Mountain Madness

A week ago on Cadir Idris the sun was beating down on the runners who were trying not to over hear with temperatures of over 20c at the summit. By contrast this Saturday I was struggling against sleet and driving rain and desperately trying to keep warm in a freezing wind as I set off on a long speedy hike in the Lake District. Surprisingly I didn’t meet another sole for hours! Just over seven hours later and after ascending over 7500ft and covering 23.5 miles I descended into the late afternoon sunshine of Ambleside feeling very pleased that I had persevered and had enjoyed my mountain madness. Today I feel like I have been kicked by a mule!

I have to confess that I do quite like wild countryside and wild weather; I find them invigorating and the challenge and immediacy of just putting one foot in front of the other for me is actually relaxing and clears the mind. By launching the MacIntyre 2012 Appeal I don’t expect people to find the same satisfaction as me from such perverse pleasures but I do hope that they will challenge themselves to do something active that will provide similar personal satisfaction and benefits. The idea is for each person to find something that they like doing and want to do on a regular basis that will enhance their feeling of wellbeing and hopeful provide an additional interest in their life. The funds raised from the appeal will help to support this by paying for classes, equipment, transport and membership fees etc.

Thank you to everyone for your sponsorship and good will messages- they are really appreciated, especially during those low periods when my body is telling me it is too hard to continue and my mind is trying to “make excuses”! Many people have been extraordinarily generous but don’t be put off pledging the odd fiver too. Over the remaining three weeks I want all the encouragement I can get but more importantly I want people to be thinking about their own personal challenges; how they might raise funds for the MacIntyre 2012 Appeal or even better how they might support someone with a disability to develop an active and interesting pastime.

Cader Idris Fell Race - 30 May 2009

Standing in a pen of fell runners in the central square of Dolgellau, North Wales, I had that feeling of impending doom in the pit of my stomach. I was about to participate in my first official fell run, an annual race that is run from Dolgellau to the summit of Cadir Idris and back again- 10.5 miles and nearly 3000ft of ascent. The people gathered around me were a very different breed from the normal road runners who do half marathons etc; they were older, grizzlier and leaner. There was no sign of hi-tech, smart running gear, most wore a faded club vest (indeed despite the bright sunshine many were bare chested), a pair of skimpy shorts and battered fell running shoes caked in dried mud. These were hard men and women. However everyone was very friendly but it was clear no quarter was to be given to this interloper from the low country.

Once the race got underway it was a case of falling in at the rear and hanging on, trying all the way not to let the lungs actually burst and just keep moving upwards. About two thirds of the way up the leaders had already started to come hurtling past at seemingly breakneck speed displaying amazing bravery and sure footedness. At the top a friendly marshal checked your number and politely insisted that you had to climb to the top of the rocky mound on summit and actually touch the cairn. Then it was down hill all the way; a great relief for the lungs but bad for the legs as, with far less grace and agility, I descended in the hope that I wouldn’t fall over or twist an ankle. After 2hrs 32mins I arrived back in the central square; hot, exhausted but elated- I had done it and didn’t even come last! For the record I was 203rd out of 246.

The Mont Blanc Marathon is only 4 weeks away now and as I was travelling back home I couldn’t banish the fearsome thought that I will have to do more than twice the distance and four times the height.

Ummm……I never thought it was going to be an easy challenge.

Thank you to everyone who has pledged sponsorship and sent me words of encouragement. They are very much appreciated and after the personal doubts after doing the Cadir Idris run they will play a crucial role in keeping me motivated and focused over the final month’s preparation. For those who have asked: the “young lady” in the photograph is my lovely daughter Holly. The picture was taken at the start of the infamous mountain marathon which, you may recall, was washed out in the Lakes last year and was featured on the national news. You would think I should learn!

Welcome

Welcome to the first post in my blog as I begin preparations to run the Marathon Du Mont-Blanc.

I have been persuaded by colleagues and others to launch an appeal by undertaking a personal challenge.  Therefore I will be taking part in the Mont Blanc Marathon on the 28th June.  It is a full marathon run (26.2 miles) that also climbs 12,000 feet (equivalent of 4 times up and down Snowdon) and the route will take me from the French ski town of Chamonix to the Swiss border and back.

 

I have never attempted anything quite like this before and so I am looking for encouragement and should be most grateful for your support.

I will be in training this weekend by running the Cadar Idris Fell Run on Sunday, so please check back on Monday for an update on how the day went.

Also, please feel free to contact me by emailing me at billsblog@macintyrecharity.org