cardiac prevention and rehabilitation

CP+R Snowdon 2010 - our epic adventure

Having a personal goal to strive for encourages us to remain focused and dedicated to our training and lifestyle. If you align your personal goal within that of a team's goal that you have something truly magical and life changing on your hands. Inspired to create that elusive and contagious magic we embarked on the creation of CP+R Team Snowdon 2010.

In total there were 35 members of CP+R Team Snowdon from a variety of health backgrounds all with the universal aim of summiting the monstrous beast that is Snowdon. We arrived one by one on Friday 7th May at our Team Headquarters. What started as a couple of friends catching up around the table grew steadily one by one over the afternoon and evening into the entire group; as the next person arrived in the bar they were invited into the group by pulling in a spare chair.

Many of CP+R Team Snowdon had not met one another before and so it was essential to build team spirit and quickly. This was aided by an evening dinner and some cracking team building games such as "killer" on the pool table. Every player take their turn with one shot with the aim of potting any ball. If you don't make a pot you loose one of your three lives. When you lose all three you are out and the winner is the last player. This is a fun game with the added bonus of having all player's names called out loud regularly so that you learn names quickly. Perhaps the best thing about this weekend was to see strangers becoming friends.

We had an early 7am breakfast on the Saturday and you could feel the tension and excitement in the air. We quickly assembled into our small teams to drive to Snowdon for the massive challenge that we were about to undertake. Even the longest journey starts with a single step and it was great to start walking at 8am. The group separated into the smaller groups in order for everyone to go at the own pace - this is the key to being successful and enjoying a challenge such as this. Although separated the group kept in touch via radios talkies and it was lovely to hear the team's progress.

Walking up Snowdon is very challenging and thankfully all the team had trained specifically for this event. What makes it so challenging is the 3 miles and 2,500 feet ascent are over rough and uneven terrain where footing can be easily lost. There are periods where the gradient and steps are high enough for you to be forced to use you hands to pull yourself up. There is also the added challenge of being exposed to the elements where conditions can change rapidly and the temperature decreased every step you climb. For our challenge we had to contend with very blustery and strong winds that made parts of the route particularly uncomfortable.

Step by step each group made their way to the summit. Each group had a dedicated support person and these individuals deserve great credit for keeping the walker's spirits high and minds focused on the challenge. Group by group we summited the mountain and it was super to hear the elation and jubilation across the radios. One of the wonderful things about walking up mountains is the breathtaking landscapes on the way up and the incredible view from the top; that moment when you turn around and see what you have just walked up in a completely different perspective. You realize that you have achieved something sensational and you can experience a range of emotions including relief, pride, elation, tears etc.

As the first groups came back down the mountain they offered their encouragement to those still on the way up and you can sense the team growing tighter and tighter as a unit. The final group made it up and there was a roar of congratulations over the radios as word spread of their achievement.

The evening dinner and the following breakfast were fabulous as the team celebrated their magnificent achievements together. For some this had been the culmination of a year's training and a life time's ambition. There were a few tears shed amongst the group and rightly so. As each member went up to collect their certificate and medal the rest of the group clapped their new friend's achievement with great passion and heart. Strangers a few nights ago embraced each other as family and lifelong friends as we are departed the Team Headquarters and began to spread the word of CP+R Snowdon 2010.

And so to the next CP+R event and perhaps Snowdon 2011 next year as well......