Finally! It's my first BLOG!
Being a traveler from the past few years I always wanted to write a detailed blog but didn't know how to start, however, I used to do micro-blogging on my Instagram with snaps!
I don't know where to start, but I'll try to make it simple and easy.
It's about a few months ago, I was planning my travel calendar for 2020 with my brother cum friend Ajay with whom I usually travel all the time, however, this time things didn't work out as he got some plans for which he was saving his paid leaves.
So being an adventure junkie I always used to go to the Sahyadri mountains for a day hiking. I had a wish to enroll in some big expedition like EBC or Chadar Trek 2 years back however those days I was really unfit or obese you can say! (I'll share my fitness transformation journey some other day)
So now thought to give it a shot as I heard about a trek in Himalayas called "Kedarkantha" & the moment I started researching about it well not Chadar or EBC but to start with something lets do with "Kedarkantha".
I was mostly planning solo then I recalled that there was a friend cum colleague of my previous organization who queried me about trekking in the Himalayas and I did have a long conversation with him as it was my favorite topic though. After having a word with him I came to know he didn't attempt any but he is planning for "Mukta Top".
I somehow tried to sell "Kedarkantha" over "Mukta Top" and he agreed. So now I'm not Solo but Mihir Trivedi is accompanying me for Kedarkantha Trek.
After researching well, we finalized the dates and checked the availability for the batches in January with Indiahikes (the #1 organization in India for the Trekking community) and booked our tickets.
Before the registration, there were few formalities and requirements to participate in this expedition.
Requirements were various like to Run/Jog 5 kms every day in 35-40mins. No medical illness and certification by doctor signing the same. So I remember we just had some 45 days left as we registered for 17th January 2020.
From the moment I registered I started preparing my diet and lifestyle changes for the next 45 days and did some medical check-up for any vitamins deficiency to prevent illness.
I was able to follow the diet but was not regular in running or cardio exercises due to several excuses. It was just a few days 20 days left & I was not ready for the trek. Then for a change, I thought let's enroll in some other cardiovascular activities which I like the most, why not participate in one of the Hikes at Sahyadri's.
I started looking for one and we have our Trekking Club / Community built-in for our colleagues by the organization run by volunteers and leaders. I spoke to my friend Deepak Matkar (who is leading the club) about the trek long ago and he knew that I was preparing for it, and he announced a Trek called Kalavantin Durg located near Panvel.
I was happy to be a part and at the same time got anxious as this was not easy for me as I have Fear of Falling (FOF) phobia whenever I descend from mountains.
I spoke to Deepak Matkar and he motivated me and somehow made me feel safe to join the trek and believe the Trek was so easy and simple for me as all that slow running I was doing from the past few days helped to be faster than all and not tiring at all.
I successfully made it to the summit of Kalavantin Durg even the last patch was a bit technical as it had a rock climbing with rope.
After coming back I realized that even if I am not at par in terms of preparation for the expedition, I'm doing okay, I would do good as I did the last time. The next time, I attempted 5km run in 36mins and I was really happy to share that timings with my friends.
But there is always a twist, the next day I tried the same run & was unable to run even for a mile. I diagnosed myself and came to know that I got Shin Splints due to Low arch foot. All my confidence went down and I started feeling stressed as there was no such quick remedy for healing Shin Splints / Flat foot. Later, I bought insoles and followed some therapies to relieve the pain.
Again after a few days, I tried to start the recovery run by NRC App and it gave me the real motivation I needed because I came across the proverb of Coach Chris Bennett that "It's easy to run fast than to run slow." Rest the story is self-explanatory. I was all geared up for the trek when just 7 days before I faced a bad backbone muscle spasm & after getting diagnosed by the doctor it was deep impacted & required along medication to heal.
I was wondering what's happening day in day out, why I'm facing so many fitness issues & I was worried about all those physical fitness. However, I was not focusing on mental fitness. Later I understood, that If I start thinking I'm fit and healthy all those sufferings won't bother me that much as I'm feeling now.
I tried cycling, running, trekking, a few sessions of HIIT, legs days & stretching as a preparation for the trek and was confident now as I tried and tested all forms of cardiovascular exercises and was enjoying few of them rather than just focused on running. That inner confidence suddenly built me stronger and I felt a lot better than the earlier.
3 days prior to our departure, an announcement by IndiaHikes which de-motivated the batch as we're told that there is heavy snowfall in all parts of Himalayas and Avalanche warning in some parts of the north. The summit is closed for now and there are very rare chances to reach the base camp of Kedarkantha.
You would be thinking are all those negative signs (Shin Splints, Muscle spasm, the weather forecast of avalanche) that I should be cancelling my Trek??
But after facing many difficulties in the preparation itself, my self-confidence and mental strength were so positive & strong. I spoke to Mihir, let's hope things positive & we should not look at cancelling or rescheduling the trek. I was not thinking about Summit at all, I was just excited about the journey.
That's because I always remember the famous quote and implement the same "It's all about the journey & not the destination."
I hope that you got the moral of the story!
I'll soon post the Part -2 of the blog.
Stay tuned & let me know your thoughts or any suggestions :)