One adventure down; a million more to go!

First 1/2 marathon wrap-up

2011-05-01T08:42:00.007-05:00

Saturday, April 30 is definitely a day I will remember forever. At age 54 I attempted to run my first half marathon actually finished the race, but not with the grace and ease I had anticipated. Regardless, I'm giving myself credit and promising to do much better next time.

I also want to take a moment to thank the volunteers, medics, and EMTs who helped me at mile 12. They are awesome and definitely got me through the race. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Illinois 1/2 Marathon - just a few more days!

2011-04-27T11:27:00.003-05:00

I'm very excited and quite a bit nervous about running in the 1/2 marathon this Saturday. I ran a solid 11 miles last Saturday and cut 15 minutes off my over all time. So, I'm pretty sure I can run the entire thing. BUT, I'm not good at doing NEW things on my own, and I don't know the route. Paul promised to drive the route with me this evening - maybe my nerves will settle down after that. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

Illinois 1/2 Marathon

2011-04-18T15:44:00.004-05:00

It wasn't until this weekend that I was sure I was going to participate in the Illinois 1/2 marathon, scheduled for Saturday, April 30. I was able to find the time to run 9 1/2 miles and figured if I could run that far, I'm good for 13.1 with the adrenalin pumping in from the excitement of the race. I'm slow but pretty steady and after participating in my first and only race to-date, last years Illinois Marathon 5K, I really-really wanted to participate this year at the longer distance. I'm excited to say, I'm fairly confident that I'll be able to run the entire distance! I'll keep you posted with the results later in the month!

Cave-in Rock Garden of the Gods

2010-08-19T10:07:00.002-05:00

Well, this area looks beautiful! Can't wait to get there and start exploring, but for now, since I'm the designated travel planner for this trip, I need to get some research done and figure out just what we're up against. As always, I'll share as I learn. Hopefully, Anda, Paula, Larry, Rick, and Paul will join and blog along too!

SUCCESS!

2010-07-28T14:24:00.005-05:00

Nancy Fahnestock and I found our way to the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro at 8 a.m. on Monday, July 19. It was not only an incredible experience but it was also the most physically difficult day of my life! I can't speak for Nancy, but this was the adventure of my lifetime...There won't/can't be any others waiting out there to compare to this...

Nancy and Shelley Duggan arrived at the summit at 7:45 a.m. and everyone else saw the summit sometime between 7:30 and 9 a.m. It was quite a successful day for Alpine Ascents Team 2!

Blogging as we climb moved to Facebook.

2010-07-06T08:26:00.003-05:00

Thanks to Verizon Wireless and their loan of a global phone with global data, we hope to be able to blog as we climb Mt. Kilimanjaro and along our safari from July 11-24 (If Verizon is correct that we'll have access). Please join us on Facebook during this time at: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/event.php?eid=128639383827250 or search on Facebook for "Nancy&Lori Climb" and the page should come right up.

I hope you'll follow along there as we climb.

Am I ready? I mean, really-really ready?

2010-07-03T06:07:00.013-05:00

Well, here it is, the "long anticipated" 2010 July 4 weekend, the Saturday morning before the "one week to go point", and the "last chance" to get all the gear ready for travel. It seems like "just last week" we had 9 months to go and now here it is! I know-I know I'm talking in clichés, but nerves have robbed me of my own cleverness, so they'll have to do.

I've chatted with Nancy F. a few times through the last week; she WAS sharing my case of nerves but seems to have found her inner calm (which annoys me just a tiny bit - yes, my "misery really does love company"). Lynn, I'm sure, is her same stoic self without one little doubt that she's prepared absolutely as much as she can (I'm avoiding her this week - her confidence is definitely not good company for my apprehension), and I have a feeling Nancy D. and Shelley are both equally as unflappable, although they both live too far away and other than a few email exchanges here and there, we don't communicate a great deal. In preparation for the Kilimanjaro climb, Nancy F. and Nancy D. are climbing with a group of friends this coming Thursday and Friday to 10,000 feet to help acclimate themselves to higher altitudes, Lynn spent a few weeks in Telluride, CO, training in higher altitudes, and from what I understand Shelley has some hills in her area to help her train, but none of significant elevation to help her train for thin air.

You know, the single most common question I've been asked is, "how do you train for high altitude in the flatlands of east central Illinois?" Well I tell you - aside from the little Powerlung machine I bought, I don't. I have the prairie and the football stadium ramps, which by the way, thanks to Howard and Lenny for giving me permission to train there, have been perfect for building strength in my legs, core and arms, but I don't think 5 stories makes for good altitude training...maybe, but I'm thinking I need to get at least as high as Denver, CO to do any good...Did I mention that's the highest I've ever been and it was only a 2-hour layover at the mile high airport and that Denver is not quite 1/3 as high as the mountain I'm climbing? It's true, but I've been thinking...you know how in gambling there's beginner's luck...you know those first few wins that keep a perfectly sane person at the craps table way longer than is logical hoping to feel the high from that first win just one more time....Well, I'm really-really hoping that altitude acclimation works the same way and my body will say, "well this is a little different, but let's ride it out for a few days and see what happens" and by the time it realizes what's going on, I'll be back on reasonable ground, no worse for the wear. So for those folks who have asked what I'm doing to train for 19,340 ft... this is my brilliant "game plan".

So, am I ready? Thanks to Darnell Cox, my trainer, and his team at iPower and NutritionPlus, I'm more physically fit than I've ever been in my life; thanks to Champaign Surplus and my very own team of gear specialists, Lynn, Dan, Steve and the staff of CS who have ALL been more than expertly helpful, my gear is of top quality and my gear list has been quadruple checked to make sure not one little thing has been overlooked; thanks to TPHWellness, I have really cool technical bamboo clothes to wear that will help with blood and oxygen flow; thanks to my boss, I've been able to ramp-up my training significantly for the last month and have seen a huge increase in my strength and endurance; thanks to my Facebook friends, our entire climbing team will have the very best prayers lifting us up the mountain; and last but not least, thanks to my husband, I not only know exactly where to stand on the mountain when my picture is being taken, so I "don't fall off", I also have all the moral support a person could ask for, so yes, I truly believe, I'm ready.

For those of you, who are Facebook users, Verizon Wireless is loaning us a global phone with global data access. They believe that we will be able to post pictures and blog to Facebook during the climb. Our friend, Lisa, has created a Facebook events page, which we were able to make accessible to all FB users, whether you're on one of our FB friend lists or not. The page is called "Nancy&Lori Climb". You can easily find this by using the Facebook search option. If our connection allows it, we will be blogging along the way, answering questions and posting pictures. Please join us there between July 11-24 to follow along as we climb Mt. Kilimanjaro.

News Gazette's Jodi Heckel includes us in her blog - Check it out!

2010-06-18T09:28:00.005-05:00

Thank you Jodi!

http://bit.ly/9h5S20

Champaign County Relay for Life 2010

2010-06-14T06:05:00.012-05:00

Here are some great shots from last weekend's Champaign County Relay for Life. I had the privilege of walking with some incredible people.

Picture #1: Lynn W., Lori M., Angela P, Ira W. and Will P. Will is one of the many reasons for my climb, he's 5 years old and has been battling Leukemia for over a year.

#2 Will's wonderful support group: (L-R) Mom, Angela, two friends, big brother Aric, and big sister, Jill. Will with Dad, Jim. It's easy to see Will in his bright yellow Will Power! t-shirt when he's riding high on Dad's shoulders.

