Hehehe...!

Our 3 Peaks Walking Agenda

So, there are only two sleeps until we set off on our 3 Peaks challenge - it has come around so fast, and I for one am feeling a little bit nervous!

Today, we all received an e-mail containing the agenda for our weekend away... I am now in shock!

For those who think our challenge is going to be a 'walk in the park' take a look at this:

Friday

0845               Mini-buses at Clear

0915               Team Photo at Clear Offices (Richmond and Twickenham Times official photographer!)

0930               Depart from Clear offices for Scotland

1200               Have a scheduled lunch stop / driver break, loo stop.

1430               Pick up Mountain Sense guide.

1630               Stop at Claire’s mums (en route) Collect breakfast cereals & milk.  Loo stop & tea & cakes provided!

1700/30          Head to Drovers Inn on side of Loch Lomond for dinner

1830/1900      Estimated arrival time at Drovers / dinner

2030                Estimated arrival time at Glen Coe YHA

Saturday

0330                       Wakeup call & breakfast

0400                       Depart for Glen Nevis Visitor Centre (start point)    

                         

0445                       Drivers make cuppa!  & distribute cereal bars etc for Ben walk. Walker sort kit & get ready.  Claire does kit check /

                                Safety brief.

0500/15                Start walk

1030/1100           Return

1100                     Drivers (pending mobile communication with teams) prep food etc

1130                     Depart Fort William

1630                     Arrive Seathwaite Farm & start immediately.

2100/2200           Return

2200                     Meal prepared by Emily.

2300                     Depart Seathwaite Farm.

2300-0400           Drive time to North Wales.

0430                     Start Snowdon

0830                     Finish Snowdon / breakfast

0930                     Head back to London.

Now just incase anyone missed it - there's a 3.30am wake up call in that schedule... that is insane! I didn't even know there was a 3.30am - well yeh I did but I'm normally full of alcohol at that point and going to bed so I don't care!

Please follow our misery on Twitter - @Clearly3Peaks and send us some words of encouragement!

If you would like to sponsor us then please do so at:

http://www.justgiving.com/me2andco-3Peaks

Good Luck to us!! :)

Looking forward to our challenge!

Let's try and do a better job than these guys... ;)

Lesson No 1 - go up the right mountain...

Introducing your team

So who are these brave/mental/foolhardy (delete as appropriate) souls?


Amazing athletes? Paragons of modesty, virtue & fitness? Disciples of Bear Grylls?

Unlikely. But what we may lack in ability we more than make up for in terms of enthusiasm and an inability to look the startling inevitability of the folly we are about to take on, in the face. So in that spirit, lets introduce ourselves:




Vicky:


25 years old, only ever climbed one mountain - Mam Tor (actually technically it's a hill!) in the Peak District two and a half years ago, so 3 mountains in 24 hours – wow, that's pretty scary! Enjoy running, although need to step it up a bit to train for the 3 Peaks and do some laps of Richmond Park! From next week until the challenge I'll be attending fitness training religiously on Tues eve, oh and definitely less late nights (in Viva) to help in my quest for fitness :)

Marky Mark:

Marky Mark finds it weird to write about himself in the 3^rd person like this, but apart from that he’s really looking forward to the three peaks challenge mainly because he knows the top and bottom 500 metres of each mountain are going to be competitive walk-offs with Garnetto and he fancies his chances. Although at the same time he’s a little worried that just because he cycles for 20minutes each day doesn’t mean he’s going to be able to conquer three mountains in 24 hours. Back in the day he used to do lots of this sort of stuff but since moving down south the biggest hill he conquers is Richmond Hill to go to book club. The thing he is most looking forward to about the whole challenge is Anastasia’s charity car wash!

Nat:

26 years old

Reading the papers at the weekend, cooking and eating out (particularly nice Italian and pizza), going for a run occasionally, and I’m a bit of a culture fiend so I like museums.

I did the three peaks at uni – the day after our final year ball.  So we started with a hangover which was not ideal!  We completed it in just over 25 hours, finishing Snowdon at 5am.  Hoping to be in better shape for it this time round and looking forward to the challenge.

I try to get to the gym 2-3 times a week but that really varies.  Not super fit, but not unfit either!

Morgs:

Morgane the girl in great denial…

Spends more time talking about going to the gym, doing spinning, contemplating going to the gym than actually doing any exercise…it’s a wonder her colleagues haven’t put a stop to this idle chat.

Moreover in classic Morgane style, she signs up to climb the 3 Peaks despite her fear of heights…some call this courageous, others…just stupid!

Let’s hope the fact she’s got a bit of a competitive streak in her will be enough to spur her on, that or the fact she can’t let Si be one up on her.

So, the weekend is going to stop having to revolve around eating and sleeping, instead Morgane is going to need to get those dusty boots out of the cupboard and start walking!

Garnetto:

Garnetto is a bit of a Labrador. Boundless energy, complete lack of co-ordination and a general ability to always see the positive and optimistic (“only the other 2 biggest peaks in the British Isles to go folks – we are nearly there...maybe”) should prove to be useful characteristics. Some prior experience of stupid sporting challenges should also help – Garnetto has swum the Solent, rowed the length of the Thames & run a marathon – he knows that the key to success comes from completely refusing to accept the inevitability of what is to come (“I’m sure the summit is just round the corner”) and loads of carbs (lucky that – bread is 90% of his diet)

Flash:

So, the 3 peak challenge! I’m 26 and have never completed anything of this intensity before, hence I am slightly apprehensive. I like to convince myself I have an adequate fitness level, but I’m not completely sure the occasional session of Bikrim yoga is going to help me out here. I fully intend to start some proper training very soon, which will most likely entail running and the odd gym session. Hopefully the fact I have given up chocolate for lent, might have a positive impact.

