My biggest problem in life is not having the ability to say "no," which is why I found myself yesterday trekking 21kms in the Brecon Beacons with former rugby star Josh Lewsey and his former army mate, Marcus. If the distance alone is not enough for you then let me tell you that the trek was tortorous, up and down mountains during seven (that's 7) hours of walking in predominantly stinging rain whipped up by winds so fierce it was difficult to breathe and in temperatures that shot below freezing with the wind chill. We were alltotally sodden at the end, especially Josh who refused to wear a hat all day and whose ears would have snapped off by dusk. The former world cup winner with England, and multiple trophy winner with Wasps, is training to climb Everest next May, hence his day out in the Beacons. Now, for a man who summitted Kilimanjaro 14 months ago, you may think the Beacons would be a walk, if you excuse the pun, in the national park, but I had trained for Kili, and not for this, which is why this morning every bone and joint in my body hurts, and I am moving like an old man.Lewsey's pretty tired, too, but then he insisted in placing a large, limestone boulder in his rucksack before taking in an extra peak yesterday. He still completed the walk ahead of us. I hope Josh makes it to the top of Everest, but I bet he won't be looking for any extra weight in the Himalayas!
