Ep 262 Rise and Climb: Meredith’s Kilimanjaro Expedition
Meredith didn’t just “add hills” to her training plan, she went to Tanzania and climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, a 19,000 foot summit that turns every step into a decision. We talk through what it really takes: building aerobic fitness at sea level, practicing patience with “pole pole” pacing, and showing up with the right gear and the right expectations when altitude is the variable you cannot fully control.
The episode begins with an introductions from our friends Doug who we will sse in a couple of weeks ago. . If you’d like to introduce an upcoming episode, please reach out to us on our social media. You can also email us, or leave us a message on our hot-line (727-266-2344).
What Happens When The Goal Is 19,000 Feet
This week on the Rise & Run recap, we’re spotlighting an adventure that goes way beyond the finish line. Meredith’s climb up Mount Kilimanjaro. And honestly, the way she trained for it feels exactly like something our running community would appreciate.
Meredith approached Kilimanjaro like a runner: strong base miles, hill repeats, brutal treadmill inclines, StairMaster sessions, and every hike she could squeeze in. She talks about one of the biggest runner advantages on a mountain knowing how to stay calm inside discomfort. Long climbs and long runs share the same mental battle: heavy legs, long hours, and a finish that feels very far away.
Kilimanjaro itself is a whole strategy game. You climb with certified Tanzanian guides, and her all‑female group prepped like pros — gear lists, weather checks, and plans for shifting conditions across multiple climate zones. Meredith says the real MVP is a pair of broken‑in hiking boots. No blisters, solid ankle support, and confidence on rocky terrain. At altitude, nutrition gets practical too: bland carbs digest better, so she brought a tiny spice bottle to make meals actually taste like food. And of course, the classic altitude rhythm: hike high, sleep low, and move “pole pole ” slowly.
Summit night. You start at midnight, barely rested, in freezing cold with a nonstop steep climb. Within minutes, her hydration tubes froze solid. A sock‑wrapped bottle and guides who opened water for her kept her going when her gloves made her hands useless. She describes the altitude fog — that moment when mantras disappear and your brain narrows down to one simple job: follow the person in front of you and take the next step.
Reaching Stella Point at sunrise brought warmth, relief, and a second wind. The final push to Uhuru Peak demanded slow breathing and total calm. And when she got back to sea level, she felt something every athlete knows: once you’ve done the hardest thing you’ve ever attempted, all the smaller hard things suddenly feel manageable.
A runner’s mindset, a mountain’s challenge, and a story that reminds us what steady effort and quiet grit can do.
The Race Report Sponsored by Stoked Metabolic Coaching
In this week’s Race Report Spotlight, we’re joined by Ed, who completed the Butterfly Challenge at the Dollywood Race Weekend in Pigeon Forge, TN — a three‑race gauntlet that brings the heat and the hills.
The challenge :
• 5K on Friday night
• 10K on Saturday morning
• Half marathon on Sunday morning
Ed breaks down the entire weekend, including the big improvements the event made since the April race weekend , smoother logistics, better course flow, and a race experience that felt more polished from start to finish.
And of course… the cinnamon bread. The legendary Dollywood cinnamon bread waiting at the finish line might as well be its own medal.
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