Seven years ago I came to you two months before going to Everest begging you to be my weight trainer and kick my butt into shape for the mountain. I figure the man who guided a blind man up the mountain, would be the one to help me the most. I am not sure what you were thinking but you graciously accepted the daunting task.
Given that we only had two months until my departure, I got my money's worth when you told me the best thing I could do would be to eat all the Haagen Dazs, cheesecake and mac n' cheese I could muster between now and my departure. What woman would not pay money for this type of counsel? At the time I was 96lbs. While I got up to 112lbs before the trip, I returned close to 97lbs (of course Brad and I spent a week eating good food in Thailand before returning to the states). This time I will leave a full 120lbs but I have slowly been getting there over time. What is interesting is that I wear the same size as I did on 2006 - proof that muscle weighs more than fat. I feel so much stronger and confident with all your years of support.
What I want the world to know is that our weekly workout sessions for the past seven years have been so varied. Not once have we ever done a repeat of a prior workout. Somehow you have managed to keep it very interesting and fun. People always ask what I do to train for the mountains...if they could only see the fun we have each and every week.
In addition to keeping my body strong you also work on my mind. Our minds can talk us out of any and every thing. You remind me not to worry about the mountain at all as my thoughts will change nothing. You have done a marvelous job of reminding me to take it one day at a time which supports my mantra of "Eating the Elephant One Bite at a Time."
Sharon Connolly and Chris Morris at Mountains Edge
