Getting to know the Thames

I haven't posted much recently about my training, mainly because there isn't much to say at this stage.  As I have a full year to get ready for the climb I am spending the first six months working on my general fitness levels, focusing more on specific 'mountain climbing' training for the second half of the year.

This weekend I have started to look in to what training is needed to prepare for a climb, all I can say is *!#@.  I have looked at a few training plans but will be following the one recommended by the trekking company I am going with.  It actually only starts 12 weeks before the climb date so I don't need to get too focused on that training just yet, but keep going on improving my general fitness, it will all help!!

My current training consists of:

• Personal Training - 1x a week
• Yoga - 1x a week
• Kettle Bells and/or Leg, Bum & Tums - 1x a week (alternate weeks)
• Fight Klub - 1x a week
• Totally shredded - 1x a week
• Plank - 1x a day (I'm still going!)

In addition, I have cut out the lifts in favour of stairs and am walking to/from work (25 mins each way) weather permitting.  I have also been having some 'advanced clinical massage' to really focus on getting rid of any knots, trigger points and tightness in my muscles.  This massage isn't relaxing at all but has done wonders in reducing any pain in my lower back - and the associated stretches have given me a much wider range of movement in my legs, enabling me to push myself further when training.

The training I am doing is not only helping me shift a few unwanted pounds but is improving my strength & flexibility and most importantly is giving my heart and lungs a good workout to prepare them for the altitude - I'm sure you can imagine that the higher I go the more important it is that I can breathe!

So whilst the first stage of my training is all about the cardio the second part will be 'endurance' all the way.  The recommended training plan will build up my ability to move day in day out, something that will be important as I can't take a day off half way up the hill!  It builds up over the weeks, increasing the time I spend walking and hill climbing bit by bit as well as adding in weight.  Lets not forget I will be doing the climb with a bag on my back!

So to get me going, and to ensure I don't get bored walking the same route day in, day out, I have started looking at options and targets along the way.  I have just signed up to complete the 25k Thames Bridge Trek in September.  The Thames Bridge Trek is a 25k route along the River Thames in London that is completed by crossing 16 bridges along the way.  That gives me a few months to build up to a 25k trek.

I started to familiarise myself with the Thames by going for a walk today along the Thames a little closer to home.  Caversham to Sonning and back again.  This was around 11k so not quite half the distance but I have time....

The best bit about needing to walk a lot is getting to take in some of the beautiful sights the English countryside has to offer.   I'm determined to be fit enough that the climb won't be a struggle for me - I don't want to be panting and stopping every two minutes for a rest - I want to be able to take in the sights of the African wilderness, to breathe in the warm muggy air and to know that every bit of pain I go through this year was totally worth it.

The 500 elephants campaign

Any regular followers will know that one of the reasons I am supporting African Parks is their 500 elephants initiative.

Africa Parks in collaboration with the Department of National Parks and Wildlife is undertaking one of the largest elephant translocations in human history.  Up to 500 elephants will be moved over this year and next from Liwonde National Park and Majete Wildlife Reserve, to Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve.  All three parks are managed by African Parks, who is responsible for the protection of 90% of Malawi's elephants.

The 500 elephants are moving as African Parks is building a 16,000 ha sanctuary in Nkhotakota for the elephants and other reintroduced game species.  This is an extremely hopeful story for conservation, elephants, Malawi and the people involved.  It will relieve two parks of human-elephant conflict situations and better protect their habitats while simultaneously restoring wildlife to a park that has been depleted due to poaching.  The new arrivals to Nkhotakota will help with tourism, park development and local employment whilst fueling a conservation led economy.

I wanted to share this video with you - it only short and is therefore perfect to watch with a cuppa in your break.

It goes behind the scenes of this epic move, showing just how much team work, courage, compassion, determination and inspiration there is at African Parks - they set an example to us all!

500elephants

If you want to help make a difference and help secure the future of these beauties, along with other species threatened with extinction, you can sponsor me below.  Go on, you know you want to. 😘🐘

A day in the life of....

Today I had absolutely nothing on.  Nothing in the diary, no training plans, no sewing, nothing.  I was very much looking forward to my day of nothing and because of that I LITERALLY HAVEN'T STOPPED!!!

I used to be really good at doing nothing, I could easily occupy myself making tea, playing with the cats, watching a bit of TV, having a bath etc but now it seems the only way I can get any rest is to actually do something that forces me to leave the house.  So much for a quiet one!

This is what a 'rest day' in the life of someone planning to climb Kilimanjaro looks like:

Lisa's to do list - Sunday, 21st May

• Draft some blog posts
• Plank (of course!)
• Complete another module of the Animal Conservation course I'm doing
• Glute stretches
• Washing
• Charity Shop drop
• Write Kilimanjaro kit shopping list
• Contact my local MP candidates about an issue I am interested in (yes I'm getting into politics!)
• A few kettlebell swings
• Ironing
• Bath

I'm tired and I'm meant to be resting!  Its fair to say Kilimanjaro and all its prep is taking over my life this year.  But lets not forget why I'm doing it.

