My gear started arriving this week and if I had a tent, I could camp in my living room! It is interesting to learn about all of the different brands and gear options that are out there. I bought most of this gear from a site called Moosejaw. Their boxes come with a huge stamp that says "sealed with a kiss" and the company is actually pretty funny in their approach to marketing. Check it out if you need some camping or hiking gear!

I have to admit that after my 8 mile run yesterday I thought that maybe I am more ready for the climb than I had anticipated..My hiking of the ski hills today with my pack would beg to differ! My legs were burning! Yet after an hour and a half of hiking I felt pretty good that I was able to complete the work out and walk afterwards. :)

I read last night that Kilimanjaro is one of the most underestimated of the Seven Summits and that often people are under trained for it. But I took comfort today when I ran into a man who had made the climb several years ago. When I told him the climb was in July he told me I have plenty of time to train and proceeded to tell me everything I needed to do on that ski hill to prepare.. distance, time, pack weight. I so much appreciated his willingness to share his experience and training expertise.

I told a patient today about the climb and why I was doing it. She is the first patient I have told and the reason I was doing it didn't seem matter to her, which I appreciated. She just wanted to hear about the trip. "What are you going to do to top this once you get back?!" she asked. I just smiled.. Who knows what the next adventure might be? "Right now I am just enjoying this adventure" I told her. I think she was more excited for me than I am at the moment. It doesn't seem real yet, rather just going through the motions of preparing for something that I have heard will change and impact me forever...

The countdown begins.. I just realized that three months from today I will be on a plane flying to Africa! I can't believe how fast the time has gone by. This is going to be fun :)

Today I finally sat down and put together my gear list. I have the basics but with the trip approaching, it is time to order the rest of my gear! I'm still not sure where to store all of the gear during the climb, but those questions will be answered upon arrival in Africa...

Other than the snow we had yesterday, the weather is starting to feel more like spring and with that comes the excitement of outdoor training. I trained in the snow over the winter and feel pretty secure in the fact that my boots, pack, and jacket are going to be sufficient. Now it is time to train in the warmer weather in preparation for the warmer climate that the the climb will begin in... And so on that note, it is time to head outside for a run!