One month and counting

2010-06-11T09:45:00.014-05:00

Dear Friends,

It's been a long time since I've posted anything on this blog, but the honest truth is that preparing and training for the climb has been a bit overwhelming the past few months. Now with all the gear purchased and the first to two commitments (running my first 5K and walking the entire Relay for Life event in Champaign) nearly behind me, the next month will be totally dedicated to finalizing all the necessary preparations for the climb, ramping-up training to a fevered pitch, and praying that, along with Lynn and I, the rest of our climbing team, Nancy F., Nancy D. and Shelley have safe travels to Tanzania.

While I am waiting for the Relay to start, I wanted to take a moment to acknowledge and to say how grateful I am for my family and friends (new and old) who have over the past 10 months continued to provide love and encouragement for this project/this cause.

First are the amazing women who will be climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro with me: Nancy F. my high school friend who is the most amazingly brave woman I've ever known. A teacher in the middle east, an adventurer in her own right, a loving mom to her two sons, and grandmother to a growing collection of grandchildren - the one person in my life I knew I could ask to undertake this challenge with me and the first person I contacted with the idea struck. Then there are the two woman I've never met, Nancy D. and Shelley. Two sisters, living thousands of miles apart, Nancy in UAE and Shelley in Canada, coming together with strangers to scale the tallest hikeable mountain in the world and the tallest mountain on the African continent. I can't wait to get to know these women and count them among my friends.

And then, there are my high school friends, some I haven't seen in over 35 years, who have not only offered monetary support, but also moral support and love through social media posts and text messages. Even though, I was anxious to grow out of my hometown of Lawrenceville Illinois when I graduated high school, I feel so blessed having been raised with these men and women and to have them back in my life once again, through the wonders of Facebook. They will never know just how much their "likes" and encouraging posts have propelled me through the rough spots of the past year.

Next, my coworkers, my current boss, and former bosses, who have not only offered financial support, but who have also given me encouragement along the way - allowing me time and space to pursue this dream. I work with the most amazing people in the world and I'm thankful for that every single day.

More than anyone, there are those for whom I climb. Those friends who lost their battles with cancer and their families and friends who originally inspired my decision to fight for this cause. Those who are still battling and those who have won their fights against cancer. All of you have been with me and encouraged me every step of this journey.

And last but never-ever least, my husband Paul. Without him the past 10 months, this journey would not have happened. He has been my coach, my confidant, my mainstay, and always-always, my rock.

Each one of you following along on this blog has helped to propel our group just a little closer to the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro and more importantly, just a little closer to finding a cure for cancer. You are the most amazing group of people in the world and with all my heart, I am thankful that you are a part of my life and part of this fight.

WCIA brings attention to little feet for a big cause

2010-03-27T05:38:00.006-05:00

WCIA interviewed me three times in the past week to help Team Mountain Climber kick off our "Footprint" Climb for a Cure fundraising campaign. You can check out two of the interviews at:

http://illinoishomepage.net/content/morningshow then scroll down to Nichole Szemerei and click on Mountain Climber part 1 and part 2.

WCIA Channel 3 has been such a good friend over the past several months. They were the first to be interested in the climb and the cause with a feature interview on Sunday evening last November, they stopped by the benefit last month for a brief shout out, and now this 3 interview blitz to draw attention to our newest campaign. What wonderful friends to this community they are - no wonder they remain number 1 in this media market!

Thank you WCIA Channel 3's Erin Maloney, Nichole Szemerei, and Anne Dill - you guys are the BEST!!

Training!

2010-02-28T05:36:00.005-06:00

I have to admit it's been hard to train since late January - the dark and cold seem to make me want to hibernate, but last Saturday it was actually just warm enough to run outside a bit, and what a difference that makes. It felt wonderful! I'll run again this morning and believe me, I'll enjoy every step! With the benefit coming up tomorrow, there will be a lot more time for training after that, so no excuses. The 5K is May 1, the Relay is June 12 and the climb is July 11, so there's no time left to waist to be in tip-top shape for each.

I found a new gadget at Body-n-Sole Sports Last Saturday...it was a bit pricey, but I think it will help me with oxygen restriction training. It's called "Power Lung" (http://www.powerlung.com/) and I'm very excited about using it. It's designed to help us train to use oxygen more efficiently, which is definitely needed during a high altitude climb. If you're a runner, walker, singer, climber, or all of the above, this is touted to be the latest and greatest training tool to get oxygen into your muscles quickly and efficiently.

Climb for a Cure Benefit

2010-01-26T09:10:00.012-06:00

Spring Break for Grown Ups! the Benefit and silent auction to support Climb for a Cure, featuring the band, Captain Rat and the Blind Rivets, held on March 6, 2010 at the Champaign/Urbana Elks Club in Savoy, was a success!

The Mountain Climber Team raised over $4,000 for the American Cancer Society Relay for Life, bringing our team total to almost $15,000!

Thank you everyone for your participation in this event!

Saving birthdays with donations

2010-01-19T12:35:00.003-06:00

The Relay for Life Mountain Climber Team now has over $8,000 in donations to the American Cancer Society! 8% of our goal and climbing higher each and every day! Thank you donors for your wonderful support. Together we have the power to help create a world where cancer can no longer claim another year of anyone's life.

Help us climb Kilimanjaro one foot at a time

2010-01-05T07:50:00.010-06:00

Dear Friends,

Lynn and I will be making a 19, 340 foot climb to the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro starting on July 11, 2010, and you can help us make our climb one footprint at a time and at the same time, honor or remember those you know and love who have been touched by cancer. Our goal is to take at least 19,340 names with us to the summit and all you have to do is donate $2.00 (per foot/per name) to the American Cancer Society Mountain Climber Team. When you make your donation, please indicate how many feet you wish to purchase and the name to be listed on each. Each name will be written on an individual footprint and displayed at the 2010 Relay For Life Mountain Climber Team area during this year's Relay for Life and will also be listed on a banner that will travel with us to the Mt. Kilimanjaro summit.

Local Champaign/Urbana folks, we hope to have footprints available for purchase in Champaign downtown area businesses. A list of those businesses will be available soon.

Note that all profits will be donated to the American Cancer Society through the Mountain Climber Relay for Life Team and all donations are tax deductible.

Please support our efforts by making a donation today. Together, we have the power to help create a world where cancer can no longer claim another year of anyone's life.

To donate, please go to http://main.acsevents.org/goto/mountainclimber.

With Questions about the climb or for more ways to support the American Cancer Society Relay for Life Mountain Climber Team, please contact Lori Melchi at kili4acs@gmail.com.

The first snow

2009-12-20T18:57:00.004-06:00

Tonight a gentle snow is falling and it makes me think of my friend Julie Jacobs, who passed away earlier this year...She always loved to take a walk the evening of the first snow - She said it was so peaceful, beautiful, and quiet. It's a lovely evening and I'm sure Julie is out there enjoying her walk.

Fighting for my friends

2009-12-08T05:56:00.009-06:00

My morning routine is pretty predictable. I wake, let the dog out, feed her, grab a cup of coffee for myself and head to the computer. I check my work email, my personal email and then I log onto Facebook to see what my friends are up to. Usually what I find there is fun and helps to start my day with a smile, but not this morning. This morning I saw a wall post from my niece who is diligently working her way through college final exams, stating that her "heart is with her mom". Her mom is fighting breast cancer. I had an email exchange with her mom just last week that said she was doing fine. The next post I saw was from my friend Angela. She said she was headed to St. Louis today with her 4 year old son, who is fighting leukemia, for a round of chemo...she was worried about the weather for her long drive. Just last weekend, she was posting about how she and her sons helped pack boxes of gifts for the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, and how wonderful it was to see her son on Santa's lap this year with a smile and a full head of hair. As I read these posts, not only did my heart ache but more importantly, realization and my conviction grew.

