As I sit eating breakfast this morning I reflect on the fact that this time next week I will be setting off on my hike of the UK from John O’Groats to Lands end. The magnitude of what lies ahead is finally dawning on me and fear keeps trying to dominate my thoughts.
Like with many seemingly unachievable goals, the mind is misbehaving itself and trying to tell me I can’t do this! Thoughts like “you do realise you’re not that fit don’t you”, “You know deep down you will struggle like hell with that backpack”, “you know you are going to be so exhausted and how unfocused and prone to mistakes that makes you”, “you’re a bit old for this and remember how much you knee hurts every day even when you’re not hiking”, “you won’t cope in the tent if the weather is bad”, “you’re crap at eating enough on the best of days, you’ll never get enough food to fuel yourself down you”, “you’ve really not climbed enough significant hills and mountains, you’re deluded that you think you can conquer this elevation”……….!!!! The list of negative thoughts goes on and on!
Despite the negativity though there is also a very subtle yet strong voice within that tells me I can do this! It tells me I must do this, for me. I want to show myself that determination can win over doubt and fear.
The road truly is long…1100miles (1700km) equivalent to hiking over 42 marathons! The hills may not be as high as some but the accumulation of elevation I will climb is the equivalent to climbing Mount Everest 3.5 times !
1 week today I will start with that single step …..