Kilimanjaro is from what I have heard and read the easiest to climb of the seven summits. Kilimanjaro could be described as the perfect start for anyone who wants to climb big mountains and experience stuff off the beaten trail. Now I am a firm believer that almost anyone can climb Kilimanjaro even if you have not been working out or climbing mountains at all. Kilimanjaro is tough, but its perfectly possible if you put your mind to it.
Then why bother working out at all?
If its so easy then why bother? First of all, its not easy, its possible. I have done a lot of strenous physical activities in my life but the last night on Kilimanjaro was probaby the worst of all. We were five people that set out to complete it and we all did. And the best thing? We werent really in shape.. I had done a lot of strenght workout but I had forgotten to work on the basic skills that I needed for Kilimanjaro. The last night we were mostly running on pure willpower, our bodies had thrown in the towel long ago. So what is my point here then? My point is that if I had worked out more before I left then I would certainly had an easier time on the mountain. And if you are unsure if you are fit enough, then you probably arent. So in conclusion, work out! Why?:
- You are more likely to reach the summit
- You will enjoy the whole experience a whole lot more.
- Being the last one in the group that everyone is waiting for sucks...
How to train for Kilimanjaro
Here is where you really should learn from my experience! I did not work out in the right way. I worked in and started a long time ahead but it still didnt do much good since I was not paying attention to what I was going to do. So what are you going to do on Kilimanjaro? You are going to be walking a hell of a lot, with a backpack, in uphill... So there is pretty much the best training tip I can offer:
- Put on the same backpack that you are bringing for the hike.
- Put some weight in the backpack (5-10kg or 10-20 pounds for starters)
- Find the nearest mountain, hilltop or long stairs if you live in a city.
- Walk!
It is really that simple. I would recommend starting atleast three months before you are scheduled to do the climb. Try to walk for atleast 2 hours each time and do it twice a week. Now this is a good start but I would recommend to add an additional workout day per week. Spend the last day doing a mixture of activities. Examples are:
- Biking
- Cross Country skiing
- Running
- Fitness Studio
The main point here is that you keep yourself active and that you increase your walking stamina at the same time as you keep yourself in shape.
If you have problems working out three days per week then you just have to find a way. Getting close to the top and then having to turn around due to you being too tired is really going to suck and you will definently regret it afterwards. Make sure you get a workout partner and schedule a fixed workout time three days a week. Its a lot harder to skip a workout if you know that someone is expecting you to be there.
Norsk
English
