9 days to go!!!

Now comes the reality check. After months of hard work and planning by our super leaders and the following of our talented cricketers, fabulous trektators, eager umpires, buzzing photography/film crew, enthusiastic pr team, and ever patient and supportive partners, family and friends the trek is finally here! It is hard to believe that a week on Thursday I will be carrying my shiny red North Face pack through Heathrow ready to board the plane and begin our adventure of a lifetime!

The adventure in fact started when we all signed up to this gig 12 months ago (for some 2 years ago). These last few months really have zoomed by and seeing everyone together on Sat for our final meeting, it was clear that we are all very eager to just get there.

Saturday brought with it both happy and sad news. Happy in that we have secured a Title sponsor, Nokia, which is amazing news for both the trip itself and our fundraising. Sad in that we will be losing the much admired Charlie BN from the trip. Curry pays special thanks in his blog to Charlie, a very fitting and heart felt message.

Finally we were treated to a professionally mastered power point presentation from our medics (all be it minus the projector). Ian, Brek, Isla and Nick all willingly stepped up to the task of scaring the s*** out of us. A presentation which I will be keeping away from my Mother. But seriously, although we nervously giggled our way through the slides, we were all in agreement that it was really important to receive the shock tactic approach....one particularly embraced by Brek who used the word 'death' a record number of times. AMS can be a reality for many trekkers at high altitude, and it really is important that we all remain aware of how our bodies are coping throughout the trip.

Finally my knee is getting back to normal and the long-john silver act is going. Regular stretching, recommended exercises are seeing me back to trek-health. I have to say I was a bit worried for a wee moment. I will have to continue the stretching and exercises up the mountain.....could prove interesting in a small t-house!

Very excited, can't quite believed it. Wow!

Farewell!!

With a little help from ibuprofen and champers, for one night only trainers were swapped for heels!

It was our send-off fundraiser on Thursday @ Club 24, a rather trendy club on Kingly Street. Walking through the entrance and past the Everest Test photo gallery (inc my v.own mug-shot) my little bro and I couldn't stop smiling, as we walked past the frozen ice statue people, to be greeted by moving images being projected onto the walls - telling the story of our journey so far. I was happy to arrive early so I could giggle and enjoy the show; tractor tyre rolling, playing cricket in trafalgar square, hay bail hauling, snow trekking, running marathons in cricket pads, running marathons......Pretty good prep I think for the less than conventional sport of playing cricket up the world's highest mountain!



The party's resounding success was testimony to all the hard work our High-On-Ice committee had done. The party really was a send-off to remember.

A rather lethal complimentary cocktail helped to get things rolling. As the club filled to bursting and the tunes filled the floor with some truly unique 'shapes' the blurry 'i love everybody' took over. Needless to say I have a slightly hazy memory of the ending.

Despite the sore head, glued curls now flattened, knee/head craving the ibuprofen I was still smiling on Friday morning. In fact, I'm still smiling now, and still in fact wearing my Everest Test Party wristband (can't quite part with it).

With just over 2 weeks to go, and my knee finally responding to repeated rest/hot baths/stretching over the weekend I am now allowing myself to re-join the excitement run (not running......never doing that again). Final shopping list is in motion, as I begin to calculate what one might need when trekking up Everest.....to play cricket!

Bath Half

Following the buzz that began the week, with our resident comedian Chris leading the way to yet another cracking fundraising doo (£6000 raised amazing work by all involved).....turns out the week was set to finish with a similar bang!



Following my physio visit on Friday, I was reassured by the fact that I had "runners knee". I was worried about there being a more sinister, ligament/tendon damage....but alas it was only my wee ltb,itb,bti muscle (can't recall the abbreviation) - the muscle connecting your knee and arse. When this tightens, as you run (which mine clearly has a tendency of doing) this then creates a tightness and pain in the knee. After a full hour of having my ltb,lbw,tb muscle pummelled (accompanied by genuine tears and blasphemy exploding from my mouth) Elaine (aka wonder worker) explained that I would be ok to run. My main relief was the reassurance that I would be fine for Everest (brill!!).

In Bath Elaine's words echoed in my ears, as I stumbled across the finish line (2hours 19minutes later), whilst being caught by one of the running dudes...."You will experience some pain after the race". Well, she was right, no huge surprise there. I did have a slightly funny look from the medic as I jumped (hopped) for joy as she told me I could keep the ice pack. Tying it round my knee, and then continuing to hobble my way round Bath, as my medal swooshed from side to side I was greeted by the Heroes welcome from the Bath people.....limping but with a smile on my face!

3 days on, and I am still with a slight limp but doing everything that I am being advised to do.....rest, relax, stretch, ice pack it, stretch a bit more, roll on my side across a foam tube (kindly lent to me by Wes). I'll get there, and whilst I stand by my decision to run, I cannot fully accept sympathy at this stage, as I stubbornly chose to soldier on!

Elaine says I'll be fine, so I'm also standing by that.....only disappointed that my attempt to look glam for once at the Send-off Party will be tarnished by my gleaming pair of trainers!!

Will keep you posted!

Spoke too soon!

