What CAN Be C4K's Biggest Threat?

Pasochoa Tail and Hike in Cotopaxi National Park

How tall is Mount Kilimanjaro?

19,341 feet above sea level

How tall is Mount Everest?

29,029 feet above sea level

How tall is the high point in all of Indiana?

1,257 feet above sea level

Just yesterday, a few friends and I returned from a memorable trip to the amazing country of Ecuador. While in Ecuador, we visited the amazing city of Quito, hiked near Cotopaxi, and even rode horses through the Andes Mountains. These adventures occurred above 9,000 feet in elevation with hiking trips, that loomed under the great Cotopaxi Volcano, hitting elevations as high as 13,000 feet. Traveling from Indy to Ecuador meant leaving a flat, oxygen-rich environment to a mountainous, oxygen-deprived environment 8,000 feet higher in the air.

I am no stranger to intense physical exercise. In the past year, I have completed 1 half marathon and 1 full marathon. In the past 23 years, I have played soccer competitively till I graduated as a D1 scholar-athlete from the University of Evansville. In my final season of college soccer, I never stepped off the field for a single minute during any game for the entire regular and postseason (for reference, I was a center midfielder). But even with my natural athleticism and ability to push through exhaustion, I could not remain unaffected by altitude.

One of the most dangerous and common threats to our team’s ability to summit Mount Kilimanjaro is Altitude Sickness. Altitude Sickness is a group of symptoms that can strike if you walk or climb to a higher elevation, or altitude, too quickly. Symptoms can range from a mild headache or nausea to severe high altitude cerebral edema (i.e. fluid in the brain) which is life-threatening. For me, I experienced nausea, shortness of breath, and digestive issues (tmi or nah?). Though I could still hike, horseback ride and enjoy my time, it was a very eye-opening experience.

Most people believe that those who are natural or great athletes are less likely to be affected by the altitude during the trek up Mount Kilimanjaro. It is those same individuals who are actually MORE likely to be affected. Altitude sickness occurs when someone moves up in elevation too quickly. Due to an athlete’s desire to move quickly and push through pain, they can get themselves into trouble with the sickness. Those who move slower, take their time and respect the needs of their bodies, are the ones who make it to the top.

This hike to the top to Mount Kilimanjaro is no joke, the ease to which someone can be affected by altitude sickness is high. It isn’t about how fast you go, it’s only about making it to the top. Being from Indiana means that our team will have to work harder towards our goal than everyone else. We will need to hold ourselves accountable, not just for training but for how we execute this climb. We must know when to move quickly and when to slow down. Unfortunately, we must also know when to send a team member back down the mountain due to sickness and continue the climb. As individual we must know when to give up the climb to ensure our own safety because the moment when someone starts becoming affected by altitude sickness they must be sent back down.

This isn’t an easy climb but it is one worth working hard for. I can’t wait to see the view from the top and will do everything in my power to ensure that every team member (including myself) gets that opportunity.

Until our next adventure,

Maverick