Can anyone recommend a Physical/Emotional Challenge for my 40th

[girlsmum]

Hi
I’m turning 40 next year and would love to do something ‘for me’. Something to really push myself, dig deep and remind myself who I am.
I’ve spent the last 15 or so years being Mum, housekeeper, dog walker, worker etc etc
I know it sounds cheesy. I’m quite fit so not looking at tough mudders, thinking more hiking or running.
Thanks all

Three Peaks Challenge?

West Highland Way?
Great Glen Way?

New York marathon. It’s an amazing experience, thousands and thousands of onlookers cheering you on, you can do it for charity as part of a team and then have a birthday celebration in NY afterwards!

I need my lounge ceiling taken down and the entire room re-plastering...

A friend of mine went and worked in an Indian orphanage for a month when she turned 40. She took her second son, who was in danger of going off the rails and left the other three with her DH.

Great ideas, thank you.
Would love New York..short on funds though..massistar and dafspunk I’ll look them up now.
Angstman...why not 🤷🏻‍♀️

Bestseller....I would love love love to do that

Climb Mount Kilimanjaro.
It's more walking than mountaineering, and usually done in groups with a guide. You will need to be very fit though.

Watching with interest... I’m coming up on 40 as well and would like to acheive something interesting before then but funds are limited

I’m thinking of doing a skydive for charity but a bit nervous!

I just want to chime in on the orphanage idea. I lived in India for a year and volunteered at two orphanages at weekends. It is amazing how much damage well-intentioned volunteers can do. Many children in orphanages have been badly let down and emotionally damaged by the adults in their lives, and having someone drop in for a month or two (sometimes as little as two weeks!) and then disappear from their lives can actually be really distressing and unhelpful. This is aside from the fact that many children in orphanages do have families of their own and supporting those families to live together would be a much better use of funds. I've seen similar in South America. This is not to impugn your friend Bestseller! I just wish people would think it through a little more.

OP, I think it's a lovely idea to do something big for your 40th. My personal goal is to swim the Channel but I'm a long long way away!

Magpiewife..great point re orphanage. In all honesty anything out of this country is a no, financially. Swimming the Channel - hat off to you, great goal.

Am liking the look of the three peaks. Am thinking hiking might be my preferred option.

Trailwalker 😊

Yes, I think even my friend recognises now that it was more to do with a mini midlife crisis of her own and doing her son good to see real poverty than actually doing any real good in India

I second Kilimanjaro. You can join a charity group to raise the funds to go. Best thing I ever did - very emotional but not as hard as I expected.

There are lots of great walks in the UK OP - I've got my eye on the Southwest Coastal Path (it's 630 miles so probably not all of it!). I think some of the canal paths are beautiful as well. I walked from Bristol to Reading along the Kennet and Avon and it was lovely. My mum walked the Ridgeway when she turned 50 which was pretty challenging.

Please do let us know what you decide!

Ultramarathon!!

I did a tough mudder!

John o groats to lands end (or the other way) by bike. Just the best. Also the worst. But the best worst.

Coast to coast
Pennine way
West Highland Way
Cycle Hadrian"s wall?

Welsh 3000s in one or two days? It’s tougher than the 3 Peaks.

I know a few people in there 40s decided to change careers and take their equine exams at a training centre. so they worked got paid, rode in lessons nearly every day had lectures ect....

It certainly put life into perspective for them

Indian Orphanages - it's called 'Volun-tourism..' not such a good idea...

However, a short course in plastering would be both physically and emotionally challenging...

My then 15 year old, and her dad (my ex), did the Three Peaks in three days. It was part of an organised tour, so somebody else did the driving to and from each mountain. I think if you did it independently, it would be much cheaper but take a lot longer.
London to Brighton bike ride.
I think there is some sort of London Parks bike ride every year, which I think sounds fun.