Acer pushed me to my limit!

Climbing the UK's highest mountains in three days was the biggest physical challenge I've ever done

Up until now the only vendor events I've been on have been the kind where you fly to a nice location, stay in a plush hotel, eat posh food and cover press keynote after press keynote.

And then party in the evening after frantically filing as much copy as possible to keep up the kudos with your colleagues and remind the whippersnappers that you still have what it takes.

Until last weekend.

Acer took a group of tech journalists (including me) and pushed them further than ever before by challenging them to complete the UK Three Peaks challenge in three days. All in the name of charity.

That involves climbing Ben Nevis in Scotland, Scafell Pike in England, and Snowdon in Wales.

Some crazy cats attempt it in 24 hours - but luckily for us we had some rest inbetween.

The first two - Scotland and England went well for me - strangely I found it 10 times easier to come down a mountain than go up it - and while lagging behind on the ascent - I found myself in the front pack on the way down.

Inbetween mountains we were crammed into two minibuses and ferried from one end of the country to another for a welcome short rest in a hotel - as we tried to stretch aching joints and keep muscles from stiffening up.

On day two when we went for an evening meal, we were all walking like weebles and getting very strange looks from people in the pub we stopped in.

However for me it was day three when it all went wrong. We arrived at Snowdon and my legs were absolutely killing me - but I was in a determined mood. I had done two, what was one more?

As we climbed higher it got hotter and hotter. There was no breeze whatsoever and no shade. It was the hottest day of the year so far and I was trying to scale a huge mountain. What was I thinking?

Those of you who know me well will understand how much I detest being out in the sun. I can't bear to be in it when I'm just sitting around doing nothing - let alone trying to do five hours of intense physical exercise.

Time was against me because we had to be back down in a certain time to catch a train, and it was that, combined with utter heat exhaustion that caused me to admit defeat. Just 300 feet from the peak. I could see it, but I had nothing left to give, and I still had to get back down.

It may as well have been 3,000 more feet. If the sun had gone in for a bit and I'd had an extra hour, I know I could have done it, but these things happen. Knowing when to stop is often more difficult that bumbling blindly on.

So I apologise to all those of you who sponsored me because I didn't quite complete it - but I'm hoping you will let me off because I almost did, and because it was to raise money for a fantastic cause. Mountain Rescue.

There was even a rescue going on when we were two-thirds of the way down the mountain in Snowdon - absolutely vital work, most often done by volunteers.

So with that in mind, and with a teeny bit of disappointment in my heart I bring you my Three Peaks roundup.I hope you still think I have earnt my sponsorship money.

Despite not quite beating all three mountains - I beat two, and so very nearly beat the last one.

I also have a whole load of memories that I will never forget and met some fantastic people.

Thanks Acer and Honcho PR for a great weekend and for pushing me to limits that I never even knew I had!

I don't think many press trips will top that one I have to say.