A few months ago my brother Pete and I signed up for Man vs Mountain, and it has been a focus of my training ever since. The event is now only a few days ago and I have to confess to feeling a little daunted by the challenge.
The race itself (though "race" suggests the aim will be winning rather than finishing) is big. Its 20 miles include:
- 13 miles from Caernarfon to Snowdon (with 1300m of climb),
- 5 miles back down to Llanberis
- 2 miles playing around in the quarries (starting with a steep 1km climb, then abseiling, steep descent an several challenges involving jumping into deep water!), then a swim across the river for the final obstacle!
At this eleventh hour I have a niggling feeling that we may have bitten off more than we can chew, as it is a harder challenge that either of us has ever done. Of course, we persuaded ourselves that it would be ok, and told ourselves:
- it was free (we got a free entry following the cancellation of Horseplay)
- it will be a good warmup for the OMM
- it will be a laugh
- it is a harder challenge that either of us has ever done!
I didn't manage to keep up with the suggested training programme, mainly because long weekend runs were disrupted by DofE and family things. Living in Hampshire means that I haven't managed as much hill work as I should have. But I managed some good long runs (13, 15 miles) and Pete and I got in a long and very hilly run along the North Devon Coast Path to round off the training.
As a result, I am fitter than I have ever been in my life, which I guess is quite a claim for a 55 year old! I ran 9 miles yesterday without even noticing.
This week is a a quiet preparation week. A gentle mid week run to keep things moving, but otherwise just passing time until the weekend.
A little daunted, yes. But excited and invigorated by the challenge of the hardest thing I have ever attempted.
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