Sitting in the bath last night, reflecting on the fact that I was now nursing a sore knee I stopped to think what it was that attracted the endless assortment of fluorescent clad runners to the sport! Sometimes it feels more like a magnet for injury - with the training period acting as more of a countdown to the inevitable painful end (be it a shin splint, swollen ankle, damaged tendon, aching back). It may sound melodramatic (ok it does sound melodramatic) but it was my immediate reaction.....and feelings of frustration. Suddenly, it hit me that I was possibly not going to be able to run on Sun!

Signing up to the Bath Half months ago, and proudly receiving my race pack in the post I was looking forward to the challenge. Starting out with my novice 30 minute training sessions and moving on from there.....to be plagued by a weak knee days before! Trainers have not been hung up quite yet however, and I have a physio booked for tomorrow. We will see. One thing I am certain of.....Bath Half or not, I will not be taking any risks at this stage. 4 weeks to go!

Running on empty.....feeling great!

Last week ended on a truly virtuoso note. Having been recently made redundant I decided I could either spend the weekend crying myself to sleep, or pump up the training schedule (therefore turning myself into super woman, and avoiding the temptation to spend £). Crying was substituted for exercise on this occasion.

Sat - Swim (£3.50) followed by a 2 hour walk into town to see my bro (coffee/cookie £4)

Sun - With Bath Half looming (sh*#!!!) I decided that I would happily take up Vick's invite of a 9.5 mile run (free!!) along the river. It all started well, and then not long in, and we realised that there was in fact an organised run going on at the same time.....on our riverside route.....in the bloody opposite direction. Undeterred we powered on, weaving in and out of the Sunday-walkers, dogs, bikes, rowers (in lycra - slightly distracting) and marathon runners. Our route took us along a very pretty track, up to Chiswick Bridge where we then returned back in the direction of Putney (home James). It was a really good run (jog/fast jog) and I was reassured that I could in fact do the distance (+ 4 miles). Bath Half, not so scary after all! The virtuoso bit then followed. Shortly after the jelly-legs had gone, Vicks caught me off guard, with her interesting proposal of catching the end of Trim Trail (also free). With my sugar levels saying no, and my back tightening further at the very thought I naturally agreed. Trim stop next. Boys were impressed, and so were we. Having set the marker for myself, I now want to try and keep up the momentum over the coming final 4 weeks - with an overdose of stretching and ibuprofen I think it can be done!

London Marathon - where do I sign?!........

All you need is a compass?!

I can't quite believe that there are only 6 weeks to go before we fly to Nepal, its so exciting!!

With this in mind training needs to step up a notch. Running training on Monday, which was a good start......but sadly thats pretty much where it ended for the week. I had so many plans, for swimming, running and Trim of course on Thursday, followed by a Trektators walk on Sat. Things didn't all go according to plan however. I had my vaccinations on Tuesday - a fairly painless if not painfully expensive experience. I was pretty happy to leave the Travel Clinic, arms still in tact and only a small bruise. Over the coming days though I became ill with swollen throat and feeling just generally rubbish.....all as a result of the injections. It's so frustrating not feeling well enough to carry on with the training, as you can't help but feeling you are undoing all the hard work.

I may have had my own lurgy set-back this week, but this week has been a champagne popping week for The Everest Test overall. Individually for the group things are coming together, with visa's now all pretty much sorted (courtesy of Tooves and Vicks), injections complete, medical forms in, North Face kit ready to collect and the tickets sales for the Comedy Night/Send-off Party on the up!

Friday brought with it the icing on the cake. It is official that ITN now our Media Partner will be sending a Film Crew up the mountain with us in April. London Tonight (news channel) will feature an update every day of the trip, with live coverage from the mountains. We will then have a 20 minute special feature once we are back. This is an amazing feat for The Everest Test and our charities. Kirt, Creative Minds and all involved can feel truly proud of this ....well done guys!

Celebrations were on hold for now, as Saturday promised a 7am start for myself, Vicks.S, Vicks.N, Alex, Zooby, Helen, Isla and Agnes (friend). Walking in Surrey was order of the day, and the early start was to ensure we were back in London for the rugger!


Sitting on the bus, with my pack, kitted out with camel pack, cereal bars, bananas, compass, sanitiser spray, torch and essential layers I was feeling confident that this was going to be a successful day. Then came the crash-bang-wallop when in true Brooksie fashion I realised that I had left the map at home. I was reading through it the night before and left it next to my bed.....typical! A few panicked phone calls later, on the train and we secured a copy with Isla who had a print-out.....back in the game! That was until my map reading commenced.

I was not surprised to hear the exchange of jokey swipes at my map reading skills in the car park prior to the walk. This time it would be different though, I was certain.....afterall I'd done this walk before how difficult could it be!!

Turns out I had a last minute change of heart and decided on a more scenic route via 'Surrey's prettiest village' - Shere and a nature trail just outside Gomshall. It kept everyone on their toes, and anyway, sticking to the trail is too easy....always good to keep it interesting! All in all, an eventful walk with a few giggles, a bit more mileage to add to the boots and some record snack munching displayed by little Fud truly amazing!

With Bath Half only weeks away, and the lurgy slowly disappearing running needs to be my diet for this week. Before this trip, I would never have dreamt of signing up to a Bath Half, but now - bring it on!