Achieving those personal fitness goals

On a recent trip to Snowdonia, Lyndsey from Red Hot Personal Training explains how conquering personal fitness goals can be so rewarding. Having ticked off the list some of the UK's highest mountains in the past few years, one of her personal fitness targets for the year 2016 was to climb up Snowdon (the highest mountain in Wales). 

With family and dog in tow we set off early after a nice full breakfast and headed for the base of Snowdon.  We decided to tackle the accent using a seldom-trod ridge of Snowdon and a route that would eventually lead us to cover over 11 miles in total.   Very soon after leaving the busy gift shops and excited tourists waiting for their train ride on the Snowdon Mountain Railway we found ourselves alone and making our way up a serene valley.  Occasional echoes of the Snowdon steam train whistles gave way to a few plumes of smoke that rolled down the valley behind them.

As we headed higher, the sun shone brighter and we could all feel the 20 + degree heat of the day!  Just in the distance the track seemed to reach a ridge with no visible signs to where we would be heading next or if any dangerous drops would reveal itself the other side.  We were pleasantly surprised to find a flat little junction at the top with views right out towards the sea and Ireland beyond. 

Not wanting to break the nice walking rhythm we had set and all keen to reach the now visible top we didn't stop for long, so after a quick snack and drink we proceeded up a 1.6km long cliff top with each step giving us a greater view of the dramatic dark pass of the Eilio-Snowdon ridge. 

Our great enthusiasm quickly spiralled downwards after we realised that an even bigger accent awaited us at the bottom of the slopping cliff top.

We were right, the proceeding hour or so seemed to take forever and the small rocks that paved the zig-zag path seemed to turn into large boulders that required more thought and energy to tackle.  The dog and children however seemed to come into their own at this point not afraid to show how agile they were at scrambling up ahead with such ease and elegance!

Quads, hamstrings and calves starting to burn a little we finally reached the summit. A rather narrow set of steps carved into the mountains peak led the way to the very tip of Snowdon. Panoramic views were aplenty!

After a few photos and a well deserved bite to eat and drink perched on a sheltered boulder, we set off for the decent.  We decided to follow the main path back down that follows the steam train line and the most popular of routes.  

Relief from those slightly achey calf muscles was short lived as a completely different set of leg muscles came into play just to steady yourself down the fairy steep decent. 

Once safely back in the village of Llanberis my thoughts quickly switched to my next target for this year.........