Bowery Mural

Deep breath..... hit 'book now'... no going back!!!

Friday 30 May 2008

Quick update to say it's official i have now booked my trek to Everest Base Camp, Nepal. Changed my mind and booked the April trek instead of the March trek. So upon confirmation of a few administrative questions I will be leaving on Friday 3rd April 2009 and making my way to the top of the world!!!!

I am doing it to raise money for Marie Curie Cancer Care and the target is £3250. I'll shortly be posting links to my online sponsorship page so please dig deep.

Stay tuned, more details will follow,
Ange xx

PS more training walks this week and gym work, then another hill next Saturday.

Gait analysis!! Flat feet!!! are you sure??!!!??

Sunday 25 May 2008

Hey
Bought new trainers today after having 'gait analysis' done at Tiso's (Run 4 It). This is when they put you on a treadmill, film your feet and tell you that you need 'special shoes'. It doesn't do your confidence any good whatsoever let me tell you, haha. I didn't realise I had 'cankles'!!!! (calves merging into ankles). Aaaarrgh shock horror! I must stop eating the chocolate.

Anyway hopefully they'll help my knee pain when i run. I didn't stop to get insoles for my walking boots though, couldn't stand the humiliation any longer. :-) No I'm kidding there were actually quite a few people having it done for what amounts to the same problem - calcaneal valgus - or flat feet as it's commonly known. Don't get me wrong i don't plod around the place with big flat feet. I've actually got pretty small, dainty feet, a 3 or 4, but i was told to buy a size 5 in the trainers as 'you're feet swell when you exercise'. So I'll try them indoors on the treadmill to see if they help ease the pain, if not I'll take them back. Got a free pair of socks though so not all bad!

Play safe
A x

Training - week 3

Friday 23 May 2008

Hey
well week 3 of training and completed two walks this week. One a lunch time circuit at work with Sharon, the other an 8 mile walk tonight after work with Susan. No hills just a straight walk. I can tell you I'm feeling it in my lower calves so plenty of stretching is going on just now. It was a good walk though, plenty of talking after the week I've had at work.

Anyway, I'm eagerly checking the Marie Curie Everest Challenge website http://www.everestchallenge.org.uk/ for news of a summit of Everest. As of 5.23pm this evening Sir Ranulph Fiennes, Kenton Cool, Rob Casserley and a team are making their way to the summit. What an achievement! Awesome. Hope you succeed guys!
Not sure if all of the Jagged Globe crew managed it earlier today but it's still a great achievement that few can say they have taken part in, attempted or even achieved.

As ever people, stay safe
Ange x

Kit buying

Tuesday 20 May 2008

Well who would have thought it, I'd like shopping for kit!! It's fab finding great bargains on the internet. You've just go to know what you're looking for and where to find it. I am fast becoming a kit geek searching for deals and good kit. I have taken delivery of my first real 'serious' piece of kit - a 4 season down Rab sleeping bag. Very cool and a bargain too at £70 off the RRP.

No I'm not inside it in this picture but I did lay on top and i sunk into it. Hopefully it will be warm enough and provide me with some good nights sleep when on my trek.

Day of training was a circuit round the loch at my place of work with a walk up to the Wallace Monument thrown in for good measure. http://www.nationalwallacemonument.com/ Not bad for a lunch time training circuit. My ever present side-kick and chief motivator Sharon was with me too. Another one planned for Thursday lunchtime and a long walk on Friday has been promised by Susan (she's in training for the Moonwalk, Edinburgh). All good though.

So as far as I know, at this minute, Sir Ranulph Fiennes OBE; Kenton Cool and co and a crew from Jagged Globe (plus a few more I'm sure) are making their way up to summit Everest. Good Luck guys! Stay safe. x

For the latest news follow these links:

http://www.everestchallenge.org.uk

http://www.jagged-globe.co.uk/news/despatches_list.html?id=27

It's all go.... DAY 1!!

Wednesday 7 May 2008

Well it's confirmed, i am now going to trek to Everest Base Camp, Nepal in March 2009 for charity. So today turned into DAY 1 of training.

It turns out i seem to have underestimated the enormity of my challenge. I soon realised this half way up Dumyat in the Ochil Hills. I can see this hill from the office and am ashamed to say after living here in Stirling all my life that this was my first attempt at this 'summit'. http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/stirling/dumyat/index.html At 1373ft or 418m, it is higher than i have ever been before on foot but still a very long way off my ultimate goal of Base Camp.

It seemed like the perfect day to do it. Half day from work which is very conveniently located at the bottom of the Ochils, setting off with my very experienced colleague Sharon we drove up to the car park (well lay by at the side of the road). The sun was strong but the view was hazy. So there i was with my new Scarpa boots making their maiden journey, oops mind the mud!! I soon realised this was going to be harder than i imagined. Wheezing like an old cart horse we reached the summit in about 55 minutes - not bad for a beginner i thought. The view was pretty good and after a 15 minute lunch break and a phone call to the office to see if they could see us we made our way back down. And that's when it struck me........ my left knee started playing up again and by the time we got back to the car I was wincing with pain everytime I leaned on it. Oh deary me! I hope I can make my trek. I have an appointment with a physio already booked on Monday so I'm hoping it's not too serious.

So it was back to the office and a well earned cup of tea from Linda. They did see us and she took a few photos and reassured me that the tiny wee dot in it was us at the top!! haha sooo funny. Then ...... another pain started to happen. Well maybe not pain but tingling. Yeah you guessed it, we went out hill-walking on what must have been the hottest day of the year so far and never had any sunscreen. Bad, very bad. I am now sitting here with pink arms, neck and forehead. It's ok though as i stopped off on the way home for some after sun and Compeed blister plasters.

All in all I'm pleased with DAY 1 of training! I hope to keep it up and aim to reach my goal in Nepal next March. Wish me luck!!
Yours, a pink and very tired, Angela

PS got more kit today - i have a new found love of kit buying, especially when they are a bargain. Goretex paclite waterproofs for £75, not too shabby at all!!!!!! x