The alarm went off at 7.30 am, so after breakfast etc.. I set off to Killarney to meet Susan. John was driving which was great it meant I didn't have to, he brought my dad along for company. The weather was so shocking - rain, wind, fog and as we arrived in Portmagee you could not even see Hell Mountain as I will forever more refer to it.
Our two cheerleaders at this stage were looking for a cancellation!
We headed into the community centre, where we collected our numbers and a lovely hell mountain t-shirt. Time has a way of passing quickly and soon, we were on the bus to the start line, we left the enthusiastic cheer squad behind to get another bus.
We were dropped at the end of a steep narrow road, which took us up to the farm yard from where the challenge would start! Then we deposited our change of clothes in the women's cow shed, yes I did say Cow Shed. Looking at the group around me, I just knew they were there to race, the air was full of anticipation and determination.
It was still drizzling outside but not as heavy. There was, as is always the case a queue for the loo and as Susan queued, we met Bernie from our running group. We caught glimpses of Bernie for a while after we started but she sprinted off ahead of us, so I can't wait to catch up with her during the week. As we were all shuffled up the lane way, they let us off in waves.
We had to run up a steep hill, I swear the air just seemed to leave my body in such a rush I was Ughhhh!! Onwards and upwards, next stop the Silage bales, lovely. Around the corner and there was a bog, through it we went, oh and then I fell for the first time. The first of many, many, many falls! Then under the net, crawling through the mud, the noise as I and those around me pushed and squelched through it and the smell of the mud got stronger as we push onwards! I could hear the screaming ahead. At this stage, we were still laughing, Susan was in front of me as she went through the water she roared how cold it was and as I waded into the waist deep cold water, I roared too, I think!. Of course, as I went forward toward the next hurdle I was going through the mud when I fell back into the mud. I couldn't get a grip and a nice man picked me up! Thanks, whoever you were! A pile of tyres, I tried to pick up the smallest tyre I could see, up the hill and down we went. I went up and down so many hills yesterday, I don't know how many there were, they were so tiring. Climbing up the next hill, the spectators were there, I posed for photos for John.
As I went down the slide, I picked up speed too quickly and as I turned to slow down, I landed with a bang head first into bog hole. Two fine gentlemen had to pull me out, as I spluttered & thrashed about, Susan at this stage was bent in two with laughter along with everyone else around me, all I could do was laugh too. As I continued, I turned to climb up again and go through a set of narrowing tyres, the mud was awful, and then it hit me the smell of cow shit or silage and it was soooo hard to get through.
At this stage, we got a very welcome bottle of water. Down again, we went into a river of water and up a hill again. Then down on my hands and knees under a net crawling in mud which flowed down. The smell was rotten! Up on my two legs I got and then I tried to climb in ankle deep mud badly. At this stage you would imagine I had climbed most of the mountain. You would be wrong!
Up, Up, Up, Up we went, Susan went ahead the path was just mud. There were parts I crawled as my back was on fire and my legs were cramping. But then I heard Susan saying "you're there, at the top". But just as a feeling of elation hit it left. There was still more mountain to go. Ughhhhhh!!!!
As mud, water and bog blended with misery to enrich my experience, the views were completely lost to me. I did glance at the view but then kept moving forward and then downward FINALLY. There was no let up though mud, water, bog, crawling, over logs we climbed as the cheer leading squad came into view again. As, I jumped into a bog full of water and then climbed through the mud to get out of it, I had to remind myself once again that day; I paid to do this, volunteered myself and cajoled Susan into doing it. The fact she was still speaking to me was something in itself!
The cheer leading squad headed for the farmyard, we continued on our hands and knees through pallets of mud. Down we went and up again. Yippee a pile of sandbags! And then yes, the road to the farmyard as we went down our paced picked up, I kid you not it wasn't finished more Silage bales and more water was in front of us. We jogged on and crossed the line, I felt such relief. Yeahhh!!! I swear I was weary to my very bones.
We were covered, Caked in mud! We got hosed down by a very cold power hose.
We changed as quickly as we could, there was mud everywhere. I forgot my towel so I had share Susan's seriously all I could do at that stage was laugh as I stood wet and covered in mud in a cow shed! We put the clothes we were wearing in black bags what a state they were in. (Just a note it took me 10 washes to get the mud completely out of my hair).
Portmagee promised HELL and they lived up to it. Today, I have bruises, aches, pains, I am wrecked!
I will not be doing another challenge which involves mountains or mud!!!
At least I left Portmagee smiling, I had been to HELL (dragging Susan with me I should add!) GONE UP THE MOUNTAIN and most off all I had eventually CONQUERED IT!
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