We are lucky that we have an in house hypoxic chamber at THIRD SPACE, although it only goes to 3000m..... Kilimanjaro is MUCH larger than that. But, it gives us the ability to test out training with not as much air floating around our lungs. We did 2.5 hours in there last week and are planning on doing this every week but upping the time and hopefully (if I can sweet talk our manager) to push the altitude up as far as it will go for a special training times. CUE: Cathy's eyelashes fluttering ;)
See Gregs blog for images and videos of our hypoxic adventure.....
The 2.5 hours wasn't too bad actually but that is in a controlled environment, without any of mother nature's devil traps like rocks, wind, rain etc, we walked at a 10% incline at a slow speed of 3-4km (apparently we walk even slower than that on Kili - I'm hoping if I call it Kili rather than Kilimanjaro we will be friends). But, I was watching TV on my phone so it made it easier on the mind, an option not available up the mountain in Africa, however, the scenery in this beautiful part of the World should keep me occupied ( I HOPE).
Now, I have had a little spanner thrown in the works in regards to training! I had MRI scans done on both knees and hips along with spine, neck and brain.... Good news is that my brain is there and its working! Bad news is that I have grade 4 damage in both knee joints and extensive tearing in my hip joints along with bursitis in my hips.....
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
WELL!! It became apparent during the big ben that I had some serious issues going on and if I'm honest, I have been in pain for years (that stupid warrior head always gets in the way! ). BUT, all is not lost, my lovely orthopaedic surgeon Dr Halfpenny from the London Orthopaedic Clinic in London is saving the day with injections and physio JUST to get me through Kili and then next year we need to sit down and discus long term operations, I may become a titanium super hero next year after all :).
So, I need to reassess my situation this week and alter my weight training plan accordingly, I need to avoid a lot of exercises I have been doing and switch for something else, where I don't put pressure or load on my knees and hips. WHERE THERE IS A WILL THERE IS A WAY!!!
See Gregs blog for images and videos of our hypoxic adventure.....
The 2.5 hours wasn't too bad actually but that is in a controlled environment, without any of mother nature's devil traps like rocks, wind, rain etc, we walked at a 10% incline at a slow speed of 3-4km (apparently we walk even slower than that on Kili - I'm hoping if I call it Kili rather than Kilimanjaro we will be friends). But, I was watching TV on my phone so it made it easier on the mind, an option not available up the mountain in Africa, however, the scenery in this beautiful part of the World should keep me occupied ( I HOPE).
Now, I have had a little spanner thrown in the works in regards to training! I had MRI scans done on both knees and hips along with spine, neck and brain.... Good news is that my brain is there and its working! Bad news is that I have grade 4 damage in both knee joints and extensive tearing in my hip joints along with bursitis in my hips.....
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
WELL!! It became apparent during the big ben that I had some serious issues going on and if I'm honest, I have been in pain for years (that stupid warrior head always gets in the way! ). BUT, all is not lost, my lovely orthopaedic surgeon Dr Halfpenny from the London Orthopaedic Clinic in London is saving the day with injections and physio JUST to get me through Kili and then next year we need to sit down and discus long term operations, I may become a titanium super hero next year after all :).
So, I need to reassess my situation this week and alter my weight training plan accordingly, I need to avoid a lot of exercises I have been doing and switch for something else, where I don't put pressure or load on my knees and hips. WHERE THERE IS A WILL THERE IS A WAY!!!