<div>When I looked at my daughter Abby's journal at the last parents evening in Dean Park school I understood well what she meant when she said "when I go to Ireland I feel relaxed". That is until I did&nbsp;the Westport Sea to Summit&nbsp;last Saturday.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>It all started well with a bright sunny morning. For those of you who don't know the location Westport is a beautiful town with a mountain - Croagh Patrick (known locally as "The Reek") - dominating its background.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>The 4.5km run went off well with the usual adrenalin rush helping spur me on. This was followed by the 8km cycle through beautiful scenery although I had a growing sense of dread as I&nbsp;approached the mountain; not to mention being overtaken by many other competitors.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Stage 3 was climbing Croagh Patrick. I had done it once when I was 14 - over 30 years ago. Like the mountain the climb hung over me like a cloud. My motivation slumped as I met the eventual event winner completing his descent as I started my&nbsp;ascent. The climb was tough with hands and knees coming into play on what's known as "The Cone". Reaching the summit on such a beautiful November day lifted my spirits. It really did feel like a little piece of Heaven looking out over Clew bay with its 365&nbsp;small islands. Little did I know that what followed was a three hour descent into what felt like the other place!</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Getting down the mountain took about 48 minutes. What&nbsp;followed&nbsp;was the harshest event I have ever endured - a cycle over 35 km. It might not sound bad but when you have a 1 in 7 gradient climb included followed by what were described as "The Ramps of Hell" - a 1 in 4 gradient over 2km you will get some idea of what it was like.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>By the summit of the cycle there was&nbsp;still 20km cycling left. Legs had lost all power at this stage; my back was screaming at me and my mind was useless. That 20km seemed to&nbsp;last forever with every corner raising false hopes of the end being in sight. When I reached a lake close to my parents house, I knew the end was near and that, barring accidents, I would finish the event.&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>The last stage was cruelly described as a 4km "fun run" including a sea run and an obstacle course. Strangely it didn't feel fun to me! With a final lap around a part of Westport known as the Fairgreen it was all over. I had conquered the course&nbsp;finishing&nbsp;in 5 hours and 49 minutes. I might even do it again next year!</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>I set myslf 4 objectives:</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>- to finish - <strong>achieved</strong></div> <div>- to take less than 6 and a half hours - <strong>achieved</strong></div> <div>- not to finish last - <strong>achieved but not by much!</strong></div> <div>- to raise &pound;1k for Dean Park school. <strong>This last bit I can't achieve on my own but I have no doubt that the parents of Dean Park will make sure I don't fail at the last. Thanks to those of you who have already kindly contributed. Please encourage as many others as you can to do the same. </strong></div>