My challenge... is to climb all of Mt. Everest’s 29029 vertical feet (thats sea-level to summit), in a weekend.
I'll be travelling to Mt. Stratton, Vermont - where I'll be aiming to complete 17 summits (equivalent to 29029 vertical feet and ~22 miles). After each lap, we take the gondola down to the base and repeat. I have 36 hours to complete as many summits and vertical feet possible.
You can see more details about the event here: https://29029everesting.com/
Or check out a video about it - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6Zu3BR6yRM&feature=youtu.be
I'll be posting updates over the next 7 weeks as I wrap up my training, and then for the event itself (October 18-19) on a Facebook page so you can follow along if you'd like.
Why am I doing this? When I came across this event, I saw it as a chance to invest in myself and help me reset through something extreme.
I knew it would challenge me physically, and give me some much needed motivation to get back into fitness. In the last 7 months, I've lost nearly 30 lbs and am on my way to the best condition I've been in for more than 10 years. That said, I'm writing this only 7 weeks away from the event and the fear is definitely starting to creep in - pushing me to train harder than I ever have before.
I also appreciate the mental challenge - the need to develop a laser focus on my goal and push through any obstacle in my way.
As I thought about how I'll be able to make it through each of the 17 laps needed to reach the 29029 vertical feet, I realized I shouldnt just make this about me pushing through it alone. The friends, family, and causes I care about can serve as some of the most powerful motivation there is - and I decided to dedicate each of my laps to a specific item. People, events, things I'm grateful for, things I'm struggling with, things that inspire me, future goals...17 laps, 17 reasons, 17 trips up that mountain to think about each one, and drive me to continue putting one foot in front of the other.
The Four Diamonds Organization
One of those things I'll be thinking about is how much I've learned from my neighbors and their amazing daughter over the past 2 years as she fought, and beat cancer.
Until I witnessed this impact someone in my life so directly, I'll admit that it wasn't something I thought about very often. The courage shown by Ashlyn, and her entire family in fighting through this has been one of the most inspiring things I've experienced, and has given me a very different perspective on the things we often take for granted - like our health.
Cancer kills more children in the U.S. than any other disease - and Four Diamonds is working towards changing that reality.
The Four Diamonds mission is to conquer childhood cancer by assisting children and their families through superior care, comprehensive support and innovative research.
Four Diamonds covers 100 percent of all medical expenses related to cancer care not covered by insurance for eligible Four Diamonds children. Because of the community's steady and generous support, the Four Diamonds mission is to conquer childhood cancer by assisting children and their families through superior care, comprehensive support and innovative research.
Four Diamonds covers 100 percent of all medical expenses related to cancer care not covered by insurance for eligible Four Diamonds children. Because of the community's steady and generous support, Four Diamonds has assisted 100 percent of the childhood cancer patients who have been treated at Penn State Children's Hospital.
You can read more about Four Diamonds here: https://www.fourdiamonds.org/
Through my climb, I'm hoping to raise some money for the Central Dauphin High School Four Diamonds Organization. They're working to raise $85,000 this year through their 25th year of of having a Four Diamonds Mini-THON. You can see more here!
https://cdhsfourdiamonds.vistaprintdigital.com/
I ask that you consider donating however you choose to:
Donate $1 for each of my 17 laps
Donate $29 for the 29k vertical feet
Donate $22 for the 22 miles
Donate whatever you can.