The realization was that cancer didn't sleep, as I slept - it continued to affect the lives of those I love. It still continued to rob them of what should be a joyous time and plague them with worry when they should be making wondrous memories.

The conviction is that we must find ways to win each battle against cancer, and the fact is that it's not going to happen without funding.

Climbing for Cancer

2009-11-30T21:01:00.000-06:00

A big THANK YOU to Erin Maloney with WCIA's Channel 3 for sharing our quest with the Champaign/Urbana area!

Climbing for Cancer

Champaign News Gazette staff writer, Deb Pressey, writes about our climb

2009-11-21T17:58:00.003-06:00

Check it out!

http://www.newsgazette.com/news/local/2009/11/21/2_women_will_trek_up_kilimanjaro_for_relay_for_life

Then there were four!

2009-11-09T06:13:00.011-06:00

Please meet the two newest members of our climbing team.

First, we have another Nancy. Nancy D. is from Canada and lives in the Middle East currently. She and Nancy F. are friends and are teaming up to raise money for Al Ain Animal Friends. Nancy D. works in the medical field and is a self-made adventurer.

Next, we have Lynn. Lynn is from the Midwestern United States and is a business owner. By nature of her business, Lynn is a lifelong adventurer. She's climbed Mt. Rainier and traveled extensively from adventure to adventure. She has teamed up with Lori to raise money for the American Cancer Society.

Welcome to the adventure, Lynn and Nancy!

2009-10-29T22:21:00.005-05:00

Yes Lori, I couldn't agree more, this is very exciting and still a long way off. I imagine it will get even more so, as the date draws nearer!

I too would like to thank everyone for their attention to our causes. Also, just to let you know what it's like for the domestic animals in this country (The United Arab Emirates) just last week a friend of mine found a blind kitten, suffering from a common eye disease, who also had a broken leg. In the end this leg had to be amputated, but this is truly the most loving creature God has ever put on this earth. These animals need our support as this country is still developing and many people are suffering and being neglected, so you know the animals are definitely at the bottom of the list of priorities. I know so many kind and generous people who spend the majority of their free time going back and forth to the vet, to get literally hundreds of these animals spayed and neutered, and then place them back on the street, because most of them are feral, or nearly feral. Those who would make fine pets are certainly available for adoption, but the numbers of cats and dogs far outnumber the available homes.

There is absolutely no excuse for it, as you no doubt know, this is one of the richest countries in the world. The problem lies in the fact that culturally, they believe animals are not really worthy of help. This is most unfortunate, because animals make significant contributions to the lives of humans, and simultaneously rely on us to provide a proper life for them. These are not wild animals, but domestic, and their lives are so needlessly difficult. It is a completely different paradigm than that of western countries, and it is truly heartbreaking.

Many of us feed the 'bin cats', the cats that hang out around the dumpsters just to try to find something to eat. It is really disgressing to see, and Al Ain Animal Friends is literally bursting at the seams with strays, as is Feline Friends in Dubai and also in the capitol city of Abu Dhabi.

We are working on a new website and hope to have it set up soon, so anyone can make a donation to my cause, however small. Every little bit helps end the unnecessary suffering these precious creatures are experiencing. Thanks everyone again for your support and please keep checking in on our blog from time to time as the date draws nearer.
Nancy F.

Thank you followers, friends, and family!

2009-10-29T07:56:00.003-05:00

Sometime last night we hit a huge milestone! In just two short months, since the hit counter was added to this blog, we've had over 1,000 visitors from 7 different countries! United States, China, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Philippines, United Kingdom, and Norway. Thank you all for your interest and your support of the American Cancer Society and the Al Ain Animal Friends Organization. Both are worthy causes and the money donated to both will do so much good.

Please continue to visit often as Nancy and I are each blogging once or twice a week (sometimes more). ALSO, we will soon add two new bloggers to our team, Nancy D. and Lynn W. They will be joining us on our climb next July. Official introductions will be posted soon.

Thank you again everyone! I'm sure that Nancy will agree that this venture is proving to be one of the most rewarding of our lives!

2009-10-27T20:50:00.003-05:00

Wow Lori, it sounds like you are way ahead of Nancy and I. Maybe we need to hook up with that nutritionist as well. And I will no doubt have unique concerns about my diet, because I am a vegetarian. If you find that nutritionist, do you think he or she will work with me via email?
Nancy F.

Personal Trainer in action!

2009-10-27T08:23:00.012-05:00

Dear Followers,

Check out my personal trainer, Darnell, on our local television station, Channel 3's The Morning Show. A link to his segment, "Get Movin' ", can be found here: http://illinoishomepage.net/content/getmovin and then click on "Back Pain Relief".

Note the "Mountain Top" reference at the end of the segment and of course the Darnell dance!...Enjoy!

Creative workouts

2009-10-26T08:03:00.014-05:00

It was my first serious week of training for endurance, and it was a very good week. I trained 5 out of 7 days, with one 90 minute workout and one 3 1/2 hour workout.

The 90 minute workout was with my trainer Darnell. He put me through my paces with treadmill, elliptical, weight, and balance work.

Then I worked out two evenings on my own. First, I spent 40 minutes on the treadmill with the Alpine Pass preset with a maximum incline of 12 and a maximum speed of 3.5, and then did some squats with weights. Then I took a night off, because my thighs muscles were very sore - but the next night I was much better and worked on the treadmill for one-hour using the Alpine Pass preset, with a maximum incline of 15 and a maximum speed of 4.

Next, on Saturday morning, I met Anda at the gym for a one-hour, 1-minute body sculpt class. It's a mix of weight work and cardio. It was a good class and helped me learn some new stretches.

And then Sunday, Anda, Paul, and I took a 3.5 hour hike through Turkey Run State Park on the rugged trails. We didn't track it closely, but I believe we hiked over 6 miles and were up and down out of dry sandstone river beds several times, and took one trail that included approximately 170 stairs and a climb up a waterfall over sandstone. It was slow going because fall leaves made parts of it pretty slippery, but it was a great workout that didn't feel so much like a workout. Although, I'm feeling it a little bit today. Both Darnell and Susan suggested that endurance training is not so much about being able to complete one intense physical challenge, but it's more about reducing recovery time so that I'll be able to complete the physical challenge again the following day and perhaps with a little more intensity. So, now I'm asking myself...Could I do this again today? I think so. Could I go further, last longer, go faster next time? Yes, probably. Am I physically ready to climb that mountain? Not by a long shot!

All in all it was a great week with around 8 hours of training jam-packed into a busy work schedule of 60 hours. The fund raising letter that will be sent to local businesses by the end of this week is close to completion, and I have a jam-packed plan for next week...Life is good and the training and fund raising continue...

Training Coup

2009-10-21T13:35:00.010-05:00

The most amazing people have come into my life lately! Some have been around awhile, some I’ve met face to face, and others I’ve connected with virtually.

First, there’s my long time friend Anda. When she retired a year and a half ago, she replaced her full-time job with exercise. She might disagree with me, but just about immediately after retiring, she started taking exercise classes, and since that time she’s been encouraging me to get fit too. It took me until September 2008 to listen, but Anda is a bit persistent and finally got through. She keeps a pretty constant eye on me to make sure I’m continually doing something physical to stay in shape. She’s a great friend and a good motivator.

