Monday November 16, 2009
climbing mountains
This time last year I was in fitness training for walking the Tongariro Crossing. I knew I could drag myself over it in the state I was in, but I wanted to walk it easily and enjoyably so I started a fitness regimen which, once I got into the swing of it, I really enjoyed.
I climbed the crossing with Fraser and enjoyed all of it except perhaps the last half hour - when the blisters on my feet were killing me and I was dehydrated and wobbly from all the stepping down big rocky steps. Afterwards, though, I was on a total high for days.
There are magic mountain lakes up there (see photo). They really are that colour! No photo-twiddling, I swear. They are well-worth the climb.
I always find winter so hard to keep inspired and motivated with exercise and we have had a difficult year emotionally and in terms of weather - a very very long winter this year, which seems to be still going. (I am wearing merino and tights today!) Once again, I’ve undone all the great work I did last summer with too much sofa-sitting, hibernating and cosying inside. Also, using a glass of wine in the evenings as a de-stress, rather than a good walk or a swim.
So, back to square one, and I’ve started again with the fitness regime. I’m only a week in, but feeling much better for it already. My energy levels are up and my muscles are feeling zingy and well-used.
My biggest goal this time around is not so much to climb a mountain - although, if the opportunity comes up, I won’t say no - but to try and make this a way of life rather than something I stop and start, stop and start. It’s easy to write that down, not so easy to implement it. When you are a mother of young kids - the days are so full and you are so constantly in demand.
So yes, this summer - not so much the physical mountain as the big, rocky mental one.
Wish me luck.