My trusted support - left, right, left, right

There are many people that are going to support me in my quest to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro.  They all bring something special, something personal.  They all have something I need - from fitness tips, to motivational quotes.  From fundraising ideas to skills & experience I'm going to need to call upon.  I have, and will continue, to mention these lovely people in my blog as I couldn't do this without them.

This post is about some very important support I am getting - support that started this weekend when I went for a walk in the beautiful English countryside.  Support that won't necessarily be with me every training session or fundraising event but that will certainly be with me every step of the way up the mountain....and back again!  A relationship that only recently blossomed but probably one of the most important of the challenge that lies ahead of me....I'm talking, of course, about my hiking boots!

Full Rainbow and views across Oxfordshire (cutest photo bomb ever!)

My husband bought me my trusted pair of boots for Christmas.  I now have a year to wear them in so I don't get any blisters on the climb.  On Saturday we went for a walk around the Uffington White Horse and Dragon Hill so I could start the 'breaking in' process, but the right pair of sock meant there wasn't a blister in sight!

The hail storm that hit just as we arrived in the car park meant that any hope of keeping them looking shiny and new went out of the window but a good two hour walk, up and down hill, and it felt like I'd had them forever.

Scarpa Terra GTX Boots

I'm sure my boots will make an appearance again in a later post but if anyone is feeling inspired to get some proper boots and get walking I can highly recommend these!  Not full-on mountaineering boots as I won't needs those for Kilimanjaro, but certainly supportive, weatherproof, lightweight, and VERY comfortable.

Wayland's Smithy - an nice break point along the trail

Even if I don't make it to the summit of Kilimanjaro (I will! I will!!) these boots are going to mean I get out and about much more than normal and will get to explore some of the beautiful countryside England has to offer.  Saturdays walk wasn't too challenging and my knees held out for the whole time but coming back down made me realise I definitely need to get practicing with my poles (another xmas gift that I haven't tried out yet).  I've had mixed reviews about poles but I am definitely going to need the extra support and balance on my way back down from the summit so am going to need to get used to using them - and who cares if I'm the only one using them, I need to be able to walk when I get back.

That's all for now - quick one tonight as my bath is calling, another week at work.  Yoga, Kettlebells, Fight Klub and Personal training this week, its going to be a hard one!

Getting Creative - Its not all train, train, train

I'm still waiting for a few bits & pieces to be finalised so I can start fundraising.  As my chosen charity are not registered in the UK its taking a few extra steps to get my fundraising page set up.

That isn't stopping me getting organised with a few money raising ideas I have - a nice mix of traditional fundraisers such as cake sales, quiz nights etc right through to fitness events, beauty treatments and a touch of fashion.

You can probably gather that I'm passionate about wildlife.  Elephants have always been a favourite of mine, although I don't discriminate and love anything that moves, furry or not (except frogs, I draw the line at frogs!).   The issues facing our ever decreasing wild animal population and the frightening decline in some of the most loved species on the planet is in the most part down to human greed, vanity....and 'sport'.  I can assure you that no animals will be harmed in my fitness training to climb Kilimanjaro.

I'm fundraising for an African charity that focuses on three main areas: saving wildlife; anti poaching and community engagement.  Given I am climbing an African mountain for an African charity I thought I would bring a bit of Africa into my fundraising.

And this is where I'm getting creative...With a little help from my friends, I will be making some simple bags, tops and scarves to sell - with all the proceeds going towards my fundraising target.

Each one will be unique and made with some beautiful African prints.  Kindly donated by Continent Clothing.

Continent Clothing are a socially responsible business that provides employment opportunities and economic empowerment to all that work for them.  I can't put it any better than they do themselves so here's a few words from their website.....

We Design The Clothes, We Select Fabrics. We Find The Tailors. They Make The Clothes. You Wear Them. Their Children Get Educated. You Get Noticed.

They design their own clothes, which are then produced by artisan tailors in The Gambia.  I recently bought a skirt from them and what I loved is that I could go on to their website and see exactly who made it.  Ousman lives and works in Sukuta.  Since working with Continent Clothing he has been able to extend his family home and now has the facility to add apprentices to his team.

I love everything about Continent Clothing.  The designs, the vibrant colours, the ethics, the opportunities and the business model.  So imagine my delight when they agreed to donate to me a pile of off-cuts of these beautiful African prints.


The images on this post are fabric donations they have given me to get creative and raise some cash. I'm planing to use the off-cuts to jazz up plain vest tops, bags for life etc so watch this space if you want a small bit of Africa in your wardrobe or on your arm.  More details to follow though the year.

If you simply can't wait then why not visit Continental Clothing now and help get the talented tailors in The Gambia noticed.  If you prefer not to shop online or would rather be wowed by the colours in person then visit one of their stores - they are based in the Harris Arcade, Reading or in Shoreditch, London.

Big thanks for your kind donation towards my fundraising!!

Break Point - Going Beyond

Happy New Year!  This is it.  January.  Twelve months to go to the big climb and now the real work begins.

For anyone new to my blog (welcome!), I'm climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in January 2018.  Why?  A  number of reasons really.  I love travelling, I love Africa, I needed to challenge myself, I needed something to focus my mind, a goal.....oh and I want raise shed loads of cash for a cause very close to my heart!