Then there’s Aaron, the young man who tackled Kilimanjaro in 2007. I hooked up with him through his mom, Susan. She and I reconnected last summer after 35 years, through Facebook. It was the pictures she posted of his climb that gave me the idea of making this climb in the first place. Aaron was kind enough to spend a good hour and a half on the telephone with me to share his training techniques and knowledge of what’s needed for the climb, simply because an old friend of his mother’s asked. He made valuable recommendations about working out with air restriction to prepare for altitude and warned that Kilimanjaro is no easy walk up hill. After my conversation with Aaron, I knew I needed help with getting physically ready to make the climb.

So, then came Darnell, my personal trainer. He is the only trainer I met with, and I met with several, who would take me seriously and who believed that I could be ready for the climb by next July. He’s creative with the training plan and he’s excited about the climb. His suggestion that I need to work on nutrition initially fell on deaf ears, and he gracefully gave me room to come around to the realization that I do indeed need nutrition support, on my own. He was firm on one thing that I tried to skip by, he insisted that I have a metabolic assessment before we started training. I did and it has been so beneficial in a very short time. He’s a wise and obviously patient person, and I know he’s a good trainer and that he will make sure I'm ready to climb when the time comes.

Then, the coup de grace…

A few weeks ago I noticed through a Facebook post that Susan, the sister of Karen, an acquaintance from my high school days, had just finished a Half Ironman Triathlon. (a Half Ironman Triathlon is a 56 mile bike ride, a 1 1/2 mile swim, and a 13+ mile run, which equals 70.3 miles - definitely an athlete's challenge!) I thought about contacting her for a few days, kind of seesawed back and forth - a little nervous about talking to someone so advanced in skills…my insecurities kept jumping around in my head and then finally I decided, what the heck. I took a chance, sent her a note, and asked for her help in understanding training for strength and endurance and what it took for her to get in shape for the Half Ironman. Well, I have to say, the decision to contact her was one of the best I’ve had - ever! She REALLY knows what she’s doing when it comes to training and nutrition. We initially connected on Oct 16 via email and by Oct 18 we were talking on the phone. One of Susan’s emails was entitled “our discussion for today”…That more than anything told me that she is all business when it comes to training! She forwarded her personal nutrition spreadsheet, which is remarkable, so that I could better understand that it’s not just about eating right, it’s about fueling ones body. The spreadsheet is chalk full of nutritional stuff that I’ve never heard of. She knows – has calculated– at any given moment exactly the fuel her body needs before, during, and after cycling or running and has it all mapped out. She also forwarded a link to a website for Compression 2XU, which if you’ve watched the Olympics the past few years you’ll recognize it as the same kind of suite worn by speed skaters and cyclists. She explained that this suite actually helps move oxygen to muscles to increase endurance (I really hope I said that right.) After talking with her, I realized that I’d completely missed the boat when Darnell suggested that I need nutrition support, and that I actually had a pretty weak view of the time I’ll need to dedicate to training. I thought I’d need to be working out about 7 hours a week and now after being gently nudged by Susan, I know I’ll need to be actively training about 15 hours a week, perhaps not initially, but I’d better be there soon! It’s a little scary, but I’d much rather be prepared than be the wimp of the mountain. I’ve lived my entire life trying to blend in and crying after the first half day of being on the mountain is certainly not a good way to blend.

So, armed with new nutrition knowledge (or at least the knowledge that I need help), a forthcoming nutritionist (Darnell promised to hook me up), and a little better understanding that I don’t know anything at all about training and getting physically ready for this climb, I’m moving forward. I’m watching my intake of things like protein and carbs and calories, and I’m watching my heart rate when I workout so I know how many calories I need to refuel after. Granted it’s only Wednesday, but I’ve been to the gym every night this week and I plan to have an extra long hike on both Saturday and Sunday. (Champaign/Urbana friends, if you’d like to join me, please speak up; I’d love to have some company!)

With support like this, there’s really no excuse and no way I won’t be ready for this climb!

Lawrenceville Daily Record's staff writer, Ashley Smith, writes about our climb

2009-10-20T08:24:00.004-05:00

Ashley Smith from Nancy's and my hometown newspaper contacted me a few weeks ago about doing an article on our climb. It just came out in the paper Monday evening. Here's a link: http://lawdailyrecord.com/main.asp?SectionID=14&SubSectionID=16&ArticleID=6390

Out of touch for a while

2009-10-09T06:08:00.003-05:00

Lori,
I'm so impressed with your press release and your shopping adventure. I'm afraid I've neglected this site lately because I've had so much going on here at work and trying to finish my dissertation. Also, as you mentioned, Nancy D is in Canada now and will return next week, so the 2 of us will get busy and try to catch up with you Lori ASAP.

I'm headed to Dubai tomorrow to an outdoor shop and although I didn't make an appointment, I'm hopeful there will be someone there to help me as much as you were helped Lori. It's an outdoor shop that sells ski equipment, and is right next door to the Sky Dubai, the indoor snow skiing place, so hopefully they'll have not only that type of gear, but all sorts of outdoor stuff. I'm a bit limited here as to my choices, so might just have to order stuff from the states, and when a friend goes home in January, might have it shipped to her, and then she can bring it back for me.

Tom, I am so impressed and thanks so much for your support. It is indeed a worthy cause and we appreciate it.

Will update later on the shopping trip.
Nancy F.

Adventures of buying climbing equipment

2009-10-06T12:26:00.014-05:00

Once again I was thwarted with a no-show prearranged appointment and left with no other option but to seek revenge by taking my credit card and going to the competitor...When will sales people learn?

Here's what happened...I made an appointment (why do I bother...really.) at a local outdoor outfitter. There are only two in town, and I learned over the weekend that the owner of the "north-end" store had climbed a couple of mountains, so I thought he would be the perfect person to help me select my climbing equipment and supplies. Monday morning I called his store, talked with him personally, explained what I needed, and made an appointment to meet him at his store at 5:30 that evening - they're open until 8, so I thought that was reasonable. I walked through the door of his shop promptly at 5:30 as promised (those who know me, know I'm incapable of being late). In the store, I found one very young salesman suffering through helping a couple with a couple of very young active children, so I waited patiently until he was free and asked for the owner by name. He looked at me blankly and told me he'd gone home for the day. I paused for options, but none came, so I informed him that I had an appointment and asked if there was someone else I could talk with. The salesman quickly retreated to the back room and a second or two later, out came a young woman with a name tag that said, "Manager" on it. She asked if she could help me, and I explained that I had a 5:30 appointment with the owner to select my equipment for an upcoming mountain climb. She grinned, wiped her hand over her face, and said, "gee, I guess he totally forgot about it." I waited a beat to see if she was going to offer to call him, offer to help me...anything, but there was nothing. So, I politely thanked her and turned to walk out of the store. Could she leave it at that? Oh nooo...As I was walking away, she said in a less than sympathetic voice, "Sorry 'bout that!" So, I turned and said in my brightest and most cheerful, but fairly loud voice, "Oh, no problem at all dear...there are other places to shop."

... Okay, so I wasn't nice, and actually they did me a favor, because on my way home I stopped at the other better STOCKED AND STAFFED outdoor outfitter store in town. There I had the very good fortune of being hooked up with Steve, who, by the way, is one of my newest heroes. He rock climbs and knows all the best brands, knew just where to direct me when he looked at my equipment list, is excited about my climb, and was so very-very helpful. After about an hour and a sizable dent in my Visa card, I walked out with Asolo (pronounced "Osloe") boots, (exactly the brand recommended by Aaron, my friend's son who climbed Kili in 2007), the best wool socks with liners (made in the USA, yep they still make some stuff here), and really cool trekking poles that have little shock absorbers in them to save my forearms. In addition, I now know the size day pack I need, space wise and fit wise, and the store will special order what I choose, and most of all, I feel confident that what I bought is exactly the right stuff for the climb. Thank you Steve! You're awesome!!! Thank you-thank you Champaign Surplus, for being efficiently stocked with exactly what I need for my climb...You guys ROCK as outfitters big time!

