Staying strong and focused

I’m often asked what the hardest part was training for Everest and the Seven Summits. I found staying injury free the biggest challenge! Day in and day out you stress your muscles, joints and ligaments training like a professional athlete but with a full time job and no access or time for daily massages and physio sessions. 

During the last 3 months of the Everest training period, I took a day off every two weeks. I often trained twice a day, before and after work, and when I could I used my lunch breaks as well to exercise. I found a good combination of strengthening, endurance and aerobic workouts helped me to stay strong. 

I did sell my snowboard because it was too tempting to learn new skills but I knew the risk to pick up an injury was too high. 

To be honest, most injuries (mine and people I know) come from silly little mistakes like stepping into a hole in the ground while walking or falling down the stairs which is exactly what happened to Max a week ago. 

Memories of breaking my foot in 2020 came flooding back remembering 6 weeks of hell not being able to move to Alps in May, ride my bike or even to walk to the bathroom. Fortunately in Max’s case it’s different and the x-ray confirmed his ankle wasn’t broken. Phew! 

Taking the first day or two easy was necessary but I could tell it must have been difficult for him not to join me training on my day off.. so I suggested Max takes the cable car up Diavolezza station, I go fast & light on snowshoes up the mountain and we meet at the top for a hot punch. 

I knew just to be outside and breath the fresh mountain air would be a a huge mood booster for Max even if he couldn’t run up or ski down it. 

I found Max working away on his laptop at the Diavolezza Bergstation (2.973m) and testing the Powertraveller Phoenix 40 charger. 

We sat outside for a bit, enjoying one of the most stunning views one could wish for, healing the body and relaxing the mind.