One question that I received lately was from a woman asking me her training schedule. She was planning a six mile hike at 7,000 ft. She asked if one time would do her any good.

My perspective with training of Kili is that, of course, it’s great to hike at altitudes to see how your body reacts. The more time and experience at altitudes the better. However, since many people live where their are no major mountains, I think the best part with training is making sure that you do lots of repetitive hikes, day after day, after day. It’s great to go one or two hikes on the weekend, but try hiking everyday for more than one week. It’s hard. That’s the training you need for climbing Kilimanjaro because you are hiking everyday, for many days, and you need to have that kind of energy. Each day attempt to set your goal, and you make it.

The first one is the Kilimanjaro Marathon, which takes every place in February. I think this is the fourth year of the event, and each year, it gets bigger with more international runners. While many foreigners come to participate in the event, there are also many Kenya and Tanzanians who run in the event too. This is a great way to run through the countryside of Tanzania, seeing little villages, and amazing views of Kilimanjaro.

Also, the other intense, insane, bad ass event is the Kilimanjaro Adventure Challenge. There is no other adventure trip in East Africa to top this.With only 60 people allowed to enter, the participants have to climb Kilimanjaro, the highest peak in Africa. Then, they have to ride for 2 days around the mountain for about 280km /170 miles.Take into consideration that the mountains and rolling valleys of Kilimanjaro are enormous. Afterwards, when you get back from the mountain bike ride – you have to run a marathon. Yes, you have to run a marathon.

Take into consideration that the climbing part of Kilimanjaro is mandatory, but it’s not a race. You should never race up this high on any mountain. When you get off the mountain, which usually takes 6 to 8 days, then you have exactly five days to do the bicycle portion and run the marathon.

For example, it takes about four months of training to be able to finish a marathon. Most people that try to run one without proper training, never make it to the finish line. This is mainly do to overuse injuries (or just not being in-shape enough) that could have been avoided by training.

5 months early is also the best time to start a basic strength training program ( which will aid in overall fitness and make it a whole lot easier without feeling like they want to crawl or pay a porter to carry them). Doing three cardio workouts a week (one longer than the others) and a couple of short and simple strength training workout – push-ups, lunges, abs, working basic large muscle groups.

Excluding the Marangu trail, 3 to 4 months prior to your climb on Mt. Kilimanjaro, you should be able hike 7 miles per day, and you should be able to do this 3 times in one week.