While my expeditions to Aconcagua and Cho Oyu and other climbing was very helpful, there is no preparation for climbing Everest quite like climbing Everest so I am hopeful that the experience gained in 2010 will help me be better prepared this year.
I learnt a lot in 2010 and have made a few of changes for this year.
In addition, it was less than six months from returning from Cho Oyu that I left to Everest. I came off Cho Oyu less than nine stone (58kg) and did not look very well so the first few weeks were spent getting my body back to normal and, while I do not feel that a lack of fitness cost me in 2010, am hopeful that the additional months of recovery and preparation will stand me in good stead this year.
Training programme
I have not following a set training programme but, as mentioned on my Cho Oyu expedition page, I have been loosely following a four days on, one day off programme used to prepare for Cho Oyu and last year with running as my core exercise. Not working this past year has helped but at the same time I have been conscious not to overtrain and injure myself.
For this year, I have used "rest" days to mix the training up doing something different like cross training, swimming or spin cycling. I think that building up stamina and getting your muscles used to working day after day is the key and the best simulation as to what the body will go through on expedition.
I have a number of different running routes that I use and they vary between 7 and 18 miles in length although a normal run will be between 9 and 11 miles but do at least one longer run each week, usually 15 miles. I have been doing 50 to 60 miles a week for the past few months probably around 10 miles a week more than last year, so hopefully the extra will be beneficial.
I have also increased the weights sessions and done at least an evening a week at the climbing wall, although there is little traditional climbing on Everest I found this really helped in Scotland so should make me more efficient on the climbing sections.
Living in London is not ideal for hill training, Richmond Park is about as hilly as it gets around here and I run there pretty often. I spent some time in Scotland in February had some long days on some pretty tough routes in shocking weather to test out my hill fitness.
A typical week would be something like:
One 15 mile run
Four 10 mile runs
One cross training or spin cycle session
Three weights sessions
One climbing wall session
Some of the team will sleep in altitude tents before flying out to begin their acclimatisation early. Personally I would prefer not to use one. Up to now I have managed to acclimatise naturally and my body will already be spending a long period at altitude and I do not wish to put further strain on it by extending this period. I think this is down to individual preference and past experience and will work better for some people.
Not much training left now as I plan to ease off, not completely but enough to give the body a break, for the last couple of weeks before we leave.
