Monday 18 May 2015

Three Peaks News


Andrew Robinson – Three Peaks blog

Looking back on my previous Yorkshire Three Peaks walks - I have completed it three times - the lows and the highs come flooding back.

On previous walks we were blessed with sunshine.  Blissful.

The last time I took part it rained so hard and for so long that my under garments started to feel soggy.

Had I stopped to rest, I might never have got up again.....so I plodded on.

My brother Allan dropped out due to blisters and two Scottish friends didn't make it to the finishing line.

The lovely first pint in the pub after the walk. The feeling of camaraderie with the other hardy souls.

That feeling of relief as you make it back to the charity tent to applause and a pat on the back.
Thankfully, the soggy undergarments has happened to me only the once. It rained from 7am to 7pm, on and off, when my old school pal Darren did it a couple of years ago.

I enjoyed every step of it, in a masochistic kind of way. When your day job is working in an office, you tend to crave seeing mother nature getting wet and wild.

My friend Darren is pretty fit but admitted it was one of the toughest walks he had done. It was boggy, the paths had been muddy and visibility on the tops had been poor.  The route has been improved since then and the boggy section taken out.

Darren vowed to never do it again but, God willing, I will be there again on June 20 for this year’s Heart Research UK event.

It was so dry one year that I did the walk in my running shoes. Not something I would recommend but it’s do-able, if you watch your step.

So, to this year's event. I have yet to do any proper training. I'm too busy at work - and my children, Harry and Lottie, are only three and one and so I can't just go off on training weekends. I keep thinking "it's just one foot in front of the other, for 10 or 11 hours." Keep going and you will make it.

So, if you are thinking of signing up - do it.

If I can do it, heading towards 50 and 15 stone, then almost anyone can.

And it's a great cause.

Not only is Heart Research UK based in Yorkshire but it puts the vast majority of cash it raises into research.

In 2013, the most recent figures, 73 per cent of income went on research and grants.
Just 23 per cent went on helping to raise funds while only four per cent goes on running the charity.

This year I am hoping to raise £200. My charity page link is below if you think I deserve a pound or two.

http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=AndrewRobboRobinson

Andrew Robinson
Journalist
Yorkshire Post