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 the Westport Sea to Summit last Saturday.

 

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.

 

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 approached the mountain; not to mention being overtaken by many other competitors.

 

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 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 small islands. Little did I know that what followed was a three hour descent into what felt like the other place!

 

Getting down the mountain took about 48 minutes. What followed 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.

 

By the summit of the cycle there was 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 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. 

 

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 finishing in 5 hours and 49 minutes. I might even do it again next year!

 

I set myslf 4 objectives:

 

- to finish - achieved

- to take less than 6 and a half hours - achieved

- not to finish last - achieved but not by much!

- to raise £1k for Dean Park school. 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.