Hattie:


Hi Everyone,


I'm 22 years old (the baby of the group) and have not really done much walking, apart from Duke Of Edinburgh when I was 16 and trekking through the jungles of Northern Thailand last year! So I'm feeling pretty nervous, and a few people have told me some horror stories about how hard it will be - but I'm not sure if they are just trying to scare me or not. I do a bit of running to keep fit and wouldn't say I'm 'unfit' but I could definitely do more and need to, should probably start focusing on the leg muscles.


What I'm really looking forward to though, apart from completing the challenge (obviously) is being part of the team and supporting each other up and down the 3 peaks, it's certainly going to be an experience.


Hope you all enjoy following us on our journey,


Hattie x

Ally:

31 years old

I love running the parkrun on Saturday mornings at 9am(!) in Bushy park, sewing my own clothes and reading.

I’ve managed the Yorkshire 3 peaks in 12.5 hours (Which  means I lost that challenge as its cut off time is 12 hours but I am training for this one, honest!).

My fitness level is 65% (not compared to Garnetto though – more compared to less competitive human beings).

Walking Practice

This weekend I decided it was about time I did some walking and donned my walking boots in preparation for the 3 Peaks.

My mum is a keen walker so today I thought it would be nice to join her, being Mother's Day and all that, on a little walk around Guildford. We set off from our house (right infront of Pewley Downs) and headed back over the downs towards Shere. As our challenge involves a few steep hills (!!!) we climbed up to St. Martha's church which has a lovely view over a little village called Chilworth.

Top of St. Martha's hill overlooking Chilworth

Then we dropped back down and picked up a footpath and then had an even steeper climb up to Newlands Corner - a lovely view point and where hundreds of bikers on a Sunday meet up.  It is also a popular spot for walkers, picnic goers, runners etc so there were plenty of people around when we got there. There is a Visitors Centre and a cafe - perfect opportunity for a pit stop (not that we really needed it); cup of tea and a flapjack.

Newlands Corner Visitors Centre and Cafe (apparently the chips are amazing)

View from Newlands Corner over the downs

Having consulted the OS map, we decided to take a different route home and having dodged flying gold balls as we crossed Merrow Golf Club, we reached home in record time having covered 7 miles in under 3 hours (including our rest stop).

Next walk 10 miles I think, today's walk was a nice start but not challenging at all! Back to the running this week as well, need to keep the training at a steady pace now otherwise I won't be looking forward to the 20th May.

Until next time...

Cake Sale!

Today, in the Clear UK offices we had a cake sale to make some more money for the great charity that is Me Too & Co. and it's going strong!

Lots of people did a fantastic job and YUMMY cakes, pies and cupcakes were made - even people who aren't taking part in the challenge did their bit and brought in some treats to sell.

The YUMMY items we sold today

Here's a little round up of what was made and munched (prepare to be jealous!)

Anastasia made two gorgeous pies - pumpkin and pecan - there were probably the biggest hit. Emilie from Rare - our design team also made a lovely pumpkin pie - I think it's converted a lot of people to the pie way of life, any doubts people had before on pumpkin being used in a dessert have been silenced!

Marky Mark did the best out of the men and actually made peanut butter and banana cupcakes... big hand there!

Vicky made cupcakes with vanilla and chocolate frosting

Hattie made Marshmallow cupcakes and a chocolate cake (well, technically her mum made the cake)

Morgane went continental and made a 'Molleux au chocolat' that even had the 3 Peaks logo on top - now that's effort!

Aine was amazing and brought in these absolutely delightful and beautiful mini cupcakes which stole the show in terms of artistic flare!

Now what we all really want to know is how much did we raise!?

Well.... it's a staggering £147.10

It's been a really successful event and everyone has been so generous, we are all so grateful - a BIG THANK YOU to everyone who spent time during their weekend making sure we had something to sell today.  It is hugely appreciated and we can't wait until the next event...

Until next time...

North Downs Way - 11 miles

In order to make sure I'm not dragging behind the fit (as in fitness, not as in "fit"...!) Clear team I decided to do something about it.

It seems that my weekly 5km at my local parkrun (www.parkrun.com - look for your local one, seriously good fun!) isn't enough (especially considering the time it takes me to get around the course)... so I've been looking for ways to get myself out there walking. 
I mean proper walking, up hills, not just to the local shop for the paper.

A few days ago I came across a website called meetup.com. I signed up, found a walking group called "outdooraholics" and signed up for one of their walks - today. Yikes.

Starting at Guildford we walked along the River Wey canal, past the boat houses and rowing boats and then onto the Bluebell Woods where we joined the North Downs Way ridge. At the top of the hill we stopped for lunch at St Martha’s church then made our way back to Guildford. All in all 11 miles and glorious sunshine all the way through. Brilliant trip, lovely company and great weather! Perfect.

 

Can you see the South Downs there in the background?

It made me hungry for the three peaks challenge. Bring on some mountains!

On another note - I had to admit that it's time to put my current hiking boots at rest. I've blisters all over my toes (!) so a new pair of walking boots is coming my way.

xxx Alex