Climbing Your Own Mountain

Gosh, where do I start.

I wasn’t expecting to put this into writing about my learnings from my last challenge to climb Kilimanjaro and about how it feels not to get to where I planned and expected.

My visualisation, mindset and physical training were all there, but my health had something else to say and one that I hadn’t even thought about.

I had spent many months visualising being in front of the highest point in Africa, but it wasn’t to be, and I hadn’t planned for it. Who would plan to not get to where they want to be? Health issues didn’t even enter my head and why would it especially when I had done lots of training.

After 3 days of climbing and getting to 4,600 metres, my body said it shouldn’t continue. Even waking up on the 4th day thinking of course I can get to the top but learning to say no was very hard for someone who just wants to keep going and keep reaching for new things and in this case new heights.

My mindset has a lot to answer for :-)

After being airlifted to the local hospital, I found out I had pneumonia which is why I was coughing so much and not just because of the altitude. I now understand why it was taking me longer than it should have done each of the days but also why I needed to have stopped.

I was gutted as it wasn’t what I planned but wow the learnings from it have been really interesting to me. It was amazing how much my mindset got me further than I should have done but also how I had got my head into a place of “I will get to the top and why wouldn’t I”

When I reflect on what I experienced it is definitely something I won’t forget. Yes, I am gutted I didn’t get to the top and where I planned but also, I feel very honoured for the support I received not only from the hospital in Kilimanjaro but from my friends/family.

My top is different to other people’s tops but that is ok. We all have different heights and goals but that is all ok. That is what makes us different, and we should be ok with that. 4,600 metres was my height, for other people it is the top of their road or the top of Kilimanjaro.

I will know going forward that listening to my health has to factor in all of my goals and actions. That you can’t do things without your health especially when it is climbing a big mountain.

I did quite a few firsts for me including going to A&E and riding in an ambulance. I have been in a helicopter before but certainly not a medical one. Doing all of this in a country I had only been in less than a week.

I am forever grateful for all the checks the hospital did for me but also for the kindness they offered even when they had very old equipment and had to get medicines from other hospitals for me.

Being resilient whilst still feeling really poorly was hard but at the same time easy. I had mentally been through tougher situations but when I look back it does have a bit of a “blimey” moment. I know my years of training, coaching and counselling definitely helped me through those very tough times especially when I couldn't get my breathe back into a normal rhythm.

I am taking away so much, more than I realised I would from such a difficult challenge.

Learnings and things I’m grateful for

• Friendship – for everyone’s support including the 2 other ladies I went to Tanzania with
• Doctors and Nurses in Kilimanjaro Hospital
• Mindset – the training I had put in but also the many years of counselling and coaching
• The height you walked was enough and I am forever grateful for this
• You don't always get to the top but that is ok
• Resting – just how much this is needed to recover and just embracing this
• How much it is important to listen to your body not just your mind
• How health comes first beyond everything else
• How your training can enable you to never give up lightly
• Doing your firsts in a different country is ok and you can manage it

Now go climb your mountain

Sarah

 

Added: 16th February 2024

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