This isn’t the story I wanted to tell, about overcoming an injury a few weeks before one of the most important expeditions of my life. But this is my reality. On April 20, 2019, I’m still going to climb Everest as a #climbforequality because I want to see more women getting to the top- of mountains, boardrooms and leadership positions. Check out the film on the @rylo feed. #storiesthatmove
I don’t normally share videos taken indoors, but I felt compelled to share this one from my PT session this morning because I am so stoked on the progress I’m making with my knee! It’s been one month since I tore my ACL (the day after making my final deposit for Everest). A lot of the rehab has been about balance and proprioception- learning how to do things without that stabilizing ligament. It’s been a challenge for my legs and my brain! I have to use my muscles in new ways. I’m grateful for the opportunity to work with PT Marlene Hatch at IHC Park City who keeps inventing the most challenging exercises for me. Seriously, this would have been difficult for me when I had an ACL! The other person who has been instrumental to my healing and recovery is @jessamunion at @rocksteadybw. Weekly massages and yoga have helped my tissue bounce back and I feel almost 100%! I plan to have ACL reconstruction surgery the week after I get home from Everest, so it will be back to square one in June. It’s easy to forget how important fundamental strengthening exercises are. I’m honesty excited for the chance to work hard in the gym this summer and come back to even stronger.
A lot of people have asking me how I’ve been training for Everest, and the truth is, I haven’t been doing a lot (besides PT, some easy cardio, and sleeping in the @hypoxico) since I tore my ACL one month ago. But the reality is, you don’t train to climb a mountain like Everest in a few months or even a year. I have been training for this for the past decade, by climbing up many mountains and skiing down. I’m not freaking out about the setback to my training, I’m not worried about the fact that I’m not spending long days in the mountains. I know that I have the fitness base, and that every other mountain I’ve climbed, every long push, every alpine start, is stored in my cells and my body. When it’s go time, I’m confident that I can do what I need to do. I can’t believe it’s only a little over three weeks until we leave to #climbforequality!Photo: skiing at 17,000’ (5,181 m) in the Cordillera Blanca of Peru captured by @rob.lea
This year, @rob.lea is training for his biggest project yet: the Ultimate World Triathlon, where he will climb Everest, swim the English Channel and ride his bike across America (and get married in the middle) in a short, six month span. No one has ever done it before, and I’m so proud of him for embarking on this ambitious project. What makes me even more stoked is that he’s using this project to talk about gender equality to encourage more men and people of all genders to become advocates for women’s equality. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Today is Rob’s birthday. If you want to learn more and support his goal and mission, check out the link below or in my profile. Thank you. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Happy birthday Rob! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀https://www.gofundme.com/ultimate-world-triathlon#ClimbForEquality #TriForEquality
I would be lying if I said I didn’t miss skiing right now. My doctor is strongly advising me not to ski with my freshly torn ACL, and I’m heeding the advice. • ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀During these times of healing, I like to visualize my favorite plants: succulents. When you cut off the branch of a jade plant, it grows back in the most beautiful and unexpected way. Likewise, an injury creates space for new growth and experiences.• ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀While one part of me is dreaming about being on the high peaks in the background, the other part is content walking around the scenic lakes of Rocky Mountain National Park with my bestie @brooke.froelich and her kids, as I ease my knee into more and more activity. • ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀It turns out, nature, movement, fresh air and time with loved ones is just what the doctor ordered. I’m so grateful for the time I got to spend on the trails and in @visitestespark during my #athleteinresidence stay. Being outside with children has a way of putting everything into perspective. It’s the new sprout of growth on the broken branch of the succulent.