25-Mar-2015 11:49
Our group completed the Mt Maroon Summit hike on Saturday 21st March. Led by our intrepid guide, Innes Larkin from Mt Barney Lodge, we set off on a days adventure, with low cloud and high spirits.
The climb was varied and challenging, the scenery jaw dropping, the summit clouded in and the carrot cake to remember. Our group of 9 ladies bagged the peak with ease and despite the view being obscured by low cloud we maintained high spirits all day. The teamwork along with the encouragement and support of the group ensured that each and every hiker was going to get to the top. A helping hand, a whisper of encouragment or a shout out of well done was all that was needed to guarantee that the group achieved the peak and we could all celebrate this success. Again, another extremely successful hike with Women’s Fitness Adventures.
It is what happened afterwards, in the days following, that is remarkable. Members of our team felt so empowered that they did some things that they had not done before. One took up the power drill and fixed those things that had been needing to be done for ages. Clean outs and tip runs happened, exercise regimes kicked up a notch and the sense of achievement was spread far and wide amongst friends and colleagues, which in turn inspired others. It’s called the ripple effect.
You may know my mantra of “when was the last time you did something for the first time”. Continually inspired by the hiking ability and attitudes of the Women’s Fitness Adventures team, I did something new today. I swam 75 metres of a pool doing butterfly stroke! I have never swum more than 4 butterfly strokes in my life! Sure I stopped a bit to catch a breath, but I did it and am so proud of myself. It was my coach who encouraged me to give it a go, even if I did protest. However, the role of a good coach is to get you to do things that you know are good for you even when you don’t want to. I am glad I listened.
So, when you think you can’t, you know you can! Recall our team of on Mt Maroon and think of how empowered they felt when they achieved something that they never thought they could (or would) do!
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