ouch..uhoo...ouch...ape!
Jun29200811:56 p.m.
headed up to the lakes on friday afternoon. It rained, and it rained then it rained a WHOLE lot more. Still, pitch our tents we did!
I was up in the lakes with my running club, Manchester Frontrunners. We were having a social weekend doing Go Ape, a run was also scheduled in, but more about that later...
So, Friday evening, your on a camp site in the English Lakes, it's raining, it's muddy and its still raining...what do you do next? You hit the red wine of course! Come Saturday morning and it was a show of hands for who was going on the planned run.....not a single hand went up!!!
So off we went to Go Ape. Oh my, what an experience. essentially you are completing an obstacle course 20meters/70ft high, going from one tree to another while strapped into a harness and wire. It was very scary. Even those who started the course full of bolshi-ness where several shades paler after the second course!
The most difficult obstacle is the tarzan swing. You are attached to a bunjee cord and have to jump off a platform swing many meters and catch hold of a net. climb up the net and onto another platform. I did most of the above fine. that is until I had to crawl/climb across the net. It was very very very hard work, my nerves were shot to pieces and all of a sudden my limbs turned to jelly. I let go and ended up swing freely 70 feet up in the air! I had to be rescued by the Go Ape staff!!! how embarassing! anyway,, ones hoisted onto the platform I completed the course no trouble.
Even with the embarassment of having to be rescued, and the aches, pains and burises I have today, it is still one of the most exciting, exhilerating, entertaining and testing things I have done.
For anyone fancying it - do it!! You will learn SO much about yourself while you are doing it. Most of all you will learn how you react in extreem situations, and that you CAN overcome fear and that you CAN cope in extreem situatons.
Make no mistake though, it's NOT easy. My top tips would be, work on your upper body strength, especially being able to pull yourself up - it will help you get around the course. Also, wear fingerless cycle gloves if you have them, I reckon it would help you grip the wires more confidently.
There was no chance of a run this morning, bit of luck and I'll be able to move my arms again soon!
A
Post views 218
Comments (6)
pam_and_chris 'Wow - it sounds like great fun!! We soooo want to do go ape! And it sounds like the MFR are very social. We are thinking of joining them but are a little imtimidated by the whole club thing - like the idea of social weekends to go ape, though!!! Take care resting up after that, have a good week!' added 30th Jun 2008
Report as inappropriate
tinabee 'What a brill weekend! I am all for doing something a bit challenging like that. Well done you. The running club sounds excellent socially (not sure about the tent thing mind!).' added 30th Jun 2008
Report as inappropriate
man_in_the_stand 'Sounds like you had a great weekend. It sounds like great fun. Hope you have a great week' added 30th Jun 2008
Report as inappropriate
Mick_6 'I hope the aches and pains subside quickly, sounds like a great activity weekend, looks like the Red grape got the better of you, remins me when we went and pitched our camourflage tent.........came back from the pub and couldn't find it anywhere.' added 30th Jun 2008
Report as inappropriate
Lolli 'Sounds like a great weekend! Hope the aches soon subside. Take care....' added 30th Jun 2008
Report as inappropriate
AnneH 'You sound as if you had an exhilerating weekend of fun, exercise and camaraderie, the rescue only added to the experience!! Hope the aches, bumps and briuses subside soon. Enjoy the rest of the week.' added 1st Jul 2008
Report as inappropriate