has sometimes been, I wouldn't have it any other way.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
I'm back (again!)
I'm back (once again), this time from Argentina at the end of my 6 month o/s odyssey :-(
If you have been following the dispatches on the AC website or my other blog, you would be aware that I wasn't able to summit Aconcagua. I turned around about 1.5 hours out of high camp - about 6,280m - on summit day due to a combination of factors. I certainly don't consider not reaching the summit as failure; it was simply a strategic withdrawal. And I consider it a success if only because (as a wise CR once told me) I didn't let fear hold me back from doing something I wanted to do. And besides, I had the most amazing journey along the way.
The big 'A' and me, taken from camp 2 at 5,500m-
This trip had soooo many firsts. First full expedition. First time I've carried loads at altitude - bloody hard work. First time I've spent 48 hours at 6000m. For those who have never been to altitude before, this fact may help to give you some idea of just how hard it is and how hard your body has to work. My resting HR at sea level is 48 BPM. At 6000m, it was 100 BPM! I may have reached a higher altitude in Nepal last year but this was, by far, the hardest thing I have attempted. And probably the achievement I am most proud of.
Camp 3 at 6000m where I spent my 34th birthday-
The view from my turnaround point on summit morning. Camp 3 (at 6000m) can just be seen in the bottom of the photo-
Here's a sekrit. Mountaineering is just an excuse to stuff yourself with junk food 24/7 and still lose weight-
So now I'm back and trying to get my head out of the mountains and back to 'real life'. Mentally, I'm in great shape - I am already thinking about my sporting goals for the rest of the year. Rehabing my ankle and running again (which I haven't done since I stuffed it in September) is my no.1 priority (as is unpacking our new home!). However the fact that I wanted to lay down and sleep to recover from a long, hot shower this morning I think indicates that, physically, I still have some recovery time ahead. Pass the chocolate ;-)
If you have been following the dispatches on the AC website or my other blog, you would be aware that I wasn't able to summit Aconcagua. I turned around about 1.5 hours out of high camp - about 6,280m - on summit day due to a combination of factors. I certainly don't consider not reaching the summit as failure; it was simply a strategic withdrawal. And I consider it a success if only because (as a wise CR once told me) I didn't let fear hold me back from doing something I wanted to do. And besides, I had the most amazing journey along the way.
The big 'A' and me, taken from camp 2 at 5,500m-
This trip had soooo many firsts. First full expedition. First time I've carried loads at altitude - bloody hard work. First time I've spent 48 hours at 6000m. For those who have never been to altitude before, this fact may help to give you some idea of just how hard it is and how hard your body has to work. My resting HR at sea level is 48 BPM. At 6000m, it was 100 BPM! I may have reached a higher altitude in Nepal last year but this was, by far, the hardest thing I have attempted. And probably the achievement I am most proud of.
Camp 3 at 6000m where I spent my 34th birthday-
The view from my turnaround point on summit morning. Camp 3 (at 6000m) can just be seen in the bottom of the photo-
Here's a sekrit. Mountaineering is just an excuse to stuff yourself with junk food 24/7 and still lose weight-
So now I'm back and trying to get my head out of the mountains and back to 'real life'. Mentally, I'm in great shape - I am already thinking about my sporting goals for the rest of the year. Rehabing my ankle and running again (which I haven't done since I stuffed it in September) is my no.1 priority (as is unpacking our new home!). However the fact that I wanted to lay down and sleep to recover from a long, hot shower this morning I think indicates that, physically, I still have some recovery time ahead. Pass the chocolate ;-)
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