This morning, I spoke with Ira, the owner of Champaign Surplus, to tell him about his wonderful employee and to ask for permission to use the name of his store in my blog, which he approved, and although I had intended to hit him up for a donation at some point - just not quite yet, he actually asked to donate! He and his wife, Lynn want to be counted among my donors...So thank you Ira and Lynn, you guys not only have the BEST outdoor outfitting store, you are simply the BEST people! Thank you so much for your support!

There are Heroes amoung us...Thank you Tom!

2009-10-06T10:07:00.017-05:00

Weekend before last, I attended my 35th high school reunion, which was a great time and resounding success thanks to a wonderful planning committee, chaired by our own talented classmate and Thinagainadventures blog follower, Peggy. During one of the many conversations, my classmate and facebook friend, Wayne, said to me, "How's the training going?" Another classmate, Tom, who was near, perked up and said, "Training?" With that I was absolutely FORCED (with very little effort) into my familiar rendition of "the climb" story. I explained to Tom about my plan to raise $100K for the American Cancer Society, and explained to those who were listening that I was training and working to be in shape for the climb next July, and that Nancy, also a classmate, was climbing with me. After patiently listening to my rambling, Tom, being the gentleman that he is, kindly offered to donate. I was definitely pleased and a little shocked, since I really hadn't yet begun to solicit donations and hadn’t intended to ask my friends to donate at all - especially those I hadn't seen in 35 years. Being a local politician's daughter, I know sometimes it's best to be gracious and handle delicate situations later, so I thanked him and promised to send him the donation site via email the following week with every intention of letting him off the hook by telling him that I was not planning to tap my friends for donations...So that's exactly what I did and honestly thought, that was that. Well, this past weekend, Tom emailed back and again offered support by adding himself as a blog Follower and again by offering to donate...I must say, I was blown away and after stewing for about 2 seconds, sent him a long rambling email accepting his donation and thanking him for his generosity.

So there you have it - my very first donation promise and a brand new hero to add to my ever growing list. Thank you Tom! You're the best!!!

Please Welcome Nancy D. to our blog!

2009-09-30T12:59:00.005-05:00

Nancy D. is a friend of Nancy F.'s. I believe that Nancy D. is from Canada and currently resides in the United Arab Emirates. She will be joining Nancy F and I on the climb next summer.

Both Nancy's, please update your profiles when you have a chance, so our followers and visitors can get to know you better.

Welcome Nancy D! I look forward to getting to know you a little better through blogging posts and to finally meeting you next summer.

one quick question

2009-09-25T23:16:00.001-05:00

Lori,
Is it imperative that we have both boots and shoes? Why couldn't we just wear boots all the time? Just thought it would be one less thing to carry with us.
thanks,
Nancy F.

I'm starting to gather 'stuff'

2009-09-25T22:58:00.003-05:00

Here's a list of items I've acquired so far. Oh, and Lori, Nancy and I met yesterday and agreed we'd go with the recommendation for shoes that you suggested. (the one that you included the link to, name escapes me at the moment).

Deuter backpack (not sure of the size, but can easily carry daily stuff and 3 L of water. Has zipper at the bottom that when you open it, a flab upfolds, which can cover the entire bag completely, to keep it dry in case of rain.)
Wool cap with full face cover, only opening for eyes
Black sleeping bag liner, with attached black bag with draw string
Red inflatable air mattress inside a blue bag with a draw string
Purple shirt (talk about comfy!!)
Yellow and black sock hat
Turquoise scarf
Gloves (hot pink!!! Oh yea!!!)
Blue colored buff (I think that’s what it’s called, to keep your neck warm)
5 pairs (brand PAIRS) black, warm socks
One pair grey socks size 39 – 41
One pair tan and grey socks
One pair (PAIRS brand) white socks
Package ThermaCare heatwraps for deep muscle relaxation
Water purification tablets

Differences already

2009-09-23T22:45:00.002-05:00

I'm starting to notice differences between the 2 companies already...for example, my friends here took the bladders for their water, however Alpine says they are hard to fill, which they are, and also that they freeze easily...the bottles would be easier to deal with...plus I have a heck of a time cleaning out my bladder (on the backpack that is!!!).

And speaking of bladders and emptying them...I'd seen that thing for women years ago in Tallahassee...was so impressed with it...but again...need to find out if I can get one here or not.

2009-09-23T21:34:00.002-05:00

Well, after carefully studying this list of items, I might just have to make a trip to the states Lori. I have a 2 week break in January, and might have to fly home, as I'm sure it would be incredibly expensive to get these things sent here! I'll check some of the sporting goods stores in Dubai, but I'm doubtful at this time. And most likely would need to try the shoes on, rather than just chance that my 7 1/2 is the same no matter what the brand of shoes/boots. Will keep you posted.

Advice from Experienced Climbers

2009-09-21T12:13:00.009-05:00

It seems that there is no shortage of people within Nancy's and my "6 degrees of separation" who have made the climb to Mt. Kilimanjaro and all are very willing (thank heavens!) to share their experiences. I spoke with Aaron, who, by the way is a very impressive young man, and is the son of Nancy’s and my high school friend, Susan. Aaron talked with me for over an hour and a half a week ago Sunday. He shared everything from who he recommends for the guide group, to what equipment we'll need for the climb, to some of the nuances of living for 8-days without appropriate facilities, to how to train for altitude in our Illinois flat lands.

Aaron works with a surgeon who has climbed the highest peaks on all seven continents, which of course includes Mt. Everest. The surgeon was actually airlifted off Everest due to some kind of embolism during his first climb, but was able to complete the climb the second time around. The surgeon had recommended to Aaron to use Alpine Ascents, which is the same guide group the surgeon used for all of his climbs. It is a US based company and considered “top tier” as far as guide groups go. Of course, I’m all for “top tier” since I usually go for 4 and 5 star hotels. Alpine Ascents has a very impressive website http://www.alpineascents.com/ . Check it out.

Next, Aaron suggested that I follow the Alpine Ascents equipment list, which is on the web. I specifically asked him about trekking shoes and boots. He suggested the brand, Merrell (http://www.merrell.com/) for shoes and Asolo for boots. It is very important to get waterproof Gore-Tex for both. We will spend a day or two hiking through a rain forest, so water proof and things that dry quickly are very important. He also said, don’t bother with anything cotton or anything like tennis shoes or running shoes, because they take forever to dry and, as I found out Sunday as I ran in the rain in cotton running shorts and t-shirt, wet cotton weighs a lot more than wet synthetic fabrics. Aaron also said that a “seal line" boundary pack is very important. Evidently the Porters are not especially careful when setting down the climber supplies and more often than not, they will end up in a mud puddle. A seal line boundary pack is made of rubber with a special seal that keeps everything inside dry. Sleeping bag should be rated for 10 degrees, and knee gaiters are especially important to keep our feet dry. Thermal underwear is very important and should be a wool and synthetic blend or synthetic. We’ll also need glacier glasses, and those can be specially made for those of us who have prescription glasses. Some of the better suppliers Aaron suggested are: Moose Jaw out of Chicago, Mountain Hardware, and Outdoor Research.

