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Why am I trekking in Peru? |
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I wanted a major
challenge to make me fitter
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Two of my friends have
recently lost their fathers to cancer & my father
had skin cancer
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I have always wanted to
see Peru
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| A couple of
years ago whilst swimming with Sarah, trying to get fit,
she mentioned that she had done a walk in aid of Cancer
Research and perhaps we should sign up for one. We
were too late to sign up for the Waddesdon 5k but Sarah
found the Blenheim Palace 10k that October. It gave me
enough time to get fitter, so we signed up – talking
Jane & Sue into signing up too! |
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I spent the Spring and summer going out walking with
whoever I could drag out, sometimes complete with double
buggy, other times after the twins were tucked up in
bed. By October I was fitter, but a committed walker –
I don’t do jogging! Armed with our bottles of water
the 4 of us set off. |
| Sarah’s
husband had offered to double his sponsorship money if
she completed the course in a certain time, so she was
off, running with the best of them. Jane was determined
to run at least part of it and she too was soon out of
sight. |
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That left Sue and I to walk
the course. Well we ran the first couple of hundred
yards but mostly we walked briskly. Gradually more and
more people passed us, after the first few kilometres we
realised we were actually right at the back… the very
back….. the support car was nudging our ankles!
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They started clearing up the course a few feet behind
us….but we were determined to complete the course and
collect our sponsorship money. We were just over half
way round when we got a text from Sarah, she had
finished. Shortly afterwards we got a text from Jane –
she had finished too! Sue and I plodded on.
Eventually we were approaching the final strait, a small
cheer went up – the last 2 competitors had finally
finished after 2 hours! |
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| When I raised
the possibility of doing it again, the other 3
felt they had done their bit, but Steph agreed
to do the Waddesdon 5k with me. So the next
spring, on a lovely sunny day we set off. Steph had been in training & soon jogged off
into the distance, I walked round, once again
being overtaken but enjoying the walk & seeing
many people I knew on the way round.
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| n January this
year, with New Year’s Resolutions in mind, I was
determined that this time I actually would get
fit, I needed a goal to force me to put in some
serious work this time. Two years previously
when looking up the Blenheim Palace race on the
Cancer Research UK website I had happened on the
International Challenges section…..There had
also been an article in a Weight Watchers
magazine on these sort of treks. Now I looked
at them again and Peru attracted my attention. |
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When I was at primary school I had done a project on
Peru and had wanted to go there ever since, this was my
chance! I could kill 3 birds with 1 stone – get fit,
raise money for Cancer Research & see Peru! The idea
of trekking for 6 days of up to 10 hours was daunting,
but by choosing a date over a year ahead, I was fairly
sure I could get fit enough to complete it. |
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The next step was to check with my Doctor that my asthma
wouldn’t be a problem at altitude, he gave me my annual
check & felt that providing I got some training in, it
shouldn’t pose a problem. |
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Next I broached the
idea with Tris, he was fine with me disappearing
to Peru for 12 days, it would give him plenty of
time to change the locks & advertise for a new
wife and mother for our 4 children!
I think he was
joking…
So I booked an
appointment to get me medical form filled in and
signed by the doctor & send off my £350
non-refundable fee, this was it – Peru here I
come!
As you would
expect, this site will be updated as we approach
the actual event - please check back regularly! |
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