AIBU to want adventure and excitement in my 50s?

[Allgoingtopot]

I really want to push myself to achieve a physical challenge. My partner has just climbed a mountain for charity and it has been a life changing experience. I might need to spend some months getting fit first but I need ideas for the challenge. I am not ready to sit at home and watch other people living their lives!
Let your minds run wild - I need inspiration!

bump

Swim the channel.

Great idea! Run a marathon? Hike the Appalachian trail? Climb a (different) mountain?

Me and DH thought we might walk Hadrian’s wall

Cold water swimming?

Walk from Lands end to John O groats
Learn a language then visit the country alone.

Wild swimming has been my inspiration. Get a map and tick off as many locations as you can

What do you like doing and wouldn't mind doing a bit more of? Walking, swimming, running, cycling, riding, travelling, exploring, driving, none of above?

Btw I was very inspired lately by a late fifty something headmistress who decided to cycle round the world on retirement despite never really cycled much at all. Was amazing.

Are you looking for one massive challenge you have to train for or a life filled with mini adventures?
Either really. Just need to inject some life into my life!

I have done skydiving and walked the Yorkshire 3 peaks in the past. I am not feeling that long distance swimming is my thing, but thanks for the idea.

Scuba diving
Paddle boarding
White water rafting
Coasteering

How about doing one of those charity events, like walking the length of the Great Wall of China, or climbing Kilimanjaro? Or doing all / part of the Comino de Santiago in France or Spain - some of those go through the Pyrenees. Something that would combine travel with the physical challenge.
If you want to do something before travel gets a bit easier, things like the Three Peaks Challenge, London to Brighton bike ride, walking the whole Pennine Way or the length of Offa's Dyke?

YABU. Have a biscuit and a sit down.

@ThursdayWeld

YABU. Have a biscuit and a sit down.

Met someone over the weekend who has set the goal of climbing the highest peak in England Scotland and Wales..As he is in lreland he has added in Northern Ireland and Ireland too. Over a length of time of course.

Oh wow! Thanks for the posts.

I would love to hear more about wild swimming.

I enjoy walking, driving, horse riding, animals generally,
I don't like cycling.
I love travelling, but I have already had to cancel a trip to South East Asia because of the pandemic and I am wary of booking trips abroad at the moment.

Dont have many more suggestions but I LOVE this!! You go for it!!

Ooh actually, not so much an event but can you take up weightlifting? I love seeing women, particularly more mature women do it and they're often surprisingly good at it/ can enter competitions

@Billybagpuss

Me and DH thought we might walk Hadrian’s wall

Do it, it's great fun. Just make sure you schedule enough time to see the archaeology properly (if you're into that)

I've recently taken up paddle boarding, and today I've tried kayaking. I'll pay for it tomorrow though, my thigh muscles are killing me.

I would have reeled off international sports related challenge's, but ya know covid-19 restrictions blah blah.

I'm going to suggest you train to enter a body building competition. Have a look at this amazing woman, Miss Ernestine Shepherd

@Allgoingtopot

Have a look at the National trails website. Lots of variety ( as well as Hadrian's Wall I recommend the Cleveland Way) and you get achievement badges!

Has anyone learned a new language in middle age? I wonder how possible it is.
I would love to speak Italian.

I find trying a new flavour of Fevertree provides quite enough in the way of thrills.

Few ideas..a horse riding trip around Wales? There are supported trips with b&bs enroute.

Loads of support around for languages. Duolingo good place to start (and free) but there are also loads of virtual meetup groups that you can join to practice conversation. I'm learning Spanish and it's pretty good fun.

Loads of long walks around, both urban and rural. I love the London capital ring which links up parks. You can do it in bits.

Or diving? You can dive up seals up in Scotland. You need to be qualified but looks fab!

How long have you got for your adventure? Do you want to take several days, push yourself to your limits &/or have an adrenaline rush?

My favourite adventures are the ones that start and finish at my gate - I cycle or walk out.

@coodawoodashooda

Swim the channel.

This is what I’d like to do in my 50s, but maybe some swimming btwn Greek islands first. (There are wild swimming holidays) Snow climbing in the alps (there is a women’s holiday thing), ski-ing if you haven’t (walking women do this one), camino de Santiago

US road trip (do not get carried away and drive off the Grand Canyon), ashram in India, Jules Verne down the Nile (and various), Italy or France to study art and learn the language, teaching English somewhere interesting, grown up gap year volunteering with your professional skills

I am going to make myself a list now...