Something that I hadn’t thought of is, we’ll need shots and, as you mentioned Nancy, we’ll need to start taking Malaria pills at least 3 months before we leave. I've got a call into the County Health Department and my doctor to see what is absolutely required, but I read an article online that said we needed everything from yellow fever to rabies (of all things); here's the list that was suggested in the article: Yellow Fever, Hepatitis B, diphtheria, tetanus, measles, mumps, rubella, polio, Hepatitis A, Meningococcal meningitis, Rabies, and Typhoid . I think the the key is that Yellow Fever is the only REQUIRED vaccination and the others are recommended. I should hear back from the Health Department soon with the scoop...of course it will be the scoop for travel from the US, so the requirements may be different for travel from UAE.

As far as training goes, the only thing that Aaron strongly suggested, which made good sense to me, was that we should use a surgical mask while running and doing any cardio activities to reduce the oxygen flow during exertion. He said that this might help when it comes to altitude sickness.

There are a few other things he said we should do during the climb to help with the altitude and that is to take Acetazolamide (diamox) daily. It's a diuretic, but he said he didn't take it and on the push to the summit was very sorry he didn't.

There's other personal stuff that we talked about, like how girls use the facilities during the climb and that sort of thing...it was a little embarrassing for me to ask about it, but thankfully, Aaron was very straightforward with his answers. I guess there's a funnel thing made for girls, I found one called "Go girl", that is very helpful when there's no place to sit. The URL for that is: http://www.go-girl.com/ I thought it was very impressive that Aaron took the time to explain that aspect to me...I had wondered about it and had it on my list of questions, but I hadn't expected such a direct and matter of fact answer...It's a relief to have this information, because as I understand it, there are no shops scattered along the climb. Thank you Aaron - that 60 second part of our conversation saved me from 8 days of embarrassment!

Update

2009-09-18T21:37:00.003-05:00

Well, I have now completed the rough draft of my thesis! I am so relieved! I will probably submit it later today, but I did want to give it 24 hours before I sent it in, so I can have one last read thru of the final chapter. I know it's really rough, but hey...at this point, I really don't care, I just want to get it in!!

Secondly I was sitting beside the swimming pool at the Intercon yesterday and someone I've known for years, from Holland, was asking me about this upcoming trip. One thing lead to another, and she's quite interested in going herself. Her name is Martine (Mar teen) and I would guess she's about our age Lori. I will keep her posted as we do prepare for our trip, but she's very interested, in not only the climb, but the safari as well.

I guess that's about it for now, but I'm just basking in the sense of relief I'm now experiencing as I realize I don't have to write anymore!! At least temporarily...until the feedback starts arriving and they tell me what I have to change. I'll just enjoy it for now.

Something funny!!

2009-09-17T21:46:00.002-05:00

Lori, I just realized something interesting...when I posted my blog about my meeting with Joyce, just now, I realized, as I sit here Friday morning, September 18th, that the Blog must be in the states, because it says I posted it yesterday!! Just one of the interesting things that happens when you can communicate like this from opposite sides of the globe.

That reminds me of the time I left Taiwan at 5.00 pm, flew for 13 hours, and landed in Los Angeles, the same day, 2 hours before I left!!! I had obviously crossed the international date line!!! Boy was I ever confused!

Info I gathered after meeting with Joyce

2009-09-17T21:39:00.002-05:00

Joyce and the group she went with, used Takims and they do both this and the Safari. Here’s their website. I’ve not had a chance to check it out, but will do so. http://www.takimsholidays.com/

Last night I met someone who had done the same climb and also the Safari afterwards. Couldn't say enough Lori about what a once of a life time experience it was! He recommended the same climb Joyce suggested and the same safari. What do you think Lori?

Joyce suggested I fly KLM Kenya airlines from Dubai to Nairobi and then to Kili. Lori, would you consider coming here first? Not sure about your budget or your time. But you could come to Dubai for a few days, then we could fly together. Or would you rather go straight to Kili.

Also Joyce recommended a good hotel for the first night and she will pass that on to me, Don't have it yet, but as soon as I get it I'll let you know. Further, she suggested when you come down from the climb, go there for 2 days, to recover, then do the week Safari. Just a suggestion. She also said we could leave our luggage with them (the hotel) and only take what we need for the climb, then when we come back down, we’ll have our luggage for the safari already at the hotel.

She is Canadian and got her Visa at the airport, but we’ll have to check to see if Americas are the same.

She said she thought the route she took was called the Machame route, and that was the route the guy last night recommended. He said it was 5 days up and 2 down.

She recommended we start Malaria tablets as we’ll need them for the safari. We can obviously focus on that later.

She said one thing she remembered was Takims did not tell them what the weight limitations were for their porters and they only found out once they were ready to begin. We’ll need to make sure we know these ahead of time.

She said you need a 3 season sleeping bag and she also suggested a liner and a thermal rest mattress, which blows up, very light weight, but very comfy.

She recommends taking clothes that we can peel off as we walk, so be prepared to layer. She recommended wool, but she tends to be cold natured. Not me!!! I won’t climb in anything wool, but cotton instead. She also suggested the pants that zip around the knees, so as you warm up, you can simply up-zip your legs and wa la, you’re walking with shorts on. Then you can zip them back on if you get chilly.

She also recommended water purification tablets, and then she said to her, the water tasted funny after using them, so she took Isostar (at home you’d probably get Gatorade) powder to add to the water, to make it taste better, plus the benefits that provides as well.

She said each day you need a minimum of 3 liters of water, plus lunch, in your day pack, plus she prepared a daily snack (i.e. nuts, granola bars, whatever you prefer, but we need to research what will give us energy and what not to take) and had them with the porter, so each morning she would throw the snack pack in her day pack. The day pack is one with netting and shaped so it’s away from the body on the back, but has the camel pack bladder inside. It also needs some sort of cover in case it rains. My bladders for my camel packs are 2 L and 1 L so I’ll just carry 2. Not sure if you can get a 3 L one.

She walked 20 to 25 kilometers three or four times a week for a period of 3 months. She did that in her boots, carrying her daypack full of water and snacks. We’ll also need some toiletries for the day, tp, hand sanitizer, etc. Good idea to practice with all those in your pack, just to get used to the weight.

Also she suggested a clean shirt in your day pack, because as you sweat, it’s nice to stop and change your shirt.

I have a small tent and head lantern, but not sure the tent is water proof. Will check and get back to you. If so, then I can supply a 2 person tent.

Okay, that’s all I have for now.

Here’s my plan: She will be busy with company for the next 2 weeks, but she said later in the first week of October, she’ll take out all her gear. She hasn’t used it since the climb, bought it all in Canada, and said it would be foolish for me to buy more, so why not use hers? She will invite me over, I’ll have a look at it, decide what I want, make a list, so she and I will both know what I’ve borrowed. That way I can make sure she gets it all back.

But what I’ll do, is once I get it all, I’ll lay it out at my house and take pics. Then I’ll send them to you, so I can get very specific about what I have.

And finally my friend Nancy (hope that doesn't get too confusing for you Lori) is really getting excited about going. She is also Canadian and is going home for her sister's wedding in a few weeks, so she'll pick up supplies there.

All for now. Have 1,000 words to try to get written later today and then submit my dissertation/thesis (whatever you want to call it) and what a load that will be, lifted from my shoulders. Then I can really begin to focus on this!!

I'm TOTALLY JAZZED about working with the American Cancer Society!

2009-09-15T07:56:00.014-05:00

Yesterday, I met with Lesa Brandt of the American Cancer Society...Talk about an infectious optimism; Lesa definitely chose the right career! ...By the time I left the local ACS office in Savoy, I was floating, and not just because they gave me this cool new shirt! She told me the people in the office have been talking about my climb since I called them, and they are all as excited as I am about it. It's always a heady feeling when people, especially those doing important work like the ACS team, rally around to offer support and encouragement. Thank you Lesa and the Savoy/Champaign ACS Team! With your support, I know more than ever this is possible and that together we'll meet our $100,000 fundraising goal!

