Heena had wanted to climb Kilimanjaro since she was a child. She’d also spent years being told it wasn’t something she could do. When she finally booked the trip, her training consisted of two Reformer Pilates classes a week, the occasional dog walk and absolutely no experience of high altitude.
 
Eight months later, she was heading towards Uhuru Peak. But the story between those two moments wasn’t exactly straightforward. There was a knee injury, a training plan that needed to change, plenty of worrying about altitude and a surprisingly memorable pair of socks.
 
In this episode, we talk about…
Building mountain fitness when you’re starting with very little hiking experience
Why beginning your preparation early gives you room to adapt when injuries interrupt training
The Lemosho Route, Kosovo Camp and choosing the group size that suits you
Preparing for altitude without assuming everyone will experience the same symptoms
Training, nutrition, kit and the little practical details that made the expedition easier
 
Resources, recommendations & useful details
Route: Lemosho Route, with Kosovo Camp used before summit night
Expedition providers mentioned: Asante Tours and FitBanker
Kit recommendation: ArmaSkin blister-prevention liner socks 
Training topics: Zone 2 aerobic work, high-intensity intervals, strength and injury-adjusted training
 
Work with Vertical Performance:
The Start to Summit Program
A structured, progressive mountain-specific training programme, with a weekly plan you can follow independently. Ideal if you want to build endurance, strength and confidence on ascents and descents without having to plan every workout yourself.
 
Explore the Start to Summit Program: www.verticalperformance.com/start-to-summit
 
The Peak Performance Program
Individualised training and ongoing coaching that adapts to your mountain, your progress and your actual life, with nutrition and performance psychology support. Ideal if you want a coach beside you throughout your preparation.
 
Explore the Peak Performance Program: www.verticalperformance.com/peak-performance-program
 
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[Performance Psychology] The Mental Edge — 21 January 2027
Join Kate for this webinar and discover how your brain influences your endurance, why feeling completely exhausted doesn't always mean you've reached your physical limit, and four powerful, science-backed psychological strategies to help you keep going—even when your mind is telling you to stop.
 
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[Mountain-Specific Training] Train Smarter, Climb Higher — 18 March 2027
Join Kate for this webinar and learn the biggest training mistakes mountaineers and trekkers make, the five types of training you should be doing each week, and how to structure your workouts to build stronger legs, greater endurance and better speed on steep terrain.
 
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