As a keen runner, ascending Kilimanjaro had never crossed my mind until I climbed Mt Baldy in California. Upon descent, my partner jokingly suggested it would be fun to climb Kilimanjaro for my 50th Birthday - I thought it was a great idea!
I
began to plan and coordinate climbing Kilimanjaro, opting for the Northern Circuit, to summit on my birthday and roping in 6 friends, climbing with the Kilimanjaro Climbing Company on 18th September.
Having already entered the Heights 50k Ultra marathon on the 3rd of September, I decided to complete these two events raising donations for a charity close to my heart: the ‘If U Care Share Foundation’ based in Chester-Le-Street.
50k Ultra Marathon The Heights 50k Ultra marathon involved traversing Colne Valley and the Pennines accumulating over 3700ft of elevation. This was no easy feat given the mixture of terrain - some trails were full of large stones and gullies, making