In preparing for our Fuji-san climb, we have donned our packs and loaded them with extra weight...training heavy, treading light.
The temperatures have hovered above 100 up here in the foothills. You can feel the heat rising from the asphalt.
The stinging sweat that gets into our eyes adds to the agony of hiking with a full pack in high heat.
Although the training hikes are less than 5 miles, there is a lot of elevation change. That is what is important right now.
The breeze offers cooling comfort towards the end of our hiking session.
We have also intensified our workouts in our gym. Leg presses, core conditioning exercises, and upper body development, then we do our training hikes. High reps. Then add more weight. Repeat. The burn is intense, but it is what we must do.
The garage literally a dry sauna, but we keep pushing ourselves. The fans offer no relief, but the music from the radio helps us keep going.
After our training, we take a dip into our pool. The water soothes, refreshes. Once outside, the breeze feels good to the point of goosepimples.
Our diet comprises mostly of fish and chicken, organic vegetables, and, of course for me, brown rice.
To do what must be done.
