HMI, DARJEELING: 20 days to go

If you refer to my earlier post (http://srikantchakraborty.blogspot.com/2011/02/next-dream-hmi-darjeeling-d.html), I had mentioned about my plans- how to prepare for the Basic Mountaineering Course at HMI, Darjeeling, scheduled for September 2011, about my injury, etc.

The HMI Basic Mountaineering Course (or BMC) Batch No- 285 training starts on the 15th of September, 2011. 20 more days to go, and I am hardly ready for it. I can hardly run for an hour continuously, hardly do more than 15 pull-ups in 3 sets! So, am I going to get kicked out of the course for not being fit enough? May be, may be not!

Well, here is the present status in detail-
1) Every morning I run 4 kms, which takes about 24- 25 minutes. Done 3 days a week.
2) I hike 10 kms with 15 kgs load in my backpack. Done 3 days a week.
3) Regular strength training in the gym, special focus on leg, core and shoulder muscles.

Whatever I do, anything might happen out there- failure to prove that I am fit for mountaineering, injury, sickness, etc,. and I might be out of the course. Or, everything might go really well and I come home with a Grade A, qualified to go for the Advanced Course. Or, I might get married after the course, get busy with my work and never get a chance to see the Himalayas again..... 'anything' might happen. But, 'whatever' happens, there are some things that I have realised and learnt in these few months of training for this course, which I will never forget or compromise:
- I have never ever wanted to do anything so badly in my life, as mountaineering. I don't know why.
- Putting in that maximum effort, and that little extra bit, whether it makes you successful or not, is a feeling of accomplishment in itself. The realisation that I had tried hard without any compromises, is a good feeling.
- There is really no alternative to hard work....although an old and popular saying, I reaslised it now- a little too late- unfortunately. But another old saying consoles me instantly- Better Late than never! 
- The best part of all- I could quit a 13 years old habit! Yeah, I don't feel the nicotine urge anymore, it's gone for good. Feels great! Really. I feel light, healthy, more energetic and lot more confident.

So, getting back to where I started, even if I do not get to climb even a single peak in my life, what I have gained in this process, is priceless. I am happy.