Day 55: On top of the world

Exactly one year ago today I was setting off on my latest challenge: to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest freestanding mountain in the world. It seemed like a good idea at the time, after all what better way could there be of putting two fingers up to arthritis?

It turned out to be both the best and worst thing I've ever done in my life.

It was a big enough challenge just getting to Tanzania in the first place, and I'm not talking about the eight hour bus journey from Nairobi on the somewhat questionable roads. The first problem was my knee; it never really recovered after I put it through 26.2 miles back in April for the London Marathon, but I've never let a little bit of pain stop me before and I didn't intend to let it this time either, despite mama Bull's efforts to persuade me otherwise. The second problem was that I wasn't allowed the live yellow fever vaccination. Some of the medication I take works by suppressing my overactive immune system, which essentially means my body is too shit to fight off infections. In other words, injecting me with the yellow fever vaccination would actually result in me getting yellow fever, which I could really do without if I'm honest. It turns out that the yellow fever jab is fairly vital for travelling to Tanzania (once again there was a hopeful look in mama Bull's eyes that I would have to stay in England). However several calls to the Tanzanian Embassy later I was assured that I would definitely be allowed in the country. Phew. That just left the small matter of climbing a fairly big mountain...

It was the hardest thing I've ever done in my life. Suddenly running a marathon seemed easy in comparison. Although my joints held out, my knee suffered for a long time afterwards, and my lack of energy made the early starts and long days of walking even more of a challenge than it already was. But I did it. Take that RA, you can't stop me doing anything.

On top of the world... literally.

I listened to a lot of music over the six days of climbing, but there is one song in particular that reminds me of the very emotional moment when I reached the summit. Hearing this song reminds me that I have the strength to beat this bitch of a disease.

So today, one year on, I'm not ashamed to admit I'm feeling a little bit emotional. A lot has changed in a year. My body is failing me once again, but hopefully with a bit of help from the joint juice in the not so distant future I'll be ready to take on the next challenge... sorry in advance mama Bull.