Lesa gave me a couple of website options and promised that there would be a press release going to local media very soon (a week or two). I look forward to starting the fund raising process almost as much as I look forward to climbing Mt. Kili. Preparing for fund raising takes a lot of baby steps; making the decision what organization to support, contacting the organization, setting fund raising goals, developing a donation site, planning the different fund raising efforts to pursue throughout the campaign...One thing I was not expecting was for Lesa to suggest that I couple my campaign with that of the annual Relay for Life campaign. My friend Anda and I were team captains of a Relay team a couple of years ago, and it was an awesome experience...I definitely have a fondness for the Relay, but I hadn't thought of my efforts in terms of being Relay related, even though, I had intended to be involved in the Relay this coming spring. Lesa pointed out one very important fact; an independent donation site would not be as visible as one connected with the local Relay site. After giving it some thought, it seems to me that Lesa is most likely right that being connected with the Relay will bring a higher visibility to my challenge and goal.

So the next step is pretty clear. I'll be developing a fund raising website connected to the Relay for Life campaign, and since I've chosen to go this route, please-please feel free to join my team! You don't have to stay up all night or walk, I'm planning to walk the entire 12-hours of the Relay (with a few breaks for...you know :-) on my own, but you could definitely encourage your friends and family to support the climb with donations. Think about it, and when I get the donation site up and running, I'll post instructions of how to join my team here.

The adventures of finding a personal trainer - bad and good

2009-09-13T11:11:00.013-05:00

So, I thought I wanted a personal trainer to help me develop a training plan to get in shape for the climb, but looking for a personal trainer is not for the faint of heart! After a few interviews, I've found that most, not all, but most, personal trainers are young (under 25) "buff" condescending kids who have very low opinions of the physical abilities of women my age...It was a very sad and angering realization, but nonetheless true. The gym I had wanted to join, because of the best hours to suit my schedule, completely disappointed me with lack of interest in my goals and a general bad attitude about my ability. First, I had made an appointment to meet with a personal trainer, and was instead offered a tour of the gym with a sales person, since no personal trainers were available the day of my appointment. Now, please correct me if I'm mistaken, but I THINK the specific purpose of making an appointment to meet with an individual is to insure that that individual is available at the agreed upon date and time.

On the other hand, at the gym I was fairly certain I didn't want to join because the hours didn't mesh well with my schedule, the personal trainer (an old guy of 36) who met with me, was appropriately impressed with my goal and assured me that he and his team of trainers would be be able to help me be in peak shape by the end of June 2010. He talked about having a Metabolic Assessment done and about appropriate nutrition. Also, he seemed ahead of the personal trainer curve. I think having a good fit with a trainer is very important and this guy just seemed to fit...So, I may have met my personal trainer, but I still have two more facilities to visit before signing on the dotted line.

Note to personal trainers of all ages: As I see it, it's your job to motivate your clients; they are ALL deserving of your respect and optimism. Don't fall in the trap of profiling your future clients into preset molds for the different age groups - you're just going to tick someone off and lose out on a potentially lucrative business relationship.... Okay, I've said my peace...

Darn!!

2009-09-12T08:28:00.003-05:00

Those Arabic instructions are back again? Anyone have any idea how I can permenantly get rid of them? I am starting to figure them out, but since I did not put them there in the first place, I'd like to go back to English, if it's not too much trouble!!

begin training

2009-09-12T08:16:00.002-05:00

I am planning to begin my training the middle of October. It should sufficiently cool down by then, and I will be joining other friends as we climb Jebel Hafeet, the biggest bump in the country. Jebel is mountain in Arabic. Not sure of the elevation, and it can't even begin to compare with Mt. Kili, however it will be good training for me. I believe if you drive up the mountain, the distance is 24 kilometers, all uphill.

I'll post some pictures soon of the mountain and the training shortly. All for now.

Answer a few questions

2009-09-12T08:11:00.003-05:00

Lori,
I am hopeful that I'll be able to get together with my friend Joyce, this coming week. We weren't able to hook up last week, but she is the one who has done this before and offered to sit with me and go over specifics.

Also, as to the date, let me say that I'm a bit unsure at this time, but does the end of June sometime seem doable? It's still early, but at this time, I'm thinking I would like to do this climb, then a safari, like we had talked about, then head to France for a while, and then to the states.

Let me know what your summer looks like and how this might fit in. Again, it's early, so we can indeed be flexible.

Sorry I've been so slow to blog

2009-09-12T08:08:00.001-05:00

I could not figure this out at all...and then suddenly I realized that all my instructions as to how to post to the blog, had somehow been switched to Arabic! No wonder I was lost!!

Now I think I'm figuring it out and will able to participate much more. Further, today I am at 39,000 words on my dissertation. It is to be 40,000 minimum, so I'm nearly there. Then I can begin to focus on this. So sorry Lori to leave you alone, but let's agree, that it's better for me to ignore you now, than when we're doing the climb, right?

Climbing for a Cure!

2009-09-03T07:54:00.044-05:00

Dear Family, Friends, and Followers,

First, thank you all for your votes and support of the various charitable organizations listed on this blog. Every one of these organizations is extremely important and each of the causes they support has touched my life in one way or another. Because of that, I sent personal donations to each, and I hope you all will do the same.

American Cancer Society
American Heart Association
National MS Society
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
National Humane Society
University of Illinois. Womens' Scholarships

Next, Nancy will climb in support of Al Ain Animal Friends in the United Arab Emirates. Information about this worthy organization can be found at: http://www.alainanimalfriends.com/

And finally, I'm pleased to announce that one organization received the most votes from you. I will climb Mt. Kilimanjaro next summer in support of the American Cancer Society. I will also climb to honor my friends and family who have lost loved ones to various kinds of cancer and have continued on despite their grief, and I will climb to honor my friends and family who are cancer survivors and continue to battle on stoically, and more than anything I will climb to honor the memory of my friends who fight no more, who will never be forgotten, and who will forever be admired for their inspirational strength, courage, and often indelible humor: Hank McGaughey (1968), Kenny Williams (1975), Don Raggo (1992), Rodie Cochran (1993), Stella LaPayne (2000), Jennifer Hou (2008), Phil Akers (2008), Michael Carragher (1/2009), Mickey O'Brien (3/2009), Jeanine McDade Lambie (4/2009), Julie Jacobs (5/2009).

I have spoken with the Regional Vice President of the American Cancer Society and will be working closely with the local ACS office to set up a donation website and to work with their media people on publicizing my fund raising activities. I will continue to keep you all posted on any and all developments on this front.

Again, thank you all for your support and encouragement. Please send me any and all fund raising ideas and challenges, and training and climbing tips. AND, please don't forget to spread the word and share this blog with everyone you know!

One day down...and how many yet to go?

2009-08-30T07:47:00.005-05:00

Yesterday, it was a very cool morning, and I was able to run further than I ever have, which is a very good thing, since I've signed up for a 5K run next May during the Illinois Marathon. I know it's 9-months away, but I also committed to running it in less than 20 minutes. I thought that was a conservative projection, but after doing some research (why-oh-why did I do research after I made the commitment?) 20 minutes or less is what more experienced runners run. So now I'm in a bit of a, "I don't want to be embarrassed" panic about meeting my announced time estimate.

Today is another very beautiful morning, so I'm off again to run - I know I said yesterday I would hike today, but remember the panic? - it's still rumbling around in my stomach, so this morning I will run, and this afternoon I will hike.

