KK's Kilimanjaro

Ouch! After a consultation with the Travel Department at Kaiser they gave me 4 shots (Hepatitis A, B, Typhoid and Yellow Fever).  The last two weren't covered by my plan and cost $255 for both. Yellow Fever - Per my research this is only required if coming from a country that has the presence of Yellow Fever (which the U.S. is not), however, they recommend it anyway because border control in Africa could, if they so chose to, quarantine me for 6 days to prove I'm not infected.  I'll pay the $150 thank you very much.  I got a yellow booklet the size of my passport and was told to keep them together when I travelled.  Other than the Typhoid shot that Nurse Ratched stuck in the sensitive underside of my arm, the Yellow Fever hurt most and was sore for 2 days.  I'll take that over Yellow Fever any day. Ooooh, colors Drugs I was also given 2 prescription. Malaria -Atovaquone-Proguanil (Generic for Malerone) for $65 to tak...

Kilimanjaro Stage Race Training (Dirty 30 - A 30+ mile trail run in Golden Gate Canyon State Park, CO) Trail running is not the best sport for me because I sprain my ankles easily. Finding the best foot path to take is mentally draining.  So when someone who had been shadowing me for a mile passed and said, "You have great foot placement", it took me a moment to register.  Comradery What a powerful thing. To be a part of a group of people challenging their own personal limits and to be recognized for your individual achievements. I ran 34 miles yesterday with the best of the best. Runners who beat my time by half. So why do it if your not going to win?  To feel a part of something. To be acknowledged for pushing your own limits and finding the outer edges.  Every person on that course yesterday passed another, going faster or slower than them and we all said "Nice Job". "Looking strong". "Way to go".  Not because we were th...

Challenge Accepted! This may be my most ridiculous adventure yet.  It completely surpasses my biggest physical feat so far, which was running the Grand Canyon in April 2016.  South Rim to North Rim and back again.  47 miles in 19 hours 11k feet down and 11k feet up.  Street curbs were a major hazard for a week after that one. Next....  What: A run around Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Africa (not Japan) When: August 2017 (3 months from now) 160 miles in 8 Days.  That's an average of 20 miles of hiking/running a day. The tour guide and accomplished ultra runner suggests I get up to 60-80 miles a week.  What am I at now? 40 miles/week. Lucy, you got some 'splainin to do. Alter Ego So the Kristyn that you all know and love as a marathoner is now gone.  Her replacement is a trail runner named Lucy.  Lucy likes to run...on trails...uphill.  She's crazy.  We get to blame this misbegotten adventure on her.  She like...