Well, May started off with a great milestone. I reached the $10,000 fundraising goal with the help of all of you and in particular Shawn putting out a link to his work colleagues and then my brother Michael donating the final amount. I am now at over $11,500 and it would be great to continue raising money for this great cause.
I was also featured in a local online news outlet called JC Times. If you haven’t had a chance to read the article here it is.
My friend Tinika and I did the New York Five Boro Bike Ride at the beginning of May. We didn’t make it to Staten Island, but we did have an amazing time, we think we rode about 30 miles around New York City. It was great fun, we had lovely weather and we’re going to sign up and do it again next year.
Some thing that I need to really work on in the run up to the climb, which is only nine weeks away, is more hikes up mountains. Shawn and I went to Bear Mountain a few weeks ago and it was quite tough. There are 1000 steps up the mountain and then you come down on some pretty scraggly rocks. It was not easy, so I need to definitely do more of the mountain climbs.
And a reminder: never give up
I also need to make sure that my boots are thoroughly broken in, I’m currently having problems with my little toe on my left foot, which keeps rubbing up against the shoe.
While we were on the hike up the mountain, I realized that I’m very goal orientated and I don’t stop to enjoy the journey so I think that’s something I need to work on: changing my mindset so that I actually stop and enjoy the hikes rather than just focusing on getting to the top (or bottom). Taking one step at a time slowly and enjoying the process. I think that is something that I do, not just on hikes, but in life in general, I focus on the destination and not the journey.
I also had the opportunity to go up to Scotland and did a 5.5mile walk around Atholl Woods by Dunkeld in Perthshire with my friend Louise. Such beautiful scenery.
I’m currently in London and I’ll be here until Tuesday. When we were in Worthing seeing Michael, Karen and Grace (and Ann), Mum, Dad and I went on a walk along the beach which is a pebbly beach and I zigzagged up and down the dunes which, I’ll be honest, was a great workout for my quads, I was exhausted afterwards!
That same evening we had a group call with the rest of the climbers for the trip which was really great. I got some questions answered, and I feel like I’m in fairly good shape. The things that I would like to work on in the next few months is releasing a few pounds so that I’m not carrying any excess pounds up the mountain, I need to work on my core strength and I need to be walking at least 3 to 4 times a week, and at least 5 miles each time and two of those need to be hiking up a mountain with the 15lb backpack.
So those are my goals for the next few weeks we’re definitely on the countdown now I have nine weeks to go. I have a countdown app on my phone and I’m starting to get a little nervous but I know that I can do this.
I also applied for my Tanzanian visa this month so fingers crossed that comes through soon. Which it may not, based on the passport photo I sent in, I don’t think I would approve me!
And finally one of the other members of the team sent me this picture, which shows you in a little bit more detail what the elevation and distances are to each camp (in meters and feet)
If you have any questions for me, please let me know. I will happily try and answer them in my next update. I hope you’re enjoying reading these updates I’m enjoying keeping a note of what I’m doing to prepare for this once in a lifetime experience.
And finally thank you to the anonymous donors, I don’t get to see who you are, so I can’t thank you directly, but thank you, I truly appreciate it.