I couldn't just have a boring post about my life so am sharing some photos of a little cutie.   'Navaan' was just a month old when I volunteered at the elephant sanctuary in Thailand.  Here are a few shots of this cheeky little boy to take your mind off the fact that Monday morning is looming....

Still planking...and fundraising!

Following my 'Planking for Parks' post I had a request for video evidence not just of my least favourite plank (the rowing plank) but also the Spiderman plank, so before I update you on my fundraising activities - pls see the evidence below (I hope this satisfies your curiosity Kate!) 😉

Lisa does the Rowing Plank

Lisa does the Spiderman Plank

Now on to more important things as fundraising got in to full swing this week:

Craft Sale

Having had some beautiful African fabric donated to me, I got busy with the sewing machine to create some unique items to sell.  These included bags, scarves, table cloths, pillow cases, pencil cases and even some elephant figures.  In addition to the home made goodies I also brought some necklaces & pictures back from a recent trip to Bali.  

The goodies have been on sale for five days now with £264 already raised - which is amazing given the prices start from just 50p!  My 'shop' was of course branded with elephants - and some freebie safari themed biscuits for all shoppers.  

As long as I have stock to sell I will be selling so if you want to know whats available still please let me know.  

Fight Klub/Totally Shredded

A big part of my training to climb is Fight Klub and Totally Shredded.  These are two fantastic fitness classes that I'm totally addicted to.  I did go to them before I agreed to climb Kilimanjaro but now I have an excuse to go every week - and I'm seeing the pounds drop off and my muscles getting stronger every day.

Duane and Darren (or Double D as they call themselves) have agreed to run a double session of both classes back to back to support my fundraising.  Not only that, but the venue is waiving the room hire fee so I am getting the whole event with no cost at all.  This is really generous of both 'Double D' and the venue who are both running a business at the end of the day.....no costs means all the money raised from this event will go straight towards my fundraising, and more importantly to African Parks.

Details of this will follow but in the meantime block out the evening of Friday, 28th July in your diaries so you don't miss out.

Its not all Elephants - Rhino's return to Rwanda

Following on from the success of 500elephants, African Parks are at it again, but this time its Rhinos on the move.

African Parks, in partnership with the Akagera Management Company, the Rwanda Development Board and with some very generous support from the Howard G Buffett Foundation, the Dutch Government and People's postcode lottery, is moving a founder population of approximately 20 Eastern Black Rhinos to Akagera National Park in Rwanda.

This Rhino move will mark the historic return of this threatened species to Akagera where a population of over 50 Eastern Black Rhino's once thrived.  The last confirmed sighting of an Eastern Black Rhino in Akagera was documented way back in 2007.

The Eastern Black Rhino's are being moved from South Africa to Akagera National Park in Rwanda in a cross-continent journey spanning over 4,000km.

Want to know how you move a Rhino? Watch this short video to find out more.

This isn't just another good news story for Rhino's, when African Parks partnered with the Rwanda Development Board to manage Akagera, they overhauled law enforcement in park reducing poaching to an all time low, they brought Lions back to the park in 2015 and increased tourism by 550% in a six year period.  Now the park is secure, flourishing and ready for the return of the Rhino.

If you want to find out more and follow this journey please visit the website below.

www.rhinomove.org 

African Parks are setting yet another example of what can be achieved with the right management, a positive attitude, teamwork, hope and a whole lot of love for the planet.  That's why I'm supporting them - raising awareness is one thing, but the positive steps African Parks is taking to bring African wildlife back from the brink really is setting an example to the rest of us.

To do your bit, please spread the word and give generously to my fundraising page by clicking on the donate now button on the left of this post.

1 Second Everyday - Mar/Apr

You may recall that I've been trying out an app a friend of mine recommended called '1 second everyday'.  It lets you record moments from your day (either photo or video) and it makes a short video for you with one second from every day.  You pick which second from each day you want included in the film and before you know it you have some happy memories all saved up to watch back and smile at.

I thought I'd give it a go to record some short highlights of my day/month/year to share on here.  Just a snippet of my fundraising and training....and a few ordinary days in-between.

It's basically a lazy way of me sharing some of the journey from my couch to the top of Kilimanjaro.

I'm afraid the app wont let me just upload monthly videos so as we move through the year they will get longer as you get a recap of what has been before.

I hope you enjoy my latest short movie creatively titled....

Mar/Apr

Yes, I do a lot of watching TV in bed and admiring my cats! Sorry!