Yay, I did it...

Well, I got to the top of Snowdon, to be fair there were times when I didn’t think I was going to make it... which had more to do with the smoking than my level of fitness (who am I kidding, that's not great either!).  I am really pleased to say that I have left my cigarettes at the top, and I am now beginning day 3 of smoke free living!  Metaphorically speaking of course as there were no bins at the top.   

When I got to the peak, which I struggled like hell doing, it was definately time for a new start.  There is no way I am going to struggle like that again the smoking is well and truly done.  Although my legs are really strong, the oxygen couldn’t to them, because I have been hammering the dirty cigs for the last god knows how long!

When I was climbing I had quite a lot of time to reflect which was mostly spent thinking of all the people over the last few days who had told me it was easy.  At that point while I was trying to work out what the hell they were going on about I wasn't aware that there was an easy route down the other side... no one had told me about this, I didn’t know there was a dirt track running down the other side of the bloody mountain which they were all clearly referring too! 

The most bizarre thing about the whole climb, was not only was it decided that we would go on a day when the clocks go forward, genius (up at 5am on a Sunday).  It was also decided that we weren’t going up the easy way!  Now I am safely at the bottom of said mountain, I agree It wouldn’t have been much of a challenge had we have walked up the same dirt track we walked down.

My legs are killing now and I keep ceasing up, but I am pretty bloody proud of myself, especially as I still haven't had a smoke. 

Our team, the blue team were the second to leave at 10am and we reached the peak around 12.50pm, well they did I was probably more around the 1pm mark, those last few steps were a bugger!  They were such great ladies, and without them I am not sure if I would have actually made it, although I still feel a little guilty for stopping them every 5 minutes or so on the way up because I thought there might be a chance I was going to die!  Even if secretly they liked it because I gave everyone a break allowing us all to stop and me to breathe again!  I will never forget the burn in my thighs, it was an absolute killer.  

I really don't know how I would have done it without them! 

One of my fondest memories of the climb was when a lovely smiley man walked past me on his way down and declared, ‘only another 15 minutes to the turn love, and then just another 15 after that it's okay you are nearly there.'  He was looking directly at me when he said it, as clearly I was the only one struggling like puck.  I get the sneaky feeling he walks up the dirt track and down the pyg track most sundays and takes pleasure in winding people up.  Had I of been able to breathe or move there is every chance I would have pushed him back down.  Not very charitable I know, but the only thing that was going through my mind was ‘why the hell am I doing this again?,’ and as soon as I get home, I am crossing out Scafell on my charity form and writing Snowdon in big letters with a big tick against it.  I was also trying to work out why any of these people were walking past smiling?  Were they crazy?  Why the hell do people choose to do this to themselves on a weekend... for pleasure, REALLY? 

Anyway, after reaching the top and skipping all the way down ‘with a big fat SMILE on MY face’ I can’t wait for Scafell Pike, note to self, plenty of crunchs because if that was only the practice, god knows what they have in store for us.  I am very sure there will be an easy way up Scafell, but it is safe to say that isn’t going to be the route they have chosen, hell no.  So luckily as I am working again, time to get involved in a new gym membership, now the broken foot has healed nicely.

Mountains are like childbirth, it doesn’t take long to forget the pain but it was worth every minute of it.  Bring it on!... (did I mention I cheated and had two c-sections!)

Also please note all the pictures you can see are either at the top or on the way down, as on the way up there was no photography involved, just gasps for breath mostly.  However, I do feel a bit sad about this, as indeed I have no proof how difficult it was… just take my word for it, alternatively get yourself up to Snowdon and trek the Pyg track, please feel free to get me some pictures when you are doing it, that would be grand xxx