After months and months of endless training the time to go is near. Thank goodness. After restless nights in my altitude tent and little sleep, I awake to go to the gym every morning.

There it is. The stair master. My friend and foe. I usually start my day by climbing 400 flights of stairs which is about 7,000 steps. That will get your heart going. It’s equivalent to climbing the Empire State Building 4 times. No wonder my knees hurt.

I also went to Mt. Mitchell a couple of weeks ago and climbed in the snow for 6 hours. There was 3-10 inches of fresh snow which made it pretty, but a bit difficult and dangerous as I was slipping and sliding everywhere. Thank goodness I didn’t get hurt as that would have been bad.

I am very thankful the training is about over and the real stuff is about to begin. I am 5 days out now and getting pretty organized. I think I am ready.