A Big Pat On My Back...

Alhamdulillah. At last, the event that I had waited almost anxiously, came and went. I did it again. Probably for the last time. Alas, who knows what the future holds for us. After spending about two weeks of 'intense' exercises, all my good plans had gone awry. For almost two weeks I had to go for a series of meetings, one after the other. This totally disrupted by daily 'regime' of jogging in the evening and doing lots and lots of sit ups and step ups. The worry was at its peak when I had to attend the LINUS meeting in Kuala Lumpur and course in Beringis Resort, Kota Kinabalu. The final week that was supposed to build the 'height' of my fitness level, was gone just like that.

Enroute to Ranau, I was feeling a mix of excitement and apprehension. Could I or couldn't I do it? Better still, should I or shouldn't I attempt it? One thing for sure, I definitely would do it. There was a purpose for my action. Indeed, I wanted to prove to myself that I was capable of attempting and accomplishing what I had set my heart and soul for, for the last couple of months.

I truly enjoyed the company of the eager climbers in my group who were ever ready to absorb whatever tips on climbing the stately mountain from anyone, for only three of them had experiece climbing her. The members were loud, funny, caring, and examplery citizens. Dato Najip would have been proud of us. A truly One Malaysia group. Out of the 21 of us, 18 were young doctors, one PETRONAS engineer and a LOFSA officer.

Knowing that this time around, I would be climbing through the Mesilau route did not lessen my heart rate. I knew and realized that Mesilau was way much tougher to climb than Timpohon. Indeed it was. How much it was, I  failed to perceive. Timpohon was a breeze compared to Mesilau. I meant every single word of it. Honestly. If the most number of steps that we would have to climb Timpohon was 12 at a time, not so in Mesilau. The least would be 25. Comparatively, the steps were five times much steeper, longer and arduous to endure. Which made whatever pain gained five times more a nuisance. On top of it all, the wind was constantly a bluster and freezing cold.

Ultimately I survived the ordeal. I pulled it off. quite easily though, if I may say so myself. I reached the notorious summit safe and sound. Though I came back to Labuan with  a considerable pain in my legs, and avoiding stepping onto steps and stairs as much as I could, I couldn't be prouder of myself. For  the 13th times, I executed the exertion once more. Alhamdulillah.