45 days ago when I got started my training and preparations for hiking Mt Rwenzori, little did I know that D-day would come this fast.
The first and second weeks were the hardest since my body was adjusting to all the strange exercises it was getting hooked to. I felt the struggle deep inside me. The joints, the knees, I can go on and on. However, as time went on, I began to enjoy every moment I went out for a jog, a hike or a bike ride.
There are of course several exercises I had planned to do but due to time constraints and other factors, I was unable to do them all. Say for example; riding my bicycle for 100km in one go, swimming at night, going for a hike at Mt. Muhavura in western Uganda which is 4127 meters above sea level western Uganda among others.
Nonetheless, I stuck to my earlier plan to do what was within my means. Exercises that would not cost me an arm and a leg. And thank God, I found the best hiking buddies. I’ve written about them in my previous blogs. Because of them, things which would be harder to do/achieve, became way easier. For example, as you already know, I could never have done my very first hike of 42 kilometers in one day if it weren’t done together with my hiking buddies at Rwenzori Tutambule.
There is magic that happens when you’re working out with a group. For some reason, you keep going regardless of how your body reacts. Also, I enjoy listening to people jazz so I could barely think about the hiking struggles. Wait, did I mention that in the last month, I’ve listened to five audiobooks? This is something I had never done before.
You see, there are downsides to doing exercises but one of the things I’ve come to appreciate is that during this time, I got the time to listen and in the process learn so many things about myself. By listening to an audiobook of four or six hours, I not only hiked but also learnt new stuff in the process. This helped me to Later on listen and bond with new amazing people.
Why the Last Prep Week?
As I am writing this, I have got 10 days left to set off for my Mt. Rwenzori hike.
Out of these 10 days, I’ve planned to set aside the last seven days (one week) for resting and letting my muscles rebuild. It’s a natural process and the body to needs time. In that same week, I’ll go hunting for all the equipment I need for my hike.
In this week before I get to the last 7days, I am challenging myself to work out every single day, see below.
31st October 2020.
Together with my hiking buddies at Rwenzori Tutambule, we decided to hike 20km with me going with my 12kg backpack.
I never imagined that the hike would take even longer than the earlier planned hiking scope. After doing a couple of breathing exercises manned by Ken as seen in the image below, and after going up the Nabusugwe Hill in less than 10 minutes, I couldn’t pursue the hike any further.
I decided to drop out of the hike at the water point in Nabusugwe and left my buddies to continue. I later learnt that they covered approximately 30km. In no way could I see myself hike 30km whilst carrying a 12kg backpack. Never happen, not with shoes that don’t do justice to my feet and a backpack with straps that hurt my shoulders!
Put aside the fact that the hike had taken a twist from the earlier estimated cover, one lesson I am learning about this hiking prep and even about life in general is to know when to push on and when not to. The incomplete map above explains my drop off from the hike.
2nd November 2020.
After the previous hike on the 31st October, I got myself a one day rest period and on the 2nd of November, I decided to go for another 20km with my 12kg backpack.
The earlier estimated cover was 20km around my residence. I hiked from Nsawo in Namugongo, to Kyaliwajjala – Kireka – Bweyogorere – Namanve – Seeta then branched off to Misindye and hiked to Ssonde where I hit 20km mark.
It then occured to me that I would have to cover 5-7km back to my place for another one to two hours. My heart desired to cover the remaining distance but the body was already worn out so I dropped off and got home.
This hike was a different one. I set off from home at exactly 6:00am, it was still a bit dark but safe.
At sunrise, I was making myself busy by listening to an audiobook. Later on I took some early morning rushhour/ traffic pictures and did some sightseeing.
3rd November 2020.
After a successful 25km hike the previous day, I made up my mind to jog instead of hike, with my 12kg backpack. Yes, I later realised that it was a good decision as my body had started to complain. I managed to jog for 15km straight before I started walking and so I walked the last 10km.
Again, the early morning breeze is such a nice treat that one would wish for another. It also kinda threatened to rain because drizzles surfaced on my Jacket.
I took the same route as the day before but this time round I took it from the opposite direction to find out how many kilometres of jogging I left out the previous day.
I jogged through Namugongo, Ssonde, Misindye, Seeta, Namanve, Bweyogere and started to hike from Kireka and back to Nsawo.
4th November 2020.
I had made up my mind not to go out for any hikes or jogs but later on, I found myself with a hiking buddy from our group whom I joined to attack the hills around Kyebando, Bahai and Mulago. It was short and sweet.
I joined her when she had already done approximately 12km. I later realised that I had done 8km going uphill and back.
5th November 2020.
As if the previous day wasn’t enough, we showed up again to attack some of the hills in Kololo. These have some breathtaking views which include the summit view stretch after Prince Charles Drive, then Elizabeth Avenue and back to 1st Hill Drive Kololo.
I ended up doing slightly over 10km crisscrossed through the hills. My jogging buddy did close to 20km including her hike back home from Kololo.
Attacking these hills and jogging all the way through builds something within our bodies especially the element of endurance which is very much needed to hike a mountain. Endurance doesn’t call for one to be strong but one to keep going and never give up.
We had a chat about how Debbie caught up with another jogger who had almost given up going uphill at Prince Charle Drive to Summit View. Debbie kinda convinced her to not focus on getting to the top but simply look down and focus on her steps. Debbie took the lead, they both applied the same mind tricks and before long, they found themselves at the top.
Yes, the trick still applies in my struggle. Don’t look forward to getting to the top. Just focus on your next step and the NOW. It’s the same principle I am getting to appreciate in all my hiking and jogging undertakings.
In conclusion.
There are chances that if you’ve been following my training for the Mt. Rwenzori hike, you too would like to get started working out or you may want to undertake some challenge(s). I have one line for you; You can do it. You can start now. You don’t need to be fast or ready. Just start with a one kilometer hike. Take a day off, then repeat the same the other days, adding a kilometre each day. Before you know it, you’ll be doing 5km, then 10k and even more.
NOTE: This is my very last blog post regarding my preparations for hiking the Rwenzoris. I’ll keep updating it from time to time till the very last day of training. For any updates, just keeping coming back here.
PS: I’ll go to the Rwenzoris on the 17th November together with my Rwenzori Tutambule hiking buddies you’ve seen in this and previous blog posts. When in the mountains, I’ll do my level best to document whatever is at my exposure.
When back from summiting Margherita, I’ll have my experiences published here and on my Youtube Channel.