To give you a bit of background, until a few years ago I did very little physical activity (OK none).  In my late twenties I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis, a major flare up left me wheelchair bound for nine months and needing help doing the most basic of everyday tasks such as brushing my teeth and eating due the state of my joints - including every knuckle.....and even my jaw!  It took a good few years to get over it and get back to a 'normal' state but it has left me with permanent damage in my joints, particularly my knees.

I have to confess that I have been guilty of using this as an excuse to sit on my bum and do nothing.  BUT life really is too short.  And the only thing stopping me from living mine in the way I wanted was me.  I got over it.  I realised that I can do anything I put my mind to.  I just needed to accept that I will have to do it my way, at my pace and in my own time.

So what did I do to kick-start my years training?  I didn't start with something simple, I didn't break myself in gently, I went to Break Point, I went beyond.

Me and the lovely Ollie

BREAK-POINT is the brain child of Matt 'Ollie' Ollerton and Jason Fox - two of the instructors from the TV show SAS:Who Dares Wins.  The BREAK-POINT team use performance tools and insights developed from special forces expertise to show people they can be stronger, fitter and healthier than they ever thought possible.

I was lucky enough to win Ollie in a charity auction 😊....but it wasn't like that.....Ollie had donated half a days training for four people - so off I set to find three willing volunteers and on Saturday we had one of the best days ever.  Challenge, determination, laughter, team work, new skills, fitness, beautiful scenery, inspiration, action - the list goes on.

The day started like every Saturday morning should, a nice cup of tea and a chat with Ollie and Efrem (who appeared in Series Two of SAS: Who Dares Wins).  It was great to hear about the experiences these two gents have had, what drives them, what inspires them and what they had in store for us for the day!

L-R: Efrem, me, Ollie, Karen, Susie, Caroline

Once the formalities were over we were straight outside for some fitness training.  Ollie wasted no time in getting us moving.  Running, squats, climbers, push ups, lunges, you name it we did it.  Ollie had put a set of exercises together that built up over time - a set of one, then a set of two, a set of three etc etc.  It was a great way not just to keep track of what you were doing but a way to track your progress.  I think I managed eight rounds of the first set of exercises - I may have not managed a full set of ten but at least I have something to work towards and what an effective way to take small steps, one round at a time to improvement.  I'll get to ten sets soon and then can work towards 15.

Ollie putting us through our paces

I was a little nervous about the day as I knew I would be the least fit person there.   I didn't want to slow the others down and ruin their experience of the day but Ollie was great at adapting things to suit our individuals abilities - without making you feel bad.  And actually being last at everything has just motivated me to keep pushing and do more.  I wasn't there to compete with anyone, I wasn't there to win.  I was with friends and it didn't matter to me that I was the slowest as I was still doing it, one step at a time.  My Yoga teacher often says "listen to your body" and I wasn't about to injure myself just to keep up.....I was respecting my knees!

After being put through our paces we were back inside for a quick outfit change and on to the next thing.  Ollie talked us through packing our kits and he and Efrem were very patient as us four girls took over the office getting changed, swapping boots and loading our kits....and then we were off for a yomp!

The BREAK-POINT office is set in beautiful surroundings right in the middle of the Ashdown Forest.  It really was the perfect setting for a 'stroll' with your friends.  There was a bit of snow on the ground at certain points which just added to the experience, it really was amazing....OK, if you remove the steep climbs, the heavy kit bag, the many trip hazards and the pounding, burning pain that hit my knees every step of the way..... perfect training for Kilimanjaro!

The team in action

It wasn't until we were really close to the end that I had my mini melt down.  My knees had had enough and we had one more climb to do to get back to the office, where tea, biscuits and more importantly, the toilet, were waiting.  Susie, who I am climbing Kilimanjaro with, was with me all the way - at this point she stopped with the motivational "we've done x number of steps" or "we've walked x miles" and simply said "you're in the middle of a forest - how on earth do you expect to get out of this without walking!!" Anyway, I made it back in one piece, with sore legs but a whole lot of motivation to get stuck in to twelve months of focused training.

Its not about reaching the summit, its about putting your foot on the base and starting - and my starting pistol has fired.

And now for my Oscars speech:

Firstly big thanks to Laura at BREAK-POINT for her great organisation skills and her flexibility & patience while we sorted logistics, dates and attendees.

Thanks to Efrem for supporting us on the day, being the warm, smiling face of encouragement, the extra oomph needed at times and for being the perfect gentleman by offering to carry my kit! (He didn't carry it, but the offer was there!)

Thanks to my 'team' for humoring my need to do something a little different, for coming along and getting out of the day what it was you were looking for.  For not huffing when I was holding you up....again, and for letting me off carrying any 'additional kit' for the majority of the climb.  Next time I'll take it all the way, I promise.

And finally, of course, thanks to the main man Ollie.  A true gentleman, an inspiration.  Not just his fitness but his drive, focus and enthusiasm.  For showing that anything is possible, for making his dreams a reality and for his selfless desire to help others achieve. Still my favourite (sorry Foxy!).