Nancy, when are we going to make our climb? We've agreed to sometime next summer, but we haven't discussed an actual date. I was thinking about late July or early August. What are your thoughts? If we set a tentative date, I found a countdown gadget I can add to the bottom of the blog that will track the number of days until the climb...kind of like those goofy millennium clocks everyone got for Christmas in 1998.

Also, followers and friends, we haven't heard from you...Perhaps you could recommend some physical challenges that we could try to meet in preparation for the climb, or you could suggest some training ideas. (Ron and Nancy, you've both run "K's" a million times; tell me what to expect on race day and how I should prepare.) We'd love all of your ideas and comments (as long as they are nice:-)!

Training (how does one train for thin air anyway?)

2009-08-29T02:00:00.003-05:00

Okay, it's 3 a.m. Saturday morning, and I'm up before the chickens (at least I think I am, I don't actually have chickens, so I'm not exactly sure what time they rise). I've decided to run this morning as soon as it gets light, and here's my motivation!

One of the online training guides I found states that we need cardiovascular, weight, and endurance training, in addition to general conditioning for mountaineering. I can handle the first three, but the general conditioning is pretty impossible in Illinois, since it involves climbing with a 20 lb pack to 3500 feet within 2 to 4 hours. Any suggestions on how this might be simulated would be welcome here friends.

Also, I'm going to stop by the Savoy Recreation Center this afternoon to see about membership options. My friend Anda suggested it, and I think it's a great idea - Thanks Anda! What I thought might work well is to set a treadmill on the highest possible setting and walk, walk, walk. I know the pace of the climb will not be fast, just steady, so if I work on building the muscles that will take me up hill, it seems that will work best. There are not enough hills in central Illinois for this kind of training.

And so, the grueling training begins...I'm going to have to start taking those Glucosamine and Chondroitin supplements again for my joints...I just know it!

Wow, I'm gonna climb a mountain...How the heck did this happen?

2009-08-27T10:41:00.001-05:00

Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa, the highest 'walkable' mountain in the world, and is touted to be a magnificent and spectacular undertaking. It was only two days ago that my good friend (of nearly 40 years) Nancy and I decided that we would climb Mt. Kili.

I was looking through the posts on my facebook home page and saw a post from another high school friend of mine, whose son had recently climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro. She’d posted pictures and there was an old guy in the group, who didn’t look particularly sturdy, at least not any sturdier than me, anyway…Long story a little shorter… The pictures drew me in and by the last picture I said to myself, “I can do that if he can.” So, I emailed Nancy, because I knew she was the only friend I had in the world who wouldn't say "Are you crazy?", when I asked if she would be interested in climbing a mountain, and as usual, Nancy didn’t let me down. Here’s our exchange…

Lori to Nancy: “Did you see Susan’s son's pictures of his trip to Africa...I'm thinking that next summer during your break we should meet in Africa and make the climb...what do you think?”

Nancy to Lori: “Well, I think it's a fascinating idea... So in other words...hell yeah!!! Let's plan on it!...”

After several more posts we decided that we'll climb the summer of 2010. We both work in education, Nancy teaches at a woman's college in the Middle East and I work at a big ten University in the Midwest - so, summer is our best bet, and since our current academic years have already begun, next summer it is.

So, here we are, just two days later binging emails back and forth about what kind of climbing boots to buy and what guide company to use. The excitement of the decision, at least for me, has not yet worn off. I'm trying to work out in my mind, not only all the details of the actual trip, but also the physical training that will be required for such a climb. The climb will take 7 to 8 days, 6 of which will be up hill (go figure) and I can actually see myself taking every step…This is going to be the adventure of my life!

Planning, planning, planning - the excitement and tedium of planning...

2009-08-27T10:21:00.005-05:00

Because Nancy and I are both first time climbers (is that right, Nancy, are you a first time climber?), and because it's a requirement to be able to climb this mountain, we'll use a guide group for our climb. Researching the guide group is top on the list of to-dos. Nancy has several friends who have already made the climb and the son of a high school friend of ours who made the trip in 2007, has kindly offered to talk with us about which group he used and all the things he learned.

I've also started researching what kinds of supplies and clothes are needed for the trek up the mountain. I found a pretty comprehensive listing of all the recommended supplies. From what I've read, I need to train using the boots I'll be wearing during the climb, so I need to find them first.

This is the tedious part, but of course necessary. What I don't understand is why we need synthetic shirts...I always thought cotton or some other natural fiber would be best, but the list specifically says, synthetic...huh. Okay, so boots and fake fabric shirts, shorts, socks, a pocket knife...now how am I going to get that on the airplane...balaclava and...leg gaiters - what the heck are those? I guess I'll be burning up the search engines trying to figure all this out...here's the complete list (big yawn!):

Clothing
- 2 synthetic shirts, long sleeve
- 2 synthetic t-shirts
- 2 pairs of synthetic hiking shorts
- 1 pair of synthetic trekking pants
- 1 pair of warmer hiking pants
- 1 or 2 pairs of fleece long underwear/ trousers
- 1 pair of leg gaiters
- 1 pair of socks per trekking day, with at least 2 pairs of lighter (synthetic) socks and 3 pairs of heavy wool/synthetic blend
- 1 pair of underwear per day
- 1 warm fleece jacket
- 1 goretex rain/wind shell
- 1 pair of goretex rain/wind pants
- 1 poncho
- 1 fleece sweater
- 1 pair of fleece glove liners.
- 1 pair of cold weather gloves or mittens
- 1 pair of light windproof gloves
- 1 warm hat
- 1 sun hat
- 1 balaclava
- 1 pair trekking boots (medium weight, waterproof)
- 1 pair of walking/camp shoes
- 1 pair UV-blocking sunglasses with side-gussets
Other Equipment
- 1 soft (no hard frame or wheels) duffel bag or backpack (porters will carry)
- 1 daypack
- Plastic bags of different sizes (to protect clothes against rain)
- 1 warm mountain sleeping bag (10 degree rated (F))
- 2 trekking poles – highly recommended
- 1 head lamp (with extra batteries and light bulb)
- 1 emergency foil blanket
- 1 pocket knife
- 3 One-liter water bottles, or substitute with hydration pack
- Sun block. We suggest the highest possible SPF rating
- Water purification tablets / or filter/pump. We recommend tablets as the best and most fool-proof way to purify water.
- 2 bandanas

First Aid Kit
Your first-aid kit should include the following:
-Blister bandages /mole-skin
-Small bandages (band-aids)
-Elasticised support bandage (ace-wrap)
-Safety pins
-Small pair of scissors

Medicines in your first aid kit s(I'm supposed to discuss all of this with my physician):
-Analgesics (pain killers); Acetaminophen (ie. Tylenol), Aspirin, Ibuprofen, Vidocin* -Anti-Allergy; Hydrocortizone (ointment), Diphenhydramine hydrochloride (oral anti-histamine)(ie: Sudafed); Epinephrine* -Antibiotics; Bacitracin (ointment), Erythromycin*, Ciprofloxacin hydrochloride* (Cipro) -Antacids; Bismuth sabsalicylate (ie. Pepto-Bismol) -Anti-Diarrhea; Loperamide hydrochloride (ie. Immodium), Tinidazole* -Anti-Emetics (anti-vomiting); Prochlorperazine*, Promethazine* -Anti-Vertigo (anti-motion sickness); Meclizine*, Scopolamine* -Altitude illness medicine ; Acetazolamide* (diamox), Dexamethazone*, Nifedipine* -Sterile eye drops -Anti-malarial prophylaxis medicine*
* Prescription medicine

The good news is that there will be porters to carry all this stuff...they are going to need a very big tip at the end of this jouney. The even better news is, I get to go shopping for new stuff! Life in thinland is good...very good!